WSP’s Allyson Desgroseilliers Named Chair of ACEC-Canada

Vice President of Environmental Management for Earth and Environment, Prairies and North, Allyson Desgroseilliers, P. Eng., has been named the new Chair of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Canada (ACEC-Canada). The one-year appointment began following the organization’s Annual General Meeting on October 11th.

According to ACEC-Canada, the Chair “… provides leadership to the Board, ensuring that the association is focused on its strategic direction. As an ambassador of the industry, the Chair along with the President and CEO, advocate on behalf of the industry and represent ACEC-Canada to its Member Organizations, other industry associations, and stakeholders – across Canada and internationally.”

Based in Winnipeg, Allyson has been an active member of the consulting engineering industry in Canada for nearly three decades. She was introduced to the organization by a former supervisor, who encouraged her to participate in ACEC-Manitoba events and committees. Recognizing the strength of the network she could build, and how the perspectives of industry leaders at different companies could help her day-to-day work, she stayed active in ACEC-Manitoba, eventually joining the Board and becoming Chair.

Based in Winnipeg, Allyson has been an active member of the consulting engineering industry in Canada for nearly three decades. She was introduced to the organization by a former supervisor, who encouraged her to participate in ACEC-Manitoba events and committees. Recognizing the strength of the network she could build, and how the perspectives of industry leaders at different companies could help her day-to-day work, she stayed active in ACEC-Manitoba, eventually joining the Board and becoming Chair.

“Getting involved in ACEC at the provincial level was so valuable to my work, as it helped me participate in industry discussions and learn from my peers,” says Desgroseilliers. “That’s what I hope I am able to do during my term as Chair, bring industry leaders together to try and work through some of the challenges we currently face.”

Those challenges include finding ways to better access foreign-trained individuals to help fill labour shortages, understanding the implications and liabilities posed by AI, and creating a stronger appreciation for how the engineering sector impacts the country’s GDP.

“I’m also looking forward to broadening the conversation on green infrastructure, and understanding how we also might do more to incorporate nature-based design into our developments,” she says. “Thankfully, WSP has been excellent in supporting my involvement with ACEC, both at the provincial and national level, which will allow me to pursue these issues as part of my term as Chair.”

Before joining WSP, Allyson was Manager of Assessment and Remediation for the Prairies for Wood, and also worked for Amec Foster Wheeler as an Operations Manager and Environmental Engineer. In addition to her involvement with ACEC-Canada as a Board member since 2019, and her years involved with ACEC-Manitoba, she has served as a Director for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

Desgroseilliers is just the second female Chair in ACEC-Canada’s history, and the first from WSP.

To learn more about ACEC-Canada, including the 2023-24 Board of Directors, visit: www.acec.ca

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