Kristin E. Hanson

2018 WIN Awards Outstanding Leader shortlisted nominee

Kristin is currently serving as Design Manager for a P3 Transit project in Ottawa being bid by SNCLavalin; the Trillium Line. Trillium is part of the City of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail project, a progressive effort by the City of Ottawa to stay ahead of gridlock brought on by significant projected population growth. Stage 2 will add over 40 kilometers of new rail and 23 stations to the City’s transportation network. As Design Manager, Kristin is leading a team of over 70 technical experts, engineers and architects in delivering innovative engineering solutions that bring the City’s vision to life as a safe, reliable railway that delivers excellence in user experience and community connectivity.

In addition to her role on the Trillium project, Kristin has a leadership role within SNC-Lavalin’s Infrastructure Engineering business, as Vice President of Operations for the Environment group in Ontario. Kristin is also helping wrap up the Eglinton Crosstown transit project design effort, having served as a technical specialist and advisor in Hydrogeology and Environment for the last few years.

Kristin has technical training and experience as a hydrogeologist, specializing in managing contaminated sites. Over the last 25 years, she has made a positive impact by motivating groups of people to achieve business objectives. She has excelled in roles serving as primary liaison with key clients, and in mentoring staff in the management of complex technical projects, particularly those related to transit and transportation infrastructure.

Born in the USA, Kristin’s career began in the U.S., where she worked for five years with ICF Kaiser Engineers in the Washington D.C. area, focusing primarily on commercial and military projects. Striving to expand her technical knowledge, she left ICF to pursue a Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology. Kristin immigrated to Canada 20 years ago after finishing her degree. She started her career in Canada working for Duke Energy in Toronto as leader of their in-house environmental services division, focusing on commercial and nuclear energy sector projects in Ontario and New York. She later joined a small environmental specialty consultancy, working her way up to a senior manager position, and one of the principal shareholders.

Throughout her career, Kristin has been a leader focused on combining technical and interpersonal skills to solve problems. She is supported by her ability to “translate” complex technical concepts so they can be understood by a layperson. Working on both sides of the US-Canada border has allowed her to gain multi-sector experience, and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.

Kristin earned a B.Sc. in Environmental Geology from Ohio University, and a M.Sc. in Hydrogeology from The Ohio State University. She has volunteered for many years with her professional association, the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO). In 2004, she was elected to serve on the APGO council. During her terms of service she held the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, President, and Past President; serving on committees including Finance, Governance and Enforcement & Compliance. In 2013, Kristin’s outstanding contributions to the profession were recognized by her peers when she was nominated to Geoscientists Canada and inducted as a Fellow. Currently, Kristin is a Director on the Board of the APGO Education Foundation, a charitable organization with a mission to promote geoscience awareness among the public, and to fund geoscience education for future professionals.