Welcoming Dr. Melissa Chappel to the VAST Geotechnical Team

VAST Resource Solutions is pleased to introduce Dr. Melissa Chappel, Ph.D., P.Eng., who has joined our team as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer, bringing over 17 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and environmental barrier systems. Melissa excels in multidisciplinary environments, with a proven record of applying practical, science-based solutions to complex geotechnical challenges.

Melissa’s journey into engineering began at Queen’s University, where her love of the outdoors and curiosity for how landscapes were formed led her to pursue geological engineering, followed by a PhD in civil engineering focused on geosynthetics and landfill barrier systems. Her doctoral research involved flying a 21-foot helium blimp (pre-drone era) to capture aerial photos of geomembrane liners, an early example of the resourceful, creative thinking that would shape her engineering work.

Throughout her career, Melissa has worked across western and northern Canada on residential, commercial, industrial, highway, and mining projects. She has extensive expertise in slope stability, terrain hazard assessments, mine waste management, landfill and containment design, and particularly geosynthetics, where she is regarded as a field specialist. Her technical depth, paired with her ability to integrate perspectives across civil, structural, environmental, and construction teams, elevates the people and projects she works with.

At the core of Melissa’s approach is a commitment to open communication and shared problem-solving. “You can’t be married to a single idea,” she says. “Engineering is a team sport. Whether you’re working with colleagues, contractors, or community partners, the best outcomes come from a mix of perspectives. When everyone feels comfortable contributing, you end up with designs that serve people and the environment much more effectively.”

Melissa is a strong advocate for early geotechnical engagement—not as an added step, but as a strategic investment. By engaging geotechnical engineers in the planning phase, clients can avoid reactive problem-solving later on and instead build projects on a foundation of informed, efficient, safe, and cost-effective decisions.

Having moved to Kimberley in 2020, Melissa was drawn by “the mountains, the biking, and the community,” and quickly fell in love with the region. When she’s not working, you’ll find her biking, exploring forest service roads, crocheting cozy creations, maintaining and modifying her three aging vehicles, or adventuring with her dog—a lovable Lab–Mastiff mix she describes as her greatest dog-training challenge and joy.

Melissa joined VAST to contribute to projects shaping the region and work within a team that reflects her values around collaboration. She is looking forward to supporting VAST’s capacity for larger, complex geotechnical projects while offering specialized expertise in geosynthetics to strengthen client solutions.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Melissa Chappel to the VAST team. We are happy to have her expertise—and her enthusiasm—on our team.