Enabling the sustainability transition
At a glance
Starting out her career as an environmental scientist, Michelle Kiejda is now GHD's Service Line Leader for Asset Transition in APAC. With the growing focus on sustainability across many industries, Michelle says it's an exciting time to work in asset transition.
Asset transition involves the transition of an asset from one operational state to another, whether it's rehabilitation, closure or demolition. Assets can range from mines and coal-fired power stations to aluminium refineries and water treatment plants.
"Our aim is to remove any potential impacts from a site and make sure that whatever is left there is safe, stable and non-polluting, regardless of its future use," Michelle says.
Having worked in asset transition for 15 years, Michelle has seen how the growing focus on sustainability and the changing views of society have driven many industries to transition much sooner.
"Across Australia, state governments and banks looking at ethical investment are really driving progressive asset rehabilitation, forcing companies to explore how their sites can be transitioned to deliver the best socio-economic benefits.
"I've been lucky enough to see the shift from pre-feasibility reports that sit on the shelf to on-the-ground implementation and execution of those plans."
Beginning her career as an environmental scientist, Michelle says asset transition draws in people from a range of different specialties.
You can't study asset transition at university, so people come to this field from various backgrounds. Our team brings together technical specialists in contamination, remediation, tailings, dams, geotech and community engagement."
As an asset transition specialist, Michelle says the most rewarding thing about what she does is being able to work with so many different people and across the whole lifespan of an asset.
"With GHD's broad technical capability and our range of clients, you can be involved in the options planning, detailed design, and implementation of an asset transition project," she says.
"You get to have conversations across a broad spectrum of technical specialties which helps you develop your own skills to help bring everything together."
With many assets at the end of their lifecycle and the urgent need to transition towards a renewable future, Michelle says there are plenty of opportunities to work in this exciting space.
"It's a really dynamic time to be part of this industry. Sites are starting to close. On-the-ground execution of asset closure plans is happening right now. The closure projects we're working on are enabling the sustainability transition to happen, creating opportunities to develop hydrogen hubs and new batteries. It's exciting work."