Event Photos:

WCE is excited to hold our inaugural Mentorship Mixer, an evening for engineers in the industry to mingle and share experiences. Facilitating mentorship connections between women is a big part of advancing WCE’s goal of increasing gender diversity and inclusion in our industry. 

Mentees will rotate through discussions with three different mentors throughout the evening and participate in lively dialogue over appetizers and drinks (included in the ticket price). Participants will have the opportunity to ask senior women in engineering for guidance, advice, and support.  

Through our informal approach to mentorship, we aim to foster organic connections between mentors and mentees at the Mixer event, which can grow into longer-term connections. The connection and commitment beyond the event are completely up to the participants. Following our Mixer event, we’ll continue to incorporate forums for developing organic mentorship connections in all our future programming. Thank you to SEABC for their contribution towards this event.

Register Here!

When: October 17, 2019 from 6:00-8:00pm

Where: Creekside Community Centre, Multi-purpose Room 4, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver. 

6:00-6:15 Registration

6:15-6:30 Event welcome

6:30-7:40 Rotating group discussions, approximately 2 mentors and 6 mentees per table

7:40-8:00 Mingle and follow up discussions

We are very excited to have women from various companies, industries and experiences as mentors at our inaugural Mentorship Mixer. See below for a listing of the mentors who will be present on October 17. More mentors are being confirmed, so check back soon for more info!

Pia Abercromby 
Bridge Engineer | McElhanney

Pia Abercromby, P.Eng., is an enthusiastic bridge engineer. Her eight years of engineering experience are comprised of both Canadian bridge design experience with her current employer, McElhanney, and experience in bridge and large civil structures design at a leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy in New Zealand. 
She is people-focused, enjoys management roles and finding opportunities to help those she is working with develop their strengths. She is motivated to learn new skills and design techniques. Working in team environments to solve complex engineering problems gives her satisfaction, and she thrives in situations where she can gain knowledge from those around her.

Miranda Alldritt
Vice President, Customer Experience | Copperleaf

Miranda leads the customer experience team at Copperleaf.  Our team works with large, asset intensive organizations applying our engineering and consulting skills to leverage strategy, engineering data and financial analysis to optimize investment decision making.
Miranda has 20 years of experience in enterprise software.  She is passionate about building and leading high performing team and about designing software and solutions that make the world a better place.

Monique Beaudry
Senior Transportation Engineer | Associated Engineering

Monique Beaudry, P.Eng., RPP, MCIP, is a Senior Transportation Engineer and Project Manager with over 30 years of engineering and customer service experience involving transportation planning, traffic engineering, traffic safety, urban planning and public consultation. Her public sector experience helps her lead transportation projects with a high success rate of multi-jurisdictional endorsement of recommendations. She has recently completed the IAP2 Foundations course for planning public engagement processes.
She received her Civil Engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan and spent most of her career working in Regina, SK starting as a Traffic Safety Engineer for SK Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, then a Transportation Planner with City of Regina, and lastly as a Transportation Planning Lead with AE for the last 13 years.  She is currently going through a life transformation having received her divorce certificate and her job transfer to Vancouver on the same day in July 2018.

Helen Chan
Manager, Energy | Associated Engineering

Helen is a Civil Engineer with 20 years of experience in municipal and consulting engineering.  She has a diverse technical and project management background. Helen leads projects of various sizes, disciplines, and stages.  She is experienced in project managing projects from project definition (scoping), design, through to construction. At Associated Engineering, Helen primarily facilitates the delivery of multiple stakeholder projects in variety of sectors from energy, land development to asset management.  Her most notable projects are Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy, Tsawwassen Commercial Development, Oakridge Redevelopment Centre, City of Chilliwack Brewery Pre-treatment System and City of Vancouver Asset Management Framework. Helen spent five years at the City of Richmond where she was responsible for developing policies, long range master planning and capital program planning for the City’s infrastructure.

Phyllis Chong
Instructor, Civil Engineering | BCIT

Phyllis Chong, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., is a structural engineer with over 12 years of experience in engineering consulting prior to joining the faculty in the department of Civil Engineering at BCIT.
In her teaching role at BCIT, Phyllis shares her industry knowledge with engineering and engineering technology students through delivery of project-focused courses in the second-, third-, and fourth-years of the civil engineering program.  Phyllis also enjoys being the first point of contact for students in her department through her first-year Introduction to Civil Engineering course. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Phyllis is also currently the BCIT Champion for Engineer Canada’s 30-by-30 Initiative (to encourage and support women in Engineering), faculty advisor for BCIT’s Women in Engineering (WiE) student group, and co-chair of the 2-Day Challenge (a student competition to foster collaboration between numerous departments in BCIT’s School of Construction and the Environment).
Phyllis’s experience includes infrastructure and bridge engineering-related projects in Canada and the United States, where she has acted as Proposal Lead, Key Client Account Manager, Project Manager, Designer, Design Checker, and Analyst for bridge projects.
Phyllis has expertise and interest in the design of steel and concrete bridge structures, including various forms such as cable-stayed, suspension, arch, and girder bridges. She has also supported construction services for several bridge projects. Phyllis enjoys human interaction – in particular, attending professional conferences and building and fostering relationships. Through her previous managing role as a Group Lead, she provided leadership and direction to assigned staff.

Quinn Crosina
Manager, Water Group | Associated Engineering

Quinn Crostina, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., is the Manager of the Water Group at Associated Engineering’s Vancouver operation and a Director on the Board of Associated’s BC subsidiary. She has 15 years of experience, primarily in water infrastructure planning and design projects, as well as climate change vulnerability assessments.  Quinn completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering and her Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, specializing in drinking water treatment, both at the University of Waterloo. She joined Associated in 2007 as a Water Process Engineer, eventually moving into Project Management roles. For the past three years, she has chaired Associated’s Women in Science and Engineering Retention (WISER) Committee.  Quinn and her husband (also an engineer) have two young children, ages 4 and 7. She uses any free time to fit in a workout or to sit down with a good book.

Sonia D’Ambra
Director, Geotechnical Vancouver | WSP

Dr. D’Ambra is a Rock Mechanics Engineer and Engineering Manager with almost 20 years of experience in academia and consulting.  She has worked as project director, project manager and senior reviewer of geotechnical studies from the earliest stages of mine development through the life of mine.
As Engineering Manager, she currently holds full profit & loss responsibility for a business unit of approximately 15 engineers and technicians, and almost $3MM annual budget in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver.  She has previously held responsibility for a business unit of more than 50 engineers and geoscientists in Western North America. 
Modelling of values-based decision-making to enforce their importance within the organization, and inspiring team members to develop their talents and efficiently achieve their career goals, she has a proven success in managing highly motivated cross-functional teams of technical experts and million dollar budgets in a difficult market and low commodity prices.   

Susan Davidson 
Principal Ocean Engineer | Sea Science Inc

Susan has been providing specialist engineering services in the field of coastal and ocean engineering to both public and private sector clients for the past 35 years. She started her professional career in Nova Scotia at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, where she used her expertise in wave dynamics and marine sediment processes in the development of numerical modelling tools for the Atlantic Geoscience Centre. Susan spent a number of years providing consulting services in the applied research field prior to shifting to a more engineering-design focused practice. 
Susan has contributed to projects such as the planning and design of ports and harbours, the assessment of marine geohazards, dredging and navigation projects, mine tailings management, nature-based design approaches and climate change impacts and mitigation measures. She has worked on projects located in British Columbia, throughout North America and internationally, at project stages ranging from pre-feasibility and concept development through to detailed design.
Susan currently works in both the engineering design and environmental impact project streams, and is qualified as an expert witness. She is a Competency Assessor and volunteer mentor through Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

Donna Denny
Principal Engineer, Mechanical | British Columbia Rapid Transit Corporation (Skytrain)

Donna Denny received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1989 from the University of Saskatchewan and in 1997 her Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Since then she has had an exciting and rewarding career. She is currently the Principal Mechanical Engineer for British Columbia Rapid Transit Corporation (Skytrain), where she manages the mechanical engineering department. Prior to holding this position she worked as a Provincial Safety Manager with Technical Safety BC and as Regulatory Compliance Manager for Westport Fuel Systems.
Ms. Denny originally specialized in vibration analysis. Her first job in this field was with Schlumberger, working offshore on one of their seismic vessels. She has fond memories of sea life, “commuting to work” via helicopter, and working off the coasts of Africa, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. In 2000 she traded in her lifejacket for steel toed boots and worked locally as a project engineer then as a powertrain vibration analyst. In 2009 she started her own company Legato Engineering that specialized in torsional vibration analysis, vibration measurement and compliance project management (DNV, ABS, API, Lloyds, ISO).
Before starting her engineering career, Ms. Denny spent several years studying music and traveling throughout the South Pacific, Asia, India, South America and Central America. Her loves are playing music, running, skiing, motorcycles and, most importantly, her husband and two children.

Dawn Flotten
Environmental Engineer, Principal | Golder Associates

Dawn is a Principal and environmental engineer in Golder’s Vancouver office with over 20 years of experience organizing and managing complex contaminated site investigation and remediation projects. She is also a Numerical Standards Approved Professional and member with the Contaminated Sites Approved Professional Society.  Throughout her technical career, she has travelled to nearly every nook and cranny of BC, with Stewart being one of her favourite places. Between 2014 and 2016, Dawn was the Operations Leader for the contaminated sites practice team in British Columbia and in 2017, the Operations Leader for the environmental assessment and archeology teams in BC.  During these four years, she was responsible for the overall business operation and financial performance of the teams. She is a modern quilter, master swimmer, dog parent and lover of the outdoors.   

Katrin Habel
Manager – Bridge Rehabilitation | Associated Engineering

Katrin is the Manager – Bridge Rehabilitation of Associated Engineering’s Vancouver office. Katrin is a structural engineer with nearly 20 years’ experience. After obtaining her engineering degree in Germany and doctoral degree in Switzerland, Katrin has been a consulting engineer in Edmonton and Vancouver since and has been involved in all aspects of structural engineering of transportation structures since then. She is an active member of several volunteer committees for the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CSA S6) and the American Concrete Institute and the Co-Chair of a major international structural conference in Vancouver in 2017.  Outside of work, Katrin enjoys the outdoors and mountains.

Kathleen Hanley
Senior Geotechnical Engineer | BGC Engineering

Kathleen Hanley is a geotechnical engineer with a passion for multi-disciplinary team work. She’s worked on mine waste management and mine closure projects throughout the Americas with BGC Engineering since completing a BASc in Civil Engineering at UBC in 2007. Kathleen recently completed a Master of Earth and Energy Resources Leadership at Queen’s University and is keen to apply new communication and engagement skills and a broader understanding of the mining industry to her work.

Nadia Krys
Manager, Engineering Project Delivery | TransLink

Nadia is a Manager of Engineering Project Delivery at TransLink and oversees delivery of Capital Engineering projects by a team of Project Managers within the Transit Authority. She has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering. She is a registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia and New York State and is a Project Management Professional. She has a track record of designing, managing and delivering complex, time-sensitive, multi-faceted and multi-stakeholder infrastructure projects in New York City and British Columbia.
Projects delivered to date have been as complex as an operating SkyTrain station upgrade, facility seismic upgrade, head end development for next train departure as well as universally accessible faregates project.
Outside of work, her interests include traveling and enjoying the beautiful British Columbia outdoors.

Kitty Leung
Principal, Structural Engineering Team Leader | Stantec

Since graduating from UBC more than 20 years ago, Kitty has worked in a local boutique structural engineering firm where she was the only female professional staff, as well as a multi-national corporation with half of her team being female. She is fortunate enough to have worked on many different types of projects, Kitty is especially proud to have been involved in the design of iconic structures that shape the Vancouver downtown skyline.
By actively being involved with engineering boards and committees, Kitty strives to stay current on the latest code developments and innovative practices and also to contribute back to the engineering community.

Andrea Lougheed
Senior Geotechnical Engineer | BGC Engineering

Andrea is a senior geotechnical engineer that specializes in soil mechanics for geotechnical engineering projects ranging from large design-build transportation projects to small commercial developments to large tailings dams. She focuses on having a strong technical skillset in foundation engineering, liquefaction assessment, ground improvement and critical state soil mechanics. Notable projects have included Port Mann Highway 1 Improvement Project, Eglinton Crosstown LRT Project, and Mount Polley Independent Expert Investigation.
She has also volunteered with the Vancouver Geotechnical Society (VGS) since 2010, including as Chair and Section Director, and the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) since 2013 on the Heritage Committee, Board of Directors and Executive Committee (currently Section Representative). She was the first and only women to have co chaired a CGS annual conference and the first woman VGS Section Director. She is committed to furthering women’s involvement and recognition in the profession and mentoring the next generation.

Michelle Maynard
Senior Environmental Engineer | Associated Engineering

Michelle has over 20 years of consulting experience working in the Water Industry. Originally from Barbados, she went to the University of Edinburgh and University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and has worked in Barbados, the UK and in Canada since 2006. Michelle has worked on projects large and small, and through all phases of a project’s lifespan. She is currently working at MV’s AIWWTP as part of the team providing an overarching construction coordinating and safety for all ongoing construction projects at the Plant.

Mary-Jane Piggott
North America Regional Manager, Mining and Environment Group | Klohn Crippen Berger

Mary-Jane is a Senior Water Resources Engineer who specialises in stormwater management with 20 years’ experience in Australia, Canada, the USA and South America in investigation, design and project management of mining, civil and water resource projects. She manages the North America region of KCB’s Mining Environmental Group and enjoys being part of a team of experienced scientists and engineers. Outside of work she enjoys camping, photography and spending time with family and friends.

Zahra Pirani
Environmental Engineer and Project Manager | Keystone Environmental

Zahra is an environmental engineer with 11 years of post-graduate experience. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree focusing on contaminated soil remediation. Zahra’s main area of focus is contaminated site assessment and remediation; however, she has had several years of exposure to related disciplines such as geotechnical engineering and upstream oil and gas development. In 2017, Zahra received the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies BC (ACEC-BC) Young Professional Award for excellence in consulting business practices, and she is currently the President and Conference Chair for the Science Advisory Board for Contaminated Sites (SABCS). Zahra currently works at Keystone Environmental as an Environmental Engineer and Project Manager.

Jennifer Prive
Manager, Environmental Sciences | Associated Environmental Consultants

Jennifer is a Senior Biologist with more than 20 years of experience in environmental consulting. She is a seasoned generalist and project manager, having managed hundreds of projects from small to large in scale and scope with budgets from several thousand dollars to several million. She has assembled and managed multi-disciplinary teams for various types of projects, she has led the coordination and technical scope of various assessments and has coordinated field surveys for avifauna, furbearers, large game, bats, invertebrates, and amphibians.

Kristin Salzsauler
Senior Geochemist and Associate | Golder Associates

Kristin Salzsauler is an environmental geochemist with over 15 years of experience in consulting, focusing on geochemical assessments for mining projects.  She has a particular interest in forensic geochemistry, stemming from her B.Sc. and M.Sc. research at the University of Manitoba, where she integrated complex mineralogical analyses to more standard approaches of characterizing acid rock drainage and metal leaching potential at orphaned mines.  Kristin has worked on projects around the world, but recently her work has focused on projects in northern Canada. 
In addition to her technical role, Kristin leads Golder’s Global Geochemistry Technical Community, which facilitates collaboration, mentoring and transfer of technical knowledge between geochemical practitioners around the world.  She is a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is a leader in promoting mental health awareness.   Outside of work, her time is consumed by her two young daughters, and training for distance running events.

Tamsin Silvester
Manager, Rail Systems Engineering – West | WSP

Tamsin is the manager of the WSP Rail Systems Engineering team in Western Canada with over 20 years’ experience in technical, professional and engineering management roles.  She is an accomplished and multi-disciplined leader and has been responsible for leading design, technical, financial, and program management for projects with a wide variety of values, forms of contract, nature and scope of works. Tamsin is experienced in leading complex multi-discipline design teams, liaising and coordinating between many different parties including external consultants, local municipalities, stakeholders and internal departments.

Tracy Skinner
Senior Contract Administrator | Integral Group

Tracy has worked in the construction industry for almost 25 years.  She began as an apprentice electrician and earned her red seal in electrical work.  Since then, she has worked as an estimator, project manager and now as Contract Administrator in Electrical Engineering for the last 11 years.
She has been a member of Canadian Construction Women since 2007 and has volunteered on their board.
She enjoys dancing, camping, kayaking and motorcycle riding.  She has a wonderful senior dog, Tiz.

Leona Smith
Regional Project Services Specialist | COWI North America Ltd.

Leona is a Regional Project Services Specialist. She has been instrumental in the project management of major bridge projects, including the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in New York, the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Bid Design, and is the deputy PM for the current Pattullo Bridge Replacement Bid Design. In addition to working on projects, she manages COWI’s project services group in Canada. She has a background in materials engineering and has been PMP certified since 2016. Leona recently moved to a place with a balcony and is figuring out how to not kill plants.

Maggie Smith
Senior Geotechnical Engineer | Klohn Crippen Berger

Maggie has 10 years of consulting experience in the design and construction of dams. Her experience includes dam design and construction, geotechnical site investigations, seismic hazard assessments, slope stability assessments and modeling, landslide identification, monitoring and remediation, permitting and environmental impact statement support for projects throughout British Columbia, Alaska, the Northwest Territories, Ontario and the Dominican Republic.
Maggie loves working as part of a team, field work, working on technically challenging projects, mentoring, travel and her dog.

Karen Spoelstra
Principal | MCW Consultants Ltd.

As a Principal with MCW, Karen is primarily focused on mechanical engineering and sustainable design of mixed-use, multi-unit high-rise developments. Karen was part of the design team for the LEED Gold-certified Marine Gateway complex (the first mixed-use building of that scale in Vancouver), and has continued on to engineering of the new Station Square multi-tower development and One Burrard Place.

Stefanie Wiik
Civil Engineer | Associated Engineering

Stefanie Wiik is an accomplished civil engineer with 12 years of diverse experience within her field. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia and she thoroughly enjoys her work as a civil engineer, project manager and trainer at Associated Engineering. Stefanie is highly organized, well spoken and values the professional and personal relationships she has built along her journey. She resides in downtown Vancouver with her engineer husband and two beautiful young children. Stefanie believes in lifelong learning and that every moment has its own advice and wisdom.