Pooja Elvitigala's Career Progression at Metso as EHS Specialist

Pooja Elvitigala has progressed to become an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Specialist at Metso, starting her journey as a summer trainee with the company. Her career development has been shaped by curiosity, responsibility, and continuous learning.

Elvitigala's background, combining a bachelor's degree in chemical and process engineering with a master's in industrial environmental engineering, fostered her strong interest in sustainability and safety. She initially joined Metso's Lappeenranta office as a summer trainee during her studies to gain practical experience within a global corporation.

The transition from trainee to specialist was a gradual process. From the outset, Elvitigala was involved in real work tasks and her opinions were valued. This trust enabled her to take on increasing responsibilities step by step. Her master's thesis focused on improving EHS risk management practices across Metso's Minerals business line locations, bridging academic research with practical challenges.

In her current role at the Espoo headquarters, Elvitigala works on global safety and sustainability matters. Her responsibilities include safety reporting, developing EHS processes, conducting audits, and supporting teams at production and customer sites.

Elvitigala emphasizes the significant support from her team, which facilitated asking questions and sharing ideas. She has also gained experience collaborating with diverse cultures and global teams. She advises newcomers to remain curious, seize opportunities, and learn from their colleagues.