b'WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTIONThats where women are alsoher father is a carpenter and her brothercontributing, by looking at things from aa superintendent.different perspective, Burnell says. Its almost bringing in a fresh light, a freshSestito counts bringing environmental-view, to making construction better. management systems and information-sharing platforms to some of the companies she has worked for among her biggest achievements to date. At Ledcor, for instance, were creating a library of environmental resources, she notes.With TCA, Sestito has helped create panel sessions on such topics as waste management, and bringing that kind of knowledge to the industry is something SANDRA BURNELL Im very passionate about. Im always REVAY AND ASSOCIATES proud of bringing stakeholders together Its important for young women toto talk about legislative change or realize there are so many roles for themnew systems and procedures we can in the construction industry. Its not onlyimplement, she says.working on a site with a hard hat and bootsalthough many women are SOPHIA SESTITOdoing that, says Sandra Burnell,LEDCOR Sestito applauds the companies sheBy Sarah B. Hood principal with Revay and AssociatesLedcor environmental managerhas worked with for creatingLtd. and incoming chair of the TCASophia Sestito is currently working onopportunities for co-op students. Environmental Committee. three Metrolinx rail-corridor projects.Bringing in students and getting them Once active with Young Constructionsome experience in the construction field Burnell began her career in the 1990s,Leaders, Sestito now sits on the TCA thats great, she says. Lets create working in an architectural capacityEnvironmental Committee. In thethat expertise in-house!with Public Works and Transportindustry, environmental management is Canada where she became involved inoften seen as a delay to work, but IveInterestingly, Sestito recalls that when the development of Pearson Airport.always thought of it as an opportunityshe started out 15 years ago, she was Later, with the Greater Toronto Airportfor excellence and innovation infrequently the only woman on a job site. Authority, she was the senior architectconstruction, she says. But that is far from the case today. On for the $4.4-billion Terminals 1 and 2a job site that Im on at the moment, project, also carrying out some project- Sestito was an environmental studieswe outnumber the gentlemen for the management work for Terminal 3. major who first worked in consulting,most part, she says. Were seeing a often handling environmentallot more younger women in the industry One of the things that I had alwaysmanagement for developers, andin positions that would have been felt as an architect was that for me tofrom there I found my passion indominated by men in the pastand truly understand the profession, I hadconstruction, she reflects, adding thatquality people.to work out in the field, says Burnell. I ended up becoming the commissioning manager for Terminal 1, which I wouldSENSO WASTEsay was a very non-conventional role forMANAGEMENTan architect.Today, says Burnell, I love going throughWe make waste there because I look at the building andcollection & disposal Im very proud of what we did there. Itseasy for you!holding up very well.In her current position at Revay, Burnell has helped develop construction claims, offered construction assistance to clients, and acted as an expert witness in court cases. Besides TCA, she has worked with the Ontario Waterworks Associations Construction Committee, the Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO), and she has served as president of the Ontario Building Envelope Council (OBEC), which is where her interest in environmental issues was ignited.BUILDERSDIGEST Quarter 1 202333'