SCWIST

Overcome Your Resistance and Embrace Virtual Networking
2023-05-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
SCWIST and iWIST have come together to bring you an opportunity to meet women in STEM and brush up on your networking skills.

Networking is not only a great way to find new job opportunities, it’s a great way to make connections with new friends and professionals who will be able to support you throughout your career journey.
Join us for an interactive and informative workshop that help you get started in networking. Professional Career Coach Sue Maitland will lead you through a short talk on how to introduce yourself before we launch into breakout rooms so you can practice your newfound skills and make connections with women in STEM from across Canada.

AGENDA

12:00pm: Introductions
12:05pm: How to Introduce Yourself with Sue Maitland
12:15pm: 5-minutes fo participants to craft their introduction
12:20pm: Breakout Rooms (x2)
12:55pm: Wrap up

SPEAKER

Sue Maitland, Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
After decades in the world of IT, in roles including programmer, project manager, recruiter, resource manager and sales executive, Sue followed her passion and trained to become a professional life coach. Accredited through the International Coach Federation at the PCC level, Sue specializes in helping other people make professional and personal transitions. She does this through presentations, online workshops and 1-on-1 coaching.
Her flagship workshop What’s Important to Me Now has helped 100’s of people get clarity on their top priorities for this phase of their life and the accompanying group mastermind helps motivate them to take action to live a life aligned with these priorities. Sue especially enjoys working with women in IT and is a sponsor of iWIST (Island Women in Science & Technology), offering a complimentary coaching session to all new members. Her Networking for Success workshop has proved invaluable to many people in career transition and her Self-Care workshop helps busy professionals put more balance in their lives.
suemaitland.com

A﻿bout SCWIST
SCWIST is a not-for-profit society that specializes in improving the presence and influence of women and girls in STEM in Canada. SCWIST promotes participation and advancement through education, networking, mentorship, collaborative partnerships and advocacy.
scwist.ca

A﻿bout iWIST
iWIST brings together women* and allies in science, technology, engineering, and math in West Coast island communities. Founded in 2011 as Island Women in Technology, the group’s mission was to offer a positive and supportive environment where women who worked in STEM could connect and build a community.
iwist.ca

SCWIST-Québec : Rejoignez-nous! / Join us!
2023-05-11 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Toronto)
Rejoignez notre équipe! La SCWIST-Québec recherche des bénévoles.
Join our team! SCWIST-Quebec invites volunteers.

Depuis plus de 40 ans, la SCWIST a amélioré la présence et l’influence des femmes et des filles en STIM (sciences, technologie, ingénierie et mathématiques) au Canada. Vous pouvez dès à présence avoir votre propre impact!
La SCWIST est une société créée et dirigée par des bénévoles. La SCWIST-Québec est une division québécoise de la SCWIST. Nos bénévoles jouent un rôle essentiel dans la prestation des programmes de la SCWIST afin de réaliser notre mission et notre vision. Nous sommes très reconnaissants pour leur temps, leurs talents, leur passion et leur engagement. En retour, nous offrons à nos bénévoles des opportunités de développer des compétences, d’élargir les liens de réseautage et de créer des expériences qui resteront avec eux pour toujours.
Une philosophie est au cœur de notre bénévolat – nous associons chaque bénévole au rôle qui lui convient le mieux. Alors, faites-nous savoir : quelles compétences pouvez-vous apporter à la SCWIST-Québec et quelle expérience aimeriez-vous acquérir ?
Rejoignez-nous par Zoom le jeudi 11 mai de 17h30 à 18h30 (heure de Montréal) pour rencontrer les membres de la SCWIST- Québec et poser toutes vos questions!
_____________________________________________________________________

For over 40 years, SCWIST (The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology) specializes in improving the presence and influence of women and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in Canada. Now you can make your impact!
SCWIST is a society created and driven by volunteers. SCWIST-Québec is a Quebec-based regional hub of SCWIST. Our volunteers play the essential role in delivering of the SCWIST programs to achieve our mission and vision. We are very grateful for their time, talents, passion and commitment. In return, we provide our volunteers with opportunities to develop skills, expand networking connections and create experiences that will stay with them forever.
One philosophy is at the heart of our volunteering – we match each volunteer with the role that’s best for her (or him). So, let us know: what skills can you bring to SCWIST-Québec and what experience would you like to gain?
Join us on Zoom on Thursday, May 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Montreal time) to meet the SCWIST-Quebec members and ask all your questions!

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others. You therefore are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca and quebec@scwist.ca.

Networking+ Night: Boost Your Professional Presence
2023-05-09 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Vancouver) | SFU Ventures Lab, 555 W Hastings St #1100, 11th floor, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Have fun networking while you improve your resume, get a new headshot and learn about the career paths of leading women in STEM.

SCWIST is excited to invite you to Networking+ Night: Boost Your Corporate Presence. Meet other professional women in STEM while you freshen up your resume, get a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile and hear about the career paths of leading women in STEM.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your job search skills and connect with other job seekers in the community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Tickets
Tickets are $15 for SCWIST members / $30 for non-members. If you would like to attend this event but the ticket cost is a barrier, please reach out to commsevents@scwist.ca.

Panel Discussion
Enjoy a 30-minute discussion where professional women in STEM discuss their career paths and take questions from the audience.
S﻿peakers

H﻿asnaa Fatehi, PhD, RAC – RA/QA Principal Consultant at QARALOGIC
Hasnaa is a MedTech regulations specialist and an emerging artist (performance/visual). She thinks a lot about rules and their origins, allowing her art practice to influence her regulatory work and her regulatory work to inform her art practice. Hasnaa’s secret mission is to rewrite your/our imagination of Muslim women.

C﻿hantel Kowalchuk, PhD – Associate Medical Director at ApotheCom
Chantel is a PhD neuroscientist turned medical communicator. She currently works as an Associate Medical Director at ApotheCom, a medical communications agency, where she leads a team of writers to help pharma and biotech companies communicate their complex medical findings in an accessible way to healthcare providers and patients.

Alison Müller, PhD – Communications & Social Media Officer
Dr. Alison Müller left her academic past to pursue a career in science communication after realizing she enjoyed sharing the wonders of medical research with others far more than babysitting persnickety cells. She is a member of the Communications team for government non-profits: 1) the Canadian HIV Clinical Trials Research Network (CTN) and; 2) the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) based out of St. Paul’s Hospital. She also enjoys providing others with the opportunity to share their science in a less structured environment and is currently the Programming Chair of Science Slam Canada which holds both in-person science communication events in Vancouver and virtual science communication events Canada-wide.

Resume Review and Touch-Up
Get your resume reviewed by Elena Giorgetti, Professional Certified Coach. Elena specializes in career transitions, emotional intelligence and mental health coaching.
Pre-registration for the resume touch-up workshops is required as spots are limited. When purchasing your ticket to the event, simply add a Resume Review ticket during your preferred timeslot. Available times are:

6﻿:00-6:30pm
6﻿:30-7:00pm
7﻿:00-7:30pm
7﻿:30-8:00pm
8﻿:00-8:30pm

Professional Headshots
Get a professional headshot by David Karuhije! Photos will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the evening and emailed out to participants after the event.

Understanding Stock Options & Restricted Stock Units
2023-05-02 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver) | SFU VentureLabs, 555 West Hastings Street, #Suite #1100, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Join us in the next workshop in the SCWIST x The Thoughtful Co series to learn about stock options and restricted stock units.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

T﻿his event is part of a series of workshops with SCWIST x The Thoughtful Co.
Check out the other available workshops:

Compensation Negotiation 101. April 18th, 2023. 12pm-1pm PST (Virtual)
Interview & Performance Review Prep: Identifying Your Unique Strengths. June 6, 2023. 12pm-1pm PST (Virtual)

UNDERSTANDING STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

This workshop will teach you the fundamentals of stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs), and give you the knowledge and tools to confidently negotiate your equity compensation. Led by Jillian Climie, Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co, it will teach you how stock options and RSUs work, the key questions to ask around them, and what areas are most negotiable. Jillian has spent her career in executive compensation, most recently leading the equity compensation and executive compensation teams at Lululemon. Key takeaways from this workshop include:

Stock options 101: what they are, how they work, and key terms.
Restricted stock units 101: what they are, how they work, and key terms.
Important questions to ask about your equity before signing on.
The gender pay gap in equity compensation.
Why equity compensation is so important (hint: long-term wealth creation, and more negotiable).

L﻿ight refreshments will be served. T﻿his event can be attended in person or online.

SPEAKER

J﻿illian Climie
Jillian Climie, Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co, has spent her career advising and leading teams in executive compensation and corporate governance, both as a consultant, and in-house at two global retailers. Most recently at Lululemon, she led the global equity compensation and executive compensation programs. After taking a pause, she realized she wanted more of three things in her professional life: thoroughness, passion and freedom. She Co-Founded The Thoughtful Co so she can leverage her niche and technical experience, coupled with her passion for gender equity, to empower women to get paid what they deserve.

A﻿bout the Thoughtful Co:
We support women in understanding and negotiating their compensation, and advise employers on policies to improve gender equity in the workplace. Using our team’s deep expertise in compensation, we empower women to feel confident in asking for the compensation they deserve. Compensation includes salary, bonus, stock options, restricted share units, benefits, role scope, vacation, severance, RRSP/401Ks/ESPPs, non-competes, allowances, flexible work arrangements, parental leave and more.
Please reach out to us if you’re interested in learning more about our services, or just to chat!
Email: contact@thethoughtfulco.net, Website: www.thethoughtfulco.net, Instagram: @thethoughtful.co, Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-thoughtful-co

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Quantum Leaps: Genetics, Software Engineering and Business Intelligence
2023-04-26 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver)
This is a career conference event for high school girls to interact with women professionals in STEM and learn about science careers.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

SCWIST Quantum Leaps is a virtual career conference uniquely designed for girls from grade 8-12 interested in or curious to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This conference gives girls a glimpse into what people in STEM fields do in their careers.
During these events, girls can meet professionals who have been successful in their STEM fields and meet other like-minded girls who have similar aspirations and interests. This event will help them know more about the STEM fields they are interested in and discover new STEM fields. Quantum Leaps also aims to aid students in the transition between high school and higher education.
This particular Quantum Leaps event will focus on women professionals working in careers related to software engineering, bioinformatics and business intelligence development. Did they have a fixed plan for what they would like to do five years after high school? How do they ease into changing their career focus? Did they know that they wanted to pursue these careers in high school? Girls will get the opportunity to interact with these women to get the answers they need at the event.

AGENDA

5:00-5:20: Speaker 1 and Q&A session
5:20-5:40: Speaker 2 and Q&A session
5:40-6:00: Speaker 3 and Q&A session
6:00: Conclusion and Feedback

SPEAKERS

Mackenzie Wilke
MacKenzie earned a MSc in Computational Biology and a BSc (Hons) in Genetics from the University of Manitoba. Today, she is a computational biologist with the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg which is part of the Public Health Agency of Canada. She works in the Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections Division where she applies bioinformatic skills to genomic datasets so that antimicrobial resistance can be predicted across Canada.

Madhuri Ravindra Mohan
Madhuri is a Software Engineer based in Toronto and works for a firm called Okta Inc. She works on an authentication and authorization platform called Auth0. Their product helps in building the login boxes that lets people get into apps/websites with options such as passwords, OTPs, and social connections. Her work requires her to put security first, ensuring that logins are easy for the good folks but not for the malicious ones.

Lilia Pakhomova
Lilia is a Business Intelligence (BI) developer with 23 years of experience doing the entire scope of BI. Currently she is working for a wealth management company. Her past experience includes working at other financial institutions, a communication and broadcasting company and a games development company. She has experience working with Microsoft, Amazon and Google analytics platforms.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Compensation Negotiation 101
2023-04-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join us in the next workshop in the SCWIST x The Thoughtful Co series to learn about compensation negotiation.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

T﻿his is the second event in a series of workshops with SCWIST x The Thoughtful Co.
Check out the other available workshops below. If you register for three events, you’ll receive free admission to the fourth:

Implementing & Maintaining Women’s Employee Resource Groups. March 28th, 2023 5pm-6pm PST (In-Person)
Understanding Stock Options & Restricted Stock Units. May 2nd, 2023 5pm-6pm PST (In-person)
Interview & Performance Review Prep: Identifying Your Unique Strengths. June 6, 2023 12pm-1pm PST (Virtual)

*E﻿mail commsevents@scwist.ca when you have registered for three events to be added to the fourth event for free.

COMPENSATION NEGOTIATION 101

This workshop will enable you to feel confident in asking for the compensation you deserve. We cover everything from how to navigate asking your manager for more money, to what you should be looking for before signing a new employment contract. We leave time for group discussion and Q&A to ensure all your questions are answered. This workshop is led by Jillian Climie, who has spent her career in executive compenworksation, most recently leading the equity compensation and executive compensation teams at Lululemon. Key takeaways from this workshop include:

What pieces of compensation & benefits are appropriate to push on (hint: beyond salary).
How compensation decisions are made within employers.
What you should and shouldn’t use as rationale for a pay increase.
The biases women face in negotiations, and how to work around them.
When you should be bringing up compensation, and how to frame the ask.

SPEAKER

J﻿illian Climie
Jillian Climie, Co-Founder of The Thoughtful Co, has spent her career advising and leading teams in executive compensation and corporate governance, both as a consultant, and in-house at two global retailers. Most recently at Lululemon, she led the global equity compensation and executive compensation programs. After taking a pause, she realized she wanted more of three things in her professional life: thoroughness, passion and freedom. She Co-Founded The Thoughtful Co so she can leverage her niche and technical experience, coupled with her passion for gender equity, to empower women to get paid what they deserve.

A﻿bout the Thoughtful Co:
We support women in understanding and negotiating their compensation, and advise employers on policies to improve gender equity in the workplace. Using our team’s deep expertise in compensation, we empower women to feel confident in asking for the compensation they deserve. Compensation includes salary, bonus, stock options, restricted share units, benefits, role scope, vacation, severance, RRSP/401Ks/ESPPs, non-competes, allowances, flexible work arrangements, parental leave and more.
Please reach out to us if you’re interested in learning more about our services, or just to chat!
Email: contact@thethoughtfulco.net, Website: www.thethoughtfulco.net, Instagram: @thethoughtful.co, Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-thoughtful-co

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Indigenous Peoples and Technoscience
2023-04-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton)
Join Dr. Kim TallBear to learn about the connections between science and technology, the broader dynamics of colonialism, and more.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

Join Dr. Kim TallBear from the University of Alberta to learn about the intricate connections between science and technology fields, broader dynamics of colonialism, and increasing demands for Indigenous governance of science and technology.

SPEAKER

Kimberly TallBear, PhD, MCP, BA
Dr. Kim TallBear, author of Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science (2013), is a Professor in the Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta. She is also the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples, Technoscience, and Society. In addition to studying genome science disruptions to Indigenous self-definitions and the ongoing and historical colonial ethics of genomic and other physical sciences, Dr. TallBear studies colonial disruptions to Indigenous sexual relations. She also studies and promotes Indigenous scientific and cultural challenges to settler-colonial study and objectification of Indigenous populations.
She is a regular panelist on the weekly podcast, Media Indigena. You can follow her research group at https://indigenoussts.com/, on Twitter @KimTallBear, and her monthly posts on the Substack newsletter, Unsettle: Indigenous affairs, cultural politics & (de)colonization.

Photo and Video Consent

By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.

Questions and Feedback

For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

SCWIST Quantum Leaps: Vaccine Development and Engineering
2023-04-12 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver)
This is a career conference event for high school girls to interact with women professionals in STEM and learn about science careers.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

SCWIST Quantum Leaps is a virtual career conference uniquely designed for grade 8-12 girls interested in or curious to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This conference gives girls a glimpse into what people in STEM fields do in their careers.
During these events, girls can meet professionals who have been successful in their STEM fields and meet other like-minded girls who have similar aspirations and interests. This event will help them know more about the STEM fields they are interested in and discover new STEM fields. Quantum Leaps also aims to aid students in the transition between high school and higher education.
This particular Quantum Leaps event will focus on women professionals working in careers related to tech, and chemistry. Did they have a fixed plan for what they would like to do five years after high school? How do they ease into changing their career focus? Did they know that they wanted to pursue these careers in high school? Girls will get the opportunity to interact with these women to get the answers they need at the event.

A﻿GENDA

5:00-5:05: Introduction
5:05-5:30: Speaker 1 and Q&A session
5:30-5:55: Speaker 2 and Q&A session
5:55-6:00: Conclusion and Feedback

SPEAKERS

Dr. Brittany Pequegnat
Brittany has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Guelph, ON, where she specialized in bacterial polysaccharide conjugate vaccines for gastrointestinal disorders. After completing her PhD she became a postdoctoral fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston MA, studying glycobiology and human stem cells. She then joined the start-up company Affinivax in Cambridge MA as a Scientist, where she worked on the development of Pneumococcal based vaccines.
Currently, Brittany works at Sanofi Pasteur in Toronto, where she started as the bulk antigen subject matter expert for Tetanus Toxoid vaccine manufacturing and is now the Deputy Director in Manufacturing Technology for Upstream Flu vaccine manufacturing.

A﻿dan Azem
Adan is a PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering and an NSERC CREATE quantum computing scholar at the University of British Columbia. Recently, she completed an internship at Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. working with the low-temperature devices team. Previously, she worked as a process engineer at Intel for one year.
She earned an MSc in chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science and a BSc in chemical engineering from Technion.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

SCWIST Quantum Leaps - Accessible Technology and Environment Conservation
2023-03-28 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Vancouver)
This virtual career conference gives grade 8-12 girls interested in STEM, a glimpse into what people in these fields do in their careers.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

SCWIST Quantum Leaps is a virtual career conference uniquely designed for grade 8-12 girls interested in or curious to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This conference gives girls a glimpse into what people in STEM fields do in their careers.
In this event on March 28, you can meet SCWIST youth scholarship awardees. High school girls used their scholarships for science projects and inventions that won awards at various events and competitions, in Canada as well as in other countries. Some of these girls were the first females in their family to seriously pursue their dreams in STEM fields. At this event, they will talk about their invention, experiences interacting with other girls and women in science, experiences at various events and how they used their scholarships to bring their inventions into the spotlight.
One invention is an optimal mouse shoe pad that helps people with upper limb disabilities to use and access the computer with more efficiency and confidence. This innovation fits into a variety of popular footwear to help people of all abilities to utilize technology. Another project involved discovering a species of freshwater zooplankton that can be used to treat and prevent algae blooms. This can combat the negative effects of algae on water quality, ecosystem diversity, the cost to fishing and tourism industries.
At the event, you will get the opportunity to interact with these girls, learn about their projects and find out about particular science fields.

SPEAKERS

M﻿eihuan Yu
Meihuan is a grade 11 student at Markville Secondary School and the inventor of the Computer Operating Assistance System Technology (COAST). COAST technology transforms a regular optical mouse to allow people with upper limb motor disabilities to access computer technologies. Whether it be Nikes or dress shoes, this innovation fits into a variety of popular footwear to ensure that people of all abilities can strive to utilise optical mouse functions. With the support of SCWIST’s Youth Skills Development scholarship, her invention won 4 awards at the International Invention Innovation including the gold medal and Best Young Inventor Award. Furthermore, COAST received media coverage from many outlets including the National Observer. She is motivated to pitch her invention to charities and prosthetic companies in hopes of making COAST accessible to the disabled community. Innovation is an agent for change and COAST aspires to be a meeting spot for technology and advocacy.

A﻿nnabelle Rayson
Annabelle has discovered that Daphnia magna are the best species of freshwater zooplankton to biomanipulate in order to treat and prevent algae blooms. Harmful algae blooms are plaguing aquatic ecosystems around the world. They impact water quality, ecosystem diversity, cause dead zones, and cost the fishing and tourism industries millions of dollars. Biomanipulation is when an ecosystem is manipulated to create a desired effect. However, very little is known about the species’ distinct genotypes which could allow for more effective, successful, and sustainable biomanipulation of the species and algae bloom treatment and prevention. Annabelle compared the abilities of four genetically distinct genotypes of Daphnia magna to consume algae to see which one would be better to biomanipulate to protect freshwater ecosystems.
With her project, in 2022, she competed in the Lambton County Science Fair (her regional science fair) where she won the Best in Fair Award and qualified for the Canada-Wide Science Fair (national science fair).

In May 2022, she participated in the Canada-Wide Science Fair where she won the following awards:
– The Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and the Weather Network Award (Special Award)
– The Canadian Stockholm Junior Water Prize (Special Award)
– The Beaty Centre for Species Discovery Award (Special Award)
– Excellence Award – Gold (Senior Division)
– Challenge Award – Environment and Climate Change
– Best Senior Discovery Project (Platinum)
– Best Project Award – Discovery (Crystal)

In August 2022, she represented Canada in Stockholm Sweden at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize where she won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, the highest accolade for youth water science in the world.
In September 2022, she represented Canada in the Netherlands at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (the largest science fair in the European Union with invited guest countries) where she won third prize overall.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Implementing & Maintaining Women’s Employee Resource Groups
2023-03-28 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver) | SFU Ventures Lab, 555 W Hastings St #1100, 11th floor, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Join us in the 1st event of the SCWIST x The Thoughtful Co series to learn about developing and maintaining Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

T﻿his is the first event in a series of workshops with SCWIST x The Thoughtful Co.
Check out the other available workshops below. If you register for three events, you’ll receive free admission to the fourth:

Compensation Negotiation 101. April 18th, 2023 12pm-1pm PST (Virtual)
Understanding Stock Options & Restricted Stock Units. May 2nd, 2023 5pm-6pm PST (In-person)
Interview & Performance Review Prep: Identifying Your Unique Strengths. June 6, 2023 12pm-1pm PST (Virtual)

*E﻿mail commsevents@scwist.ca when you have registered for three events to be added to the fourth event for free.

IMPLEMENTING AND MAINTAINING WOMEN’S RESOURCE GROUPS

This workshop will help you develop and maintain successful Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that effectively improve gender equity in the workplace. ERGs are critical in building a sense of community and belonging, identifying areas for improvement, and developing company-specific policies that suit your culture and organizational goals. We leave time for group discussion and Q&A to ensure all your questions are answered. This workshop is led by Sophie Warwick, who has spent her career in structural engineering and specializes in developing in-house gender equity policies and chairing ERGs and advocacy groups. Key takeaways from this workshop include:

Understanding & communicating the value of advocacy and support groups.
How to develop an engaging group structure that can be maintained long-term.
Selecting and coaching the right group champions.
Appreciating intersectionality and how different groups may work together.
Setting up an annual calendar and enrolling key senior leaders.

L﻿ight refreshments will be served.

SPEAKER

S﻿ophie Warwick
Sophie Warwick, Co-Founder of the Thoughtful Co, has spent her career in structural engineering consulting where she designs multi-use and residential buildings, from early conception to project completion. In 2018, she Co-Founded Women in Consulting Engineering (WCE), a non-profit organization to support and empower women in engineering. At The Thoughtful Co, she specializes in developing in-house gender equity policies and chairing Employee Resource Groups and advocacy groups. Additionally, she uses her data analysis expertise from her engineering background to define targets and track growth and retention.

A﻿bout the Thoughtful Co:
We support women in understanding and negotiating their compensation, and advise employers on policies to improve gender equity in the workplace. Using our team’s deep expertise in compensation, we empower women to feel confident in asking for the compensation they deserve. Compensation includes salary, bonus, stock options, restricted share units, benefits, role scope, vacation, severance, RRSP/401Ks/ESPPs, non-competes, allowances, flexible work arrangements, parental leave and more.
Please reach out to us if you’re interested in learning more about our services, or just to chat!
Email: contact@thethoughtfulco.net, Website: www.thethoughtfulco.net, Instagram: @thethoughtful.co, Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/the-thoughtful-co

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Brown Bag: Science-Based Strength Training as the Ultimate Office Ergonomic
2023-03-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
A hands-on workshop leveraging exercise science and strength training to counteract the toll of sedentary desk work on your body.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

Science and technology are a big part of your work, so how do you leverage science and technology to counteract the toll of sedentary desk work on your body? In this hands-on workshop, busy STEM professionals will learn what to prioritize in their exercise routine to improve posture and reduce pain. You will also gain practical strategies on how to include strength training in your life, even if it is just one minute at a time.

Have confidence to exercise regularly.
Get stronger so you can perform better in your everyday life.
Know how to keep your body feeling good without medication.
Be able to work without the distraction of pain.

Come prepared to use your brain and work those muscles!

SPEAKER

S﻿ilvia Hua
After working as a kinesiologist for 4 years helping hundreds of workers return to work after injury, Silvia realized that many of the injuries she treated were due to a lack of strength and poor posture. She switched to personal training to help people become more proactive with their health. As a recent data science graduate, Silvia is now seeking her next opportunity in tech to create better health and fitness apps and devices.

MUST READ: Participant Agreement
By signing up for this virtual event, I agree that:

I am participating at my own risk.
I will listen to my body and stop anything that does not feel right.
Participation is voluntary.
Neither Silvia Hua nor any other participant will be held responsible for any negative outcomes that may arise as a result of my participation.
I am able to safely participate in physical activity.
I will ask Silvia Hua questions if unsure how to proceed with an activity safely.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

2023 Wonder Women Networking Evening
2023-03-15 16:30 - 18:30 (America/Vancouver)
Grow your professional network: meet and mingle with fellow students, professionals, and STEM leaders in Canada!

SCWIST and Science World are excited to once again host the Wonder Women Networking Evening. This networking event has been going on for more than 30 years, and this is our third year hosting it online for women across Canada.
Designed specifically for university students, early career professionals, and those considering a career change, you’ll connect with some incredible “Wonder Women” in STEM who are successful in their fields and passionate about sharing their expertise with the next generation of STEM professionals.

“Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.” – Michele Jannae

We’ll be meeting on Zoom, and using breakout rooms for a few rounds of networking between attendees and Wonder Women mentors. Each room will be hosted by two Wonder Women in the same or similar fields, and attendees will be assigned to rooms based on the fields they are interested in. You’re free to select as many topics as you like from our list, but please note that we can only use 2-3 of them to assign you to 2-3 different rooms. You’ll also receive the “WWNE Field Guide” ahead of time to learn about the various Wonder Women mentors.
Not sure how to network, and virtually? Not to worry – just show up with a question or two, ready to listen, but we’ll start the night off with some networking “how-tos” and provide some tips along the way.
This event was created for those who identify as women in STEM fields, due to a lack of networking opportunities for women. To further our goal of supporting those under-represented in STEM, we invite participants and mentors who identify as trans, genderqueer, non-binary, two-spirit, or gender questioning as long as the framing of the event as a women’s networking space does not feel incongruent with your identity.
Don’t miss this lively evening of networking and fun—register to save your spot today!
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EVENT PARTNERS
Science World – Science World is a charitable non-profit and science centre based in Vancouver, BC that engages learners across the province in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art & design and math). Visitors to their iconic geodesic dome explore interactive, hands-on exhibits and galleries that nurture their process of discovery and inspire connection with their natural, physical and built environments. Participants in their outreach programs—students, teachers and families in every region of BC—access the experience of Science World through virtual visits from scientists, livestream science shows, and weekly after school STEAM mentorship. At Science World, they inspire the next generation of problem solvers, world changers and nerds.
Learn More: scienceworld.ca

STEM Streams – This event is sponsored by STEM Streams, a program by SCWIST offering free pre-employment and skills development training program. STEM Streams is designed to empower women who identify as: racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, living with disabilities, and those returning to the workforce.
Learn more: scwist.ca/stemstreams
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JOIN SCWIST!
Register to be a member and take advantage of many benefits including free or discounted event tickets, access to professional development and mentorship programs, volunteer opportunities including community outreach, expanding your professional network with women in STEM. More information here.

REFUND POLICY
No refunds on donations.

PHOTO AND VIDEO CONSENT
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to: the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You therefore are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.

EVENT SPONSORSHIP
Sponsor a single event or a series!
We host a variety of different events, and can tailor a package according to your objectives and budget.

QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK
Contact us at events_coordinator@scwist.ca

SCWIST Quantum Leaps - Cryptocurrency, vaccine development and engineering
2023-03-02 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Vancouver)
SCWIST Quantum Leaps – Cryptocurrency, vaccine development and engineering

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

SCWIST Quantum Leaps is a virtual career conference uniquely designed for grade 8-12 girls interested in or curious to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This conference gives girls a glimpse into what people in STEM fields do in their careers.

During these events, girls can meet professionals who have been successful in their STEM fields and meet other like-minded girls who have similar aspirations and interests. This event will help them know more about the STEM fields they are interested in and discover new STEM fields. Quantum Leaps also aims to aid students in the transition between high school and higher education.

This particular Quantum Leaps event will focus on women professionals working in tech, chemistry and business fields. Did they have a fixed plan for what they would like to do five years after high school? How do they ease into changing their career focus? Did they know that they wanted to pursue these careers in high school? Girls will get the opportunity to interact with these women to get the answers they need at the event.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Brittany Pequegnat
Brittany has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Guelph, ON, where she specialized in bacterial polysaccharide conjugate vaccines for gastrointestinal disorders. After completing her PhD she became a postdoctoral fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston MA, studying glycobiology and human stem cells. She then joined the start-up company Affinivax in Cambridge MA as a Scientist, where she worked on the development of Pneumococcal based vaccines.
Currently, Brittany works at Sanofi Pasteur in Toronto, where she started as the bulk antigen subject matter expert for Tetanus Toxoid vaccine manufacturing and is now the Deputy Director in Manufacturing Technology for Upstream Flu vaccine manufacturing.

A﻿shley Wright
Ashley Wright is a business coach and cryptocurrency educator from Toronto, Canada. She has many years of experience in Marketing and Direct Sales. She has been featured by global media platforms and is the Top Woman of Colour Crypto Educator in Canada. She is the founder of The Crypto Strategy Alchemy, a 7-week program that teaches individuals how to invest, trade and earn Crypto. She also founded Crypto Babes, a community for women with over 20,000 members who want to learn, work and build in Web3.

A﻿dan Azem
Adan is a PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering and an NSERC CREATE quantum computing scholar at the University of British Columbia. Recently, she completed an internship at Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. working with the low-temperature devices team. Previously, she worked as a process engineer at Intel for one year.
She earned an MSc in chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science and a BSc in chemical engineering from Technion.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Overcome Your Objections and Leverage the Benefits of Networking
2023-02-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Vancouver)
Join us at this next event in our Brown Bag series to hear from Sue Maitland about the importance of networking.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

Networking is an essential skill in today’s fast paced and ever-changing world. It can make a huge difference to the opportunities you uncover and the support and success you experience in your career. Sadly, many people have an aversion to networking and our workshop leader, Professional Life Coach, Sue Maitland, was one of them. Now she’s a passionate advocate for the benefits of networking and even developed a workshop Networking for Success to help others embrace making powerful connections through networking. Sue will share her first traumatic experience with networking and you’ll learn how she was able to recover from it and learn to love to network.
In this event you’ll:

Uncover the barriers that stop us from networking
Re-frame your perception of networking
Understand the benefits of a strong and supportive network

Join us and commit to growing your network in the coming months. You’ll see positive outcomes in your professional and personal life.

SPEAKER

Sue Maitland PCC
After decades in the world of IT, in roles including programmer, project manager, recruiter, resource manager and sales executive, Sue followed her passion and trained to become a professional life coach. Accredited through the International Coach Federation at the PCC level, Sue specializes in helping other people make professional and personal transitions. She does this through presentations, online workshops and 1-on-1 coaching.
Her flagship workshop What’s Important to Me Now has helped 100’s of people get clarity on their top priorities for this phase of their life and the accompanying group mastermind helps motivate them to take action to live a life aligned with these priorities. Sue especially enjoys working with women in IT and is a sponsor of iWIST (Island Women in Science & Technology), offering a complimentary coaching session to all new members. Her Networking for Success workshop has proved invaluable to many people in career transition and her Self-Care workshop helps busy professionals put more balance in their lives.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.

Defense is a place for STEM women: A panel discussion
2023-01-24 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | SFU VentureLabs, 555 West Hastings Street, #Suite #1100, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6, Canada
Join our speakers as they highlight the challenges and accomplishments of being STEM women in the area of National Defense.

Since 1981, SCWIST has made great strides in promoting and empowering women in STEM. When you register, please consider adding a small donation to support our programs so all interested women and girls can see where a future in STEM can take them.

SCWIST and the Department of National Defense have partnered to bring you an exciting panel presentation and discussion about STEM careers in National Defense. Have you always wondered about where STEM fits within the area of defense? Or are you curious about where a STEM career can lead you within defense? Join us on this exciting panel discussion, co-moderated by Ms. Avneet Sandhu and SCWIST’s president, Dr. Poh Tan.

SPEAKERS

C﻿aptain Kalina Yurick
Captain Kalina Yurick joined the military in 2011 and attended the Royal Military College of Canada to earn her degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Throughout her time at school, Kalina fenced for the RMC varsity team. Some highlights included captaining for her last two years and representing Canada at the World Military games in South Korea.
After school Kalina began her flight training in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She completed her Phase 3 training on the CT-140 Harvard II and transitioned to Qualified Flight Instructor at the school for her first posting. Kalina earned her Masters of Science in Aeronautics education throughout her instructor tour.
Kalina’s current posting is with 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron in Comox, British Columbia. She currently flies the CP-140 Aurora, which is a platform used for anti-submarine warfare and surveillance.
Kalina’s husband is also a pilot at 407 Squadron, where they are fortunate to work and fly together. They tackle the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a team while progressing through their careers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Melissa Reyes
Lieutenant-Colonel Melissa Reyes has served over thirty-three years as a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) officer, and is now specializing in space-related capabilities and tasks for the CAF. Her various military experiences, around the world and Canada, have given her a sound knowledge of satellites and space systems, operations, and management.
Among her many assignments, Melissa has worked at the Canadian Space Agency, 12th Space Warning Squadron Greenland, North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Headquarters, and Kandahar Air Field (Afghanistan). She is presently employed as the Section Head for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Space Systems, within the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Melissa received her Master of Sciences Degree, specializing in Remote Sensing, from the University of Colorado (2008), and completed the International Space University / Space Studies Program (2012). Melissa has been involved in various Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives and employment equity groups throughout her career and is honoured to be part of this event for the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology.

Lieutenant Commander Calley Gray
Lieutenant Commander Gray has served 18 years in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Marine Systems Engineer. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a double masters from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.
LCdr Gray spent 4 years serving onboard various Canadian Patrol Frigates culminating in her appointment as Head of the Marine Systems Engineering Department on HMCS WINNIPEG. She deployed with the Canadian Navy to South America and South-East Asia, participating in detection and monitoring operations to facilitate the interdiction of illicit drug trafficking. Her naval deployments also included conducting training, exercises and engagements with foreign navies and other international security partners, and providing security for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
As a strong advocate for women in engineering, she championed institutional change within the naval engineering occupation by helping to remove barriers for women’s career progression. In December 2020, she deployed to Iraq as the Gender Advisor for NATO Mission Iraq. During her 9 month deployment, she contributed to advancements in Iraq’s Second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security by working with international experts and the Iraqi Ministry of Defence to open various educational and professional development opportunities to women.
Now back in Canada, LCdr Gray is the Gender Advisor for Chief Professional Conduct and Culture which has been stood up to lead a fundamental transformation in the way in which system misconduct (sexual misconduct, hateful conduct, systemic barriers, harassment, violence, discrimination, employment inequity, unconscious biases, and abuse of power in the workplace) is understood and addressed in the Canadian Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Dr. Poh Tan, SCWIST President (co-moderator)
Poh is an entrepreneur, stem cell scientist, educator, 2x TEDx speaker, and mother of two boys. With a Ph.D in stem cell biology, Poh is currently completing a second PhD with a focus in science education. She is the founder and CEO of STEMedge Academy where she creates programs to support high school students develop research capacity in STEM. She returns to the Board of Directors as SCWIST’s President.

Ms. Avneet Sandhu (co-moderator)
Ms. Avneet Sandhu works as a communications officer for the Department of National Defence and is responsible for assisting with diversity and inclusion files. She supports the Advisory Council on Diversity to Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy Maritime Forces Pacific Formation (MARPAC) and Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP), and the Advisory Group on Intersectionality to the Commander of Military Personnel Generation.
Avneet also supports announcements and engagements for senior officers and connects women-led organizations, university faculty, and students with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Avneet graduated from Simon Fraser University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and a minor in Education. Avneet is an incoming JD candidate and is the co-founder, vice-president, and director of external relations for She Connects – a nationwide mentorship program for girls in high school.

Photo and Video Consent
By registering for the event, you understand that the session may be video recorded and/ or photos will be taken for use in SCWIST digital communication platforms, including but not limited to the SCWIST website, e-newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and others. You, therefore, are providing consent for your image and voice to be used by SCWIST for free and in perpetuity.
If you do not want your image to be captured in video or photographically, please ensure that your camera is off during the session.
Questions and Feedback
For questions about the event, or to sign up as a speaker, please contact the Communications and Events team, by email at marketing_events@scwist.ca.
