Women are thriving in Planning careers at AECOM. Join them!

AECOM believes that infrastructure has the power to uplift communities and improve people's lives. Infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. Whether it’s improving a commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water or transforming skylines, AECOM's work helps people and communities to thrive.

And so a career that helps with the planning of infrastructure can certainly prove to be an incredibly rewarding career choice.

At AECOM many women are enjoying successful careers in planning, and are industry thought leaders who often address key events and conferences regarding their work and areas of expertise. For example, a number of women shared their expertise at the recent American Planning Association (APA) Federal Planning Division Workshop - AECOM Associate Principal, Andrea Sweigar; AECOM Global Practice Lead for People + Places, Kelly Bacon; New York Practice Leader for AECOM's Workplace Advisory, Lauren Foisy; AECOM Associate VP Lisa Park; and AECOM Planner Natalie Rogers.

APA is the world's largest planning organization, and offers opportunities and resources for planners, students, commissioners, educators, engaged citizens, and allied professionals committed to creating communities that thrive and prosper. The recent APA workshop aimed to provide its participants with a key opportunity to learn from planners working across diverse federal agencies, and to develop new technical skills and programmatic ideas.

As part of the APA workshop, Andrea looked at how to better collaborate to address infrastructure vulnerabilities, sharing real-world multi-jurisdictional resiliency planning examples and process improvements that support more comprehensive solutions.

Meanwhile, Kelly and Lauren focused on how real estate consolidation, shrinking footprints and more are now commonplace, and questioned how straightforward is it to consolidate space. The two women utilized the opportunity to share their experience in portfolio consolidation in public and private sectors.

Looking at leveraging the diversity of federal planning teams to achieve innovative solutions, AECOM’s Lisa Park and Natalie Rogers shared workflows and discussed their unique multifaceted approach that helps to empowers staff and elevate project delivery.

Planning is about collaboration

Planning is a highly collaborative field, and planners spend much of their time working with others.

Learn more about a career in planning by watching the video below and hearing about people's passion for a career that makes better places for everyone.

Working in planning could see you working in AECOM’s Buildings + Places practice which covers architecture, interiors, building engineering, workplace strategy, business transformation, asset advisory, economics and development planning, master planning, urban planning, and landscape architecture. With a range of expertise from strategy and design through project realization, AECOM creates better outcomes to grow economies, protect natural systems, conserve natural resources, make societies more equitable, and connect and engage people through innovative, sustainable design solutions.

Enjoying a thriving career in planning at AECOM

Women, highly talented in their field of expertise, are enjoying impressive careers at AECOM.

In her role, Andrea Sweigar serves as senior project leader and sustainability studio operations manager for multi-disciplinary planning projects. "In this capacity I have led projects that span in scale from neighborhood to regional (multi-state) including, but not limited to, watershed and conservation-based plans, military encroachment studies, strategic investment plans, energy visions, and livability studies,” she says.

As global leader for AECOM's Workplace & User Experience Practice, Kelly Bacon brings over two decades of experience in real estate, design, and strategy across a range of market sectors. She draws on her training in behavioral research methods, business and communication strategy to help clients and teams navigate the complexity of the modern workplace.

With nearly 15 years of experience in interior design and workplace strategy. Lauren Foisy’s work enables clients to understand and capitalize on the relationship between people and physical space.

Natalie Rogers, meanwhile, is an experienced urban planner who is skilled in research, report writing, workshop facilitation, and public speaking, with a special interest in the research and celebration of cultural landscapes.