I grew up in Azores, Portugal.
My education: Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Lisbon; Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering at Higher Institute of Engineering Lisbon; one year at University of Hamilton’s Faculty of Engineering, Ontario.
Notable accomplishments: Professional Engineer Member #90687 of the Portuguese Order of Engineers; designed a photovoltaic power plant for my Master’s Thesis.
Why Flow? As engineers, we naturally look for ways to improve and make progress. To me, Flow represents engineering excellence through the constant refinement of our designs.
Favourite type of cake: Orange cake, especially when made with whole oranges and baked to the perfect balance of moisture and tenderness.
What put me on the path to engineering: I’ve always enjoyed building and creating things from the ground up. Pairing that with my interest in the problem-solving approach of math and physics throughout school, I realized that engineering was the right path to pursue a fulfilling career.
Something that surprised me about working in an engineering firm: How social and easygoing everyone is. We are hard working but we like to have fun!
Something that people might not know that mechanical/electrical engineers do: We peer review and quality check all of our designs to ensure that we deliver the best design possible.
What I like about systems design: It’s incredibly fulfilling to see something that you created take form in real life, to be able to look at it and say, “I did that.”
Projects I’m proud of: I worked from start to finish on two new-build hospitals in Angola, entirely using Revit, delivering facilities that significantly improved local living conditions. Served as Electrical Project Manager for one of BC’s first involuntary mental healthcare facilities, completing the project under politically sensitive conditions and tight deadlines, and helping to address our province’s mental health crisis.
A favourite moment in engineering: Seeing the Nasa+Spacex Dragon rocket make it to the ISS (May 2020).
A project that has affected me: The first project I managed as PM was an electrification retrofit in the West End, converting all mechanical systems from gas to electric. Working as PM gave me a new perspective on projects, and the context made me realize that transitioning away from gas will be a bigger challenge than I had anticipated.
I chose Vancouver because: What’s not to love? Great food, great people from all over the world, being surrounded by water and mountains. So much to do and never enough time.
I’m inspired by: Nikola Tesla and José Saramago.
When I’m not working you can find me in a local park playing soccer or at a music venue enjoying a concert!
On my playlist right now: Roman Holiday by Fontains D.C.