Johanna Koch

Biography

Johanna Koch, Minerals & Metals Operations Director at Wood, works to inspire the next generation of women in mining.

She is fortunate to work on many local and global mining projects, such as the K+S Legacy project, the first modern potash mine built in Saskatchewan in over 40 years. Johanna takes pride in delivering minerals and metals projects essential to advancing mining and being a part of an industry that supports the economy of her home province and the growing demand for critical minerals globally.

To Johanna, the current challenges in mining stem from the need for more diversity. From more diverse project portfolios to help balance uncertain workloads in an industry tied to fluctuating commodity prices to building a more diverse team environment that brings fresh and innovative thinking for more sustainable operations – we depend on our team’s remarkable and diverse talents to design the future of mining.

On a mission to help others feel as rewarded as she does in her career, she works to inspire her team, especially female professionals, to be bold with aspirations and risks to enhance their careers in mining.

About Johanna

An Electrical Engineering graduate who started her career with a local consulting company in 2001, Johanna took on a new opportunity with Wood in 2008, where she had her first taste of the complex world of large EPCM projects in the mining industry during significant expansions for the Saskatchewan potash industry. Working hard to grow her leadership skills and style in engineering design, project management, project services and operations management, she recently became the first female Operations Director in Wood’s Minerals & Metals division.

Recognizing that mentoring and coaching from many influential individuals contributed significantly to her career growth, Johanna wants to be known as someone who takes the initiative and delivers high-quality work. She also wants to be known as someone who builds strong relationships and teams with colleagues, clients, industry professionals, and women and provides tools, guidance and support to help others thrive in their careers within STEM and mining.

On the sidelines, she is a mom of two teenagers active in competitive sports. As a volunteer team manager, coach and club board member, Johanna interacts, guides and mentors young players in sports and some important life lessons and situations. She finds it rewarding to contribute to the community and inspire confidence in these athletes.