Q&A WITH ENGHERO: Kim Farwell
Kim is a senior technical advisor for extraction and she is the first female to reach this position in her company, Syncrude Canada Ltd. She got there by getting a chemical engineering degree, an MBA and a certificate in oil sands technology.
Q: What’s one thing you wish you knew about engineering back when you were in high school?
I wish I knew that I was going to enjoy it as much as I do.
Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment as an engineer?
I’m proud of that I received the Early Accomplishment Award and was president of APEGA in 2010. I’m also proud of the time I figured out a very interesting technical problem at the plant.
Q: Tell me about a time in your career when your work has been about discovery or curiosity?
My work was about discovery and curiosity when I solved a problem at the plant. A geologist and I figured out why oils weren’t coming off the separator by applying the fundamentals we had learned to real life.
Q: What are you doing these days?
My job now is a senior technical advisor for extraction and I’m the first female to reach this position in my company, Syncrude Canada Ltd. I got there by getting a chemical engineering degree, an MBA and a certificate in oil sands technology. I also have a co-op degree with six work terms, all with different companies. When I started out in high school, I was planning to be a political journalist but my friend convinced me to enter a Popsicle stick bridge contest. We drilled holes in the Popsicle sticks, put ribbons through them and won.
This is when I really started to consider engineering as a career path. Also, I went to Shad Valley and I worked with Xerox to study a pigment used for photocopiers. This helped me realize that I wanted to work in the field of chemistry.
Q: Do you feel your work contributes to society? How so?
I do. I secure Canada’s energy future with every drop of oil. My work provides jobs and energy to the world-without any ethical issues like in Nigeria or environmental issues.
Q: Why do we need more female engineers?
We need more female engineers because engineering is very much a team effort. You need a team of diverse group of people so they can solve problems and female engineers bring a different skill set.
Q: If you could recommend something for girls in high school what would it be?
I would recommend that you make lots of female friends. They are going to give you strength in all your tough times, ground you when you’re being mistreated and encourage you to never give up.