RISE Conference 2024

On September 14, 2024, more than 115  registrants gathered in the Adams Atrium of the Thornbrough building at the University of Guelph at the annual RISE Conference for Women in Engineering to network, openly and safely discuss their career progression  and goals and learn from engineering professionals.

“Events like RISE help drive forward the mission of our Women in Engineering efforts at U of G, as well as the University’s strategic priority to lead Canada in the participation of students from under-represented groups in STEM ,” says Dr. Jana Levison, P.Eng. associate professor in the School of Engineering and current Doody Family Chair for Women in Engineering.  

After morning networking in the Adams Atrium, Dr. Bill Rosehart, provost and vice-president (academic) for the University of Guelph, introduced keynote speaker Deanna Burgart, P.Eng.

The morning keynote speaker, Burgart is the Associate Dean of Indigenous Inclusivity and Reconciliation in engineering at University of Calgary. She talked about her own journey as an engineer combined with her lived experiences as an Indigenous person, the importance of pursuing your dreams, and setting barriers to protect yourself.

Attendees then visited various breakout sessions throughout the morning, including a panel of experts discussing their experiences as women in the profession from various sectors and career stages .

“I feel like in this profession, especially areas of engineering that are skewed even more to men, we need more networking opportunities,” says Megan Davidson, a mechanical engineering student and member of the Guelph Engineering Leadership program. “Meeting each other and connecting is so important. We can feel bias in male-dominated areas so knowing we have these resources and supports available is so reassuring.”

The conference is organized and supported by the Doody Family Chair for Women in Engineering, and also sponsored by Denso, Terminal, Dennis Group and IFAB.

Breakout sessions during the day included pathways to becoming a professional engineer, identifying resources for support, applying to jobs, finding balance and building a legacy, and allyship in the workplace. 

“What’s useful about a networking event like this is that you get to break down the barrier in getting to know someone as a human being,” says Sammy Rutherford, M.Sc. student in Human Health and Nutritional Science and part-time student staff for Women in Engineering Outreach. “People with serious, high-level roles come to event s and you think: I could never do that! But at this type of event you get to meet them as a person and it helps you see how even with setbacks like failing a course or taking a year off don’t necessarily prevent you from hitting your goals.”

A roundtable discussion in the Adams Atrium saw new graduates return to campus as mentors for current students, leading discussions about their recent pathways after graduation.

Throughout the day there was representation from engineering student clubs, including Engineers Without Borders, Eng Soc, Engiqueers, Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), Gryphon Racing and the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race Team, along with Guelph Women in Leadership (GWIL).

After a lunch full of conversations, the conference ended with a panel of Embracing Challenges for Growth.

“The panel discussion was truly inspiring,” says Jean Hein , Outreach Manager for CEPS and WIE at the University of Guelph. “The four panelists, who all work at local engineering companies shared their personal stories of overcoming failure and using those experiences to ‘fall forward’. Their openness and relatability made their stories resonate with entire audience.”

The event closed with remarks from Dr. Moncef Nehdi, P.Eng., dean CEPS.