RESPEC Co-President Debra Shewfelt Awarded for Service and Outreach

Debra Shewfelt

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM) issues annual awards to nominated members. Debra Shewfelt, a co-president of RESPEC Consulting Inc., RESPEC’s Canadian subsidiary, received two awards in the Social Responsibility and Education category.   

As a leading society in Canada for professionals in the minerals, metals, materials, and energy industries, CIM emphasizes the value of work performed by its members. Debra dedicates herself to supporting the responsible development of natural resources, which makes her an excellent nominee and recipient. Her CIM Community Service Award spotlights her as one of the “unsung heroes” of the Canadian mining industry. Her CIM Diversity & Inclusion Award recognizes her contributions toward advancing diversity and inclusion. 

“Outreach and engagement opportunities add to my day-to-day enjoyment of working as a geologist and are a valued part of my personal and professional journey,” says Debra. “These awards inspire me to continue to build on what industry partners and fellow volunteers have accomplished.”  

Debra encourages underrepresented groups to elevate their voices in unconventional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) environments: 

• Debra has launched Girls in the Classroom – Unearthing Career Opportunities in Mining. This K–12 educational outreach program introduces young women to career opportunities in the mining and mineral industry by linking classrooms with women working in those fields. 
• First Nations communities have trusted RESPEC to support their natural resource projects and turned to Debra to provide consultation, engagement, and technical support on projects. 

RESPEC encourages all our employees to cultivate relationships between their industries and their communities, and we are proud to announce Debra’s accomplishments. 

“I’m happy when I’m involved in efforts to create diverse teams and champion responsible resource development,” Debra says. 

RESPEC defines ourselves by our PACT—our commitment to Passion, Accountability, Caring, and Teamwork. Our employees exemplify our PACT daily. In all our undertakings, we strive to incorporate diverse perspectives, empower and include underrepresented groups, and listen to feedback from clients, stakeholders, and residents.