Karla Avis-Birch

Civil Engineering ’98
Vice President, Metrolinx — RER New Stations and Off Corridor Infrastructure — Capital Projects Group

Karla Avis-Birch moved from Montreal to Toronto to pursue a career in engineering at Ryerson University, and is an alumnus of the National Society of Black Engineers of Canada. She works for GO Transit, where over the past 6 years she has progressed from Project Financial Engineer to Manager, Controls and Standards, culminating in her recent career achievement as Vice President, RER New Stations and Off Corridor Infrastructure – Capital Projects Group. Within this role, Karla leads the development and quality control of design standards, provides oversight and guidance for project controls, is the functional administrator of the project management system, and oversees a business liaison team that includes procurement, realty, and legal. Most recently, she has been appointed by Infrastructure Canada to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority board of directors to  oversee the construction of the Gordie Howe bridge.