From fieldwork to leadership in Northern Canada: Alana’s career in environmental remediation

I’m the Team Lead for Northern BC and the Yukon at AtkinsRéalis, and a Senior Project Manager in environmental site remediation. I help tackle complex environmental challenges, and find smarter, more sustainable ways to give new life to contaminated sites.

I’m the Team Lead for Northern BC and the Yukon at AtkinsRéalis, and a Senior Project Manager in environmental site remediation. I help tackle complex environmental challenges, and find smarter, more sustainable ways to give new life to contaminated sites. 

I joined AtkinsRéalis as a Junior Environmental Technician, fresh into my career and looking for an entry point into the environmental field close to home in Fort St. John. It felt like a golden opportunity worth taking. 

I couldn’t have known then that I was starting a journey that would take me from muddy field sites to clean corporate meeting rooms. All while sharpening my leadership skills, challenging me in ways I never expected, and keeping me learning nearly two decades later.

Leading with purpose, people and practical insight

What I love most about my role now is supporting people. 

There’s something incredibly rewarding about helping someone recognize their strengths, step into the right opportunity, and grow into a role where they can truly thrive.  

Consulting moves fast, especially in environmental remediation. AtkinsRéalis attracts people who care deeply about making an impact. This energy pushes all of us to stay sharp. The biggest surprises and innovations come from those powerful moments when a team just works. 

For me, leadership is about trust, consistency, and showing up. I want my team to know they can come to me for support, for honest conversations, or simply because I understand what their day‑to‑day work really looks like.

Driving innovation in sustainable site remediation

My technical focus is environmental site assessment and remediation. It’s a field that continues to evolve in exciting ways. 

One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen is the growing emphasis on sustainability. This means protecting soil, reducing carbon footprints, and using risk‑based remediation approaches that balance effectiveness with environmental responsibility. In Northern BC and the Yukon, we’re increasingly applying on‑site bioremediation and tailored solutions that manage contamination while reducing unnecessary disturbance. 

No two sites are ever the same. Whether we’re working on industrial facilities, mining sites, Indigenous lands, or municipal infrastructure, remediation decisions must reflect local conditions, future land use, regulatory requirements, and community input. The most successful solutions are the ones that respect context and think long term.

Growing a career without compromise

One achievement I’m especially proud of is completing my Master’s degree while working full time and raising a young family. It wasn’t easy. It required the support of both my family and my colleagues. There were more than a few long days. However, it taught me the value of perseverance and balance. 

AtkinsRéalis supported me through that entire journey. I continue to see that same support reflected across the organization. People are encouraged to stretch themselves and take on challenges without being asked to sacrifice the things that matter most outside of work.

Why AtkinsRéalis is a great place to build your career

What sets AtkinsRéalis apart is the combination of teamwork, expertise and flexibility. It’s an organization that knows what it values and lives those values. Curiosity, initiative and collaboration are the foundation of how we work. My colleagues understand that the best results come from people who feel supported and trusted. 

Here, you don’t just work on projects. You help protect the environment, strengthen communities, and contribute to solutions that have real impact. And you do it alongside people who care about their work and about each other.

Join us and build your future at AtkinsRéalis

If you’re an environmental professional, remediation specialist, or project manager looking for work that matters and room to grow, I encourage you to explore opportunities at AtkinsRéalis.

Discover current environmental roles and join a global team engineering a more sustainable future.