Port Coquitlam has a new leader for its engineering and public works department.
This month, the city hired Forrest Smith to replace Kristen Dixon, who is now the organization’s chief administrative officer after John Leeburn quit last month.
Smith, who starts Sept. 4, was previously employed by the city of Pitt Meadows, where he worked for three years as its director of engineering and operations. He also worked for eight years with Pieter Kiewit Infrastructure and, before that, with the city of Surrey.
In his new role in PoCo, Smith will plan and manage the city’s infrastructure and transportation projects as well as the city fleet, parks and utilities.
A UBC graduate, Smith beat out about 30 candidates from across North America to fill the top position. According to a city press release, those who were shortlisted completed a “third-party psychometric testing to assess cognitive ability and personality traits.”
