Episode 83: Anne Simonen, Civil Engineering Technologist

Best of the WWEST

Anne Simonen joins Best of the WWEST host and WWEST manager Danniele in this episode and is keeping it real by telling us about her journey from being a student who wasn't strong in math to a civil engineering technologist who is supporting really important projects in wastewater treatment. She explains why civil engineering and water treatment are super relevant right now, how making big mistakes don't have to cost your career and are great learning experiences, and gives us a glimpse into her life outside of work in the lightning round. (Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.)

Anne Simonen is a civil engineering technologist at KWL in Nelson, BC. She mostly works on projects that help get safe drinking water to people’s houses, and the wastewater that goes down drains be safely disposed of, but her favourite part of work is working with contracts and construction.

WWEST and Best of the WWEST would like to thank the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) for connecting us with the individual profiled above.

Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) is leading the Advancing Women in Engineering and Technology Project, a Sector Labour Market Partnership project, funded through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement. The project’s goal is to increase the participation of women in the engineering, geoscience, technology and technician occupations through the implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies to recruit, retain and support career development of women to lead a system level cultural shift within these professions.

For more information on ASTTBC, please visit www.asttbc.org

(Please excuse any audio hiccups in this remotely recorded interview.)

Relevant Links:

• Anne on LinkedIn
• BCIT Diploma in Civil Engineering
• BCIT Women in Engineering
• Girl Guides of Canada
• GLOWS (Growing & Learning Opportunities With STEAM)
• Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club (book by Megan Gail Coles)

Hosted by: Danniele Livengood (@livengood) Theme Music: “Positive and Fun” by Scott HolmesProduced by: Vanessa Hennessey

Please consider leaving us a review on iTunes or Stitcher! For more from Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, you can follow us on Twitter at @WWEST_SFU, on Facebook at @WWEST.SFU, and subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at wwest.ca.