INNOVATION September-October 2014

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We believe all APEGBC members have an opportunity to create the kind of environment that engages, enables and empowers women in our professions. As a result of the Women in Engineering and Geoscience Task Force’s report and recommendations, the advancement of women in engineering and geoscience will be a priority for APEGBC for the coming years. This is a research and professional interest of both of us and we look forward to learning from you and sharing more about our experiences at the upcoming APEGBC Conference in Vancouver. v Steve Frith is president of Urban Systems, a Western Canadian-based consulting engineering and planning firm that has been named a Top 50 Best Workplace in Canada for the last nine years running. He can be reached at sfrith@urbansystems.ca. Rachel Welch O’Connor is a senior principal at Hay Group, and works with organizations to create alignment and motivation at all levels through effective organizational design, rewards and leadership practices. She can be reached at rachel. oconnor@haygroup.com. They will be presenting a session at the 2014 APEGBC Annual Conference in Vancouver.

What do employers and our professions stand to gain from greater women’s participation? For us, it begins with doing the right thing. There is first a question of justice. Should women (and indeed all people from whatever background) who seek to serve in engineering and geoscience be afforded an equal opportunity to do so, and be valued on their merits? Beyond the question of justice is the utility of what our professions offer. With greater participation from women we are better able to understand problems, solve these problems and bring greater innovation to the solution. Finally, there are economic benefits for business, governments and non-profits that ultimately improve peoples’ lives and provide income to support priorities that are part of contributing toward a flourishing society. Consider also that we are in a time when labour market competition for business leaders as well as engineers and geoscientists is fierce, and where every forecast suggests that it will only get worse. To suc- ceed as organizations, we need to access, value and grow talent of both genders and all backgrounds. If our unconscious biases limit us, we will struggle to fill key roles and deliver on our missions.

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