Jean Hébert
Specialist in Environmental Management
I am an environmental management consultant. I work mainly as General Manager of the "Association québécoise pour l'évaluation d'impacts" (AQÉI) and also for the "Secrétariat international francophone en évaluation environnementale" (SIFÉE). I worked for some thirty years as an environmental project manager at Hydro-Québec. I carried out impact studies for the company's international and Quebec projects, as well as strategic environmental assessments and environmental capacity-building projects.
1. What skills do you wish you learned during your education that would have helped you in the job market today?
Cross-disciplinary project management and communication skills.
2. What motivated you to pursue a career in geography?
I was first drawn to geography in high school, interested in the characteristics of the world we live in, on all scales. I went on to study geography at CEGEP and university (UQAM and U. Laval). I specialized in regional planning, environmental sciences and international development during my graduate studies. I wanted to work towards better integrating development projects into their environments. Who better to do this than a geographer. Working for Hydro-Québec International and Hydro-Québec
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allowed me to make a perfect marriage between my motivations and interests.
3. Could you share a significant moment or project from your early career that had a lasting impact on your research?
The meeting of inspiring teachers active in the field and workplace managers ready to innovate and integrate the environment into decision-making.
4. Can you share examples of how your research findings have been applied in real-world situations or policy-making?
Many of the study approaches I have developed or adapted for use in an international context have led to better planned and designed projects. I'm thinking in particular of the various data collection tools, partnerships with local experts, gender relations in impact studies, and training and capacity-building activities in environmental management.
5. Are there specific conferences, journals, or resources you recommend for staying updated with the latest trends and research in geography?
AQÉI and SIFÉE activities and websites for those who want to keep up with the latest trends in environmental assessment.
6. From your perspective, what do you think the future holds for the field of geography, especially concerning emerging technologies and methodologies?
Geomatics and modeling tools are destined to be widely used in environmental assessment and land-use planning. Geography as a whole is highly relevant in this period of transition to sustainable development.
Contact Us
Canadian Association of Geographers
Email
info@cag-acg.ca
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PO Box 25039
Welland RPO Rose City, ON L3B 6G9