Across every great city, there are people quietly working behind the scenes to make them stronger, smarter and more connected.
Founded in 1911, AtkinsRéalis is one of Canada’s largest engineering and professional services firms and one of the top 20 globally. The company takes an end-to-end approach to infrastructure, from planning and design to construction, operation and maintenance.
For Simon O’Byrne, Vice President and Market Lead for Infrastructure in Western Canada and Ontario at AtkinsRéalis, that’s not just a job; it’s a lifelong passion. “AtkinsRéalis is a fully integrated engineering company,” Simon explains. “We do everything from upstream management consultancy to engineering, procurement, construction management and even operation and maintenance.”
With 40,000 employees worldwide, the company’s reach spans sectors like energy, defence, water and transportation. “We’re in every continent, with our largest presence in Canada, the UK, the US and India,” Simon shares.
Innovation and passion for community building
What does it take to transform a city? For O’Byrne, it starts with curiosity, vision and a commitment to turning ideas into real-world impact.
“My role is to grow the infrastructure business west of Quebec and to drive the transformation happening in cities, whether it’s municipal infrastructure, water, the environment or the buildings that we inhabit,” Simon explains. With a master’s degree in city planning, Simon describes himself as “a nerd’s nerd” when it comes to thinking about cities and infrastructure. His enthusiasm for shaping communities is undeniable.
“I’m passionate about city building. I think about everything from transportation resiliency to how climate variability impacts our water and wastewater systems to how we deliver projects more efficiently for taxpayers and users. These are things I wake up thinking about at five in the morning,” he says with a laugh.
That curiosity fuels Simon’s approach to leadership. “I love being around people who are smart and passionate about infrastructure. I’m constantly learning from people.”
Transforming Alberta’s infrastructure
In Western Canada, AtkinsRéalis is helping shape the future of the region’s infrastructure through landmark projects such as the Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension, Site C Dam, Stoney Trail and the Calgary Green Line LRT.
“The Green Line is a major investment in Calgary’s future,” Simon says. “We’ve been working closely with the City of Calgary to make sure it’s engineered well and delivered on time and on budget.”
Beyond the projects themselves, AtkinsRéalis is guided by a commitment to transformation, resilience and community. “Our model combines local expertise with global best practices,” Simon notes. “We’re very much a community-centric organization, not just in our volunteerism but in how we approach our work.”
That community focus includes strong partnerships with Indigenous businesses and communities. “We received a bronze-level certification from the Canadian Council of Indigenous Business,” Simon shares. “We want to be a real leader in fostering Indigenous relationships and supporting economic development and entrepreneurship in those communities.”
Building Calgary’s future together
As Calgary continues to evolve, Simon sees tremendous opportunity.
“There’s a growing demand for fit-for-purpose transportation systems that drive mobility and economic growth,” he says. “The challenge is balancing rapid urbanization and aging infrastructure with sustainable investment.”
He also points to energy as a critical focus for the future. “The demand for electricity is going to go up exponentially. Calgary’s going to need to think about energy differently than it did yesterday, and we want to help the city meet that demand efficiently.”
And when it comes to downtown Calgary, Simon is optimistic.
“Calgary’s downtown is going through a renaissance,” he says. “Between the new BMO Convention Centre, the Flames arena and office-to-residential conversions, there’s huge potential for downtown to become a truly diverse, thriving district. It’s a really exciting time.”
For Simon, this optimism extends to the Calgary Chamber, where AtkinsRéalis proudly contributes to shaping the city’s future.
“The Chamber plays a huge role in business advocacy, both locally and provincially,” he says. “It brings together people who are passionate about Calgary’s future and gives the business community a strong, unified voice. Even though Calgary is doing really well, I still feel like its best days are ahead. Being part of the Chamber allows us to help ensure that Calgary reaches its full potential.”
For more information about AtkinsRéalis, visit: www.atkinsrealis.com.
