Celeste is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Throughout her degree, she has honed her skills in CAD/CAM software and digital design programs, tapping into her creative side using AutoCAD and SolidWorks. Celeste completed two engineering internships: an eight-month contract in the field with Rio Tinto at a smelting and casting facility and a four-month contract with Hatch, UK, developing her corporate skills in a variety of sectors, including metals & mining, oil & gas, and environmental. During her internships, Celeste was given the opportunity to showcase her ability to effectively work individually and as part of a team. Celeste is a registered Engineer in Training with Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (EGBC).

Job Title:  Junior Mechanical Engineer

When did you start at Giffen?: May 2023

What office are you based in? Vancouver, BC

What inspired you to join the team here?  The close-knit and endearing feel of the team. Everyone is so welcoming and willing to help each other.

What do you think makes our team culture unique?  We work on all parts of a project. From proposal, procurement, design, evaluation, installation supervision, monitoring, reporting, and everything in between. Larger companies may task employees into one specific part, whereas we get a deeper feel and understanding of the project rather than one part.

What is the best advice you could give to a brand-new employee?  Don’t be afraid to ask.

What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job or industry?  I wish people knew a basic overview of the mining process and the amount of effort that goes into creating almost everything… buildings, vehicles, electronics, tools, and just general things! I sometimes feel like people don’t appreciate the efforts that go into making certain products and take them for granted. I’m not saying I’m completely innocent of this.

When did you first know that you wanted to pursue a career in this field?  Probably around second or third year of university. I didn’t know right away because I had mistakenly applied to the wrong program. But I stuck with it and gradually realised I made no mistake. I enjoyed all of it, the highs and the lows. By fourth year, I’d finished my first co-op program at an aluminium smelter and that’s where I really discovered the joy of working in the mining industry.

What do you love most about your job?  This may be a controversial opinion, but I love the drama. Smooth projects are boring projects. I want to see hurdles to be overcome and hoops to jump through because I love problem solving. So, problem solving within problem solving is like a bonus and just more satisfying when completed.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?  Don’t let others cloud your perspective and believe in yourself.

What would your perfect weekend look like?  Going to bed early and sleeping in both nights. Summitting a mountain say on Saturday and then cleaning and meal prepping on Sunday.

What do you like to do outside of work?  I like to sleep, read, hike, do yoga, snowboard, paint, draw, cuddle my guinea pigs, and do nothing.

What is your favorite local spot to eat / drink?  Chicko Chicken or V-Nam in North Vancouver.

What would be your dream job (that isn’t this one!)?   Field Engineer… or Space Heater Tester if engineering doesn’t pan out.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?  I want to visit everywhere, particularly everywhere with cool mountains: Himalayas, Patagonia, Swiss Alps.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?  I would say being able to speak and understand every language.