Innovation-Nov-Dec-2023

LEFT: Women in leadership at the Engineers and Geoscientists BC 2019 Conference: from left, BC Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, P.Eng., Engineers and Geoscientists BC Board past presidents Lianna Mah, P.Eng., Dr. Kathy Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC, and Caroline Andrewes, P.Eng., with Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s past CEO Ann English, P.Eng. P hoto : C ontributed . RIGHT: Karen Savage, P.Eng., from left, Helene Desrosier, P.Eng., and Lianna Mah, P.Eng., staff the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Foundation booth at this year’s Conference. P hoto : D avid B uzzard

She suggests organizations make a point of including women in the recruitment process. “Women have proven themselves to bring a lot to boards and to executive positions but until there are recruitment policies

“There are lots of places,” Savage says, “where that sense of isolation still occurs and there’s unconscious and systemic bias.” Says Mah, “Not being included creates an environment that can be very lonely.” As an example, especially in the past, men might get together to go golfing for several hours, while women may not be able to because of childcare responsibilities. Activities that might support inclusiveness, did the opposite for women. What makes that detrimental to women in the workforce is that they become less likely to be promoted into leadership roles. It’s discouraging to other women in the professions and creates more self doubt. That leads to the “leaky pipeline” when women leave the professions because there are few opportunities for promotion to expand their career. “Not seeing more women in leadership is still a challenge,” says Mah. “I think the fact that there’s still a lack of women on boards and women in executive positions is a challenge.”

that ensure that women are evaluated for positions, we’ll never see more women at the table. “Until we’re at the board, we can’t make real, important cultural changes in the workplace. We need a place at the board.”

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INNOVATION

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

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