Career Path of an Environmental Planner III at HELIX Environmental Planning
Julia's career path began with extensive involvement in environmental organizations at UC Davis, including serving as a commissioner on the Environmental Planning and Policy Commission where they "researched environmental issues and drafted legislation," skills directly applicable to their current role as an Environmental Planner III at Helix Environmental Planning. Immediately upon graduating in 2021, Julia joined Helix, progressing from Environmental Planner I to their current position, leveraging their diverse campus experiences in research, collaboration, and student advocacy to excel in their professional work.
Environmental Science, Sustainability, Data Analysis, Teamwork, Environmental Policy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Julia Pano
Environmental Planner III
HELIX Environmental Planning
University of California, Davis
N/A
Environmental & Related Sciences
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Climate, Environment and Sustainability
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Julia's involvement in the UC Davis Environmental Planning and Policy Commission, where she researched environmental issues and drafted legislation, provided valuable skills in research and written communication.
2. Her internships as a sustainability intern and Arboretum student ambassador gave her experience in data analysis, collaborative problem-solving, and public outreach.
3. Julia's rapid career progression from Environmental Planner I to Environmental Planner III at Helix Environmental Planning showcases the potential for advancement in this field.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college and any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
I graduated from UC Davis in June 2021 and immediately started my professional career at Helix Environmental Planning, where I still work. During my time at UC Davis, I was involved in many on-campus organizations related to environmental science and planning.
For two years, I was a commissioner on the UC Davis Environmental Planning and Policy Commission, which is part of the student government. As a commissioner, I researched environmental issues affecting UC Davis and drafted legislation for the UC Davis Senate bylaws. I also helped formalize UC Davis to become an official Fair Trade University, which was a fantastic experience.
My time researching environmental issues and drafting legislation was very helpful when I started at Helix. I learned important skills on how to efficiently research information and adequately present that research in writing so that the reader can easily understand it.
Also at Davis, I was a sustainability intern for UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services and a student ambassador for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. As a sustainability intern, I researched and performed data analyses on waste generation and energy usage for on-campus housing and dining services.
As an Arboretum student ambassador, I focused on student advocacy and peer education through public outreach and conservation efforts. We hosted events to bring the community in to learn more about conservation efforts happening in the UC Davis Arboretum. Working for both UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services and the UC Davis Arboretum provided me with experience in a collaborative group setting. We brainstormed ideas and came to conclusions for potentially difficult situations.
Working at a variety of organizations at UC Davis allowed me to gain experience working independently in research settings or in group settings, as I just mentioned, to solve different situations collaboratively. At Helix, I actively use these skills when drafting environmental compliance documents on my own or when collaborating with my team to solve problems.
Immediately after graduating, I joined the professional world at Helix and have been there ever since. I started in August 2021 as an Environmental Planner I and am now an Environmental Planner III.