Career Growth at ISL: Alana Getty Somers

With over 25 years of experience across government and consulting, Alana Getty Somers, Director and General Manager of Transportation at ISL, blends technical expertise with a people-first approach. She has helped shape Calgary’s transportation network while fostering an inclusive, collaborative culture that lifts others as they grow. 

Alana Getty Somers

Alana Getty Somers

Director / General Manager, Transportation

Born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Alana Getty Somers earned her Civil Engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000 before beginning her career with the State of Minnesota’s Department of Transportation in Minneapolis. There, she quickly advanced from a technical doer into project management roles, leading a portfolio of projects with capital costs exceeding one billion dollars.  

What inspired you to pursue this field?

“Every high school aptitude quiz I took pointed me toward engineering. I was the kid who couldn’t wait for the ‘home of the week’ floorplans and isometric sketches in the local newspaper. For a while, I considered being a lawyer, but a ‘bring-your-kid-to-work-day in grade eight quickly showed me that small-town Saskatchewan law wasn’t anything like Matlock on TV.”

In 2006, Alana moved back to Canada, drawn to Calgary’s energy and opportunities in transportation infrastructure. She worked with CH2M HILL (now Jacobs) and AECOM before joining ISL in 2015. At AECOM, she supported the planning phase of Calgary’s first diverging diamond interchange (DDI), later continuing the project through design and construction after joining ISL.

“It was exciting to be a part of the M162 project team and help make some of the design decisions leading to Canada’s first DDI, and then following it through to construction to see it take shape.” 

Alana remains an active member of the USask Engineering Alumni community in Calgary, continuing to support and connect with the next generation of engineers. 

At ISL, Alana became General Manager of Transportation in 2017 and joined ISL’s Board of Directors in 2020. She now leads a team of over fifty professionals and oversees a broad portfolio of successful transportation projects. Known for her relational leadership style, Alana builds trust quickly with stakeholders, clients, and teams, and is adept at navigating complex dynamics to unlock creative, inclusive solutions. 

What kept you at ISL all these years? 
“People that are smart at what they do, support fellow team members, and are (mostly) humble.” 

As ISL’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Sponsor, Alana has helped shape the firm’s revised Respectful Workplace and Parental Leave Policies, led International Women’s Day initiatives, and fostered a culture where all staff feel valued and empowered to grow their careers. She also credits her approach to balance and well-being as an important part of leadership. 

“I prefer the concept of work-life integration. Sometimes, you must be off balance to learn and grow, to make intentional decisions and to prioritize where you put energy on a daily basis.” 

This November, Alana will join fellow leaders at the CEA Women in Consulting Engineering Conference, sharing her insights on mentorship, inclusion, and sustainable leadership. Her commitment to mentorship, allyship, and systemic change continues to ripple through her work and the industry. 

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