Tackling Water Challenges in Mining Operations
Currently a Senior Consultant for water management/ treatment at SRK Consulting, Shannon completed her BASc in Materials Engineering in 2014. Her favorite memory was the industrial field trips to Ontario and Washington with her peers and professors. She was highly involved in extracurriculars, serving as President of the MTRL UG Club (2013/14) and Engineers Without Borders (2012/13). Shannon also completed four co-op terms during her studies at UBC, including a memorable 8-month placement at a Potash mine in Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan.
1. Could you share about your current role in the consulting industry and the journey that led you to it?
I currently work as a Senior Consultant with a specific focus in water management/ treatment at SRK Consulting. I help mining clients in addressing their water-related challenges. After completing my MTRL degree, I joined Hatch as a hydrometallurgical EIT, where I was exposed to a variety of mining projects and this sparked my interest in the environmental aspects of the industry. This led me to pursue a Masters of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, specializing in water technologies and process design, at the University of Toronto. Since then, I have been working with my current company. Both my degrees work hand-in-hand, providing me with the knowledge and understanding to tackle the projects I work on today.
2. How does a typical day look like for you as a consulting engineer?
It is common to spend the entire day working in front of my desk doing a mix of technical work, project management, meetings, and clients’ interactions. However, the “engineering” nature of my work keeps things challenging but exciting and enjoyable at the same time, as the problems required to be solved are rarely the same. I also appreciate the opportunities to do field work periodically, which allows me to visit mine sites and facilities, meet clients in-person, and gain new perspectives, which can be difficult to acquire sitting in front of a desk.
3. How does your career now compare to how you originally envisioned your career in undergrad?
All my co-op work terms did not involve consulting work; hence, I knew very little about how it was going to be. I definitely wasn’t prepared to sit on my desk for eight hours a day. At the same time, I believe it is also hard to know what engineers actually do when you are in your undergrad because it’s so different compared to working in academia.
4. How does your work intersect with other disciplines/fields and how do you navigate working among a diverse group of colleagues?
I often work with people from different academic backgrounds in science and engineering (environmental, civil, chemical, mining, geotechnical, forestry, biology, etc.) because the environmental aspects of mining intersect with each process/ team in the mining industry.
“I navigate working with a diverse group of people by being upfront with what I do and do not understand. Nobody knows everything and often you aren’t the only one who may not understand what someone else is saying. I strongly believe that communication is key in engineering. Developing the ability to justify your thoughts, reason your answers, and communicate your plan and actions are essential at a workplace.”
5. You did a master’s degree before moving to your current role. How did your graduate degree help you to transition to your current role?
My MEng degree provided the formal education background that I needed on my resume and helped me secure my current role. “Interestingly, water management and treatment apply the same chemistry principles as metallurgy—rather than refining ore to concentrate a specific metal, the focus is on removing or reducing constituent concentrations in water that has come into contact with ore or waste rock before it’s discharged into the environment.”
6. What advice do you give someone when looking at possibly doing graduate school after their undergraduate degree and after having already started work?
Take time to figure out what you want to do in your job, ask yourself what your priorities and goals are when it comes to your career. Once you can answer that, it will be much easier to decide whether graduate school (and/ or the type of degree) is right for you.
7. What do you wish you had known about your career path when you were a student?
I wish I had known that I would be working with people who are doing the same job as me but from a different engineering/science background.
“There is no “right” way to get to where you want to and sometimes a job opportunity may take you somewhere that ends up exposing you to work that you didn’t even know you would have liked. Stay open-minded!”
8. How did materials engineering help you get to the career you have today? How do you think your education at UBC MTRL sets you apart from graduates of other programs?
Honestly, it feels somewhat random—I could have pursued a similar career with a different engineering degree, as many of my colleagues in the same role come from various academic backgrounds. It’s hard to compare since I haven’t experienced other engineering programs directly. Though speaking from my own experience, smaller class sizes at UBC MTRL allowed me to build stronger connections with peers and professors.
“I also found materials engineering to be very diverse, offering exposure to many different applications. I believe people who study materials engineering end up in many different industries and types of engineering jobs.”
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