b'CAREER PROFILEDEPARTMENTTellingthe real storyAs an urban planner, Alfiya Kakal explains the real rather than perceivedimpacts of quarry developmentQ:WhatisyourpositionandwhatareinapositionwheretheyarefacedwithQ:Describe your typical day on the job your responsibilities? having to answer pointed questions relatedand how the work you do contributes to Im an urban planner at IBI Group, with atothelanduseimpactsofanyproposedyour company. focusonaggregatedevelopment.Inmypit or quarry development. Helping neigh- Astheurbanplannerforanyproject,we currentpositionIamresponsibleforallbouringpropertyownersunderstandtheare usually the first line of communication typesofpermittingandapprovalsrelateddifferencebetweenperceivedrisksandbetween the business and either someone totheaggregateindustry.Suchapprovalsevidence-based risk is, and continues to be,in a government office or another member range from new site development to modi- agrowingchallengethatisbesthandledof the project team. My role is to ensure ficationstoexistingsitesandalsopost- delicately and with thoughtfulness.that this flow of information is conducted extractive land development approvals. ThisCONTINUED ON PAGE 24requires me to have an in-depth knowledge of current policies and regulatory require-ments and also be on top of policy changes that may be forthcoming. Q:What is it about your job that other people wish they got to do?I would say the opportunity to meet new people, some of whom can be high-profile individualssuchasmayorsandcouncil-lors; the opportunity to balance desk work with field work; the opportunity to work ondeliverablesthatgivesyouasenseof accomplishment;andtheopportunityto incorporate some form of design/creativity into your work. These are probably some of the things that other people wish they got to do.Q:What do you find most challenging in your work?Mostapplicationsforapprovalsundergo arigorouspublicconsultationprocess. Navigatingthisprocessisprobablythe most challenging part of my work. It is not uncommon for a planner to find themselves 22 AVENUESFALL 2019'