Mentor Spotlight - Lara Alves Beese
- Tyler Black
- Jul 24
- 7 min read
Learn about one of the many incredible mentors in Laurentian SETAC!
LARA
ALVES BEESE
Aquatic Toxicologist
Dillon Consulting Limited
Describe your involvement with L-SETAC:
My involvement with L-SETAC started during my Ph.D. studies when I actively participated in the Pub Night Committee. Following a hiatus to dedicate time to my growing family, I maintained a connection with the organization by attending various pub nights over the years, which allowed me to preserve those valuable relationships.
I rejoined L-SETAC in a more formal capacity in September 2023, when I was appointed to the Board of Directors. It has been rewarding to be back, fostering reconnections with students and former graduate colleagues. Witnessing the continued growth and promising future of L-SETAC has been particularly inspiring. Beyond my contributions as a board member, I have also had the privilege of co-leading short courses on risk assessments at our conferences and Annual General Meetings.
What is your position, and your area of expertise?
I serve as a Business Development Manager, Senior Environmental Risk Assessor, and Aquatic Toxicologist at Dillon Consulting Limited. My primary technical expertise lies in human health and ecological risk assessments, with a specialized focus on Ontario Regulation 153/04 and Canadian federal risk assessments. I also provide support in the development and review of site-specific water quality objectives for water licenses, which includes the review of action levels and response plans for aquatic effects monitoring and adaptive management programs. In my capacity as a Business Development Manager, I speak to clients to understand the challenges they are experiencing and connect them with Dillon's extensive expertise to address their environmental liabilities. This includes showcasing our capabilities in remediation, property transactions and characterization, spill responses, building assessments, and portfolio management within our Contaminated Site Management group. Furthermore, I highlight the diverse range of services our firm offers in environmental management, facilities, land development, transportation, architecture, community planning and infrastructure, and waste management.
Can you describe your career path and what made you pursue a career in Consulting?
My career journey began at a pivotal crossroads upon completing my Ph.D. I was weighing the decision between pursuing a post-doctoral research position and transitioning into government or industry. To help inform this choice and get a taste of government, I accepted a six-month contract with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as a Sediment Toxicology Scientist, covering a sabbatical leave. This experience proved valuable and piqued my interest in an industry-focused career path. Fortuitously, my involvement with the L-SETAC Pub Night Committee proved instrumental. A fellow committee member informed me of an opening for a Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessor at their firm. I applied and was successful, marking my official entry into the consulting world. This initial opportunity was foundational, allowing me to develop and deepen my expertise in risk assessment.
Six years into my consulting career, I briefly considered pursuing a post-doctoral (post-doc) position, wondering if I had made the right choice by entering industry. However, I quickly learned that securing post-doctoral funding typically favoured new Ph.D. students and post-docs already established within the academic research realm, making a return after an extended period in industry quite challenging. This realization, rather than a setback, served as the validation I needed to continue in consulting.
I enjoy consulting. It offers a fast-paced yet profoundly rewarding career. It provides the unique opportunity to work on diverse projects across Canada and internationally. This exposure allows me to collaborate with a wide array of professionals, each bringing distinct perspectives and innovative approaches. In consulting, monotony is never an issue, as every day presents new challenges and learning opportunities.
Have you had any personal heroes or mentors during your scientific career?
Throughout my scientific career, I have come to appreciate that mentorship manifests in many forms, from brief, impactful moments to enduring, long-term relationships. I have been fortunate to benefit from the guidance of several key individuals.
My scientific journey began with Dr. Chris Wood, who not only introduced me to the fields of aquatic physiology and toxicology by selecting me for a master's position in his lab but also instrumental in fostering my growth as a researcher by consistently asking the right questions that pushed my critical thinking. This initial step profoundly shaped my academic
path. Later, my Ph.D. supervisors, Dr. Uwe Borgmann and George Dixon, further deepened my understanding and expertise in aquatic toxicology. Dr. Borgmann was particularly influential in teaching me complex modeling techniques and providing invaluable professional guidance, while George Dixon consistently kept me grounded and strongly supported my attendance at conferences to showcase my research.
Upon transitioning into consulting, Dr. Don Hart of Ecometrix became an invaluable mentor. He opened doors to new client relationships and exposed me to diverse projects, including the nuclear risk assessments. Dr. Hart has been a constant source of encouragement throughout my consulting career, offering invaluable technical and career advice that has been pivotal to my development.
Currently, I am fortunate to be mentored by Brent Loney of Dillon Consulting Limited. Brent has provided me with transformative perspectives on risk assessment, pushing me beyond my initial conservative approaches to embrace a more realistic and nuanced understanding. This evolution in my approach has been incredibly impactful, allowing me to develop as a more well-rounded risk assessor.
What have you observed as challenges that women and other equity deserving groups in science generally face?
While I have been fortunate to experience a supportive environment in my scientific research and consulting career and have not personally faced direct gender-based challenges in my specific roles, my observations highlight more nuanced and persistent issues within professional settings.
One notable disappointment I have encountered is the dynamic among women themselves. I have personally experienced many instances where other women have been critical or discouraging of my abilities and contributions (i.e. tear me down), rather than supportive. It often feels like we are constantly competing instead of genuinely cheering each other on. This has led me to reflect on whether women, perhaps unintentionally, set a higher bar for other women or lack a culture of mutual encouragement. It is a sad reality that most of my impactful and encouraging mentors have been men.
Beyond this, my recent MBA studies and previous work environments have brought to light a significant double standard concerning assertiveness. I have observed that assertive behaviour, often valued and expected in men, is frequently viewed negatively when displayed by women. Furthermore, holding individuals accountable, a necessary leadership trait, can lead to women being unfairly labeled as "demanding," "not nice," "authoritative," “not collaborative”, “confrontational” or even more derogatory terms. This double standard has been a difficult reality to internalize, and I strongly hope for change in this area.
What has been your approach in terms of mentoring young scientists and professional? And does your approach change based on the challenges they are likely to face?
My approach to mentoring young scientists and professionals leans more towards coaching and active sponsorship rather than traditional mentorship. I see myself primarily as a cheerleader and a network connector.
I firmly believe in challenging individuals to step outside their comfort zones. While this might be uncomfortable in the moment, the growth and development that result are invariably appreciated in hindsight. This "tough love" approach is about fostering resilience and expanding capabilities.
A cornerstone of my approach is the importance of a strong professional network. I actively connect emerging scientists and professionals with individuals in my own network. This often creates a win-win scenario for everyone involved, opening doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and insights.
My approach remains consistent regardless of the specific challenges a young scientist or professional may face. I believe that equipping them with resilience, a growth mindset, and new network connections prepares them to navigate any obstacle that comes their way. The challenge itself becomes an opportunity for learning and development.
What accomplishments are you most proud of, and why?
My proudest accomplishment to date is the recent completion of my Master of Business Administration (MBA). This achievement stands out because of the challenge it presented. Balancing the demands of a full-time career, academic studies, and my family life required significant dedication and sacrifice. It was a period of intense juggling, and it meant making difficult choices, including missing out on family events and milestones with my children. The journey was far from easy, but successfully navigating those complexities and earning my MBA is a testament to my perseverance and commitment. This experience also provided me with a profound appreciation for my health, family, for life itself, and the importance of living each moment to its fullest.
Equally significant, and a true testament to believing in myself and having the capabilities to achieve my goals, is earning my Ph.D. in less than three and a half years. Completing such an academic endeavour in an expedited timeframe was incredibly rewarding.
If you could meet anyone, living and/or historical, who would it be and why?
This is a great question, and difficult to narrow down. However, if I could meet anyone, one historical and one living, I would choose Sir Frederick Grant Banting and Dr. Charles Best, the co-discoverers of insulin, and Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, respectively.
I would be incredibly honored to meet Sir Banting and Dr. Best. Their groundbreaking work profoundly impacted me from a young age. I vividly recall doing an elementary school project on them and imagining myself alongside them in the lab, tirelessly working to extract insulin and make their life-saving discovery. The challenges and failures they faced, coupled with the heartbreaking reality of children dying from diabetes, and their unwavering persistence were inspiring. Their dedication to not giving up and finding a treatment to save lives fueled my desire to pursue STEM and become a scientist.
I would also be honoured to meet Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo. She embodies many qualities I deeply admire. Ms. Nooyi not only successfully led PepsiCo but achieved this while navigating the complexities of her roles as a daughter, mother, and wife. Her commitment to hard work, clear strategic vision, and consistent ability to execute that vision, even in the face of significant sacrifices and trade-offs, are admirable.
What particularly resonates is her apparent humility and the remarkable resilience she demonstrates in overcoming challenges related to her gender and background to achieve such success. A significant "aha!" moment for me was when Ms. Nooyi candidly shares in interviews that her career accomplishments came with a personal cost to her family life. This powerfully highlights the often-unspoken reality for women: while we aspire to "have it all," achieving professional milestones involves difficult trade-offs. If I had the opportunity to ask Ms. Nooyi one question, it would be: "Would you do it again?"
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