With changing weather patterns, aging infrastructure, and public health risks converging, the water sector is under growing pressure to adapt. At Carollo Engineers, Resilience and Sustainability Practice Director Shawn Corrigan is helping utilities rise to that challenge, drawing on a career that spans wildland firefighting, emergency management, and infrastructure planning.
In a recent Immerse profile by Water Professionals International, Shawn shares how his early experience with crisis response and public safety helped shape his future-forward approach to water resilience.
Building Resilient Utilities Through People and Preparedness
Shawn’s philosophy centers on the idea that resilience is not a box to check; it’s a continuous process of preparing systems and people for disruption. At Carollo, he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on operational resilience, sustainability assessment, emissions and energy management, and strategic resilience planning.
To Shawn, scenario-based training is one of the most powerful tools in this work. These immersive exercises give utility staff the opportunity to test emergency plans, refine decision-making, and build the relationships needed before a real crisis hits. “The worst time to meet a critical response partner is in the middle of a crisis,” Shawn says.
Adapting to Emerging Risks in the Water Sector
For Shawn, resilience also means being nimble in the face of shifting risks, whether that’s climate-driven hazards, cybersecurity threats, or supply chain disruptions. He advocates for a risk management approach that is as rigorous and integrated as traditional compliance-based activities like water treatment. “It’s about making resilience part of the organization, not just a project or a report.”
He also calls for embedding emergency management training into the certification process for water and wastewater operators, so frontline workers are empowered to contribute their insights and take ownership of emergency planning.
Creating a Culture of Continuous Learning
While he sees great promise in technologies like AI, GIS, and remote sensors, Shawn emphasizes that true resilience is built on people. “The key is empowering people to use these tools effectively. It’s not just about having the latest technology—we also need the right people.”
From mentoring young professionals to guiding utilities through uncertainty, Shawn continues to shape how the water sector approaches resilience, not as an endpoint, but as a mindset.
Read Shawn’s full profile on Water Professionals International’s Immerse page.
