CCE’s Top 10 Under 40: Imran Gehlen

Photo courtesy AECOM.

This year, for the third time, Canadian Consulting Engineer launched an initiative to recognize up-and-coming consulting engineers across the country. We are now showcasing them on our website, in alphabetical order by surname.

Imran Gehlen, 38, is associate vice-president (AVP) of operations for AECOM’s British Columbia transportation practice. He leads some 60 infrastructure personnel, working on large rail, transit, tunnel, highway, road and bridge projects across Canada.

Under his leadership, AECOM was selected as preferred proponent for Edmonton’s Capital Line South Extension and the Surrey Langley Skytrain Project Package 2. He now holds senior leadership roles for these projects as they reach implementation.

“Imran represents the future of the engineering industry,” says Bruce McCuaig, AECOM’s regional business line leader for transportation. “Technically proficient, articulate, confident and always ready to sit down with colleagues to work together on problems, he brings a positive attitude to projects and searches for solutions that address the interests of various stakeholders.”

Perhaps surprisingly, Gehlen’s studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU) began in general arts, which he hoped would lead into accounting or law—but then he pivoted to engineering when a novel area of study arose.

“A new program in mechatronics piqued my interest,” he explains. “It offered an opportunity to combine mechanical, systems, with an eye to automation.”

Earning a BASc in mechatronics, Gehlen did a co-op term as an electrical designer for Empac Engineering before joining SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis), where he rose from electrical design engineer to electrical group manager.

“I was one of the first mechatronics graduates to end up in consulting engineering,” he says. “It’s great now to see graduates from the program excelling in the consulting business, particularly in transit systems.”

With AECOM since 2019, Gehlen says consulting has also fulfilled his previous interests.

“Some days, you’re wearing a legal hat, reviewing contracts on multi-billion-dollar jobs,” he says. “Another day, you’re in operations, reviewing the financial health of your business. So, while I’m rooted in engineering, I get to wear the other two hats that I set out to initially—legal and finance—both of which are critical to building a successful business.”