Friday, March 21, 2025
There are unique dynamics impacting early career professionals working in the remediation industry today. From the challenges of remote field work, to juggling project management tasks with multi-disciplinary teams, to cultivating interpersonal skills in hybrid work environments, and staying on top of digital advancements. Not to mention the inherently challenging work of managing complicated contaminated sites such as brownfields.
With this in mind, a panel discussion recently featured early career professionals for a Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) webinar entitled “Building the Future: Insights and Aspirations from Emerging Leaders in Brownfields and Contaminated Lands,” sponsored by EnVision Consultants Ltd. and ERIS (Environmental Risk Information Services).
Webinar host Prasoon Adikari, manager of environmental compliance and utility performance for the City of Kitchener, and moderator Hannah Chessell, a project hydrogeologist with Geosyntec Engineering, engaged the panelists to share their experiences navigating the challenges and opportunities in the field, discuss their career aspirations, and explore how organizations and industry leaders can better support the next generation of environmental professionals.
Whether you’re an industry veteran or just starting out, the topics explored during this panel discussion offer valuable insights into the future of the profession and the essential changes needed to thrive in the industry.
The joy of working in the industry
Chessell kicked off the conversation by asking panelists to share their motivation for joining the industry. The panelists each brought their diverse perspectives to the table, representing locations across the country, but they expressed a common desire to improve the environment.
“I just love being a part of cleaning up the world and making a better place,” said Melody Vachon-Gregory, an environmental microbiologist with SiREM Lab, who started out working in the lab and is now also working with clients and enjoying the teamwork.
Melody Vachon-Gregory, Environmental Microbiologist, SiREM Lab.
“Something I really like about the day to day is the troubleshooting and problem-solving component of the job,” shared Marissa Smirl, an environmental scientist with WSP. “I love that there’s something new to learn every day. I am always surprised with how much I continue to learn from the people I work with.”
“Sustainability is such a big focus for our generation and it’s great to be a part of making our mark,” Samson Walsom, a business development coordinator with Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
Adam Yee, a project coordinator with Nichols Environmental (Canada) Ltd. says “it’s satisfying to see progress on a site and to close something out.”
Lessons learned
Though they are young professionals they have already experienced a significant amount of change and growth in their careers. They’ve had to learn, adapt and pivot along the way.
Smirl started out in the nonprofit and government fields, so a private consulting firm was a bit of a shift. She has also had a transition from hands on field work and reporting to relationship management and consulting.
Walsom started as a co-op student. He credits the co-op experience as valuable because it gave him a ground-level understanding of how an organization operates, and helped him find a team that he’s happy to be a part of now. He explained how he progressed from field technician into a project coordinator role.
“I think this gave me a really good hands-on experience with operations,” said Walsom. “And now with my recent pivot to business development, I found a place where my skills and passions really align. I’m grateful to have had my responsibilities grow incrementally, and I think this progression has allowed me to build confidence and a strong foundation, which I think adds a lot of value to the work I do today.”
Samson Walsom, Business Development Coordinator, Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
Yee said he also enjoys the client facing aspects of the job and building his interpersonal skills, “what they don’t teach you in school.” He explained that he’s now meeting clients and figuring out what their problems are and that’s gratifying for him.
The panelists have also noticed that there are challenges in the industry when it comes to personal limits and getting burnt out. They’ve seen it happen to others and are aware that there’s a fine balance between achieving professional designations, meeting project demands, event commitments, and maintaining boundaries with work-life balance.
“I think it can be really easy to keep taking things on,” conceded Smirl. “While there can be a lot of opportunities for growth within a company, you sometimes just run yourself to the ground, and don’t have the capacity to try those new things and fit them into your schedule.”
She said she noticed that especially during the pandemic, when people had the opportunity to work from home, but then were forced to combine their work at home and family lives. Everyone nodded in agreement.
They all report having hybrid workplace schedules – an interesting change that is a product of the pandemic, but an option that seems to be serving everyone well in a more balanced capacity these days.
“The balance is really working for me,” said Chessell. “I think that spending time in the office is huge, and seeing your team in person and sharing a physical workspace is important for building chemistry and fostering productivity. Five days a week in either direction just doesn’t feel as effective for me, and I think having that balance works well for being engaged and productive.”
“I work hybrid, but mostly remote, and it’s the perfect situation for me,” added Vachon-Gregory. “I think it depends on who you are. I’m an introvert and a self-starter, so I like to kind of do my own thing, but I also feed off of working with other awesome scientists and learning what they have to say.”
When it comes to making and keeping connections in the office, it’s especially critical for early career professionals. The panelists say they leverage virtual FaceTime, catch up with colleagues regularly and offer support on demanding projects, as well as using social media tools such as LinkedIn to expand their networks, stay connected with peers, and showcase their expertise. Google alerts subscriptions are also a convenient way to find out about key topics and upcoming events that some are already taking advantage of.
Obstacles to overcome
It’s not all green lights and open doors for new employees working in competitive environments. Everyone has had to overcome some challenges.
Most admitted that imposter syndrome can sometimes set in, especially at conferences where everyone seems like experts that have delivered “100 presentations already.” But they realize that experience comes with time and they have also learned that teamwork is important: “no single person has to know everything.”
Marissa Smirl, Environmental Scientist, WSP.
Smirl said that being involved with the provincial environmental industries association in Manitoba helps, as it’s a good environment to seek solutions and another way to make some common ground.
Having mentors is also beneficial. When it comes to mentorship, Walsom offered that it’s natural to gravitate towards the person that you report to, or the person that’s in a role that you can see yourself in down the line. However, he also emphasized the importance of having diverse role models: “If you limit yourself, you’re limiting your purview.” He recommends tapping into “different viewpoints and insights on the industry, and it’ll just help you, overall, become a lot more equipped.”
Opportunities for advancement
What about continuous learning and professional development? Some are looking into additional learning and designations, such as Masters programs and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
“It’s all about taking opportunities and really pushing yourself,” said Walsom. “So things like this, like conferences and this webinar, are fantastic for gaining exposure and ideas and insights you might not encounter otherwise.” He explained how his organization provides professional development opportunities, and it’s something he plans to take advantage of. Walsom added that there’s a lot to learn from just listening attentively during meetings and conversations around the office, “to walk away from those interactions with key takeaways and challenge the way that you think.”
In addition to office work, there are also practical considerations for field work. When you’re working on environmental projects, you may be managing different climates so it’s critical to bring along the right gear for the gig. They emphasized the importance of having the right boots (warm enough and waterproof), of wearing layers and the right length of hip waders to keep dry, and keeping a spare set of gloves. Chessell also recommended getting a wagon: “The best 50 bucks I’ve ever spent!”
Adam Yee, Project Coordinator, Nichols Environmental (Canada) Ltd.
When it comes to career highlights so far, Walsom noted his remote work trip to Nunavut. “It was super cool taking that opportunity and I would encourage others to do the same.”
Chessell shared her career journey and how it involved living in various places and various climates. “Embracing all that helped my career. Shifting my role so significantly from field to being in the office, and getting to wear many hats and not be focused on just one thing was beneficial.”
“Consulting is great but can also be stressful,” she added, referencing the challenges of administrative duties and working with many multi-disciplinary teams.
Smirl emphasized that it can be tough balancing client communication while being in the field. Yee has learned it’s important to delegate and give up control of every aspect of the project.
Other work issues that arose were the emergence of AI and how some are starting to take advantage of the various apps available. There was also acknowledgement of communication and diversity and inclusion training when it comes to Indigenous interactions and socio-cultural awareness.
“People management is not the same as having a scientific background,” said Smirl. “So we have to work on those soft skills such as communication and conflict resolution.”
There was an abundance of advice shared over the course of the hour. However, in conclusion, there was a resounding agreement with Yee when he said: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that’s how you will learn the most.”
No doubt we are going to want to hear more from each of these passionate panelists in future. They are the remediation subject matter experts and go to people of tomorrow.
Connie Vitello is editor of Environment Journal.
Featured image credit: Getty Images
