Nigora Yulyakshieva, P.Eng.

Nigora Yulyakshieva, P.Eng., was born and raised in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In 1999, she and her family arrived in Canada as refugees, and she began her new career chapter as an Engineering Assistant, then an Engineer-in-Training, and finally, a P.Eng.

Early Life and Education

I was born and raised in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in a family with five sisters. My mom, Rohat Yahyaeva, and dad, Sobir Rizaev, taught us from a young age that it did not matter if you were a girl or a boy, we all must take turns helping with yardwork, cleaning the house, doing dishes, cooking, or if we were lucky, helping dad with home improvement projects. This is how I knew that choosing a profession was about trying and a willingness to learn.

Thanks to my parents and grandparents, I was incredibly fortunate to be able to explore an abundance of career possibilities from the arts to medicine and technology to history. Another influence that contributed to choosing an engineering profession was living in a city that has stood for more than 2,500 years! Growing up, I marvelled at the architecture knowing it was so old, yet it looked so new. I loved visiting historical buildings many times over, and the designs captured my curiosity to know more. I also had teachers who inspired my creativity and parents who encouraged me to get my engineering degree so that one day, I too could design buildings and cities.

While in university, I worked at the Samarkand Transportation Institute (STI) where I explored my technical knowledge in practice and had the opportunity to work side by side with professional engineers and learn from them. In 1986, I graduated with a degree in Industrial and Civil Engineering from Samarkand Architectural and Civil-Engineering University, launching a career I had pursued because of my passion.

In 1998, I was happily married with two kids working at STI and never imagined that I would leave my country. But on June 24, 1999, I arrived in Regina, Canada as a refugee with my husband, Bahodir Youlyahshiev, and two small children, Nafisa (11), and Bobur (9) in tow. I was also seven months pregnant with my youngest son, Sobirjon.

Career

My new career chapter in Canada started at the Ministry of Highways as an Engineering Assistant. In 2001, I was registered as an Engineer-in-Training with APEGS and obtained my P.Eng. status in 2003.

Since achieving my P.Eng., I have held many leadership positions in the traffic and transportation engineering sector within Saskatchewan and Alberta. Currently, I am the manager of the roadways preservation branch with the City of Regina, where I oversee road and bridge infrastructure renewal projects valuing more than $50M annually. Over the last 20 years of my career, I have accomplished many major projects and mentored more than 20 engineers-in-training to acquire their professional status and achieve their career goals. Some projects I have led through development and implementation include a residential renewal program, a pedestrian connectivity program, major traffic safety improvements, the introduction of a two-stage crossing, the city’s first road and bridge state of the infrastructure report, downtown revitalization projects and I participated in the development of the City of Regina’s official community plan and transportation master plan.

One thing I love and appreciate about my career is that it provides me with opportunities to be a direct influence on the renewal and delivery of a safe transportation system to our community while also supporting our city’s growth.

“With my own personal journey in mind, I thank my fellow engineers who supported me through the years to build not only my engineering career and home in Regina but a future that will last for generations.”

Interests

Outside of work, my grandkids are the sunshine of my life and I also enjoy volunteering at community events. Most of all, I love taking time with my family to explore historical sites in Asia and Europe and exploring Canada’s historical sites.