Women in Engineering

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated annually on June 23. INWED aims to raise the profile of women in engineering and focuses attention on the amazing career opportunities available in this industry.

A hero comes in many forms—including an engineer—and can be a hero and mentor to everyone. This year, we will be focusing on those unknown engineering heroes, who work diligently behind the scenes to keep everyone safe.

To celebrate, promoted our own engineering heroes that live and work across British Columbia and we teamed up with UBC Geering Up whose video interviews can be found under each profile below.

In addition, Engineers and Geoscientists BC's Foundation is pleased to announce inauguration of the Tricia J. Cook Memorial Fund. The fund offers an annual award of $2,000 to an outstanding woman in engineering or geoscience returning to her chosen profession after the birth of a child. Deadline for applications is September 10, 2021. For more information, visit Tricia J. Cook Memorial Fund.
 

BC'S Engineering Heroes

How would you describe what you do in one sentence?
I am a people-oriented person who works with small Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to solve water, sewage, and drainage infrastructure problems.

Describe what a “hero” is to you.
A hero is someone who amplifies the voices of marginalized peoples and works towards building a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. They are accountable for their attitudes, values, behaviours, and examine how they can personally challenge the status quo, and inspire others to change the way they show up in the world.

How does your job help people or society?
My job brings talented people together to solve infrastructure problems and improve basic necessities in the community. These services are not always glamourous, like improving a community's sewer system, but have a direct impact on people’s lives.

What’s one really cool thing you get to work on?
I am really proud to be part of the team that helped develop the Asset Management Guide for British Columbia First Nations. In developing the Guide, I had the opportunity to work with an advisory group comprised of Indigenous leaders in asset management from across the province. The Guide is designed to support First Nation communities sustainably manage their infrastructure assets over their full lifecycles. It reflects the unique context and needs of the BC Region.

What do you like the most about your job?
I enjoy the client-facing part of engineering and building teams that support the development of others and creates spaces to explore systems.

What is something interesting that people may not know about engineering?
Engineers solve complex civil infrastructure system problems that make it possible to provide services to communities. Most of the time, if the systems I am working on are functioning properly, they go unnoticed.

When are you most inspired?
I am most inspired by the kindness, leadership, and ingenuity of the utility management staff I have met working in small and remote communities.

Video Interview
Watch UBC Geering Up's video interview with Colleen.

How would you describe what you do in one sentence?
I keep my colleagues and the environment safe by optimizing plant manufacturing and maintenance practices to increase reliability.

Describe what a “hero” is to you.
A hero is someone who inspires others to do their best. They motivate those around them, not for the glory but for the greater good.

How does your job help people or society?
The goal of reliability engineering is to reduce system failure, which can help reduce workplace injuries. Most workplace injuries take place when individuals respond to upset conditions. If I can optimize the systems enough to predict a failure, I can help reduce the risk of responding to that failure. I want my colleagues to be able to go into any situation fully aware of what to expect and with the ability to act safely and confidently.

What’s one really cool thing you get to work on?
I enjoy working on root cause analysis, which is the process of discovering the root causes of problems in order to identify appropriate solutions. I first became intrigued with root cause analysis after taking a Risk Management class at university. Luckily, Weyerhauser, the company I currently work for, strongly emphasizes root causes analysis in its manufacturing plants and has encouraged me to continue to build on the fundamentals I learned in school.

What do you like the most about your job? 
The perspective it offers. I have learned about the impact of my work on the environment, and this has allowed me to pursue projects that I believe will have a positive impact on the world.

What is something interesting that people may not know about engineering? 
How broad it is! I think when most people hear the word engineer, they think of the usual suspects: civil, mechanical, chemical, and mining engineering. I did my undergrad in materials engineering, and I had never heard of the field until I started engineering school.

When are you most inspired?
When I work with passionate people! I love working with people who are enthusiastic about the project they are working on. It makes me want to learn more and do better.

Video Interview
Watch UBC Geering Up's video interview with Cheryl.
 

How would you describe what you do in one sentence?
I am an environmental consultant working on land quality and remediation projects, improving the environment through sustainable development.

How do you help the environment?
I sample soil, water, and air in order to assess contaminated sites and remediate the environment that had been damaged. I remove contaminants and find out what the environment needs to flourish and to be safe to live on.

Describe what a “hero” is to you.
A hero is a humble leader, someone who knows what is right and wrong, and does what is right even if it is very difficult. A hero puts other people first, or in some cases, the preservation of natural ecosystems. A hero is willing to make sacrifices.

How does your job help people or society?
My job helps people by enabling them to move forward with development in a way that promotes stewardship and partnership with the land and ecosystems that we co-exist with.

What’s one really cool thing you get to work on?
Although they are not ‘cool’, oil spills are interesting projects that create a fast-paced work environment. In the aftermath of an oil spill, I work to remediate the environment that has been impacted.

What do you like the most about your job?
I enjoy working outdoors with my hands and being in an environment that is changing for the better.

What is something interesting that people may not know about engineering?
Engineering isn’t always about human-made things or designing projects. It’s about problem-solving with the resources you’ve got. Nature itself plays an important role in the protection and remediation of the earth.

When are you most inspired?
I am most inspired when I see young people being trained and growing the skills and knowledge that are needed to carry out important environmental work.

Video Interview
Watch UBC Geering Up's video interview with Tamara.

How would you describe what you do in one sentence?
Design, develop, and operate systems for collecting and analyzing special information about lands, oceans, natural resources, as well as man-made infrastructure for engineering and other applications. Simply put, we create maps! These maps allow people to do everyday things like browse Google Earth or use a map on their cell phone.

Describe what a “hero” is to you.
A hero is a person who goes above and beyond the call of duty to make a positive impact, honestly and genuinely.

How does your job help people or society?
My work helps create safe and productive environments. For example, I help develop 3D models of the ocean floor so that ships can navigate safely.

What’s one really cool thing you get to work on?
I get to experience new things every day. I work with new technologies and approaches emerging every day and learn about how they relate to my work.

What do you like the most about your job?
I work and collaborate with people from many different backgrounds, and I am always learning from them.

What is something interesting that people may not know about engineering?
Most of the engineering is about critical thinking. We use our understanding of math and science to design things or produce deliverables. One important point that people may not know about the engineering is the level of ethical responsibilities. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

When are you most inspired?
When I can help others achieve lasting differences and positive results in their lives.

Video Interview
Watch UBC Geering Up's video interview with Azadeh.