Cornwall engineer recognized for leadership

Cornwall engineer recognized for leadership
Cornwall's Emma Barlow

CORNWALL, Ontario – Engineers provide simple solutions for complex problems, helping to advance society and better everyday life – that’s how Emma Barlow sees her profession. So it’s no surprise she’s the recipient of a prestigious award.

The 25-year-old civil engineering graduate of Queen’s University from Cornwall won the 2015 G. Gordon M. Sterling Engineering Intern Award. 

Barlow has worked as a junior structural engineer for over two years with Engineering for Industry, a division of Lowe, Gravelle and Associates in Cornwall.

Thanks to the accolade, she has also been invited to a “relevant and insightful leadership training course.”

“This award encourages young engineers to take their role in society, and promotes lifelong leadership development,” said Barlow.

The self-professed shutterbug sees engineers as influencers, policy makers and world changers that go far beyond “crunching” numbers and the technicalities of design.

The annual Sterling Award celebrates professional leadership achievements of engineering graduates who are registered in Professional Engineers of Ontario’s (PEO) engineering intern (EIT) program.

As a member of the POE’s Upper Canada Chapter, she has served on the executive since 2012, as well as the chapter’s education outreach committee, through which she spearheads an annual bridge building competition and promotes the profession to local students.

As an undergraduate student, Barlow was actively involved with Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), and served as the director of logistics for the PEO Student Conference held at Queen’s University.

She has also worked on a wide range of projects, including structural additions and modifications to industrial buildings and electrical substations; the analysis and design of support structures for piping and conduits; the development of transmission tower foundation repair procedures; and seismic restraints design for mechanical equipment.

Furthermore, the award winner has also been involved with completing storm water management plans and environmental approvals for industrial sites in eastern Ontario and upstate New York.

Barlow chose to practice engineering in her hometown because she believes it’s important to be able to leave the office at the end of the day and be home or enjoying the waterfront bike path and the St. Lawrence River in less than 20 minutes.

“Cornwall is a great city with a strong focus on community, providing an ideal work-life balance for its residences,” she said.

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