Chad Laucamp is a dedicated professional at 91影视 with 26 years of experience in the Chicago office, specializing in potable water, wastewater and conveyance projects. His expertise spans planning studies, hydraulic modeling, water and wastewater treatment plant design, risk and resilience assessments, and program management. Beyond his impressive career, Chad is a vibrant individual who thrives on staying active and exploring the world. He is a former triathlete, prioritizing fitness and adventure in his daily life. Being an avid traveler, he has visited captivating places like South Africa, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, where he immersed himself in diverse cuisines and cultures. He resides in Chicago, enjoys spending time at the lake and cheering for his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Chad has a zest for life and adventure and embraces every opportunity to connect with nature and experience new cultures.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Growing up in rural Iowa, I always had an aptitude for science, math and problem solving. My connection to the environment and desire to be part of the solution inspired me to pursue a career in engineering. It was during my time in graduate school that I encountered a professor who became a pivotal mentor in my life. His guidance helped me navigate my path and solidify my understanding of where I wanted to go in my career. This combination of my early interests and the influence of an inspiring mentor truly shaped my journey into the industry. I am excited to continue my professional journey in leading technical teams to solve complex challenges for our clients in the water industry.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

I鈥檝e been with 91影视 for almost 26 years now. Over the years, I often say it feels like working for three or four different companies because of how much 91影视 has evolved since I started. One of my favorite projects during this time was managing a 30-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant as part of a Greenfield project. It was fascinating to work on a blank slate, designing and laying out the plant without the constraints of existing infrastructure. The project presented unique challenges, particularly due to the poor soil conditions at the site, requiring innovative design provisions like pile-supported structures and piping. What made this project truly memorable was the exceptional team I had the privilege to lead. Together, we overcame difficult design and construction conditions and delivered to the client within a tight timeframe 鈥� a remarkable achievement that stands out in my career.

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

A couple of the most rewarding projects I鈥檝e worked on in the Chicago area are stormwater management projects to help mitigate flooding for nearby homeowners. The first was an opportunity to contribute to planning, design and permitting efforts for stormwater landscapes on vacant parcels of land across the city. The project focused on implementing green infrastructure strategies to divert stormwater and mitigate flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods. It was incredibly fulfilling to evaluate and develop solutions that not only addressed stormwater management but also provided tangible community benefits. These strategies helped improve the quality of life for residents, particularly those who had been disproportionately affected by flooding. What made this project truly special was seeing the direct impact of our work 鈥� watching the solutions come to life and knowing they were making a difference in the lives of people in the community. It鈥檚 projects like these that remind me of the power of engineering to create meaningful change and improve resilience in urban environments.

The second project was a stormwater storage project that provided compensatory storage for the Corps of Engineers (COE) / Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Levee 37 project on the Des Plaines River. The project is in a large existing recreational park, and balancing the needs of the park with the needs for flood control was a critical aspect for project success. Recreational elements included four artificial turf baseball fields, concession building, bandshell, picnic pavilion, soccer fields located at the base of one of the shallow detention basins, approximately two miles of multi-use paths, two parking lots and extensive landscaping throughout the 100-acre park.

Share a piece of career advice.

In our fast-paced work environment, it’s crucial to set aside time each day for meaningful conversations with clients, colleagues or junior staff. Focus on sharing insights and learning something new about those you work with. These connections enhance professional relationships and foster personal growth.

No two career paths look the same. At 91影视, we have four main career paths for our people to explore. An employee鈥檚 unique career journey can cross paths at different points depending on what inspires them.

Check out how Chad Laucamp chose the path he鈥檚 on today.

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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 鈥� 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 鈥� one that integrates reliability, resilience, and service continuity into planning and investment decisions.

Power, water, transportation, communications and buildings aren鈥檛 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鈥檚 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鈥檛 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 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 鈥渞esilience,鈥� 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 鈥� like outage duration, time to restore critical customers, or continuity of essential services 鈥� 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.

Dillon Lennebacker brings a powerful blend of environmental planning expertise, regulatory insight, and project leadership to his role as Environmental Project Manager and Planner specializing in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) impact analysis and regulatory permitting for projects across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dillon鈥檚 work spans transportation and wetland restoration projects, including serving as environmental lead on the multi-benefit State Route 37 Sears Point to Mare Island Improvement Project that includes Strip Marsh East Enhancement, and supporting the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) through environmental on-call contracts as Contract Manager and Technical Lead. From the largest tidal wetland restoration on the West Coast, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration, to the Bay Bridge replacement, Dillon鈥檚 focus is on delivering projects that strengthen the connection between communities and the environment they call home, now and for generations to come.

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

My journey began with a love for Bay Area landscapes, an interest in environmental law, contributing to improving our perspective to better incorporate resource protection into infrastructure projects that was sparked by a book, Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner, and studying environmental planning with a focus on conservation and restoration at Sonoma State University. The exposure this gave me to coastal prairie, shoreline, grassland, and coastal forest habitats sparked my passion for balancing development with environmental stewardship.

My first major project with 91影视 鈥� the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge replacement 鈥� gave me invaluable experience in regulatory permitting and collaboration with stakeholders and environmental agencies. This work showed me that I excel at addressing challenges that lie at the intersection of infrastructure and ecology. Since then, I have led CEQA and NEPA analyses and managed transportation and utility projects across the Bay, overseeing permitting for restoration projects like the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration and the Bradmoor and Arnold Restoration Projects in Suisun Marsh, and worked closely with agencies to deliver projects that protect the Bay while supporting community needs.

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

One of my proudest contributions was helping transform the remnants of the old east span of the Bay Bridge into a public asset. Our team partnered with landscape architects to design public access features that invite people onto the remaining piers, creating spaces where visitors can walk out over the water and experience the Bay up close. We added interpretive signage to share the bridge鈥檚 history and its role in connecting communities. For many residents, especially in Oakland and East Bay Area, where industrial development limits shoreline access, these spaces offer a rare and meaningful connection to the Bay.  This design is dedicated entirely to the public, linking past and present while opening new opportunities to enjoy the incredible resource that is the San Francisco Bay.

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

One of the most exciting projects is one I鈥檓 working on now 鈥� the State Route 37 Sears Point to Mare Island Improvement Project (SR 37 SPMIIP). This effort strikes a rare balance between transportation improvements and wetland restoration 鈥� two priorities that often compete for space and resources and two specialties that I have focused my career on, so it is a unique opportunity to apply the full breadth of my knowledge to support our client.

The State Route 37 corridor faces significant congestion and flooding challenges, and our solution integrates the congestion relief required by roadway users while enhancing sensitive habitats. It鈥檚 an opportunity to apply lessons I鈥檝e learned from extensive experience in transportation projects and tidal marsh restoration projects across the San Francisco Bay Area and Suisun Marsh, bringing together transportation access and ecological restoration in one design.

How does the unique culture and character of the Bay Area influence your approach?

Living and working in the Bay Area has shaped my approach to every project. This region鈥檚 culture values innovation, environmental stewardship and community access, and that perspective drives how I plan and deliver projects. For me, the Bay has always felt like home. After moving to Santa Cruz in high school and later settling with my family in the East Bay, I developed a deep appreciation for its unique character and the responsibility we share to protect its beautiful landscapes while supporting thriving communities.

The Bay Area鈥檚 identity is deeply tied to its environment, so every project invites consideration of those valued resources, and challenges project proponents to ask: How can we do this better than before? That means embracing green infrastructure, avoiding and minimizing impacts first, and integrating habitat restoration wherever possible and appropriate. Transportation and utilities are essential for a thriving population, but so is a healthy Bay. My role is to help clients step back and see the big picture, finding solutions that meet project needs while contributing to the region鈥檚 ecological resilience.

Share a piece of career advice.

For those starting out, say yes to opportunities, even the ones outside your comfort zone. The path you think you want may not be where you end up, and that鈥檚 okay. Every experience builds your skillset and perspective and will lead you to where you truly want to be. Stay curious, stay adaptable and keep looking for ways to make a positive impact.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Dillon Lennebacker appeared first on Blog.

A civil engineer by training, he focuses on aligning community development goals with ecological and long-term climate objectives, designing integrated strategies that blend green and gray infrastructure to build safer, more adaptable communities. He has been instrumental in building and leading our coastal resilience team, bringing together engineers, scientists, and planners to tackle complex challenges and expand the group鈥檚 impact across the region.

Chris has led major projects for the Texas General Land Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), including serving as engineering project manager for the Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan since its inception. From storm surge protection and fast-tracked design following Hurricane Ike in Houston-Galveston to stakeholder engagement across coastal Texas, he brings a collaborative, forward-thinking approach grounded in technical excellence and a deep commitment to community resilience.

Tell us about what inspired you to work in coastal resilience.

I became a civil engineer because I wanted to work on projects that could directly benefit both the environment and the community. I鈥檝e always been drawn to the idea of blending the power of our natural ecosystems with the practical side of engineering, and civil engineering felt like the right fit.

When I began my career, my work focused primarily on flood risk, with a particular emphasis on community resilience to flooding. Over time, I鈥檝e been able to integrate that with my original interest in environmental stewardship. Looking back, that鈥檚 where my passion truly started. It鈥檚 been rewarding to bring those elements together under one professional umbrella, rather than specializing in just one area. I鈥檝e always held onto the goal of doing work that helps comprehensively when possible, and that鈥檚 ultimately shaped the path of my career.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

My favorite project has been the Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan, which has also been a foundational project for our team. We worked with the state on the first plan iteration released in 2017, then updated it in 2019 and 2023, and we鈥檙e now working on the 2028 version. It鈥檚 been a unique and rewarding opportunity, as we鈥檝e been able to support the Texas General Land Office on this plan since its inception. The plan includes over 367 miles of coast and 3,300 miles of bays and estuaries, addressing challenges such as storm surge, sea level rise, habitat degradation, and coastal erosion. It emphasizes nature- and infrastructure-based solutions, integrating innovative methodologies like living shorelines and sediment management. The plan has resulted in the funding of hundreds of millions of dollars for coastal resilience projects along the Texas coast. I like to think that鈥檚 because we鈥檝e put a lot of heart and effort into it, making it representative of the coastal stakeholders and ecosystems of Texas.

This work demonstrates our strong commitment to the Texas coast, its communities, ecosystems, and the complex challenges they encounter. In partnership with the General Land Office, we continuously listen to and learn from the knowledge and experiences of stakeholders, professionals, and academic experts across the entire Texas coast. Through this collaboration, we have created a set of resilient design guides for stakeholder use that translate the plan components into actionable steps.

Through these connections, we find solutions that balance environmental needs with community resilience, addressing current issues while anticipating how challenges will evolve over time. It has been an incredible chance to lead and help shape the long-term vision for the Texas coast. It鈥檚 an ongoing opportunity to better serve the state, its communities, habitats, and ecosystems, improving resilience and making the coast as safe, accessible, and sustainable as possible 鈥� a coast that many generations can enjoy.

Why is it important to take a proactive approach to coastal resilience?

Unfortunately, it feels like we have a new flood or hurricane-related disaster far too frequently these days. It often seems like we鈥檙e stuck in this constant cycle of responding to the latest disaster. Our resilience practice is working to shift that mindset from reactive to proactive. Instead of waiting for worst-case scenarios to happen, many of which are unprecedented and unexpected, we want to think ahead.

Our approach to resilience considers both what has happened and what hasn鈥檛 happened yet. How do we develop solutions 鈥� whether engineered, nature-based, gray infrastructure, green infrastructure, or a mix 鈥� that go beyond traditional methods? It鈥檚 about building on our previous knowledge but also pushing the envelope to be more innovative and thoughtful. Recently, we assisted NASA with these specific considerations by working with them at the Kennedy Space Center to assess opportunities for enhancing site resilience against coastal surge and erosion. We aimed to do this by leveraging the natural beach and dune system along the Atlantic shoreline and living shoreline on the estuarine shores.

A big part of this is recognizing that we can鈥檛 just build stronger infrastructure. We also need to educate and inform communities, sharing knowledge and helping residents become responsible stewards of their environment 鈥� whether that鈥檚 the coast, river systems, or flood-prone areas. Fostering that awareness and centering it in a community鈥檚 culture is key. As an example, we partnered with FEMA and The Nature Conservancy in Puerto Rico to develop job aids for local communities, providing a technical foundation to assist them in transitioning from traditional infrastructure designs to natural and nature-based solutions along sandy shorelines, riverine streambanks, and urban stormwater systems.

Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the need to respond repeatedly to disasters by implementing measures beforehand. That way, when events do happen, their negative impacts are mitigated because proactive steps were taken. That鈥檚 the heart of what we鈥檙e trying to do with resilience.

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

As an individual member of the public, a lot of the work our team does tends to be expected 鈥� or even taken for granted. People don鈥檛 expect heavy rainfall to disrupt their ability to get to work on any given day, much less cause loss of life. Often, we鈥檙e fortunate enough to expect those kinds of events won鈥檛 happen, or at least that they鈥檒l remain extreme exceptions.

What we try to do is make resilience and hazard mitigation fundamental 鈥� something that happens quietly behind the scenes. In an ideal world, much of what we do goes unnoticed by the public because it鈥檚 so reliable. At the same time, we want people to become more knowledgeable and aware of these issues through education and outreach, whether it鈥檚 working with schools, running public campaigns, or providing resources.

It鈥檚 about cutting through some of the bigger challenges in society, like politics or funding limitations, and focusing on what matters most: projects that truly benefit the public. What鈥檚 critical to us is not just the technical excellence of our work, but also making positive impacts and changing perspectives. That way, awareness of resilience becomes less of an exception and more a part of how communities understand and prepare for their environment.

Share a piece of career advice.

First, as a young engineer, scientist, planner, or any other professional, it鈥檚 essential to diversify. Find opportunities that allow you to work in different spaces, take on different types of projects, and learn new skills. That versatility benefits you by keeping your career from becoming repetitive and provides a broader range of exposure to unique projects.

Second, take initiative. Do what鈥檚 in front of you, but don鈥檛 be afraid to express interest in other areas. If you hear about something that excites you, reach out 鈥� whether it鈥檚 within your group or another one 鈥� and have a conversation to learn more. Authentic interest is what makes a real difference. We want to work with people who are genuinely invested in the work, because that鈥檚 when you do your best work.

The post The importance of coastal resilience: Meet Chris Levitz appeared first on Blog.

As a leader in our Civil Works department, Kimberly Heenan brings a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and deep personal commitment to infrastructure resilience. With more than 19 years of experience and over $2.5 billion in constructed projects, she has led the inspection, assessment, design and construction of levees, floodwalls, dams, floodgates and stormwater pump stations across the U.S.

Kimberly鈥檚 portfolio spans more than 275 miles of levee systems and 35 dams, supporting agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), United States International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), and USACE Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Under her leadership, our civil works team has grown into a nationally connected group equipped to take on the country鈥檚 most complex water infrastructure challenges. Whether managing risk assessments, engineering solutions for flood protection, or guiding large-scale alternatives analyses, Kimberly is driven by one goal: protecting communities and helping them thrive.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Hurricane Katrina occurred while I was in college, and when I saw the devastation, I felt a deep calling to do something. I wanted to help fix the levees and to be part of the recovery. I remember students from Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and other universities relocating to Texas A&M, where I was attending. Their experiences really stayed with me 鈥� I just kept thinking, what can I do?

At the time, I was still finding my footing and building confidence in my ability to be an engineer. Then, during a career day event, I handed my resume to a representative from 91影视. They passed it along, and shortly after, I received a call about a junior Geotechnical Engineer position 鈥� working on the levees in New Orleans that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It felt like a sign. Even though I was nervous about moving to the big city, I accepted the offer and committed fully to the opportunity. I worked long hours, asked questions, and soaked up knowledge from teammates who loved to teach. It was a chance to contribute to something deeply meaningful 鈥� something that had personally impacted me 鈥� and that experience became the turning point that truly anchored me in this field and shaped the trajectory of my career.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

Obviously, the New Orleans levee project will always mean a lot to me. But another that stands out is the Freeport Levee Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) project. Unfortunately, the client鈥檚 funding limitations meant we couldn鈥檛 finish the project, but it gave us the space to build something special at 91影视 鈥� a civil works group that can operate from anywhere in the country and work with anyone. 

Over the course of the work we were able to complete, we grew from a team of just six people to about 20. And it wasn鈥檛 just our group working on the project. At one point, there were over 100 people across 91影视 contributing.

The project raised our team鈥檚 visibility and gave us this incredible experience with the . The Gulf Coast region is facing significant challenges from rising sea levels, aging infrastructure, and increasingly severe storm events. The experience positioned us to contribute meaningfully to future critical resilience work still needed across this part of the country.

And honestly, I just loved the team. The people on that project made it a favorite, too.

How has the growth of 91影视鈥檚 civil works team prepared us to meet the infrastructure resilience challenges of communities?  

For me, it means having a team I can rely on to help design these incredible levee systems that protect people and communities, so they never have to go through something like Hurricane Katrina again. Building a civil works team that can do this work, and do it well, has always been deeply meaningful.

Many of these flood risk projects are happening in communities that have historically been underserved. It鈥檚 not just about protecting property. It鈥檚 about protecting lives, bringing peace of mind, and in many cases, helping families financially by lowering flood insurance costs. Everyone deserves that kind of security, no matter where they live.

We鈥檙e at a critical moment in the U.S. Much of the nation鈥檚 infrastructure, including levees, floodwalls, and protection systems, was designed to last about 50 years. That time has passed. I knew we had to grow our civil works team because I knew these projects were coming. These systems either start to fail, or they get updated. Too often, people only pay attention after a catastrophic failure, but we shouldn鈥檛 have to wait for that to happen.

To me, this work is about making sure we don鈥檛 wait 鈥� that we鈥檙e ready. When we bring new people onto the team, we look for those who are driven by purpose, who genuinely want to make a difference in people鈥檚 lives. That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about.

Share a piece of career advice.

My dad coached women鈥檚 basketball, and he used to say something that stuck with me: 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have to be perfect.鈥� He noticed that many players would hesitate, waiting for the perfect moment to take a shot and by then, the opportunity was gone.

He taught me there are only three outcomes: you miss and the other team gets the rebound, you miss and your team gets the rebound and you get to try again, or you make it. Two out of three isn鈥檛 bad. I鈥檝e carried that with me throughout my career. When I鈥檓 facing a challenge, I remind myself not to wait for perfect. Just take the shot and keep moving forward.

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We鈥檙e spotlighting our Veterans Champion and project manager from our Buildings and Places business in the UK, Thomas Westlake, whose experience and continued contributions are helping shape how we support veterans across our organization. Their insight is helping us build a more inclusive, resilient, and supportive workplace for those transitioning from military to industry life.

Thomas Westlake is from our Project Management team in London and works predominantly in the Security and Resilience sector. He has been with 91影视 since 2023, following a career in the British Armed Forces. Thomas works on projects across government, public sector, defense, and disaster management, coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders and teams. His projects have been across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

After serving in the British Army for eight years, I was eager to find a career where I could apply the skills I had developed and continue doing work that made a real difference. A friend who was working at 91影视 at the time introduced me to the company. What stood out was the scale of the projects, the global footprint, and the opportunity to contribute to work with real-world impact, particularly in areas like infrastructure, security, and resilience. Project management felt like a natural transition from the armed forces, and 91影视 offered the structure and opportunities to grow in that space. My role within the defence and government sectors allows me to contribute to meaningful projects in the UK and overseas. It鈥檚 rewarding to be part of efforts that help safeguard communities and protect national interests while supporting international efforts to foster resilience and enhance security.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

One of my most fulfilling projects was delivering a resilience assessment of six emergency shelters in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These shelters are crucial during hurricane season, providing protection to local communities when extreme weather hits. I led the assessment on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), working closely with some outstanding specialist consultants, local government representatives, and community leaders.

Our team conducted on-the-ground inspections, assessing compliance of six key areas: structural integrity, fire safety, hygiene facilities, security, accessibility, and gender sensitivity. We also reviewed emergency plans and practices and spoke with key stakeholders and residents to understand local needs and context.

What I enjoyed most was the challenge of building trust quickly, navigating cultural differences, and shaping practical, community-led solutions. Based on our findings, we made clear, actionable recommendations, ranging from structural improvements to clearer roles, better coordination between agencies, and enhancements to better support women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

The project helped strengthen local preparedness by addressing key vulnerabilities ahead of the next hurricane season and empowering local teams to lead the changes. It was a project where the impact was clear, the collaboration was strong, and the work genuinely helped improve readiness on the ground. That made it a particularly rewarding experience for me.

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

After being appointed Veterans Champion for 91影视, I have taken a leading role in organising the 91影视 Armed Forces and Veteran Industry Insight Programme in the UK and Ireland. This initiative was developed to support individuals transitioning from military to industry careers by providing a platform to explore opportunities and access a dedicated support network.

The event highlighted diverse career pathways and demonstrated our ongoing commitment to veterans, service leavers, and reservists through targeted training, mentoring and advocacy. It underscored the wide range of roles available across the organisation and the broader industry 鈥� from project management to leadership positions 鈥� many of which align closely with the skills veterans bring from their military service.

The event also created a valuable space for attendees to connect with industry professionals, gain insights into civilian work environments, and explore new career possibilities. A key focus was on recognising and translating the transferable skills veterans possess 鈥� such as leadership, problem-solving, resilience and teamwork 鈥� into meaningful opportunities in the industry workforce.

The event鈥檚 success was reflected in the positive feedback we received and the stories of participants who left with renewed confidence, many now actively considering careers in project management. Looking ahead, we are committed to building on this momentum. I have begun developing an internal veterans’ network to foster a sense of community, provide peer support, and ensure that the voices and experiences of veterans are reflected across the organisation.

Share a piece of career advice

Embrace transferable skills and be open to new opportunities. My transition from the British Army to project management wasn鈥檛 straightforward. No matter where you start or what your background is, the experiences you鈥檝e gained and skills you have developed are often more transferable than you realise, trust in them and don鈥檛 hesitate to step outside your comfort zone.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Thomas Westlake appeared first on Blog.

The program plays a crucial role in reshaping the future of our built environment. Their mission is clear: to create a resilient, decarbonized built environment to improve people鈥檚 lives, and to represent this critical sector at future summits.

This year鈥檚 discussions zeroed in on a core truth: we cannot meet climate goals without transforming the buildings sector 鈥� and we must do so in a way that prioritizes both decarbonization and climate resilience equally. Buildings are responsible for nearly 37 percent of global CO鈧� emissions, and with half the 2050 global building stock yet to be constructed, the stakes and opportunities are enormous.

Beyond emissions, the transformation of our built environment must also maximize social value by enhancing affordability, health and inclusion. Circularity and the principles of near-zero emission and resilient buildings must be embedded throughout the entire construction value chain, from pre-tender design decisions through procurement and post-construction operations, ensuring a comprehensive, lasting impact.

Key challenges in decarbonizing the global built environment

Launched at in Dubai in 2023, the initiative aims to make near-zero emission and climate-resilient buildings the global standard by 2030. It offers a shared policy and technical framework to guide national action across five priority areas: standards, demand creation, finance, research and skills development.

While this provides much needed direction, there are six significant barriers to meaningful progress:

1.听Policy gaps and inconsistent frameworks

 Although 136 countries reference buildings in their , most lack concrete policies or actions targeting the buildings and construction sector.  Approaches and ambition levels vary widely, making global coordination difficult. The absence of harmonized definitions and overarching frameworks further complicates efforts to align and measure progress.

2.听Support for developing and emerging economies

Under-developed and emerging nations need greater support in developing and implementing effective roadmaps, policy tools and regulations. However, challenges such as capacity building, knowledge sharing, and access to finance are not limited to these regions 鈥� they are systemic issues that must be addressed across the global program to ensure equitable and inclusive progress.

3.听Financing barriers

Mobilizing finance continues to be a major hurdle. Key challenges include the need for innovative financial instruments, risk mitigation strategies, and the mobilization of private sector investment to support large-scale decarbonization projects.

4.听Slow renovation and delivery risks

The rate of building renovation remains far too slow to meet climate targets. Retrofits are often seen as risky due to cost uncertainty, performance variability, and supply chain limitations. Extending the life of existing buildings is essential but requires clearer strategies and market mechanisms to accelerate delivery.

5.听Embodied carbon and materials

With roughly half of the 2050 building stock yet to be constructed, addressing embodied carbon is increasingly urgent. Circularity, material reuse, new technologies and lifecycle emissions must be prioritized from the earliest planning stages.

6.听Supply chain complexity

Delivering low-carbon goals depends on coordinated action across fragmented supply chains. Collaboration between manufacturers, contractors, designers and policymakers is critical to scale solutions effectively.

While global frameworks like the Buildings Breakthrough provide much-needed alignment and momentum, addressing these persistent, on-the-ground challenges is essential to deliver a built environment that is truly zero-emission, resilient and inclusive.

Accelerating action for a resilient built environment

To meet global climate goals, urgent action is needed across the lifecycle of buildings 鈥� from design and construction to operations and materials. While roadmaps have been created by the Global ABC to establish a common approach across planning, building design, operations, systems, materials, resilience and clean energy, implementation remains fragmented.

Two-thirds of countries currently lack voluntary minimum energy performance codes. The goal is for most new buildings to achieve whole-life net-zero carbon emissions.

The key actions these countries should look to take include:

• Developing national roadmaps and mandatory building codes.
• Reducing reliance on mechanical space conditioning.
• Cutting embodied carbon.
• Increasing public awareness and transparency.
• Governments leading by example, especially by implementing policy for public buildings.

Driving decarbonization across building operations and materials

Few buildings currently use tools for energy performance management. To reach operational net-zero, the sector must adopt rating tools, energy audits, smart controls and building passports. These technologies offer practical pathways to improving efficiency and reducing emissions at scale.

Addressing the embodied carbon from building materials is crucial, as it remains a major emissions source often overlooked. Priorities include data collection, integrating embodied carbon into regulations, supporting reuse and circular models, stimulating demand for low-carbon products, and accelerating R&D in manufacturing decarbonization. Although methodologies for net-zero buildings exist, their widespread implementation is lacking due to inconsistent incentives and global inconsistency. The sector must embrace whole-life carbon principles through harmonized accounting, open data, and standardized targets. Industry-led carbon pricing and transition risk assessments are vital for valuing the cost of inaction.

By aligning operational tools, material innovation and financial strategies, the building sector can achieve global decarbonization and resilience, impacting both existing and future building stock.

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Helen is a seasoned economist with extensive experience in consultancy and public policy, specializing in natural capital and environmental economics. At 91影视, she leads projects on natural capital assessment, nature strategy, and investment in nature-based solutions. Previously, she served as a senior economic adviser at Defra, contributing significantly to the early development of natural capital expertise in government. Helen also has broad experience in the water sector, where she led a program to enhance societal valuation evidence for a water company鈥檚 2019 Price Review.

What inspired you to join the industry?

I was driven by the chance to apply my expertise in environmental economics and natural capital to demonstrate the value of considering nature-related impacts and dependencies in projects. This approach helps clients achieve better outcomes. Additionally, working with talented, multidisciplinary teams at 91影视 has been a constant source of inspiration.

My motivation for entering the industry stemmed from a desire to apply economics to real-world policy challenges that have meaningful impacts on both people and the environment. At the time, environmental issues were often viewed as peripheral rather than fundamental to economic decision-making. This led me to pursue a Master of Science degree in Environmental Economics at University College London (UCL), where I gained the analytical tools to help integrate environmental considerations into economic policy and investment decisions more effectively.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

One of my favourite projects was working for a major water company in the UK on their natural capital strategy. The project took a holistic approach to embedding natural capital throughout the business from working on their strategy to developing tools and processes to embed natural capital in their business appraisal processes. We helped make the case for nature-based solutions such as a constructed wetland to remove pollution, which are cost-effective, and identified priority areas in a catchment where the water company could deliver the most benefits by working with partners.

聽One part of the project was to develop a first set of catchment accounts for the region. Catchment accounts provide a record of the natural assets in a region and how they are faring in terms of the services delivered. Monitoring these assets provides crucial evidence to help ensure sustainable delivery of water services. It was satisfying to see how this information could provide new insights for the company and help prompt thinking on priorities for working in catchments on nature-based actions. We helped demonstrate which sectors and what locations in the catchments were most influencing water quality which provided them an opportunity for better targeting of actions.

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

Natural capital is all about showing how nature as an asset delivers benefits to communities and making sure that it is not forgotten in decisions. We recently worked with a client to provide evidence of the significant benefits of their investment in a site to open it up for recreation and access. The analysis demonstrated that there were significant net benefits of proposed investment actions – in addition to recreation, this also included carbon, biodiversity and resilience (flood risk mitigation) benefits. Having a chance to visit the site and to see first-hand the restoration activity and plans for the site was a great way for me to understand what an important greenspace resource it would be for local communities.

Share a piece of career advice.

Don鈥檛 be afraid to seek advice on your career from an early stage, consider a mentor to provide an external perspective and look for opportunities for new challenges to gain insight on what you want from your career in the long term.

The post People Spotlight: Helen Dunn appeared first on Blog.

Tom Fini is Process Mechanical Lead for 91影视鈥檚 New York Metro region, specializing in the design of pumping systems, force mains, and water, wastewater, and stormwater treatment facilities. As a member of our Process Mechanical and Pumping Systems Technical Practice Group, Tom oversees standards, master specifications, and the design of mechanical process systems, materials handling, and chemical storage and feed systems.

In this Deep Dive, we are highlighting how Tom and his team enhanced the reliability of New York City鈥檚 sewer infrastructure by rehabilitating the Avenue U Pumping Station, while implementing innovative strategies to ensure uninterrupted operations during the upgrade.

In urban environments, rehabilitating critical infrastructure like pumping stations presents a unique set of challenges, especially when continuous operation is non-negotiable. The Avenue U Pumping Station rehabilitation project in Brooklyn, New York City (NYC), exemplifies innovative engineering solutions to these challenges. The pumping station serves the community by collecting and pumping wastewater from the surrounding area to the treatment facility, preventing flooding and ensuring the safe and reliable conveyance of sewage. It plays a critical role in protecting public health and maintaining environmental standards in Brooklyn.

Serving the community for decades, the station faced aging equipment, structural vulnerabilities and limited operational flexibility. The challenge, therefore, was to modernize the station while keeping it fully operational throughout the construction process. The project is not only addressing immediate infrastructure needs but also serves as a model for future rehabilitation efforts. As cities worldwide grapple with aging infrastructure, the lessons from Avenue U will guide engineers and policymakers in maintaining essential services during complex upgrades.

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

The Avenue U Pumping Station is certainly one of the most impactful projects I鈥檝e delivered. As the design manager for this project, I led a multidisciplinary team to address the complex challenges of upgrading this critical piece of infrastructure while ensuring uninterrupted operations. The Avenue U Pumping Station is a cornerstone of the city鈥檚 wastewater management system, and its rehabilitation is essential to ensure the long-term reliability and resilience of this vital infrastructure.

With the design phase now complete and the project moving into the bid phase, we are one step closer to realizing the tangible outcomes of this work. The upgrades will improve the operational efficiency of the pumping station, reducing the risk of system failures and extending its service life by decades. This will directly contribute to environmental sustainability by preventing potential wastewater overflows, which can have severe ecological and public health impacts. Notably, this project is pursuing at least , underscoring its commitment to sustainability and resilience. Economically, the project will ensure uninterrupted wastewater services for thousands of residents and businesses, avoiding costly disruptions and maintaining the quality of life in the community.

Upholding our Sustainable Legacies principles, the project aligns with our commitment to sustainable infrastructure. By implementing innovative solutions to maintain continuous operations during construction, we are minimizing the project鈥檚 environmental footprint and ensuring positive social impacts by safeguarding essential services for the community.

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

The primary challenge was designing a rehabilitation plan for the pumping station that would allow it to remain fully operational throughout the construction process. This required developing a comprehensive bypass pumping system capable of handling the station鈥檚 full capacity without interrupting service. The complexity of working in a dense urban environment, with limited space and strict regulatory requirements, added another layer of difficulty.

As the design manager, I played a central role in coordinating with the client, contractors, and other stakeholders to develop an innovative bypass system that is both constructible and resilient. My responsibilities included managing the design team, ensuring seamless communication across disciplines, and aligning our approach with the client鈥檚 goals and regulatory requirements. We conducted detailed hydraulic modeling and risk assessments to ensure the system could handle peak flows and unexpected scenarios. One key innovation was incorporating an interconnecting pipe between two influent manholes at the pumping station, replicating existing conditions and enhancing system flexibility.

A memorable breakthrough moment came when we finalized the design of the bypass system, ensuring it met all operational and regulatory requirements. This was a testament to the team鈥檚 meticulous planning, collaboration and leadership. My role involved not only bringing unique ideas to the table, such as optimizing the layout of the bypass system to minimize space requirements but also ensuring that these ideas were executed effectively through close coordination with all parties involved.

How has 91影视 enabled you and your teams to cultivate the expertise needed to deliver the Avenue U Pumping Station rehabilitation project 鈥� and future work like it?

91影视 has been instrumental in providing the resources, support and collaborative environment needed to deliver complex projects like the Avenue U Pumping Station rehabilitation. Our emphasis on technical excellence and innovation allowed our team to leverage cutting-edge tools and methodologies, such as advanced hydraulic modeling. In particular, 91影视鈥檚 Water Technical Academy has been an invaluable resource, offering specialized courses on water and wastewater engineering topics that have deepened our team鈥檚 expertise and kept us at the forefront of industry advancements.  As the design manager, I drew on our global expertise and best practices to guide the team and deliver a design that meets the client鈥檚 needs.

This project has also provided an excellent opportunity for professional growth. I was able to develop new skills in project management, stakeholder coordination and innovative problem-solving. Additionally, I had the chance to mentor junior team members, helping them broaden their expertise in process mechanical design. Leading a diverse team through such a complex project reinforced the importance of clear communication, adaptability and fostering a collaborative culture.

The lessons learned from this project have prepared me and my team to tackle similar challenges in the future. We鈥檝e gained valuable insights into designing resilient infrastructure in urban environments and maintaining operational continuity during complex upgrades. This experience has shaped my approach to future work, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in delivering infrastructure solutions that truly make a difference.

The post Deep Dive with Tom Fini appeared first on Blog.

Cynthia Hartley鈥檚 background includes nearly two decades in the international development sector. Since joining 91影视 in 2016, she has focused on projects ranging from economic growth, urban resilience and environment to disaster risk management, from both the business development and project implementation sides. Cynthia works closely with our clients to pinpoint challenges and engineer solutions aimed at bolstering their effectiveness in mitigating disaster losses. She also provides technical assistance for infrastructure grant applications. Her love for meeting and engaging with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to strengthen communities inspires her work.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I鈥檝e always been an advocate for safeguarding our environment and fostering community growth. In graduate school, I wrote my thesis on the expansion of an environmental engineering firm (MWH, now Stantec) into developing countries. The next year, I entered the Architecture and Engineering (A/E) industry working for the very same company. Several years later, I experienced firsthand the impact that natural hazards, in particular, Superstorm Sandy, can have on communities. This led me to advance my commitment and work in environmental protection, disaster risk management, and resilience, specifically in the A/E industry. In a lot of ways, it鈥檚 a continuation of the international development work I did previously. My work in our industry aligns with my desire to have a broader impact on society and leave a legacy.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

A common theme that runs through all my favorite projects is strategic planning and problem solving. I recently worked with West Virginia鈥檚 State Resiliency Office to develop a forward-thinking strategic plan for the state. This involved understanding West Virginia鈥檚 historical successes, aggregating its diverse challenges and needs, identifying its strengths, and filling in the gaps to meet the objectives of a legislative mandate for a statewide resiliency plan. We worked with stakeholders who care deeply about resilience and disaster risk reduction to update the state鈥檚 flood strategy for the first time in 20 years. The two-year Flood Resiliency Plan we helped develop identifies the actions needed to achieve the greatest impact for flood resiliency in West Virginia.

One of the next steps will be to develop an education and outreach strategy to identify ways to reach all people, including local and marginalized communities. In international development terms, reaching the last mile includes reaching people at the lowest economic rungs of society, people with disabilities, and the aging population 鈥� people who do not have (or have limited) access to the internet or the information it provides. We also need to reach private sector businesses that employ people from West Virginia鈥檚 communities and depend on them to generate revenue. If you鈥檙e a dairy provider in West Virginia and the roads are closed or lives are at risk due to flooding, people will not be able to access or afford your products and your employees will not be able to show up for work. By reaching the private sector and communities, we can make this a 鈥渨hole-of-society鈥� approach, because everyone has a stake in this. We鈥檙e also starting to work with the State Resiliency Office to develop a grants management program and a grants management training manual to help raise the funds needed for outreach and education and implementation of the flood resiliency plan.

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

At 91影视, I鈥檝e been able to reach across geographies and engage with my colleagues throughout the world 鈥� from offices in South Africa, Romania, Australia, Spain, and elsewhere 鈥� to share knowledge and exchange lessons learned, improving upon what we know to benefit the global community. And that’s how I find the greatest fulfillment 鈥� by collaborating with diverse people and groups to help the whole of society.

A key focus of my work at 91影视 has been helping countries, states, and cities develop strategies to build resiliency. This has included initiatives with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Agency for International Development, UN鈥檚 Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Reduction (UNDRR), and ARISE-US, the U.S. chapter of the UNDRR. 91影视 was one of the founding members of ARISE-US and through that engagement we developed the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities. I helped UNDRR review the Government of Bulgaria鈥檚 first disaster risk reduction strategy, and as part of FEMA鈥檚 Hazard Mitigation Assistance program, I worked closely with FEMA headquarters, leading a root cause analysis of its grants administration process to reduce the time it takes to obligate funding to the communities that need it the most. In all these initiatives, I鈥檝e engaged with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds to help communities overcome adversities and become more resilient.

Share a piece of career advice

Stay true to your passion and goals. If you have a fire in your belly to do something, then pursue it. Consider the multitude of opportunities that will present themselves as you pursue a particular goal. You may have to diverge at a point to something that’s tangentially related to what you want to pursue, and that鈥檚 OK, because it will help build your strengths more broadly and provide you with one more tool in your toolbox.

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