Hello AACE Members!  I’m Stephanie Kers, and I am deeply honored and excited to be stepping into the role of Chair of the Women in Project Controls (WPC) Committee!  On behalf of the committee, I extend our gratitude and appreciation to Tracy Leung, outgoing chair, who has been an incredible leader for our committee over the past two years.  Tracy’s enthusiasm and guidance have united an amazing group of diverse, international, and dedicated AACE professional women and allies.  I look forward to continuing to work together to further our vision and continue to grow all aspects of our WPC community!  Let me start by telling you a bit about myself and my path into project controls.

I was born and grew up in Bragg Creek, a small town in the foothills west of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  I studied at the University of Calgary, completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in international business.  Shortly thereafter, I started in a junior cost analyst position working remotely on-site in Northern Alberta.  I worked with a project management team responsible for monitoring the successful construction and completion of a large oil production facility.  I quickly realized that I loved the dynamic pace and exciting world of major construction projects. 

Working in the cost role meant that I could interact with multiple disciplines and departments, compiling information and reporting to management.  No two days were alike, and in the junior role, I had the opportunity to constantly learn.  Working on-site was exciting, and I took advantage of any chance to get my boots on the ground and tour the construction site first-hand.  This role was the start of what would become a career in project controls.  I have since worked for several other major companies in the energy industry, focusing my area of specialization on major projects. 

Working on multi-year projects, and often concurrent projects, allowed me to gain experience in cost control activities in all project stages. From project kick-off and front-end planning to engineering and design, I oversaw procurement and fabrication contracts, executed construction and on-site activities, and concluded with commissioning and turnover. I truly loved the experience of supporting different areas within the project team and interacting with many stakeholders over the life of a project.

Like many of you, I am a life-long learner and a highly curious person, and I am always looking to increase my skills and knowledge.  A few years ago, while working full-time, I returned to the University of Calgary in the Executive Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program.  My goal was to get as much out of the experience as possible, and I leveraged everything that I had learned in my career up to that point to maximize my studies.  It was an amazing experience!  I gained an incredible network of fellow professionals and classmates, attended inspiring lectures and seminars, and got to push the limits of my capabilities beyond what I thought was possible.

More recently, I have committed to giving back to the project controls community by increasing my involvement with AACE and my local Calgary Section.  In 2019, I attended my first AACE Conference and Expo in New Orleans with several of my team members.  I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the presentations, seminars, and discussions.  There, I fully realized that the experience I have gained over my career now enables me to give back and share that knowledge with others.  I also left feeling inspired, motivated, and excited to bring back what I had learned and incorporate it into my current role.  

In 2020, I collaborated with fellow AACE members Nicole Johnson (CEP) and Dave Kyle (CCP CEP) to co-author a technical paper presented at the 2020 virtual conference and expo.  Our paper, TCM-3430, “Cost Engineering Roles & the Project Lifecycle: Providing a Framework,” focuses on the interrelated elements and roles within the cost engineering function and provides insight into the flow of information over the lifecycle of a typical project.  It is a great foundational document to reference whether you are new to the world of project controls or want to bring integrated systems thinking into your project management approach.  Contributing to this paper was an incredible experience, and I am proud to be able to share what I have learned during my career with the project controls community.

At the end of May, I handed over the AACE Calgary-Chinook Section President role to our incoming President, Jordan Beckel.  Serving alongside our Calgary Board of Directors over the past year was a fun and highly rewarding experience.  Calgary continues to be one of the largest sections at AACE, with a highly committed and engaged member base.  I look forward to continuing to serve on the Board and participating in events at our local section level.

As Project Controls Lead for Major Projects at Canadian Natural Resources Limited, I oversee a high-performing project controls team responsible for cost, scheduling, risk, and reporting activities.  We support a project management team with multiple departments, all of whom together contribute to and are responsible for successful project delivery.  I am proud that we have created a truly collaborative team culture committed to excellence in project delivery.

I am fortunate to have several leaders within this team who have and continue to mentor me.  These remarkable leaders set the example and have developed strong, positive team cultures by putting people first to achieve greater objectives.  I value these as some of the most important lessons I have learned as I continue developing my leadership abilities.  When team members feel valued in their roles and contributions and are treated with respect and appreciation, there is no limit to the team’s success.

I look forward with much excitement to the year ahead that we have planned at WPC.  I invite you to get connected with us, to get engaged and involved, and to encourage you to attend our upcoming events.  We are all-inclusive and welcoming to all allies, regardless of gender.  We commit to continuing the very important work of eliminating barriers, breaking down unconscious bias, building a strong network, and supporting our members.  It’s going to be another great year!