GHD focuses on sustainability through its work on environmental issues like water conservation and ensuring resilient ecosystems across Canada.Supplied
Stefania Goodrich joined a small ecology team with the global professional services firm GHD in Vancouver less than four years ago. She found the company’s work aligned with her environmental principles. “It was just me and a senior biologist in Prince George,” says Goodrich, an intermediate biologist. Now, she is Western Canada regional champion, their team has expanded to 12 employees and it’s continuing to grow.
GHD is a leading Australia-founded company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Nearly a quarter of employees own shares in the business, which is 100-per-cent employee owned.
“Sustainability is built into what we do, why we do it and how we do it,” says James Viray, global head of corporate sustainability. “What makes GHD sustainable is our work on environmental issues such as water conservation and resilient ecosystems – plus the social component around human rights, including Indigenous engagement in Canada.”
Viray says the foundation of the work GHD does is to focus on the future of energy, water and communities. “It is integral to how we make decisions on everything from our enterprise strategy to risk management to the types of projects we pursue. We have committed to a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and we ask our vendors about their decarbonization strategy. Our project selection standards outline the types of projects we will no longer do.”
Goodrich works on projects such as sewer upgrades for government infrastructure or waste transfer stations for First Nation communities. Her work in the field doing plant and ecosystem surveys leads to recommendations that funnel into full environmental assessment reports. She also does project management with clients where her team’s survey work leads to recommendations on eliminating invasive plants and replacing them with native flora, as well as protecting species at risk.
Assisting with the organization of a yearly park or waterfront clean up in Vancouver is one of Goodrich’s favourite activities. She spreads the word internally to encourage a group of GHD employees to take part, and the municipality provides any necessary equipment. “It’s an opportunity to interact with local people who are really pleased to see us out there,” she says.
As Western Canada regional champion, Goodrich meets virtually with other GHD champions across North America to learn and share decarbonization strategies. She leads a team with members in Calgary and Edmonton to carry out regional waste audits and recently worked on a plan to update vehicle fleets for each office. “We had to find a balance, choosing vehicles that are sustainable but safe for fieldwork in the middle of nowhere,” she says.
Goodrich is proud of waste reduction efforts in the Vancouver office. There, they not only do regular recycling but they also recycle batteries and Styrofoam. Recently, she was able to persuade the office waste team to begin recycling soft plastics. “It’s diverted responsibly into a private stream where it is turned into plastic pellets,” says Goodrich.
This is no surprise to Viray. He has worked in the field of sustainable development for more than 20 years, and in past positions he sometimes had to work hard to build a business case as to why sustainability is important. “With GHD’s purpose and vision, people already get it,” says Viray. “The leaders here are already committed to doing things sustainably.
“Our services include solutions that accelerate renewable energy development, protect freshwater and support resilient communities and ecosystems. They go beyond just not doing harm. That really attracted me to GHD.”
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Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.