{"id":8076,"date":"2026-05-20T19:47:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T19:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aecom.com\/en-ca\/people-spotlight-meet-jennifer-ashawasegai-pereira\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T19:48:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T19:48:35","slug":"people-spotlight-meet-jennifer-ashawasegai-pereira","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aecom.com\/en-ca\/people-spotlight-meet-jennifer-ashawasegai-pereira\/","title":{"rendered":"People Spotlight: Meet Jennifer Ashawasegai-Pereira\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People Spotlight: Meet Jennifer Ashawasegai-Pereira <\/h1>\n <\/div>\n
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Jennifer Ashawasegai-Pereira<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jennifer Ashawasegai-Pereira is an Indigenous relations lead for eastern Canada, based in the Sudbury, Ontario office (Robinson Huron Treaty territory). <\/em><\/h3>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Our People Spotlight series<\/a> gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the country. This week, we are highlighting an Indigenous relations lead for eastern Canada, offering a glimpse into their career journey and impact. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jennifer Ashawasegai-Pereira is\u00a0one of\u00a0the\u00a0Indigenous\u00a0relations\u00a0leads, based\u00a0in the Sudbury, Ontario office, which is in the Robinson Huron Treaty territory in Canada.\u00a0In addition to her work at AECOM, the\u00a0Anishinabe\u00a0Kwe\u00a0from\u00a0Henvey\u00a0Inlet First Nation (Robinson Huron Treaty territory) serves her First Nation as a\u00a0Community\u00a0Trustee for two of the Nation\u2019s\u00a0trusts. Jennifer began her corporate journey about 11 years ago as a First Nations\u00a0liaison\u00a0for\u00a0two construction projects.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I started working part-time at AECOM as a First Nation Laison for a highway expansion project in my territory, I quickly recognized the critical need for cultural awareness training and communications support to promote understanding and awareness of Indigenous Peoples, and how our projects can impact Indigenous Peoples across Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reconciliation has been a big part of my corporate journey and promoting the integration of it across business lines has been important to me. Presently, it\u2019s great to see more focus on relationship building and partnership goals in Canada as we all strive to contribute to Nationhood building from a local perspective to a global one. All projects across Canada include various levels of Indigenous participation, which has been a natural progression in the Reconciliation journey from consultation to projects to the markets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great example\u00a0comes from my own First Nation,\u00a0when\u00a0Henvey\u00a0Inlet First Nation (HIFN) and\u00a0Pattern Canada developed a 300-megawatt\u00a0wind project on\u00a0HIFN\u00a0land that\u00a0would\u00a0generate enough clean, renewable energy to power about 100,000 homes in Ontario. The\u202fHenvey Inlet Wind project<\/a>\u202fwas a one-of-a-kind venture: it was both the largest single-phase wind project in Ontario, as well as the largest First Nation wind partnership project in Canada\u00a0at the time. AECOM was hired to conduct the environmental assessments as well as carry out the environmental monitoring program during the project\u2019s construction phase. As a\u00a0First Nation\u00a0liaison, I had the wonderful opportunity to lead job recruitment and retention of Anishinabek employees, help ease cultural challenges and support training initiatives. I really enjoyed this rewarding project work with AECOM and transitioned to full-time employment.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n Reconciliation has been a big part of my corporate journey and promoting the integration of it across business lines has been important to me. <\/p>\n

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What is your favorite AECOM project that you\u2019ve worked on and why?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Without a doubt,\u00a0the\u00a0Henvey\u00a0Inlet Wind project. I loved having \u201cboots on the ground\u201d during the construction phase, talking with other Anishinabek about their traditional knowledge and what they learned through their experience with us. Because of our local knowledge of the land and proximity to the project site, we were able to\u00a0more effectively protect and preserve the natural environment and provide time- and cost-saving opportunities. It was an exciting time and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0very proud\u00a0to have been involved in this sustainable legacy project, one that recognized social value and fit the\u00a0needs\u00a0of my community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n Because of our local knowledge of the land and proximity to the project site, we were able to more effectively protect and preserve the natural environment and provide time- and cost-saving opportunities. <\/p>\n

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Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community. <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a First Nation liaison, part of my role involved supporting employee recruitment efforts. I worked to build trust and encourage candidates to explore opportunities with AECOM. This required establishing strong relationships with local First Nations communities, as well as a solid understanding of the support networks available both within those communities and across AECOM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open and honest dialogue with First Nation leadership was central to this work and consistently fostered mutual respect and collaboration. Building and maintaining these relationships is essential to the success of projects involving Indigenous clients, partnerships or participation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am also excited to be a member of AECOM\u2019s\u00a0Partnership Accreditation in\u00a0Indigenous\u00a0Relations Committee to help\u00a0AECOM\u00a0reach the next level of\u00a0certification from the Canadian Council for\u00a0Indigenous\u00a0Business. This certification confirms our corporate performance as a good business partner,\u00a0a great place\u00a0to work and a strong commitment to prosperity\u00a0for Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, I am proud of our continued work to elevate and grow\u202fIndigenous\u00a0engagement<\/a>\u202finitiatives globally.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n Open and honest dialogue with First Nation leadership was central to this work and consistently fostered mutual respect and collaboration. <\/p>\n

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Share a piece of career advice.<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every year or two, spend some time thinking about your career and taking inventory of your skills. Challenge yourself by learning something new, either for your career or your personal growth. Learning opportunities are everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Henvey Inlet Wind, Ontario, Canada, Wind Turbines, Pattern Energy.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Featured Spotlights<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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People Spotlight:<\/h4>\n

Meet Mario Turgeon<\/h2>\n

Mario is a hydraulic turbine-generator specialist from our water business line in Canada.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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People Spotlight:<\/h4>\n

Meet Emma Docherty<\/h2>\n

Emma is an associate vice president and key member of AECOM Canada\u2019s Impact Assessment and Permitting team.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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People Spotlight:<\/h4>\n

Meet Natalie Wilson<\/h2>\n

Natalie is the Area Market Sector Leader for Western Canada and a process engineer.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Stay tuned for our latest updates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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AECOM on LinkedIn<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Jennifer Ashawasegai-Pereira on LinkedIn<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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