Pinchin Celebrates National Engineering Month 2024
Biographies
March 1, 2024
What is National Engineering Month?
March is recognized as National Engineering Month (NEM) and is the biggest celebration of engineering in Canada. It is designed to spark an interest in the next generation of engineering professionals and to celebrate the role that they play in society. There are many events organized throughout the month of March with a shared message “there’s a place for you” in engineering and technology.
Why is National Engineering Month important?
- Provides an opportunity for youth to learn about engineering
- Helps kids understand the various things they can do as engineers
- Can teach youth what it takes to become a professional engineer
- Helps to profile for youth the accomplishments of Canada’s engineers
Did You Know?
Each year, Canada tracks the number of newly licensed engineers to gain insights into the future of the engineering profession in the country. In 2022, a total of 10,979 engineers received their licenses, with the largest group (3,314 engineers) licensed through Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). Table 1 illustrates a nine-year trend of Canada’s newly licensed engineers from 2014 to 2022. The total number of newly licensed engineers increased by 33 percent from 8,255 in 2021 to 10,979 in 2022.
Reference: Engineers Canada. (2023). National Membership Report: 2023 National Membership Information. Retrieved from https://engineerscanada.ca/reports/national-membership-report/2023-national-membership-information#-newly-licensed-engineers
The Importance of Engineers Here at Pinchin
Having professional engineers here at Pinchin is extremely important as they continually push the boundaries of technology, assist in solving technical problems and help us reach new heights. Pinchin currently has over 80 professional engineers in our various practices located across Canada and an additional 48 individuals currently in training to become a professional engineer.
As we celebrate National Engineering Month, we’ve decided to connect with a few of our engineering team members to learn about their journey of becoming a professional engineer and what it means to them. Throughout March, we’ll be highlighting at least one new member every week. We hope you’ll join us in learning about our engineers and what drives them to do what they do.
Laurence Kao, P.Eng., PMP, C.E.M., CRE, LEED AP
National Practise Technical Lead, Building Performance and Sustainability
Laurence Kao is the National Practise Technical Lead in the Building Performance and Sustainability group and has been employed by Pinchin Ltd. since 2022. Laurence is a Professional Engineer with project experience across Canada in a wide range of fields including decarbonization, recommissioning, retrofit design, and measurement and verification. He is a Certified Energy Manager and draws on his broad knowledge base to take an integrated approach to projects.
Laurence’s passion lies in developing functional and sustainable design solutions. He specializes in the energy and GHG reduction process from study to implementation and monitoring. He has worked on BC Hydro Continuous Optimization projects at UBC, SFU and the Children Family Research Institute. Additionally, he was a project manager for several Deep Retrofit Studies for clients such as Metro Vancouver, PSPC, CBRE, City of Brampton, and Home Depot.
For more information on Tim Speirs, visit his LinkedIn Profile.
Tim Speirs, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., QPESA
Operations Manager in Ontario for the Environmental Due Diligence & Remediation Group
Tim Speirs is the Operations Manager of the Environmental Due Diligence and Remediation groups in Pinchin’s Oshawa and Peterborough offices. Tim has been with Pinchin since 2018 and is a licensed professional engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from the University of Guelph (UoG) and after several years in the consulting industry he returned to UoG to obtain a Master of Applied Science while continuing to work on a full-time basis. Tim’s masters research focused on contaminant hydrogeology and using high-resolution subsurface field investigations to inform conceptual site models with a multiple-line-of-evidence approach. This approach is something that he applies to all projects and today he proudly specializes in Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), contaminated site remedial solution design and implementation, Record of Site Condition (RSC) filings, compliance monitoring and other detailed subsurface investigations throughout Ontario.
Tim has always been passionate about the environment and helping others. He knew from a young age that he was destined to be an Environmental Engineer, but it wasn’t until he entered the consulting industry that he learned how truly rewarding it is to be part of a collaborative team that helps stakeholders manage complex issues.
When asked what it means to be an engineer, here’s what Tim had to say.
“Being an Environmental Engineer is about leveraging my technical experience and strong communication skills to be transparent and help my clients understand and overcome project risks. While each project is unique, this can often include working with property owners to enhance or manage the environmental quality of their assets and I am extremely proud to contribute to the betterment of our local communities through my work.”
Paresh Patel, M.Eng., P.Eng.
National Director – Remediation Services in Ontario for the Environmental Due Diligence & Remediation Group
Paresh Patel is the National Director/Practise Specialist for Remediation Services with the Environmental Due Diligence & Remediation (EDR) group. Paresh has been with Pinchin Ltd. since 2010 and is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. He holds a Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering.
Paresh has over 20 years of experience in remediation of soil, groundwater, and wastewater. At Pinchin, Paresh oversees the remediation business across Pinchin. In addition to the remediation projects, he has conducted extensive remedial investigations, site assessments (i.e. Phase II ESAs) and working on a variety of Record of Site Condition (RSC) sites where remediation was required. He provides the key technical support to the sites undergoing redevelopment where clients and developers need to make key financial decisions which are dependant on the short and long-term environmental liabilities.
What Paresh finds satisfying when it comes to being an engineer is when a concept or idea born out of sound engineering and science takes shape and provides clarity for his client, so that they can carry out their business with peace of mind.
“I wear multiple hats; however, when it comes to engineering, I take pride in providing practical solutions based on sound engineering and science. It is satisfying to see a concept or unique idea taking shape in real life and alleviating the customer’s worries. Creating a safe environment and providing solutions that enable my clients to carry out their business and operations with peace of mind and considering Pinchin as their partner is rewarding!”
For more information on Paresh Patel, visit his LinkedIn Profile.
Jeff Dietz, P.Eng.
Senior Technical Manager in Ontario for the Geotechnical Services Group
Jeff Dietz is a Senior Technical Manager in the Geotechnical Services (GEO) group and has been with Pinchin Ltd. since 2022. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Jeff is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario; and, also has been designated as a Consulting Engineer by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
Jeff has 25 years of experience in geotechnical engineering. He has worked on hundreds of projects in both geotechnical investigation during project design, and geotechnical materials testing and inspection during construction. The projects Jeff has worked on have covered residential/industrial/commercial land development, building construction, road design or reconstruction, slope stability assessment, bridge or culvert design, utility installation, airfields, and light rail transit.
When asked about what it means to be engineer, Jeff gets a sense of pride when uses his skills that he has attained over a long career on projects that he helped design and build (locally around the area he lives in) both safe and efficiently.
“To me being an engineer means that I get to use my analytical skills to assess site conditions and help ensure projects are designed and built safely and efficiently. As a geotechnical engineer, I am typically involved in the early stages of a wide variety of projects – land development, buildings, roads, bridges, etc. Testing and inspection during construction allows me to get out on site, and see things being built, while at the same time making sure the aspects of construction that are related to my engineering input are constructed correctly. Having spent most of my career working around the area I live in, I am able to see projects I’ve worked on in the past during my day-to-day activities, which gives me a sense of pride.”
For more information on Jeff Dietz, visit his LinkedIn Profile.
Lindsay Johnson, P.Eng., QPESA
Technical Manager in Ontario for the Environmental Due Diligence & Remediation Group
Lindsay Johnson is the Technical Manager for the Southwest Environmental Due Diligence & Remediation (EDR) Groups at Pinchin Ltd. Lindsay obtained her Environmental-Civil Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo in 2005 and has been a P.Eng with Professional Engineers Ontario since 2010 and is also a Qualified Person (QPESA) as designated with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks since 2011. Lindsay grew up in St. Marys, Ontario and has called Waterloo home since her time at the University of Waterloo.
Lindsay has 18 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry and is responsible for overseeing the technical work completed by all EDR team members within the southwest Ontario offices. Lindsay is also responsible for the growth of Southwest Region’s EDR group through business development initiatives and active involvement in the local development community. She enjoys working where she lives and being able to see her professional successes come to life in her community.
Lindsay realized she wanted to become an environmental engineer during a high school business course. An environmental engineering consultant spoke to the class and after offering Lindsay a co-op placement that summer to experience it firsthand, Lindsay knew she’d found what she was meant to do. She loved the balance of the technical components of the projects coupled with the client management aspect that comes with consulting.
“I get great satisfaction from applying engineering principles to a wide spectrum of projects, from property transaction work in Hawaii to remedial design work in Nunavut. I especially enjoy the more complex and challenging revitalization projects that allow an unused industrial property that has existed for decades to be transformed into a new modern commercial or residential space to be enjoyed by the local community.”
For more information on Lindsay Johnson, visit her LinkedIn Profile.
Graeme Terris, P.Eng., C.Eng.
National Practise Leader in British Columbia for the Mechanical Engineering & Design Group
Graeme Terris is the Regional Practise Leader and Team Lead for the Mechanical Engineering & Design Team and has been employed by Pinchin Ltd. since 2019. Graeme received his Professional Engineer designation with Engineers and Geoscientists BC back in 2015 and is a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council (UK).
Graeme has over 40 years’ experience in the industry in the UK and Canada as well as internationally involving heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing design for all sorts of buildings from small residential developments through to large office and manufacturing projects for clients from Healthcare to Hospitality, all levels of Educational facilities, Theatres, Sports Centres, and specialist facilities such as workshops and radioactive facilities.
When asked what it means to be an engineer, Graeme feels there is a high level of respect as the designs and advice he provides is science based and thought worthy compared to current trends of fake news and conspiracy theorists.
“With being an Engineer comes a high level of responsibility but also a high level of respect. In the days of “fake news” and “conspiracy theorists” it is good to be in a position where your designs and advice will be accepted as science based, properly thought through, and therefore trustworthy because you put your name and therefore your reputation on every document you issue. My own interest is in Low Energy design and has been since the Oil crisis of the 70s and 80s (shows how old I am!). Back then it was the cost of fuel that drove the need to reduce Energy use….now it’s even more critical as it’s the cost to the planet we are talking about. Engineers will be the people who can save the earth and if that doesn’t give meaning to being an Engineer I don’t know what does.”
For more information on Graeme Terris, visit his LinkedIn Proflle.
Mary Mekhail, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Project Engineer in Ontario for the Emissions Reduction & Compliance Group
Mary Mekhail is a Project Engineer with the Emissions Reduction & Compliance (ERC) group and has been with Pinchin since 2017. She completed her Masters in Engineering Degree at the University of Guelph in Environmental Engineering, Mary also received her Bachelor of Engineering with Co-operative studies and completed her Minor in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Environmental Analysis at the University of Guelph. Mary received her Professional Engineer designation with Professional Engineers of Ontario back in 2019.
Having completed her undergrad and Masters at the University of Guelph, Mary has had the pleasure returning to UofG to speak with fourth year Engineering students on Compliance Approvals and Environmental Permitting in air and water sectors.
When asked about what it means to be an engineer, here’s what she had to say.
“Engineering to me is an opportunity to incorporate creativity through hands on solutions to everyday problems. I grew up loving music, art, but also physics, mathematics, and environmental sciences. Now I’m a Project Engineer at Pinchin working to protect our environment in collaboration with air, noise and water engineers. Imagining and developing innovative strategies and consistently pushing myself outside my comfort zone. I love it.”
For more information on Mary Mekhail, visit her LinkedIn Profile.