Suzanne Hurley

B. Eng. (Concordia University), MES, PhD (York University), P. Eng.

  • Assistant Professor (Teaching)
Contact Information

Ph: 709-864-7101
Em: slhurley[at]mun.ca
Office: EN3025

Expertise
  • Water supply design and planning
  • International development and humanitarian relief project planning and implementation
  • Human rights, north-south global justice
Personal Profile

After graduation as a civil engineer, I managed water and sanitation development and government infrastructure projects in Togo, Zambia, and Malawi, as well as humanitarian relief in Southern Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I also worked as a municipal engineer in rural Newfoundland communities such as Joe Batts Arm, Port Anson and Gander.

While in the Global South I was involved in several projects, which, while the immediate technical requirements were met, were ultimately unsustainable and failed to deliver intended long term benefits to people in need. These experiences led me to pursue a Masters in Environmental Studies focused on sustainable water supply and sanitation in Africa. In essence, my research focused on ways and means to provide safe, sustainable and equitable access to water and sanitation through integrated and responsible engineering practice: incorporating user’s voice and choice into engineering planning, and taking into consideration appropriate technological, gender-related, environmental, economic and community issues.

As an IDRC Doctoral Fellow through the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University, I completed my research in Amboko Refugee Camp, Chad. My dissertation was written on the topic of human rights, technical planning and implementation during humanitarian crisis. Since 2015, I have been a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Memorial University where my teaching areas include technology, sustainable societies and international development, construction management and graphics and design.