Three consulting engineering executives in Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women
December 2, 2014
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
Several engineers were among the 2014 Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 award winners announced at a gala event held at the Toronto Convention Centre on November 27.
Several engineers were among the 2014 Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 award winners announced at a gala event held at the Toronto Convention Centre on November 27.
The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) which gives the awards says they recognize “Canada’s fearless, tenacious female leaders who continually leave legacies which redefine what is possible and who become icons for generations to come.”
The Top 100 winners span the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Previous winners in the 12 year program include Dr. Roberta Bondar, astronaut, Arlene Dickinson of Venture Communications, and Michaëlle Jean, former governor general of Canada.
The 2014 list included three women from consulting engineering firms:
Sarah Devereaux, partner in Dillon Consulting. Based in Nova Scotia, Devereux is a civil engineer who has managed many large infrastructure projects. She is a past president of Engineers Nova Scotia and Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia, and serves as vice chair for the Engineers Canada Women in Engineering Committee.
Catherine Karakatsanis, chief operating officer of Morrison Hershfield who is based in Toronto. Besides her corporate role, she has numerous awards and holds positions in many organizations, including director of Engineers Without Borders, chair of the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation, and director of Engineers Canada. She was also listed in the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2013.
Anne Poschmann, principal in Golder Associates based in Toronto. She became Golder’s first female associate in Canada, appointed in 1989 and over the years has worked on high-profile transportation projects. She is also the current chair (and first female chair) of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Canada (ACEC), and is a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.
The network points out that currently corporate Canada is undergoing pressure to promote more female leaders into board and executive office positions. According to the Canadian Board Diversity Council 2014, women hold only 17 per cent of FP500 board seats and are still generations away from achieving parity on FP500 boards.
To read CCE’s interview with Anne Poschmann, click here.
https://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/news/anne-poschmann-golder-acec/1002797194/
There were also two engineers who work in academia among the Top 100 list. They were:
Dr. Elizabeth Croft of the University of British Columbia. She is associate dean, education and professional development in the Faculty of Applied Science, as well as NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, BC and Yukon Region.
Anne Sado, president of George Brown College in Toronto.
The full list of WXN’s 2014 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners They are co-presented by Scotia bank and KPMG.can be found below and at www.wxnetwork.com/top-100/top-100-winners.
