Meet the team: Maria Pallard, Principal Consultant | ABL Canada
The team at ABL Group shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans, de-risking and driving the energy transition. We are driven by the idea that the best work is born from professionalism, diligence… and fun. You know ABL Group, but do you know our team?
What does your day-to-day look like at ABL?
Every day is different, and my work varies a lot – and that’s the beauty of it, I never get bored! I work with our local clients to deliver engineering and consulting services to support fleet operations, Marine Warranty Surveys and other marine inspections.
As Canada gears up for development in the offshore wind market, I am helping ABL increase its presence in Canada to support clients in the delivery of offshore wind projects at every stage of a project.
What inspired you to join your industry?
I spent my teenage years playing on the water, sailing dinghies and keelboats, learning about how the boats are made. As it turned out, I was much better with my head than my hands – and I was always very technically inclined.
My long-standing passion for boats, combined with my technical background (M.Sc in Applied Mathematics), made it an easy transition into Naval Architecture.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
I’m currently assisting one of my colleagues with a derelict vessel assessment for a local ship recycling company. The project requires a ship survey – and I always get excited about field projects that let me get my hands dirty.
Plus, old ships are a curious puzzle – we often don’t get much documentation on old ships and have to figure everything out on site.
What does the future look like in energy and oceans?
It is amazing to see how the industry is evolving. We are finally learning how to treat our world with respect and compassion, and it is reflected in how we approach projects in energy and oceans.
I am confident that the industry is moving in a right direction, with sustainability at the forefront, and accountability in the rear. As long as we all chip in, the future will look bright.
More on Maria Pallard
Position: Principal Consultant
Office: Halifax, NS Canada
Hobbies: Snowboarding, foraging, archery, sailing, graphic design and illustration, hiking
Favourite movie:
My favourite movie is Alien by Ridley Scott. Some might consider this movie a silly sci-fi horror slasher, but it is so much more than that.
I always had a soft spot for sci-fi, and Alien, with its exploration of themes of gender and power, is considered by many the pioneer of feminist cinema.
Sigourney Weaver fuelled the machine of women-led films, and became an idol to many ladies, including myself. After all, marine industry has always been a male-dominated industry too!