HARTFORD, CT — Stantec Senior Civil Engineer Vanessa Borkowski has been named by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) as the Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional for 2021.

The award is given to young professionals who have “demonstrated contributions to enhancing the activities of the Water Environment Federation, contributions to WEF Member Associations and to WEF Committees, and improvement in the fundamental knowledge of performance of wastewater collection and treatment systems, water resource protection, and research on issues important to the water environment.”

Based out of Stantec’s Hartford, Connecticut, office, Borkowski tackles water projects across North America. With more than 10 years in the industry, Borkowski’s project experience includes replacement and rehabilitation of treatment facilities, linear infrastructure, chemical feed systems, disinfection byproduct reduction systems, facility expansion studies, hydraulic analysis, and pump station design. Her work centers around detailed design, studies, cost opinions, and construction administration.

Borkowski is the outgoing past Chair of WEF’s Students and Young Professional Committee (SYPC), currently serves on the Strategic Advisory Committee for the WEF Board of Trustees, is incoming Community of Practice Director for Outreach and Innovation, and leads the Plant Operations and Maintenance’s Operators Essentials Subcommittee as Vice Chair. During her time as a leader with WEF’s SYPC, she initiated the Emerging Young Professionals Leadership Workshop and transformed the WEF/AWWA YP Summit for rising talent to learn unconventional leadership skills.

Borkowski is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Arizona State University. In addition to WEF, she is a member the American Water Works Association, New England Water Environment Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Engineers Without Borders - USA. She is also an active member of her town’s Sustainability Advisory Committee. She was named AZWater Association’s Young Professional of the Year in 2014.