Engineer breaks down gender barriers and SFU’s energy emissions

With International Women’s Day this week, it’s a great time to highlight the accomplishments and achievements of Jaelim Jeon, a newly certified professional engineer and acting energy manager with Facilities Services. She supports the energy team, experts who work towards reducing emissions across SFU’s three campuses.

Jeon joined SFU in 2020 in part because she heard about the university's new vision to reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions from building systems.

After raising two children, Jeon decided to return to engineering school to create energy efficient and sustainable building systems. Jeon was motivated to become a professional engineer to not only contribute and give back to the community, but also to make a positive impact on the world.

“Being a female engineer may involve challenges, however, it can also be an opportunity to break down gender barriers, inspire future generations of female engineers and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive workforce,” says Jeon.

A day of working at SFU involves engaging in numerous projects with different team members and communicating with stakeholders in the mechanical, electrical, energy, control and construction management fields.

“Sustainability is a multifaceted issue that requires a collective effort to achieve a meaningful process. By engaging stakeholders in the sustainability process, universities can promote a sense of ownership and shared responsibility, which can lead to achieving long-term sustainability goals.”

“Jaelim is an incredibly talented professional,” says Bernard Chan, associate director, energy, controls & maintenance planning. “Her passion for energy management and climate change is beyond doubt. Joining SFU during the pandemic, what amazed me the most was her leadership in coordinating with a team of HVAC technicians to conduct a ventilation survey for over 1,000 rooms at Burnaby campus in 2021 to prepare for the safe return of students, faculty and staff.”

Recently, Jeon and her team’s hard work was recognized when SFU won two awards from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air- Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE) BC Chapter, a first for any university.

The SFU Surrey School of Sustainable Energy Engineering building (SRYE) project earned first place in the Region XI and BC Chapter in the new educational facilities category, while the SFU Shrum Chemistry centre strobic exhaust optimization project was awarded second place in the existing educational facility building commissioning category.

"I am proud to be a part of SFU, a dynamic and engaging community that values innovation, diversity and excellence,” says Jeon.