Celebrating our 2026 winner: Jessica Chan

As part of the Canadian Airports Council’s Airport Workers Day, nine airport workers from across the country are recognized with a national award that celebrates their dedication and contribution to our industry. For the past three years, YVR colleagues have proudly been among those recognized, including Jessica Chan as the Rising Star in 2026.   

Early in her career, Jessica Chan has already made a lasting impact on YVR, earning recognition as a Canadian Airports Council Rising Star for her exceptional talent, dedication, and commitment to excellence. 

Jessica currently serves as a Field Engineer on YVR’s Airport Terminal Projects team. Prior to this role, she spent four years on the Climate and Environment team, where she played a key role in advancing YVR’s environmental initiatives. Through her work, Jessica demonstrated not only strong technical expertise, but also a determination to continually raise the bar for what is possible. 

YVR’s purpose is to serve our community and the economy that supports it, and Jessica brings that purpose to life by helping ensure airport operations are conducted responsibly and sustainably. Her unwavering dedication to YVR’s water quality monitoring program has strengthened environmental protection across Sea Island while informing operational decisions and infrastructure investments that support both airport operations and the surrounding ecosystem. 

Jessica has been instrumental in advancing innovative monitoring programs, refining water quality sampling methodologies and supporting initiatives that protect local salmon and waterways. Her work has helped strengthen YVR’s position as North America’s first Salmon-Safe certified airport—a reflection of our commitment to responsible land and water stewardship. Through her leadership, YVR continues to push beyond regulatory requirements and set new standards for environmental excellence within the aviation industry. 

Beyond her technical contributions, Jessica is known for her curiosity, initiative and collaborative spirit. Whether engaging with the Musqueam Environmental Stewardship team or with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or sharing lessons learned with peer airports, she consistently builds trust through her professionalism and thoughtful approach. She has earned a reputation for translating complex environmental data into practical solutions that support both environmental and operational goals. 

Jessica never settles for “good enough.” She is constantly looking for opportunities to improve processes, strengthen relationships, and help YVR lead the way on environmental stewardship. At the same time, she is quick to recognize the role her colleagues play in her success, crediting the support of her team for helping her navigate challenges and continue learning. 

By embodying YVR’s values of teamwork and accountability, Jessica is already making a meaningful impact today while demonstrating the qualities of a future leader. Her accomplishments to date are impressive and they are only the beginning of a bright future ahead. 

Start your career at YVR today. Head to careers.yvr.ca to learn more about how you can contribute to one of B.C.’s most important economic gateways and trade hubs.