Dava Kaitala

Dava Kaitala is the Americas Market Director for Heavy Rail at Jacobs, leading multidisciplinary teams across railroad engineering, operations, sustainability and environmental services. With more than 20 years of experience, she works with public and private sector clients to navigate complex challenges in site selection, permitting, resilience and stakeholder engagement, helping advance major rail and infrastructure projects from early planning through to delivery. 

Prior to joining Jacobs, Dava spent over 12 years with a major North American freight railroad, where she held roles across engineering, environmental and legal functions. She also held senior positions with a federal engineering agency, culminating in a leadership role focused on permitting and regulatory strategy. A licensed attorney in Texas, Dava is widely recognized for her expertise in environmental policy and permitting. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, including neurodiversity, in the workplace.