Building connections, creating impact: Camille’s journey across the Pacific

Born in the Philippines and raised in Guam from the age of 13, Camille’s connection to the Pacific has always been at the heart of her personal and professional journey. While studying civil engineering, she was introduced to GHD through a friend who recognised her potential and encouraged her to apply for an internship.

At the time, GHD’s presence in Hawaii was just getting started. Camille met Paul Baron, who was leading the effort to establish the Honolulu office. As she prepared to transfer to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to complete her degree, an opportunity emerged to continue her internship part-time while studying.

“I was here in Honolulu helping start the office as an intern. Back then, it was essentially me and my boss, Paul Baron. Within the span of 5 years, we moved offices five times. Now, we have around 20 people in the office. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown.”

Drawn to GHD’s strong presence in the Pacific and its commitment to delivering meaningful community outcomes, Camille saw an opportunity to contribute to projects that would positively impact places close to home.

“Many of the projects GHD work on were places and communities that I knew. That connection was important to me.”

Camille’s career progression at GHD reflects both her dedication and the organisation’s commitment to developing its people. Starting as an intern, she advanced through engineering roles before becoming a senior civil engineer. Along the way, she earned her Professional Engineer licence and expanded her responsibilities into project management.

“I’ve always felt that there is a safe space for me to grow. As a young professional, there’s always so much to learn, but I’ve had mentors who always reminded me to take up my space, to take ownership of my work, and to build my own path. Specifically, my line manager, Paul Baron, has been instrumental in my development, creating opportunities for me to grow, entrusting me with increasing responsibilities, and helping me build confidence needed to advance my career.”

Beyond day-to-day project work, Camille has participated in leadership and development initiatives, like GHD’s US West Region Young Professionals Summit, where she connected with colleagues and continued building her professional network.

Today, Camille works on major federal infrastructure programs spanning multiple Pacific nations, including projects in Palau, Yap and the Philippines.

As Assistant Project Manager on significant port and harbour improvement projects, she helped coordinate large multidisciplinary teams responsible for delivering complex technical solutions. These types of projects involve engineers, planners, environmental specialists, coastal specialists and technical professionals from across GHD’s global network.

Throughout the delivery duration, a total of more than 300 people contributed to this program. Managing projects of this scale requires technical capabilities, collaboration, communication and a shared commitment to achieving the best outcomes. She also works closely with the clients to assist with engagement with local communities and stakeholders to make sure their voices are reflected in project outcomes.

“Successful infrastructure design starts with listening. We work with communities and local agencies to understand what matters to them and make sure those priorities are incorporated into the design process.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of Camille’s work is collaborating with diverse teams across countries, cultures and disciplines. Whether coordinating with civil, structural, coastal, mechanical and electrical specialists or working alongside joint venture partners and clients, communication is one of the most important skills she uses every day.

“With so many stakeholders involved, it’s important to communicate clearly and make information understandable for different audiences. Good communication helps keep everyone aligned, even on the most complex projects.”

Being in such a collaborative environment has also provided continuous learning opportunities. Working alongside specialists from around the world, Camille has expanded both her technical knowledge and leadership capabilities.

“It’s inspiring to work with so many talented people. Every project is an opportunity to learn something new.”

While Camille is proud of the projects she has helped deliver, it is GHD’s people-first culture that stands out most and has allowed her to thrive.

“Yes, we care about delivering great projects and excellent outcomes for our clients. But we also care about our people. You’re valued not just for the work you do, but you are valued and appreciated for who you are as an individual.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Camille describes her experience at GHD as both fulfilling and inspiring. From helping establish a growing office in Hawaii to leading major infrastructure projects across the Pacific, she has built a career grounded in purpose, collaboration and continuous growth. And she believes the best is still to come.