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The CDA Young Professional Award recognizes, celebrates, and acknowledges the contributions, engagement, and commitment of Young Professionals to the dam industry in Canada. This is awarded to individuals who are in their early career stages and demonstrate professional commitment in the dam industry, either through their technical achievements, volunteer work and/or community involvement. They exemplify CDA's mission by the way they develop their skills and expertise in dam engineering and management disciplines.
Through the Young Professional Award, CDA aims to motivate the continuous development of young professionals and to attract them to the practice of dam engineering and the management of dams.
If you would like to nominate a CDA member for the 2025 CDA Young Professional Award, please complete the nomination form. Preferably, nominations should come from two CDA members in good standing.
Meet the 2025 recipients:
Aaron Sangha, P.Eng.
Aaron Sangha holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering and is nearing completion of a Master of Engineering in Mining Engineering, both from the University of British Columbia. Aaron held critical roles in safe management of tailings and water storage facilities at Teck Red Dog Operations, and is currently the Sr Dam Safety Engineer at Teck Highland Valley Copper Operations. He is passionate about implementation of strong governance systems and facility performance monitoring programs.
Amy Swerid, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Amy Swerid is a geotechnical engineer with over 13 years of international experience in dam safety and engineering across Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and Laos. At Stantec, Amy serves as the Geotechnical Excellence and Innovation Lead for Dams, Reservoirs, and Hydropower Canada West, where she fosters thought leadership and innovation across the practice. Amy’s experience in geotechnical analysis, dam safety, design, and internal erosion research has contributed to notable dam projects and technical publications. Her active involvement with the Canadian Dam Association since 2016 including committee work and presentations reflects her long-standing commitment to professional development and advancing best practices in the industry.
Evelyn Zhang, ing., P.Eng., PMP
Evelyn Zhang is a geotechnical engineer at WSP Canada, specializing in hydropower and dam projects. Her work includes dam safety reviews, construction surveillance, and public safety. As a dedicated member of the Canadian Dam Association (CDA), Evelyn is involved in both the Young Professional Committee and the Dam Safety Committee. Through these roles, she is committed to strengthening the connections between academia and industry, and she continues to raise awareness about the importance of dam infrastructure and promote the value of the CDA's resources and initiatives.
The previous recipients are:
