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Engineering Our Future Q & A W I T H MARIE-PHILIPPE GILL Marie-Philippe Gill (@girlknowstech on social media), a software engineering graduate of École de technologie supérieure in Montreal, discusses her experience as an engineering student and gives her advice to future students. What inspired you to study engineering? When I was very young, in primary school, I started playing on neopets.com. Through this online game where we had to take care of cute imaginary animals, I started learning how to code in HTML and CSS to make my user profile pretty with graphics designed on Microsoft Paint. As the years went by, I learned how to create static HTML websites. Once I was in high school, I took IT classes every year and had an amazing teacher. He helped me to believe in myself and also to believe that even though it was a male-dominated world and I was a shy 16-year-old girl, I could make it in IT. After my three-year technical computer science diploma at CEGEP, I felt I was not done learning, and I enrolled in software engineering at ÉTS (École de technologie supérieure) in Montreal.
Marie-Philippe Gill Research Developer & Social Media Influencer
How do you think engineers can promote diversity and inclusion in their field? Everyone can make a difference by being attentive to their coworkers and listening to what everyone has to say. Small actions can be very helpful, for example making sure everyone has the chance to express their opinion during a meeting. If they haven’t, we can gently ask someone if they have any input to add to the discussion. At the enterprise level, the Order of Engineers of Quebec created
a great guide for employers with actionable steps on how to make sure to offer an inclusive workplace. It reminds us that an analysis of the current situation needs to be done on diversity (how many women and minorities), inclusion (actions that make women and other under-represented groups feel supported and respected), and equity (fair treatment considering everyone's reality) inside the organization. Open the dialogue to everyone who wants to participate, get comments on how everyone feels, and get to know the challenges faced by the minorities in your organization. Then, use data to support your analysis and establish clear objectives and an action plan to reach those targets.
How do you envision the future of engineering and what changes do you think are necessary to prepare the next generation of engineers? That's a good question! I'm not one to make predictions about the future, but I would say every small change in health is very impressive to me. I had surgery for scoliosis 10 years ago, and there are so many changes to the surgery and technology that are helping doctors and patients to this day. I wish I had that technology back then! On the environmental side, I’m eager to see how tech can help us make changes to lessen our environmental impact as individuals and as a society. In other words, I’m excited to see how AI and tech can improve our daily lives. To read the full Q&A's with Marie-Philippe Gill and Mina Dezyanian, visit innovatingcanada.ca.
Q & A W I T H MINA DEZYANIAN Mina Dezyanian (@IronRingGirls on social media), a civil engineer who created an online community for women in engineering, spoke with Mediaplanet about the challenges she faced in the industry and shares her advice for anyone looking to enter the field. What advice do you have for individuals looking to kick start their career in this industry? If it scares you and excites you at the same time, it’s a good thing. It can feel overwhelming when you’re starting and learning so much at the same time, so just take it one day at a time.
Mina Dezyanian Civil Engineer & Founder of IronRingGirls Community
As a woman and newcomer in engineering, were there any challenges you’ve personally faced within the industry? How did you overcome them? The main challenge was (and still is to some extent) to find what I enjoy doing that also fits my lifestyle. I started out in design then moved into construction management. As a woman, it may
take twice as much effort as others to find new opportunities that suit where you are in life. The way to overcome it is to use your network to make more connections with people who will provide you with opportunities.
How do you see the role of engineering evolving in the future? Engineering is the building block of everything you can possibly imagine, from infrastructure to medical labs to the environment. The opportunities are endless and at the same time constantly evolving. It might even feel overwhelming to think about how much could possibly change in the near future. I truly believe it’s a profession that will always be the same (in the sense of using the same basic formulas) while at the same time constantly improving.
Consulting Engineering Companies Are Your Trusted Partners Bruce G. Matthews Executive Director, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Ontario
Learn more about ACEC-Ontario at acecontario.ca. This article was sponsored by Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Ontario.
Consulting engineer companies benefit from ACEC-Ontario’s leadership in policy advocacy and risk management, along with knowledge-sharing networks and relevant support services.
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Bruce G. Matthews
t its heart, professional engineering is about the safeguarding of life, health, property, the environment, and the public welfare through the application of engineering principles. Professional engineers, and the consulting engineering firms that employ them, have an ethical obligation to regard their duty to the public welfare as paramount. In retaining a member company of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Ontario (ACEC-Ontario), you get objective, skilled problem-solvers that you can trust.
Professional engineering is an everchanging field. This is seen both in the technologies that firms employ to deliver their services and in the stressors that are experienced by the equipment, infrastructure, buildings, and systems they design. Climate change has meant a new focus on design for climate resilience and sustainability, and a new perspective on the lifecycle of anything that’s exposed to the elements. The member companies of ACEC-Ontario understand this. Consulting engineer companies act as independent agents and trusted advocates for their clients, and are responsible for find-
ing innovative solutions to a broad ra nge of challenges. ACEC-Ontario seeks to be the go-to resource for these companies, offering leadership in policy advocacy and risk management while providing knowledge and education programs that deliver value and impact.
Publisher: Katie Babiarz Business Development Manager: Sarah Ferreira Strategic Account Director: Jessica Golyatov Content Strategist: Nicole Kansakar Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Creative Lead: Kylie Armishaw Designer: Giuliana Bandiera Digital Media Coordinator: Kristen Neals Web Editor: Christina Morgan All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.