Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 30
34
( 2026 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
Women find career paths to leadership at GHD
E
rika Graves joined
GHD Ltd. as a junior
engineer, straight out
of university. Thirteen
years later, she is team
leader for the Fredericton CAR
(Contaminated Site Assessment
and Remediation) business group
and, for a few months, acting CAR
business group leader for the
entire Atlantic region.
Graves’ passion for the
environmental field was sparked
during summer work with the
provincial government in New
Brunswick. “My supervisor had
previously worked with GHD
and told me about the variety of
projects, and I wanted the ability
to see things through from start
to finish,” says Graves. “I have
that now and it’s such a feeling of
accomplishment!”
GHD is a global, multidisciplinary professional services
network providing clients with
integrated solutions across
advisory, digital, engineering,
architecture, environmental and
construction needs. Nearly a
quarter of employees are offered
shares in the business, which is
100 per cent employee owned. Its
North American headquarters are
located in Waterloo, Ont.
“A big part of GHD leaders’
mission is to enhance employee
growth and experience,” says
Liz Peace, client development
strategist. Peace joined GHD as
a client account leader and was
given the opportunity to enter
a global executive leadership
program before she took on
overseeing the overall Americas
client program and joined
Canada’s leadership team. She is
one of the 57 per cent of executives
at GHD who are women.
Although Peace leads the client
program, even here GHD is
looking out for employees. “We
want to ensure we’re working with
clients whose values align with
ours and who will create good jobs
for our employees,” she says.
GHD enriches employee
experience in several ways,
says Peace. There are learning
and networking experiences in
employee resource groups (ERGs).
As engagement chair of the
Women in GHD group, she found
opportunities to collaborate with
clients and male allies. “I now
sponsor the Young Professionals
ERG where young people grow,
develop ideas and network with
leaders.”
Peace finds retention is top of
mind at GHD. There is a flexible,
hybrid work model with three
days working from the field, site or
office and no more than two days
at home.
Both Peace and Graves have
taken advantage of a wellness
program for women. “A
specialized provider offers support
for fertility to breastfeeding to
menopause,” says Peace. “Having
that support and being free to talk
about these things creates real
psychological safety.”
A big part of GHD
leaders’ mission is to
enhance employee
growth and experience.
— Liz Peace
Client Development Strategist
GHD understands the importance of collaboration and mentorship to guide professional growth for its
employees.
GHD has both paid and unpaid
parental leave options and, as a
mother of two children, Graves
has used the employee 24-hour
phone service support line to
reach nurses and doctors after
hours.
She credits her 13-year tenure
at GHD to a combination of
factors. “The culture, flexibility
and technology empower me to
handle both my family and work
responsibilities without feeling
like I need to sacrifice one for the
