Reflecting back on CCWESTT 2024

Associated Engineering was proud to be a supporting sponsor of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades, and Technology (CCWESTT) conference held last month in Victoria, BC! Our Jonathan Musser and Lianna Mah co-presented in a session and spoke about our internal Women In Science & Engineering Retention (WISER) initiatives and the work we are doing to create a better experience for women in science and engineering roles within our organization.

Our sponsorship of the conference also provided two local students to attend the four-day event. Tamara (2nd from left) is studying mechanical engineering technology at Camosun College, and Michaiah (3rd from left) is a second year computer engineering student at the University of Victoria. We are so pleased both could attend the conference and grateful to receive the following reflection prepared by Tamara about her experience.

I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to attend the 2024 CCWESTT conference last month, and found it very eye-opening. On my first day, the presenters hosted a panel that was open, friendly, and collaborative. This set the tone for the next two days, and was a good example of what a more inclusive future may look like.

Something that stood out to me was that the conference felt incredibly friendly and open. I was comfortable sharing my thoughts and experiences, and I noticed that many others were as well. This feeling of community and support was very different from other STEM related events I have attended in the past.

The theme of the conference was Navigating Systemic Change. Throughout the two days of presentations, there was a strong emphasis on both systemic change and the importance of recruiting more women and girls into STEM fields and the trades. Some presentations, such as the one done by Associated Engineering, focused on keeping women from feeling pushed out of their workplace, and covered ways to retain the women in their workplace. Others discussed the barriers that prevent girls in middle school and high school from pursuing a career in STEM.

As a college student studying mechanical engineering and preparing to enter the workforce, I found it helpful to get a realistic idea of what my future workplace might look like. It was encouraging to see practical solutions being shared and to hear success stories from companies prioritising gender equality, though it was clear that there is still much to be done. It provided me with a clearer vision of the kind of work environment I hope to find once I start my career, and gave me a better idea of what I need to be aware of.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend this conference. It gave me a better understanding of the challenges women face in STEM, as well as the various strategies used to overcome said challenges. I hope to look back on and learn from the experiences and insights shared by the presenters as I continue my own journey in mechanical engineering.