Evolving Leadership and Technical Solutions: A Case Study in Complex Project Delivery for Harmer Dam Removal
Shawn Kilpatrick, P.Eng.
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Kelowna, BC
Authors: Shawn Kilpatrick, P.Eng., Brian Wong, P.Eng.
This presentation explores the multifaceted challenges encountered in a complex project focused on sediment management, water quality, and supporting works, emphasizing the critical role of evolving leadership and technical solutions in successful project delivery. The project faced significant hurdles related to sediment characterization and removal, addressing a knowledge gap concerning potential impacts to water quality by constituents of concern, and complex project logistics. We will detail the development of the sediment strategy, the approach taken to address the issue with constituents of concern, and the collaborative partnerships established with client entities for environmental management and sediment disposal. The presentation will also highlight how the project timeline demanded continuous knowledge transfer and contextualization throughout the later stages, ensuring project continuity across multi-disciplinary teams.
We will trace the project trajectory from planning and permitting through early works, an incident investigation, and ultimately, project completion. A key focus will be on demonstrating how the project team's roles, responsibilities, and leadership style need to evolve in response to the dynamic project needs at each stage. This evolution will be illustrated through specific examples showcasing how the team adapted to unforeseen challenges and changing priorities.
To mirror the project's dynamic nature, this presentation will be delivered with collaborative insight from the client and consultant. Through contrasting perspectives and shared insights, we will offer a comprehensive and engaging narrative of the project journey, highlighting both the technical intricacies and the strategic leadership decisions that shaped its outcome. This dynamic approach will provide the audience with a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale environmental projects and the importance of adaptable leadership in navigating these challenges.
About Shawn Kilpatrick, P.Eng.
Senior Associate, Hydrotechnical Engineer
Shawn Kilpatrick works at the intersection of river engineering, natural channel design, and hydrotechnical problem‑solving across Western Canada. His projects have taken him from fast‑paced emergency response work to long‑horizon restoration and infrastructure programs, each shaped by complex hydraulic or geomorphic conditions. Shawn’s approach is rooted in collaboration. He works closely with regulatory agencies, municipalities, First Nations, and environmental groups, focusing on building shared understanding and keeping complex projects moving forward. His leadership emphasizes practical solutions, open dialogue, and consistent knowledge transfer to guide projects from planning and permitting through early works, incident response, and completion.
Much of Shawn’s work centers on helping multidisciplinary teams navigate uncertainty, whether that involves untangling sediment behaviour, balancing engineering decisions with ecological considerations, or adapting field programs and design strategies as conditions shift. His involvement on the Harmer Dam Removal project spans from 2021 through its proposed completion in 2028, reflecting the long‑horizon coordination required for a project of this scale. The effort is closely tied to reconnecting SARA‑listed westslope cutthroat trout to extensive upstream habitat in the basin above Harmer Dam, adding ecological urgency to the technical and logistical challenges. Across this multi‑year initiative, Shawn has guided an expansive team of engineers, scientists, regulators, Indigenous partners, and client groups through evolving sediment characterization, water‑quality questions, and rapid logistical changes while ensuring that technical decisions remain grounded in risk, evidence, and clear communication.