Engineer Sandra Sammy, BSc, MSc, R.Eng, FAPETT
Engineer Sandra Sammy has been honoured with the RVS Aleong Award for Outstanding Service to APETT, a well-deserved recognition of her decades of dedicated service to the engineering profession in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean.
A Fellow of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (APETT) and a Registered Civil Engineer with the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT), Sandra has consistently demonstrated leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to advancing engineering excellence.
Her journey with APETT began in 1985 and has been defined by years of selfless contribution in key leadership roles including Vice President, Public Relations Officer, and Assistant Treasurer. Beyond APETT, she has extended her impact on national development by representing the Association on the WASA Board’s Water Resources Management Committee (1988), reflecting her advocacy for sustainable infrastructure and responsible resource management.
Regionally, Sandra’s influence has been equally profound through her long-standing involvement with the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), where she served in numerous capacities—Treasurer, Secretary, Trinidad and Tobago Chapter Leader, Board Member, and Executive Council Member—shaping policy and practice in water and wastewater management across the Caribbean.
Her distinguished career is a testament to what passionate, purposeful, and principled engineering leadership can achieve. Few careers embody service and leadership as profoundly as that of Engineer Sandra Sammy. In this Chat with the BOETT she shares what this recognition means, the defining moments of her APETT journey, and her vision for the next generation of engineers.
Q1. Congratulations on receiving the RVS ALEONG Award for outstanding service to APETT. What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Well, I am now retired from Engineering Practice but that does not mean that an award such as this does not have value. I think it goes a long way to encourage the younger engineers to contribute, as it indicates that their efforts are being noticed or better still appreciated.
Q2. Looking back, what moments or milestones in your APETT journey stand out as defining or especially meaningful?
When we elected our first female President and when we finally got the Board of Engineering in place, as that was very long fought endeavour. The very significant role APETT and BOETT played in getting the Commission of inquiry into the Airport Project.
Q3. You’ve served APETT in numerous capacities since 1985. How have you seen the organization evolve over the years?
I am not aware of any drastic changes in the organization over the years and I am not saying that’s a bad thing. Long standing values and traditions are important and valuable to our profession.
Q4. What motivated you to dedicate so much of your time and expertise to professional service, even while managing your responsibilities as a practicing civil engineer?
I was proud to be an Engineer and honoured to be a member of APETT; I wanted others new to the profession to understand the benefits from belonging to a professional organization. It was not unselfish, it helped in my job in many ways. It directly exposed one to the more experienced Engineers and there was a lot to learn from them.
Q5. How did your roles as Vice President, Public Relations Officer, and Assistant Treasurer shape your perspective on leadership and service within the engineering profession?
In so many ways, I learned to appreciate more than the steel and concrete, one gets the bigger view, it teaches about policy making and appreciate the impacts of everyday decisions.
Q6. Can you share more about your experience representing APETT on WASA’s Water Resources Management Committee in 1988, and the impact of that role?
This was a great opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself, to influence policy that affects everyone, and the great responsibility that comes with it.
Q7. You have also contributed significantly through the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA). How important is regional collaboration in addressing water and infrastructure challenges in the Caribbean?
We, Trinis, always consider ourselves as leaders in the Caribbean and it was the same in the water sector. Initially CWWA was a forum to share expertise with water infrastructure and prepared us to help each other when disaster struck, like hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, we knew the personnel in the other countries.
Q8. What were some of the key issues or accomplishments during your time on the CWWA Executive Council and other committees
The role of CWWA grew as we were able to come together to influence global policy on Climate Change. We assisted with the use of desalination in the region. Organisations from Florida USA attended our conferences and sought our advice on water supply options.
We even got the UN to declare Pan American Water Day in October as the rest of the world celebrates World Water Day on 22 March each year
Q9. As a trailblazer and Fellow of APETT, what advice would you offer to young engineers—especially women—who are considering leadership roles in the profession?
Preserve, speak your piece even when you feel unheard, and know that there will be times when you will be ignored simply because you are female, do not let that deter you from the overall objective
Q10. Were there any mentors or colleagues who particularly influenced your professional journey and volunteerism?
Many throughout the years, I will not mention my cohorts here but I think I must mention some of the older engineers like Leo Martin, Merlyvin Sankeralli, Hollis Charles, Emile Charles, Fenwick Defour, Carl Defour, Clem Imbert, Peter Styles, Ronald Williams, Emmanuel Romain, Winston Suite and Winston Riley; Leo Lawson from Jamaica and others from the wider Caribbean region as well.
Q11. In what ways do you hope your service and contributions will inspire the next generation of engineers in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region?
Any contribution to our professional organisations is never wasted, I believe that the influence goes beyond our own expectations, we cannot always comprehend the full extent of who and how it impacts, just know that it does. Only recently my cousin, a civil engineer in Canada, told me that I influenced his career choice. I never suspected.
Q12. What do you believe are the most pressing challenges or opportunities for engineering leadership today, and how should professional organizations like APETT respond?
There’s only one way to identify the challenges, opportunities, JUST ASK your current members as well as the Engineers who have not joined the Organisation. Most importantly ask your clients
Q13. What has been the most rewarding part of your decades-long involvement with APETT and other engineering bodies?
Seeing the younger professionals take up the mantle with pride and conviction that it is worth it. Knowing that while I was part of these Organisations: APETT, BOETT, CWWA for a short while that they will be here long after I am gone.
Q14. Is there a project, initiative, or committee experience that you feel especially proud of or emotionally connected to?
The formation of CWWA, I started as the treasurer on the Steering Committee with 125 EC dollars.
Q15. Finally, now that you’ve received this award, what’s next for you in terms of your continued involvement in engineering or public service?
I have not yet decided but as the need arises. Currently I volunteer in the Pantry of Grace Methodist Church, Houston Heights