How did you get interested in engineering?
There came a certain point where I had to decide between pure science and applied science – did I want to focus on the theoretical or did I want to do something more real and tangible? Engineering was the obvious choice when I thought about how much I love coming up with ideas and designs and then seeing them come to life.
Why did you choose UBC?
I am from Bangladesh and I wanted to study in Canada because I thought Canada would give me opportunities to build a rewarding life and career. I was accepted into several universities in Ontario, but I felt that the west coast and UBC offered a better work-study balance.
What led you to mining engineering?
I had actually applied to electrical engineering as my first choice. However, just as I was returning to Bangladesh after first year I realized that mining was a better fit for me.
It comes back to my original motivation to study engineering: I want to do work where I can see the results and where my contributions can have a long-term impact.
Any highlights from your engineering education?
I loved second year when I started taking courses with the other students in the mining cohort. It’s a very close-knit community – you know all the other students and the industry is small enough that you often cross paths with local leaders. The department is also so supportive. The profs are fantastic – you can always drop by their office to chat about your courses or anything that’s on your mind!
I also served as the Second-Year Representative for the UBC Mining Undergraduate Society. Even though I had to step down after four months to start my early co-op, I made the most of my time in the role by helping peers navigate coursework, sharing study resources and encouraging students to participate in department events. It was rewarding to be a bridge between students and faculty, and to contribute to building a stronger, more connected community within the program.
Tell us about your 12-month co-op position at Suncor.
I started my co-op position in January 2024 after completing my first semester of second year. I moved up to Fort McMurray to work at Suncor Energy’s Base Plant. This was my first time experiencing -50 degrees!
I started on the tailings team where I designed short-term plans looking out two weeks ahead for the tailings ponds. After six months, my manager encouraged me to take more responsibility on the mine planning team. I did that for three months and then he moved me to the drainage team, where I covered for engineers in training who were on vacation over the Christmas period. Combined, these different positions gave me a broad view and tangible experience in many aspects of the operations.
My manager was fantastic and gave me so many opportunities to grow, pushing me to go from good to great.
You’re now working at Fording River for Glencore – tell us about this position!
I am at Fording River, a mine that supplies coal for the steel industry. I am on the mid-range planning team, where we focus on how we can improve existing designs to make them more efficient. My role involves designing ramps and haul roads that are safe, efficient and align with both operational needs and long-term plans. A big part of my work is acting as a connection between the short-range and mid-range planning teams — I help ensure that designs are practical in the field and that we maintain alignment across different planning horizons.
It’s been a great learning experience because I get to balance technical design work with collaboration across teams.
I also enjoy being able to go into the field, see my designs being implemented, and talk with supervisors and operators to gather feedback. That kind of on-the-ground insight helps me continuously improve my designs and understand the real-world impact of planning decisions.
Any advice for students who are starting out in co-op?
The first few weeks can be overwhelming. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have, you are in a new environment and you need to learn about how the business works as well as your responsibilities.
Remember that people are there to help you. They know that you are a co-op student and don’t expect you to be an expert.
Ask questions! And don’t be afraid to approach people outside of your immediate team.
I always try to go out and talk with the supervisor in the field to ask them questions about things I’ve noticed and am curious about.
For example, after I designed a road, I went and talked with people in the field about my design and asked what they’d do differently to make it easier for them to execute. I’ve received helpful feedback that lets me see how my designs can be better
Any goals for the rest of your time at UBC?
I’d like to hike and travel more this year. I’d like to continue getting the word out to incoming UBC students about how great mining engineering is. When you work in mining, you are part of an industry where your work is making a difference and supporting all elements of our world and quality of life.
I also want people to know that working in mining is a lot of fun – you’ll be working with great people. Mining jobs in very remote areas are often fly-in/fly-out jobs on a 14-day rotation shift. Or you can find yourself living in a beautiful area like Sparwood – I see elk and other wildlife all the time and go hiking and camping on my days off. Or you live in areas like Fort McMurray, where you get to experience living in a northern environment.
There are lots of career opportunities, too, with more jobs than people able to fill them. Finally, there’s the satisfaction of seeing your ideas come to life or being involved in finding ways to make existing operations more efficient or sustainable.