Natalie is a project manager, and process engineer based in the Winnipeg, Manitoba office. As the Area Market Sector Leader for Western Canada, her focus is mainly on wastewater treatment. Natalie completed her master’s thesis in civil engineering on deammonification in 2017 while on maternity leave. She and her family are avid camping enthusiasts.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I fell into the water industry by accident. I had originally entered engineering thinking that I would be mitigating environmental degradation through Environmental Impact Assessments, following my mother’s footsteps as a soil conservationist. In 2016, a co-op position within ArchTam’s Winnipeg water department changed my mind, when I was able to work alongside inspiring people on a few interesting projects.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I’ve been lucky and very grateful to work on many projects where I’ve been challenged with stretch goals, and worked with interesting clients on diverse infrastructure concepts. I enjoy alternative delivery projects that allow for extensive collaboration with owners and the construction team. This collaboration allows for ‘project-best’ decisions, with the entire team prioritizing the project’s best interests. The upgrades at the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant for the City of Winnipeg have enabled our team to deliver each phase in the most effective way for the project. ArchTam is the Owner Engineer, and we help the City determine the delivery method first before moving forward. As the program manager, I enjoy building an ArchTam team from around the globe; being able to reach out and bring expert support for this upgrade is very rewarding. Recently, we’ve been deploying over 100 ArchTam staff per month to support our 8 active projects within the program. From designers and managers to wastewater operators, quality reviewers, DB advisors, cost estimators, and project controls, we leverage a wide range of expertise within ArchTam. Having such a diverse team allows us to approach problems from different angles and develop solutions that mitigate risks. This project has made me very proud to work for a company that truly values our various levels of technical expertise.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

When I started working full-time after graduation, I was given the opportunity to relocate to Trinidad to help a team on the design of two new wastewater treatment facilities and collection systems that ArchTam had been awarded. I was able to help but also learn on every project aspect. In addition to the facilities’ design, we encountered challenges that are likely unique to developing countries. For example, there were no proper as-builts on some of the sewered portions so we had to build our own – popping manholes and measuring. It was personally eye-opening to see how wastewater collection and treatment had been previously handled. Almost every community had potable water, but wastewater was either overflowing into drainage ditches or running through abandoned or neglected treatment facilities. Although it took a while for construction to begin, the impact that ArchTam’s team has made on improving the wastewater infrastructure and overall environment in Trinidad cannot be overstated.  

Share a piece of career advice.

Never stop asking questions, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s through setting those stretch goals for yourself and figuring out how to achieve them that you can meet some incredible people within ArchTam and our industry.

You should also try to get involved in a professional organization outside of work. Help organize an event, meet up with the local young professional (or old professional!) group, provide mentoring, and just get out there and meet your peers from other companies. Share your passion for doing what you love.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Natalie Wilson appeared first on Blog.

During disasters, disruptions rarely affect just one system. A power outage can shut down water pumps. Flooded roads can delay emergency response. Communications failures can slow down recovery. What begins as a localized incident can quickly cascade across multiple lifelines.

This reality underscores a critical shift in how we must think about infrastructure. Power, water, transportation, communications and buildings are not independent assets. They are community lifelines — deeply interconnected systems that sustain public safety, economic activity, healthcare and daily life.

To effectively protect communities, we must move beyond siloed infrastructure management and adopt a whole-systems approach — one that integrates reliability, resilience, and service continuity into planning and investment decisions.

Power, water, transportation, communications and buildings aren’t just technical systems. Since these lifelines keep communities functioning, the operators managing them face a host of complex challenges, including aging assets, frequent weather-related risks, regulatory scrutiny and budget constraints.

The good news is that there’s a growing shift in the approach to infrastructure management. Organizations are moving away from reactive repairs after failure to proactive planning that enables continuity through disruptions. The question is no longer whether to invest in resilience, but how to translate the value of prioritizing these investments for regulators, customers and communities.

Infrastructure planning has historically focused on individual assets or sectors. In practice, however, no lifeline operates alone.

• Power feeds water and wastewater systems
• Transportation enables emergency response and repair crews
• Communications connect first responders and public services
• Buildings house critical operations and healthcare facilities

When one system fails, the impacts rarely stay contained. The most severe losses from disaster often aren’t from the initial event, but from the chain reaction of failures that follow.

Reliability and resilience: Why both matter

Infrastructure performance has long been measured by reliability — keeping services running under normal conditions. Reliability investments focus on asset condition, routine maintenance and preventing predictable failures. They improve baseline performance and customer satisfaction.

But reliability alone is not enough.

A system can perform flawlessly every day and still fail catastrophically during extreme events. This is where resilience becomes essential.

Resilience determines how systems perform under stress — during wildfires, floods, extreme heat, cyber disruptions, or other high-impact events. It shapes whether outages last hours or weeks and whether communities can stabilize quickly.

The strongest infrastructure programs integrate both:

• Reliability keeps services running on good days
• Resilience means communities can function on their worst days

A reliable system without resilience can still collapse under stress. A resilient system without reliability creates unnecessary daily disruption. Communities need both.

Three practical ways to strengthen reliability and resilience:

1. Prioritize the service outcomes that matter most

Focus on protecting the services with the highest consequences if disrupted: public safety, health, economic continuity and essential operations.

This means identifying and reinforcing critical interdependencies such as:

• Electrical supply to water and wastewater pump stations
• Power and access routes to hospitals and emergency operations centers
• Transportation corridors that enable repair crews and supply chains

By prioritizing these crucial service nodes, decision makers invest where failure would cause the greatest harm. This reduces both everyday disruption and the risk of cascading failures during crises.

2. Translate resilience into measurable performance outcomes

Resilience can sound abstract. To gain support from regulators, governing boards and stakeholders, it must be framed in terms they already use. Instead of presenting a project as “resilience,” operators can describe concrete outcomes, such as:

• Reducing service restoration times from weeks to days
• Protecting power supply to critical facilities (e.g., hospitals or water utilities)
• Maintaining water quality during extreme weather
• Improving recovery time for essential services

When resilience is tied to measurable performance metrics — like outage duration, time to restore critical customers, or continuity of essential services — it becomes an accountability-driven investment, not a discretionary upgrade.

3. Embed resilience into routine capital planning

Resilience should not compete as a standalone initiative. It should be integrated into regular maintenance, modernization and lifecycle planning.

Practical examples include:

• Elevating or hardening equipment already scheduled for replacement
• Incorporating future hazard projections into standard design criteria
• Updating asset management strategies to reflect intensifying risks

Embedding resilience into planned upgrades reduces incremental costs and avoids creating isolated projects that are harder to fund or approve.

Build resilience before disaster strikes

Communities often coordinate effectively during emergencies. The larger opportunity lies before disasters by integrating whole-systems thinking into long-term planning and capital investment.

Formal frameworks and emergency management structures support cross-sector coordination. The next step is connecting those frameworks directly to investment decisions, so communities are not just responding better but investing smarter. Infrastructure is more than steel and concrete. It is the foundation of public safety, economic vitality and daily life. By adopting a whole-systems approach and investing in both reliability and resilience, communities can reduce cascading risk, accelerate recovery and strengthen the systems we rely on every day. This way we are not just coordinating during a crisis but investing ahead of time.

See Jordanna discuss this topic with other panelists at the Building for Tomorrow Conference:

The post Breaking the cascade: Three keys to establishing reliable, resilient community lifelines appeared first on Blog.

This time, we caught up with Jennifer Williams, Vice President, Civil Engineering, Water, in the U.S. West region to discover how she chose the path she’s on today.   

Hi Jennifer. What do you do for ArchTam? 

I’ve been with ArchTam and legacy companies for almost 30 years. I contribute to both business development and project delivery by representing ArchTam on a variety of professional societies, managing client relationships and programs, and serving technical roles on dam inspection, analysis, risk assessments, design and construction projects. After raising two daughters, I enjoy spending time in the outdoors of Colorado.

Tell us about your career journey.

I didn’t know what an engineer was until I was about 16. Back then, we didn’t have STEM classes like students do now. My older sister went to the Colorado School of Mines, an all-engineering school, and that was the first time I really learned what engineering was all about. I was inspired by what she was doing and decided to follow in her footsteps.

I began my career out of college as a staff engineer with legacy company Woodward-Clyde in Omaha, Nebraska, specializing in soft soil characterization and mitigation. Much of my early experience was hands-on — working behind a cone penetration test (CPT) or drill rig logging soils or performing construction oversight on civil earthwork projects. I also supported the senior principal, Steve Saye, on design of embankments on soft soils and research into settlement mitigation techniques. He became an early mentor, and after about three years, when I was ready to return home to Denver, he helped make that move possible.

After transferring to the Denver office (then URS), I worked as a project engineer on a broad range of geotechnical projects, including landslide mitigation, landfill design, mine tailings dams, and deep foundations. I eventually asked to be paired with John France, a senior practitioner specializing in dams, and soon joined my first dam project. From that experience, I was immediately drawn to dam engineering — the multidisciplinary nature of the work, the teamwork required to solve complex problems, and the depth of expertise within the office. I was motivated by the variety and technical challenge of each project, the range of geotechnical analyses involved, and the opportunity to collaborate closely with multiple disciplines.

After about 10 years, I transitioned into project management and business development, preparing proposals, engaging with clients and presenting at technical conferences — while continuing to contribute technically. These experiences improved my connection to clients and the broader industry, paving the way for managing larger and more complex programs.

Today, as a vice president at ArchTam, I enjoy a dynamic balance between technical work, project management and business development. I currently serve as the technical lead and project manager for the design of a new 300-foot-tall embankment dam here in Colorado. Additionally, I’m the program manager for technical engineering services for a large hydroelectric company in the Northwest, contributing to a broad range of dam-related work. Beyond that, I assist state dam safety programs in advancing their use of risk-informed decision making, including Colorado, Hawaii and New Mexico.

I’m also actively engaged with the broader dam safety community through various roles — serving on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Society on Dams, chairing the Technical Advisory Committee for the Association of Dam Safety Officials, and being the U.S. representative on the Embankment Dam Committee for the International Commission on Large Dams.

How has mentorship helped you on your path?

Your career path is often shaped, if not defined, by the strengths of the teams and individuals you work with. I’ve had the great fortune to work with a few very impactful mentors — John France, Dick Davidson, and Steve Saye to name a few — who played crucial roles in my career. Their openness in sharing knowledge and their passion for excellence really inspired me and helped me grow. What stood out most was their direct candor; they gave me honest feedback that accelerated my learning curve. They also trusted me by giving responsibility while always having my back — checking my work and redirecting me when needed. That balance of support and challenge really helped propel my career forward and taught me the value of strong mentorship.

What’s something you wish someone told you years ago?

Something I wish I’d learned earlier in my career is the value of seeking out diverse perspectives and learning from peers and senior practitioners alike. Never hesitate to ask questions or seek advice — no matter your level of experience. Collaboration and curiosity lead to better solutions, and there’s no shame in not having all the answers; in fact, some of the best ideas come from simply asking for input.

What advice do you have for women who want to get into dams or another traditionally male-dominated industry?

My advice to women interested in entering the dam industry, or any traditionally male-dominated field, is to not define yourself by the gender balance around you. Seek out mentors, both male and female, who support your growth and push you to take on challenges. Be confident in your skills, stay curious and keep learning. Earn respect through a strong work ethic, technical excellence, and an open, collaborative attitude. The industry needs diverse voices and approaches, especially in engineering fields where collaboration, innovation and problem solving are essential.

If not this path, what would have been your career plan B?

If I hadn’t pursued engineering, I think I would have explored a career in the medical field. I’ve always been drawn to problem solving and helping people, and medicine offers a unique way to do both in a very direct and meaningful way. Whether it was becoming a nurse, a physical therapist, or working in medical research, the idea of contributing to people’s health and wellbeing really appealed to me.

The post Career Path Spotlight: Jennifer Williams appeared first on Blog.

As an associate vice president and key member of ArchTam Canada’s Impact Assessment and Permitting team, Emma leads environmental planning, permitting and engagement on complex transportation programs across Ontario. With over 20 years of experience, she integrates environmental requirements into program strategy from planning to procurement, through design, delivery and closeout to protect compliance and schedule, and maintain stakeholder confidence.

Tell us about a project that has impacted or been a major highlight of your career. How is it delivering a better world?

Building excellence into highway programs

For me, highway projects typically involve aggressive schedules, evolving designs, alternative delivery models and layered regulatory requirements — all in highly visible public environments. A defining project in my career is the Highway 427 Expansion and Extension into Vaughan, Ontario where ArchTam was Owner’s Engineer for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. This was a Design-Build-Finance program requiring strict compliance with thousands of environmental and contractual obligations while advancing delivery to meet regional growth demands. On this project, I worked closely with the owner and the contractor to align environmental performance with constructability and schedule certainty.

Initially involved in the preliminary design phase, our team worked proactively to secure regulatory approvals under the Species at Risk Act (SAR) and the Fisheries Act. During the field investigations, four bat species were identified. Within the same timeframe, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) developed new protocols for these bat species and their habitats, deeming them at risk and requiring the project to undergo full permitting. This project was the first to fall under this new permitting structure, putting it under additional levels of scrutiny and review throughout the permitting process.

To maintain the project’s schedule, we obtained authorizations before developing the detail design. By leveraging our understanding of the permitting process and our strong relationships with key stakeholders and regulatory agencies, we facilitated advanced authorizations. Through consistent and effective consultation with MNRF, we used the reference concept design to identify risks and confirm the monitoring, mitigation and reporting requirements.

What was a key challenge you/your team faced while working on this project? How did you solve it?

Turning environmental risk into delivery confidence

With the design phase complete, I later rejoined the 427 program mid-construction and was quickly immersed in a complex regulatory framework where I supported the team in navigating environmental risk and oversaw compliance across planning, design development, delivery and closeout.

My focus was more than just compliance, it was ensuring environmental considerations actively supported program strategy, schedule certainty and decision-making. A persistent challenge on large highway programs is preventing environmental requirements from becoming barriers to progress. On Highway 427, I worked with the client and project leadership to translate environmental and permitting obligations into practical contractor actions that reflected evolving design and schedule pressures. Just as we did in the design phase, by explicitly connecting environmental risk to schedule and cost, we made informed decisions at pivotal moments, allowing the team to maintain compliance while sustaining delivery momentum.

Success depended on early risk identification and close coordination across program strategy, planning, design and delivery. Consistent engagement with regulatory agencies, Indigenous communities and stakeholders was also critical. Rather than treating environment as a standalone team, we were embedded in the program’s decision framework, supporting contractor and owner teams with real-time, risk-informed advice to balance constructability, compliance and accountability.

One of the key challenges for the 427 program revolved around its elements — the widening, the extension and municipal infrastructure adjustments such as local road realignments. To support SAR compliance, ArchTam oversaw the development and execution of practical planting schedules for habitat compensation to align construction timelines with species-specific requirements. We also simplified fragmented reporting by bringing multiple data sources into a single consolidated process. Throughout construction, our team completed frequent visual inspections, providing real-time guidance so the project could adjust quickly, and successfully establish replacement of sensitive habitats to remain compliant with permitting requirements.

Delivering better outcomes on complex highway infrastructure

New highways and highway extensions are essential to regional mobility, safety and economic growth. For me, delivering better highways means building responsibly by protecting environmental features, maintaining public trust, respecting community interests and conducting truly meaningful Indigenous engagement while meeting pressing transportation needs.

Across Highway 427 and other major local highway programs I’ve worked on, including the Bradford Bypass and the Highway 413 corridors, I’ve helped clients navigate complex and evolving regulatory landscapes while advancing infrastructure that is compliant, constructible and resilient. By integrating environmental considerations into strategy from the outset, we are positioning programs to succeed amid changing legislation, heightened scrutiny and accelerated timelines.

How has this experience shaped your approach to future work and expanded your career at ArchTam?

The Highway 427 Expansion and Extension fundamentally shaped how I approach future work by reinforcing the value of integrating environmental, social and constructability considerations into program strategy and planning at the outset, rather than adding later. It sharpened my ability to embed environmental requirements into decision frameworks, connect risks to schedule and cost, and cultivate a relationship-based project delivery approach across agencies, stakeholders, Indigenous partners and contractors.

This project also further established my role as a trusted advisor on large-scale, alternative delivery transportation programs and as a leader and mentor for teams navigating complicated, multi-party approval processes. As transportation programs become larger and more complex, with stringent delivery schedules and intense public scrutiny, it’s important for me to consistently share and apply these lessons as best practice across my work on critical highway and transit programs.

The post Deep Dive with Emma Docherty appeared first on Blog.

Eva Kleinert is Associate Director for social impact research at ArchTam with a strong focus on research and evaluation, and commitment to sustainability. Eva leads our Social and Equality Impact team in the UK, and is the technical lead for the monitoring and evaluation of social impacts, design and delivery of primary research, and integration into social research reports and assessments for our Energy and Environment business lines. In addition to her experience at ArchTam, she has five years of experience as a team lead and analyst for the Scottish Government, including as lead analyst for international, Europe and Brexit and senior research manager for the rural economy. She has designed and managed numerous research projects.   

Eva has four years of research experience in gender labor market inequalities, family policies and policy evaluation, applying both quantitative and qualitative methods. She holds a doctorate in comparative social policy from the University of Kent.  

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I’ve always had a strong interest in people’s lives, communities and local economies — how they are affected by policy changes or local developments. My career started as a freelance journalist in Germany, reporting on local issues. That involved many conducted interviews and group discussions, trying to understand how people were impacted on the ground with my recorder and notepad. That experience sparked my curiosity about evidence-based impact assessments.

After completing my master’s degree in the York, UK, I pursued a doctorate in Labour Market Studies at the University of Kent. As an academic, I wanted to look more methodologically into evidence-based impact assessment at a cross-national scale. My research focused on labour market inequalities, particularly how women are less represented in managerial positions. This academic foundation led me to work for the Scottish Government, where I led on research to understand and evaluate Scotland’s rural economy and analysed the impacts of national and European policies on communities. I really enjoyed applying my academic knowledge at a national and regional level and gaining experience as a government social researcher.

Joining ArchTam felt like the perfect next step. I wanted to investigate infrastructure projects — like energy developments and new road networks — shape the lives of people and local communities. I was particularly motivated to contribute to the transition to net zero by assessing social impacts thoroughly. Today, our work involves extensive primary research with community members and a wide range of stakeholders, using structured methodologies. It’s a long way from relying solely on a notepad and a recorder. This approach allows us to produce evidence-based reports, and it’s given me the opportunity to combine my methodological expertise with my passion for community engagement.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I tend to have two types of favourite projects. First, I love projects with a strong emphasis on primary research. As much as I enjoy desk-based research, I find that the most valuable insights we get are from speaking directly to those affected by new energy infrastructure, road schemes or policy changes.

This can include speaking to businesses, community members and public sector organisations. We conduct a lot of interviews and focus groups, and I find those projects the most interesting because they allow us to test what we learn from literature and evidence reviews against real experiences on the ground. Right now, for example, we are conducting a large research on public attitudes towards energy infrastructure across Great Britain. We’re running a high number of focus groups and backing our findings with representative surveys, ensuring a robust evidence base.

The second type of project I love is the kind that lets me dive deep into spreadsheets, logic models and impact assessments. I try to pin down exactly what is driving a particular impact, determining how best to measure it, and then designing a monitoring framework from the ground up. This involves identifying indicators, creating data collection tools, and analysing the data to measure impacts. It’s a different kind of work, but I find it equally rewarding.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Improving social outcomes is at the heart of everything we do. Whether we’re assessing how policies affect groups with protected characteristics — such as women or ethnic minorities — through equality impact assessments, or examining how new energy infrastructure will shape the lives of coastal communities in Scotland, our work always centres on people and place. These examples illustrate how community impact is the foundation of every project I’m involved in.

We go beyond simply documenting activities, funding or job creation. Instead, we focus on the long‑term effects — asking what meaningful, lasting difference an initiative has made or is likely to make. Using systematic research and evidence‑based methods, we uncover how communities truly experience change.

For instance, in recent research for a client, we engaged directly with coastal communities to understand how new offshore wind developments could affect them. We captured both positive and negative impacts and presented clear, balanced findings in the final report.

When our research highlights that particular groups may be disproportionately affected, we provide targeted, actionable recommendations to address those impacts. A recent project examining proposed changes to bus routes is a good example. We explored how shifts in schedules could affect people from different socio‑economic backgrounds or demographic groups. For example, older adults or others more dependent on public transportation might face greater challenges. By identifying these nuances, we can help clients design fairer, more inclusive solutions.

Share a piece of career advice

My main advice is twofold. Firstly, have confidence in your abilities. Whether you’re tackling a challenging project or navigating a complex situation, trust in your skills and determination to succeed.

Secondly, ask for help when needed. At ArchTam, teamwork is a cornerstone of our success. There’s always someone who can help you get a project over the line or provide guidance on specific aspects. Don’t hesitate to reach out — it’s not a sign of weakness but a way to strengthen your work.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Eva Kleinert appeared first on Blog.

Paige Humecki is a passionate professional in the energy sector who has been with ArchTam since 2018. From her beginnings in Chicago to her current role in London, Paige’s career journey is a testament to innovation, collaboration and a commitment to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Today, Paige leads our Energy Advisory team in the UK, supporting a range of energy system feasibility and decarbonization programs for public and private clients.  

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I first became interested in the energy sector during my studies in environmental engineering, but it was my first job at a small energy consulting firm that truly ignited my passion. In my opinion, energy is the greatest challenge of the 21st century. How do we meet increasing energy needs while decarbonizing and achieving critical climate goals? This is the question that drives me every day.

I think what has kept me in the industry is that there is always something new. There’s always a new technology, or a new approach. I feel like every six months, there is something technically different about my job that I can learn about. I also like that often when we’re working on projects, we’re focusing on the feasibility of the project because it’s the first of its kind. No one has quite figured out how to broadly decarbonize multiple industrial sectors — or how to decarbonize an entire town. That means we’re often piecing together the puzzle in real time. What technical limitations do we need to navigate? Which emerging technologies are mature enough to apply?

The people in this industry have been a significant source of inspiration for me, both at ArchTam and within the energy sector. I think many people are driven by similar factors to those that inspire me — ultimately, these are decarbonization and achieving vital global goals. We face the immense challenge of addressing these issues on a global scale. Overall, the innovative approaches we take and the incredible people we work with along the way make this journey truly rewarding.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

Since joining ArchTam in 2018, I’ve had the privilege of working on a wide range of projects, from electric vehicle charging infrastructure to community-based energy initiatives. Moving to London has given me a global perspective on the energy industry, and it’s been fascinating to see how energy challenges are approached differently in different countries.

One of the things I love about working at ArchTam is the incredible technical expertise of my colleagues and their willingness to share knowledge. It’s a collaborative environment in which I’m constantly learning and growing — which is something I truly value.

I also love the scale and diversity of the work we do. It takes time to fully grasp everything ArchTam is involved in, but that’s part of the excitement. I’m always discovering new opportunities and areas of expertise within the company, which keeps my work dynamic and fulfilling.

It’s difficult to choose just one favorite project, but two stand out as particularly meaningful to me because of their scale, complexity and the impact they had on both my professional growth and the communities we served.

The first was a project on which I had the privilege of leading a team to help a major industrial client in Europe achieve its ambitious climate-neutral goals. This was a large-scale initiative that required us to travel across multiple European countries to assess a variety of industrial sites. Each site had its own unique challenges, from outdated infrastructure to varying levels of regulatory compliance, and we had to develop tailored decarbonization strategies for each one. The project was intense, with a fast-paced timeline and high stakes, but it was also incredibly rewarding. It pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated, from managing a diverse team to navigating the complexities of working across different countries and cultures. What made the experience even more fulfilling was the client’s genuine passion and commitment to sustainability. They were fully invested in the process, which created a collaborative and inspiring environment for everyone involved. It was a powerful reminder of how impactful partnerships can be when everyone is aligned toward a common goal.

The second project that stands out is the bus electrification study we conducted for the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency in California. This project was particularly meaningful because it combined technical innovation with a strong focus on community impact. The task was to design solutions for electrifying a bus fleet in a rural area with limited electrical infrastructure. This wasn’t just about implementing cutting-edge technology; it was about addressing the unique needs of small, often underserved communities. We had to think creatively about how to overcome the challenges of limited grid capacity while ensuring that the solutions we proposed were both practical and sustainable. Our analysis went beyond just the buses themselves — we explored how investments in electrification could bring broader benefits to the community, such as improving access to the electrical grid and reducing energy costs for residents. The project also required extensive community engagement, which was particularly challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to adapt to virtual outreach methods to ensure that the voices of local residents were heard and that their needs were incorporated into our plans. Despite these challenges, the project remains a highlight of my career because of its potential to make a real difference in people’s lives. It was incredibly rewarding to know that our work could help create a more sustainable and equitable future for these communities.

Both of these projects represent what I love most about working at ArchTam: the opportunity to tackle complex, meaningful challenges that require innovative thinking and collaboration. They have not only allowed me to grow as a professional but have also reinforced my commitment to making a positive impact on the world through my work.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Much of my work at ArchTam revolves around feasibility studies. While I may often be working a few steps ahead of actual implementation, I take immense pride in knowing that these early studies lay the foundation for projects that can transform communities. Our projects are a rewarding reminder that the groundwork we lay today sparks the transformative projects of tomorrow.

Ultimately, decarbonization and grappling with the practical limits in any community sits at the core of my work. Personally, however, a way in which I feel I have positively impacted the community and one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career has been engaging directly with students and young professionals.

The energy industry is experiencing significant growth, and there is a shortage of skilled professionals. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to host placement students and interns. I have also spoken at events and visited schools, which has allowed me to connect with individuals who are early in their careers or who may not have had exposure to this sector. I enjoy discussing the energy industry with them and sharing insights about its opportunities.

However, I feel that it is critical to tie decarbonization to real opportunities for people — and opportunities to engage with early professionals or anyone who’s still deciding what to study at university is my favourite way of doing that. We need so many skilled professionals across the energy industry, from all backgrounds and with various skill sets, and it takes time to develop them. Each conversation, internship, and school visit contributes to preparing these future professionals to tackle the big challenges in the energy industry. Seeing them leave with renewed enthusiasm and a clearer vision for their roles in our field is incredibly fulfilling.

Share a piece of career advice

I always tell people: never stop asking questions. Curiosity is so important, especially in a field like energy, as it’s constantly evolving. It’s critical to stay open to learning — whether it’s gaining technical knowledge or understanding the decisions being made around you. After all, if we had all the answers, we would already have decarbonized the world!

As a woman in this industry, I’ve felt the pressure to always have the answers, but I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask questions and seek clarity. I feel that this is the only way to grow and contribute meaningfully. I encourage everyone entering this field to embrace curiosity and not shy away from asking for help or deeper understanding.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Paige Humecki appeared first on Blog.

Next week, I’ll be joining industry leaders and trusted colleagues from Type One Energy and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on stage at FusionX Global in Munich for a dynamic conversation about “partnerships in fusion.”

As someone who’s spent their career at the intersection of energy innovation and delivery, I know that the path from first-of-a-kind (FOAK) pilot to real-world deployment is never straightforward. It’s a journey that demands technical excellence, trust, transparency, and a willingness to learn, grow and collaborate with others on our collective path to a resilient energy future.

The power of partnerships

No single organization can take on the monumental task of delivering power at the scale, speed or certainty that our current and future energy needs demand. At ArchTam, we’ve learned that our greatest impact comes when we act as an integrator: bringing together manufacturers, distributors, regulators and communities to orchestrate the complex dance of delivering clean energy to those who need it most. Our goal is to interconnect all the moving pieces into one harmonized system, helping all our clients turn promising pilots into scalable, profitable programs.

At FusionX, I’ll be sharing the stage with Charlie Baynes-Reid, general counsel and CFO of Type One Energy, Tony Williams, vice president for the Sequoya Nuclear Plant at TVA, and moderator Amy Roma, partner and nuclear energy specialist at Hogan Lovells. Together, we’ll explore what it really takes to accelerate fusion’s path to commercialization. We’ll explore how wide-scale adoption is about more than adopting new technologies and building resilient infrastructure. It’s about strengthening frameworks for partnership that shorten timelines, reduce risk, and give investors and communities the confidence to believe in fusion’s promise.

Scaling from pilots to programs

I’m especially excited to talk about our work with Type One Energy and TVA on the Infinity Two fusion stellarator project — an auspicious collaboration that’s already demonstrating how utilities, innovators and integrators can move faster by working together. Pending continued development and regulatory approvals, the preliminary design of this fusion power plant has the potential to supply TVA with reliable, carbon-free power. We’ll discuss lessons learned and why speed-to-permit is the new currency in energy infrastructure.

As preliminary design engineering partners, out role is to translate fusion ambition into practical, site-ready infrastructure. Our teams guide clients through regulatory mazes, align diverse stakeholders and sustain project momentum even when conditions are challenging.

Building the pathway to the future of fusion energy

Our specialists bring deep engineering expertise and work side-by-side with innovators like Type One Energy and TVA to:

• Translate early-stage fusion concepts into actionable engineering plans. We help take the Infinity Two fusion power plant from theoretical design to site-ready specifications, ensuring every technical requirement is mapped to real-world constraints.
• Lead site selection and environmental assessments. Our engineers and scientists evaluate potential locations, model environmental impacts and develop permitting strategies that anticipate regulatory hurdles — supporting a clear path through the approval process. 
• Integrate complex systems. Fusion projects require seamless coordination of civil, mechanical, electrical and control systems. We manage the interfaces between disciplines, aligning power, controls and safety systems into a coherent, unified design.
• Develop project controls and risk management frameworks. We implement digital project management tools, schedule controls and risk registers that keep delivery on track and transparent for all partners.
• Support first-of-a-kind (FOAK) licensing and compliance. Our regulatory specialists work with clients and authorities to prepare safety cases, licensing submissions and compliance documentation, helping de-risk the path from pilot to commercial operation.

We have made tremendous strides with our partners on our path towards turning fusion’s promise into practical, scalable energy. Follow along with us on our journey as we continue to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation and deliver a better, more resilient world.

If you’re attending FusionX in Munich, I hope you’ll join our session and connect with me afterward. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries, together.

The post From pilots to programs: Shaping the future of nuclear fusion partnerships at FusionX, Munich appeared first on Blog.

With a passion for identifying patterns and a drive to help colleagues by automating and simplifying processes, Alyssa has transformed day‑to‑day work into more streamlined and intuitive structures. Through digitalization, she has been able to design better systems that free up time and energy — allowing teams to focus on more meaningful, high‑value work.

What do you do as a digital adoption lead?

In my role, I help teams turn complex, fragmented workflows into workable, scalable efficient systems. I work closely with engineers, project teams and leadership to identify gaps in processes, coordination and decision-making. From there, I translate these into opportunities for improvement through digital tools, automation and better use of data.

Equally important, I focus on adoption — coaching teams on new ways of working and helping them be comfortable with change. We set clear objectives and timelines, ensuring digital solutions are practical, well-governed, and aligned with how people work. My goal is to deliver solutions that not only work technically, but also create meaningful, lasting value for both teams and clients.

What excites you most about working at the intersection of engineering and digital innovation?

There is a great opportunity to bring clarity to complex workflows and systems through digitalization. Construction is a dense web of disciplines, processes and communication channels, often working under tight timelines and high expectations. By stepping back to truly understand how work flows, we can break down fragmented processes and redesign them into simpler, more connected digital systems.

Over the course of my career, I realized how transferable system‑thinking skills are in the workplace. Many people rely heavily on motivation or memory to carry their tasks, but they can be inconsistent and easily depleted. When I began helping colleagues establish clear structures, workflows and routines, their work became smoother, and their effectiveness increased. This helps teams collaborate more seamlessly, while also enabling clearer communication, better alignment, and more transparent engagement with clients — supporting stronger relationships and better project outcomes.

What do you think of the digital landscape in Singapore?

Digital transformation in Singapore is no longer aspirational — it is actively being implemented through the Smart Nation initiative with strong government support and industry collaboration. This environment gives organizations the confidence to invest in digital and AI capabilities that move beyond experimentation and into practical, day-to-day use. ArchTam, for example, has launched the Underground Infrastructure AI Innovation Centre with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

Through this collaboration, AI-powered solutions are being developed to improve data quality, enhance the mapping of underground utilities, and safeguard underground space for existing and future developments. These efforts allow emerging technologies to be tested and applied on real projects, translating national digital ambitions into practical and adaptable solutions that strengthen engineering outcomes and long-term urban resilience.

Similarly, the government is putting significant effort into nurturing young talent through AI research initiatives and development programs. We have the National AI Research and Development Plan (NAIRD), for example which focuses on helping the younger generation embed these skills early on, so future planners, engineers and designers are well prepared for the digital world they’ll be working in.

What is your message to professionals in Singapore’s digital space?

Singapore is an exceptional environment for digital innovation. With its commitment to Smart Nation 2.0 and its ambition to become the world’s most AI‑powered economy, the country offers fertile ground for building, testing and scaling new digital solutions. My message to digital professionals is this: embrace the opportunity, stay curious and don’t hesitate to experiment. The ecosystem here rewards bold thinking, practical problem‑solving and collaboration across disciplines. If you are willing to explore, iterate and co‑create with others, Singapore is one of the best places in the world to drive meaningful digital transformation.

The post Digital cities in action: Meet Alyssa Voon appeared first on Blog.

Anastasia Squirrel holds a diploma in civil engineering technologies from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and works as a civil CADD specialist with strong proficiency in Civil 3D and supporting design software. Anastasia’s experience includes civil site design for industrial developments, parking facilities, service yards and community buildings, as well as infrastructure projects involving water treatment plants, pumping stations, roadway design and other civil and water discipline‑related projects. This work has strengthened her skills in grading, utility coordination, and the production of functional, compliant site layouts.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Growing up on Yellow Quill First Nation, we lived under a boil water advisory for nine years. When a water treatment plant was finally built near my home, I became fascinated by its design and construction. With my father being a journeyman carpenter, I was exposed to drawings and plans early on, which sparked endless questions — every answer seemed to lead back to engineering. Determined to pursue this path, I overcame limited resources on the reserve by attending school off reserve with the support of family and friends, taking the courses needed to pursue a career in engineering. That experience inspired my commitment to building and improving infrastructure every day, as it deeply impacted my community and showed me how essential these solutions are.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

At ArchTam, I’ve contributed to many projects across Canada, all of which I’m proud of. Overall, my favorite project is always the one I’m working on now — it keeps me motivated to learn, grow and deliver my best. Each new challenge builds on the last, whether I’m refining grading plans, coordinating utilities, or ensuring that site layouts meet both functional and regulatory requirements.

My most recent favorite project has been the Edmonton – Forest Heights Dry Pond and Storm Improvement initiative, where our team was tasked with enhancing stormwater management for the community. The work involved retrofitting new storm infrastructure into an already dense network of existing utilities, requiring careful coordination to ensure an efficient and constructible design. We also developed a new dry pond, balancing technical requirements with the goal of preserving as many mature trees as possible. The project incorporated several bioswale-low impact development features, which were new to me and provided a valuable learning experience. Overall, it was a rewarding project that expanded my technical skills and deepened my understanding of stormwater design.

Every project deserves to be completed to the highest standard, and that mindset drives my passion for excellence. The diversity of work I’ve been part of continually pushes me to expand my technical skills and contribute meaningful solutions that support clients and communities across the country.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Every project I have my hands on represents a solution to a real need. Whether it’s designing municipal water and sewer systems to keep streets clean, planning landfills and lagoons to protect the environment, or creating site layouts for commercial developments that bring services closer to people, my work turns challenges into opportunities.

One recent project that stands out is the City of Saskatoon landfill expansion, where we added a new landfill cell and helped the City plan for the long‑term future of the site — supporting a project that directly impacts waste management for the people of Saskatoon.

These projects don’t just solve problems — they help communities prosper. Reliable infrastructure means stronger neighborhoods, healthier families and opportunities to grow. Each design choice, no matter how small, contributes to the quality of life for the people who rely on these systems every day.

Share a piece of career advice.

Success starts with teamwork. Always take time to understand the information, don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are people here to help, and we can help each other. When we share knowledge and collaborate toward a common goal, everyone succeeds.

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Jasmin Mejia is Environmental Market Leader for Surface Transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She brings a distinctive blend of environmental knowledge, regulatory insight and strategic leadership to deliver transformative projects. Her background in water quality compliance and environmental consulting has earned a strong reputation for guiding complex, multi-agency efforts that enhance resilience and advance multimodal connectivity. Her commitment to community well-being shines through in every project, driving solutions that enhance mobility, improve accessibility, and create lasting benefits for people and neighborhoods.

Tell us a bit about yourself – your role and career journey.

Spending summers in the Dominican Republic, some of my most cherished memories are hiking through lush trails with my grandfather. Those experiences taught me to value the beauty of natural spaces and the sense of connection they create. In high school, an environmental science class opened my eyes to something even bigger: how deeply our lives are interconnected and how infrastructure shapes communities. That realization became the foundation for my education and career.

I knew I wanted to work at the intersection of policy, regulation and environmental science. I earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental management and protection, and a minor in city and regional planning from the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. My career began at the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where I reviewed CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) documents from a water quality perspective and processed water quality certifications. From there, I transitioned into environmental consulting, gaining a deep understanding of multidisciplinary collaboration and its role in shaping resilient, sustainable communities.

I now have the privilege of leading the environmental team and partnering closely with transportation partners to deliver projects that meet client needs and serve communities. As environmental market leader for surface transportation, that spirit of teamwork allows us to connect environmental planning with transportation solutions, helping clients achieve their goals and creating infrastructure that helps local and regional communities move and thrive.

Talk to us about a project that has been a major highlight of your career.

One of the most impactful projects I have managed was the State Route 37 Flood Reduction Project, an environmental adaptation for a vital Bay Area corridor in Marin County that connects several counties in the area. The goal was to adapt the roadway to projected sea-level rise and to improve resilience against flooding and extreme weather. This corridor is critical for commuters and for access to the wine region, contributing over US$1 billion to the local economy. Yet repeated closures from flooding have become more frequent and severe.

The project raised the roadway and added a new bridge to maintain connectivity during winter storms and flooding. What makes this project meaningful to me is its dual benefit: while improving transportation reliability, the design also enhances hydrologic connectivity, supporting wetland restoration and biological resources. It’s a clear example of how infrastructure can protect communities and the environment simultaneously.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing how transportation projects improve lives.  By redesigning interchanges and improving access, we’ve transformed corridors into safer, more connected streets where walking, biking and driving are inviting for everyone. These improvements strengthen communities by ensuring continued access to jobs, healthcare and education while reducing environmental impacts through thoughtful design.

Community engagement is central to this process. We use digital stakeholder engagement tools like PlanEngage to make participation easier and make it more inclusive. It allows residents to review documents and share feedback online, reducing paper use and carbon footprint while offering translation features for diverse communities. These practices ensure transparency and give people a voice in shaping projects that affect their daily lives.

Share a piece of career advice.

Investing in your professional community is one of the best ways to grow your career. Surround yourself with inspiring people and stay engaged with industry groups like the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) — not just to find mentors, but to become one. Each stage of your career offers chances to learn from different perspectives, and those diverse views make us stronger, more adaptable and more innovative. Say “yes” to new experiences; each one broadens your skills and shapes your future path.

Above all, lead with kindness. That principle has guided my journey, including a decade on the WTS SF Bay Area board and a recent two-year term as chapter president. Ultimately, this work is about building meaningful connections and contributing to a community that supports and uplifts the next generation of leaders.

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