Page 26 - CEA-Alberta-Innovators-2025-webmag

CHRISTINE CHATER doesn’t point to a single “lightbulb”
moment that propelled her into the world of consulting
engineering. She attributes her career to several moments
and a series of professional leaps and reflections anchored
by her belief in the power of people.
From her early days as a recruiter to her current role
as Senior Manager, Human Resources (Canada) for CIMA
Canada Inc., Chater’s path is a testament to adaptability and
a commitment to recognizing and fostering talent in others.
Born and raised in Edmonton, Chater’s career started at
Staff Bureau, a placement agency, where she first learned
about the recruiting industry — matching people and
skills with employers needing help.
“It was a challenge. Sourcing that perfect candidate
felt like uncovering a needle in a haystack,” she recalls.
Finding the right person for her clients and employers
offered a “great sense of accomplishment and personal
growth.” Helping businesses find people, and people
find careers, prompted Chater to consider opportunities
in human resources (HR). She took the plunge when
a colleague recommended her for an HR role with the
Alberta Research Council (ARC).
As an HR manager, Chater got a front-row introduction
to the world of engineering. She recognized the industry’s
appreciation for people’s intellect and creativity.
“I realized our client groups value (the HR) profession.
They value what we have to say, our opinions and how we
support the business needs — they value what HR could
do to help support their business,” she says.
This led to a transformative realization: consulting
engineering wasn’t just about technical expertise and
project execution, but about the people who made it all
possible. “In engineering, we’re selling our intelligence,
our smarts,” Chater explains. “That makes attracting and
retaining the right talent not just important, but critical.”
Chater spent six years at ARC and some time in
recruitment with a large firm before another big
opportunity came her way. While volunteering as a director
and president of the board of Chartered Professionals in
Human Resources of Alberta (CPHR Alberta), she was
approached for an opportunity in HR with engineering firm
CIMA Canada Inc. She got the job in October 2011, another
seminal moment in Chater’s journey.
Her mandate was clear: establish CIMA Canada
Inc.’s presence across the region by recruiting top
talent, opening new offices and fostering a culture that
reflected the company’s core values. Chater leveraged
her recruiting experience to help CIMA Canada Inc. grow
organically and through mergers, establishing offices in
such cities as Vancouver, Saskatoon and Kelowna.
26 ALBERTA INNOVATORS
“THE BEST PART OF THE JOB IS
SEEING SOMEONE WHO YOU HIRED
GROW AND DEVELOP AND BECOME
A LEADER, MANAGER, [OR] EXPERT
AND KNOWING YOU PLAYED A ROLE
IN HELPING AND GUIDING AND
COACHING THEM TO GET THERE.”
Christine Chater
“In engineering, it’s all about the people. You need to be
a good listener and an excellent communicator. That’s what
makes it work,” she says, adding that CIMA Canada Inc. is
known for valuing those skills. “That’s what sets us apart,”
she says. “Our employees are our biggest resource.”
Still, consulting engineering comes with its own set of
challenges. Owners can often prioritize cost over value,
making it difficult for firms to compete beyond price.
Chater has remained steadfast in her belief that investing in
people is non-negotiable. “Choosing price over value isn’t
always the best decision,” she notes, describing people as
“our biggest asset, and that’s where our value lies.”
This philosophy has paid dividends. CIMA Canada
Inc. recently achieved silver-level status in Women
in Governance’s Parity Certification, recognizing the
company’s commitment to fostering diversity and
inclusion. For Chater, such accolades are a testament to
the firm’s dedication to its people and future.
Now, more than a decade into her tenure with CIMA
Canada Inc., Chater shows no signs of slowing down. Her
work has helped shape the company’s culture and reputation,
making it a destination for top engineering talent.
“The best part of the job is seeing someone who you
hired grow and develop and become a leader, manager,
[or] expert and knowing you played a role in helping and
guiding and coaching them to get there,” she says.
Chater credits her professional success to those who
have guided her.
“HR can be a lonely profession. You sort of sit in the
middle, always balancing people’s needs,” she says. “I’ve
been fortunate to have a personal network to draw from
— mentors and a core group of HR professionals that
support one another. At important moments, that has
been my greatest resource.” •