A desire to protect the environment drives Lee Hang-Liu’s career focus

For Lee Hang-Liu, Manager, Municipal Infrastructure in our Calgary office, her introduction to engineering did not come immediately after high school. She recalls, "I had completed my first two years of university focussed on biology and I didn’t feel that it was the right path for me. But I was passionate about taking care of the environment and fortunately learned through friends about the environmental engineering program, and the rest is history."

While earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering, Lee completed a year-long internship with a small firm in Calgary. She shares, "I was assigned to work at a decommissioned refinery in Balzac, Alberta. It was definitely not a glamorous role, but being in the field by myself really taught me how to be independent, how to ask good questions, not to be shy, and how to be a professional."

Lee shares that she has been very lucky to work with many individuals in the industry who were very good engineers and had the patience and willingness to guide her. "They assigned me challenging projects, let me solve problems, and helped me learn from my mistakes. I am grateful that they trusted in my abilities and invested their time to help me become a good engineer."

After eight years in consulting engineering as a project engineer and completing increasingly complex projects, Lee's leadership potential was recognized and her career shifted from technical project management to supporting executives and leading her own teams. Later, Lee worked for the City of Calgary and many of her projects were with Associated Engineering. One special project she notes was the Forest Lawn Lift Station that included The City of Calgary operations, Calgary’s Artist in Residence (Sans Façons), and Associated. The project later won an Honorable Mention at the Mayor’s Urban Design Awards.

"It was a very collaborative experience and we successfully integrated a functional art element into the operations of the lift station."

Lee says, "After having so many positive experiences working with Associated on a wide range of complex projects, I knew that if I wanted to make a change back to consulting, Associated was the best company for me. Not only are Associated’s team members extremely smart and technically competent, they are also very kind, collaborative, and very fun to work with!"

Since joining Associated four years ago, Lee has been involved on many interesting and complex projects executed under difficult circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency response work on critical infrastructure. Lee tells us, "The resiliency of our staff in responding to these challenges is a highlight for me. It gives me great pride and confidence working with professionals who are so well regarded in our industry and can apply their expertise under challenging circumstances."

Lee is proud of her team’s wins in several competitive proposals for major linear infrastructure projects in the Calgary region. When Lee first started at Associated, she had to learn about the company's past projects and capabilities. As she got more exposure and completed work as a project manager, Lee explains that it became easier to draft proposals that presented strong methodologies and showcased Associated's multi-disciplinary teams with a proven track record.

Lee says, "I really enjoy writing and when I get to collaborate with smart people, it makes writing proposals an enjoyable experience. Looking back, I credit some influential English teachers in both junior high school and high school, who fostered my love for reading and writing, as well as sparking my interest in protecting the environment."

Lee tells us that she has really enjoyed her time with the Associated team in Calgary - there is no shortage of interesting work and opportunities to collaborate with different people across the organization. This includes her participation in Associated's Learning Culture Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

"The things I value most about the people who I work with are how dedicated my teammates are to doing good work and how they will step up to help each other when times are tough. I believe that being kind and approachable sets the stage for productive conversations and problem solving during times of conflict."

As a mentor, Lee shares, "I think it is vitally important to support young staff to help them navigate the engineering industry. I believe it starts with technical mentoring so they understand the engineering process through the planning, design, and construction stages. Mentors have a responsibility to build the core competencies required for them to obtain their professional designations. Over time, this relationship should evolve so the young staff can see how they can adapt to follow other engineering career paths. Being flexible is very important to success!"

Outside of work, Lee is dedicated to practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that focusses on grappling and submissions. Lee says, "I’ve been training for almost eight years now and I am a purple belt. My husband is a black belt and both my sons train so it is a family affair. I enjoy the mental and physical challenges the sport offers. I've learned about being resilient, making mistakes, and building the will to keep trying and improving." Lee also finds fulfillment in coaching kids and women’s Jiu-Jitsu classes and helping students build confidence.

"For the kids, it brings me so much joy to see their happy faces and watch their confidence grow as they learn new skills. This is an intimidating sport for anyone, let alone a woman. I want to help them see that they can be strong and courageous."