Why I became an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer

I'm officially an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer, certified until 26 August 2029! For me, it's more than a credential.

It's about how I can use the experience I have gained over the past 20 years in complex engineering and infrastructure projects.

I've been in many situations in my career where the technical solution wasn't the only solution. Projects involve people. Expectations. Conflicting priorities. Difficult conversations. Impulsive judgment. The most difficult part of a project is not always solving the engineering problem. It's getting everyone marching in the same direction. That is the experience I want to share.

My training is therefore very much practitioner-led. I think people learn more when concepts are tied to situations they can recognise, question and discuss than when they are given theory only.

I'm very interested in supporting the next generation of engineers, project professionals and technical leaders as they prepare for the future, especially women engineers. I have heard that women engineers' voices are sometimes seen as either too loud or too soft. As a woman engineer and leader, I have given my two cents so they have the courage to stand out, without being rebellious (like me!). Still, one thing leads to another, and the challenges and obstacles are real.

Times are changing fast. Technical knowledge still matters, but technical competency is no longer enough. Young professionals will need to engage and influence stakeholders, manage expectations, communicate tough messages, make decisions without full information, and guide people through uncertainty.

I'm honest about that. Training should not give people the idea that everything will go smoothly once they apply the right structure to their projects. It won't. Real projects are messy, and some days they will test every bit of patience you have!

People are unpredictable. Stakeholders have different interests. Sometimes you have to accept the consequences, good or bad, of the best decision you could make with the information available.

That's why experience matters.

My signature programme, Conflict Management: Leading Stakeholders & Difficult Conversations, is built around those real-world skills of project leadership.

I see this certification as another way of giving back to the profession. Many people have been willing to share their experiences with me, and I have learned a lot from them. Now I get to pass some of that learning on.

Not to tell the next generation what to do, but to help them think, question, prepare and make better decisions when they eventually reach the project seat. To me, that is the true reward of being a trainer.

First published on LinkedIn, 26 August 2026.