Speakers
This event features a diverse range of sessions covering advocacy, leadership, resilience, career growth, engineering impact, and inclusivity. Attendees will gain insights into professional networking, personal branding, mentorship, and self-advocacy while exploring technical topics like sustainable engineering, crisis communication, and project management. Sessions also highlight the importance of diversity in STEM, extracurricular involvement, and leadership development. With expert speakers from various industries, this event offers actionable strategies to help participants navigate their careers, build resilience, and make meaningful contributions in their fields.
Bio
Safiya is the Career Education Specialist at TMU supporting FEAS students. In this role, she supports students in working towards their career goals. Her experience and passion lies within higher education having worked across three different institutions with multiple roles.
Session
Discover the power of advocacy in the professional world in this engaging workshop. Learn how to define meaningful career goals, build a strong professional presence, and harness the full potential of LinkedIn for networking and growth. Gain actionable tips to advocate for yourself and your ambitions effectively.
Bio
Dr. Diana Brecher is a clinical psychologist. She founded the Thrive TMU program and co-created Thriving in Action. Diana's goal is to create Positive Psychology programs and resources based on the principles of resilience and flourishing.
Session
Micro-resilience refers to the moment-to-moment strategies and interventions that help us to reset after challenging times. The best way to transform a challenge into an opportunity is to bounce back with energy and positive focus. This workshop describes how.
Bio
Micro-resilience refers to the moment-to-moment strategies and interventions that help us to reset after challenging times. The best way to transform a challenge into an opportunity is to bounce back with energy and positive focus. This workshop describes how.
Session
Micro-resilience refers to the moment-to-moment strategies and interventions that help us to reset after challenging times. The best way to transform a challenge into an opportunity is to bounce back with energy and positive focus. This workshop describes how.
Bio
Tony Bagnato is a Financial Services Executive with 30+ years of leadership experience. He founded The Confidence Advantage Inc. in 2019 to help leaders succeed. Previously, he was VP at RBC Insurance, leading sales teams and optimizing strategy. He holds a BA from York University and an MBA from Dalhousie. Passionate about mentoring, he engages with Ontario business schools. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, reading, and running half marathons.
Session
This keynote explores how confidence unlocks potential and drives success. Learn to overcome perceived limits, embrace a growth mindset, and assert your value. Gain insights on shifting perspectives, tackling challenges, and cultivating self-belief to achieve your goals. Step into your power and seize new opportunities!
Bio
Ali is the Founder of Tharia Inc., a Toronto-based boutique consulting firm specializing in global growth, leadership transitions, and transformative strategies. With 18 years at Toyota Group and expertise spanning Japan to Germany, he bridges cultures and drives impactful organizational change.
Session
Discover the art of connecting the dots using your "Brain Trust"—a network of trusted collaborators and mentors—to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Learn how to lead through failures and critical hits, turning setbacks into stepping stones for growth. With practical strategies and personal secrets revealed, this session will empower you to think strategically, build resilience, and inspire innovation at every level of your career.
Bio
Antoinette C. Ellis is the CEO & Co-Founder of ACE & Co, empowering women and girls to break barriers in STEAM. A certified Arts Integration in STEAM Specialist, she bridges education and industry through workshops, coaching, and scholarships. She also hosts Full STEAM Ahead podcast /YouTube series.
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Strategies for Student Success is an interactive workshop for higher education students to identify signs of burnout, prevent stress overload, and develop self-care strategies. Through practical techniques and productivity hacks, students will learn how to maintain balance, well-being, and academic success.
Bio
Tamer Shaheen, a Waterloo Mechanical Engineering grad, began as a product design engineer before transitioning into product management and other tech companies. He runs a YouTube channel for engineers and is building Mechie, a platform likened to “Leetcode” for mechanical engineers.
Session
This session helps aspiring leaders and engineers bridge the gap between academics and industry. Learn career growth strategies, master technical interviews, and navigate workplace culture. Discover how personal branding and content creation can boost your impact and position you for success. Equip yourself to stand out and become the leader you aspire to be!
Bio
Fernando Lozano, CEO at GKC Architecture & Design, a Canadian consulting and architectural design leader for the industrial and commercial sectors. The team brings leadership and expertise, applying the methodology upon which it has built a stellar reputation over more than 65 years.
Session
Join Fernando Lozano, CEO of GKC Architecture and Design, for a session on leadership in architecture and engineering. Learn key behaviors like decisiveness, impact, reliability, and adaptability, along with mindsets that set top leaders apart. Gain practical strategies, including extreme ownership and effective communication, to navigate leadership challenges and elevate your career.
Bio
Mollie Jameson is a Senior Product Development Engineer at Spin Master with 8 years of experience. A key member of the Robotics team, she holds 7 patents for innovative toys, including interactive bracelet makers and self-hatching creatures, shaping the future of play worldwide.
Session
This session will explore the design and development of toys with a primary focus on our target audience—children. We'll dive into the importance of creating products that are intuitive, safe, and, most importantly, fun. Attendees will gain insights into the key principles that guide the creation of engaging, child-friendly toys that inspire creativity and joy.
Bio
Minakshi Suri has over 10 years of leadership experience in higher education as an EDI and Outreach advocate. She works with faculty, staff, and students to incorporate EDI practices into the classroom and student engagement programs and oversees K-12 outreach programs.
Session
Led by Minakshi, this interactive session will focus on developing practical team-building skills that participants can apply in their daily lives or within their teams. Delegates will collaborate in groups of three to design and construct an egg-drop contraption, tackling engineering challenges while exploring innovative problem-solving and teamwork strategies.
Bio
Rosanna is a career coach passionate about helping students achieve professional success. She specializes in personal branding, resume optimization, and interview prep. With an empathetic, results-driven approach, Rosanna empowers students to thrive in any career.
Session
Are you struggling to land that job? This session dives into the common reasons behind stalled job applications and interview processes. Explore key areas such as resume optimization, interview strategies, networking, and aligning your skills with employer needs. Learn how to identify and address gaps in your job search approach, improve your personal branding, and gain insights on standing out in a competitive job market.
Bio
Elias is an aerospace and robotics engineer at MDA, where he made contributions to NASA's Lunar Gateway, ISS missions using Canadarm2, and R&D initiatives. He is also an Engineer Officer with the Canadian Army Reserves in Toronto. He is an avid scuba diver, pilot in training, and outdoor enthusiast.
Session
In this session, we’ll explore the striking parallels between military leadership and space engineering. Drawing from principles of discipline, strategy, and teamwork, we’ll examine how these leadership styles align to tackle complex, high-stakes missions. Learn how military strategies can inspire resilience, adaptability, and innovation in space exploration, and how these lessons can be applied to engineering leadership. This session will offer valuable insights into building effective teams, managing pressure, and driving success in challenging environments.
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Dr. Hadis Zarrin leads the Nanoengineering Laboratory for Energy and Environmental Technologies. She researches multifunctional nano-engineered materials for clean energy, healthcare wearables, sustainable coatings, and environmental technologies.
Session
Explore the unique challenges and opportunities for women in engineering and academia in this inspiring session. Hear firsthand experiences and insights on navigating academic pathways, breaking barriers, and driving innovation in engineering. Whether you’re pursuing an academic career, aiming for industry success, or balancing both, this session offers valuable advice and a supportive space to connect with others championing diversity in STEM.
Bio
Arif K. Rafiq advises governments on GIS and LRS for managing transport infrastructure. He advocates for authoritative data to support safer automated vehicles. With global experience, he has contributed to U.S. highway networks, sustainable transport in East Asia, and urban mobility in the Netherlands.
Session
In this engaging session, learn how embracing diverse strengths leads to greater success in collaborative environments. Learn how your unique engineering journey shapes your approach to collaboration and discover practical strategies to foster inclusive teamwork. You’ll walk away with tools to create environments where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared goals, making your team stronger and more innovative.
Bio
Robert "Bob" Brent Thirsk, OC OBC is a Canadian retired engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. He holds the Canadian record for the most time spent in space. He became an officer of the Order of Canada in 2013 and was named to the Order of British Columbia in 2012.
Session
Join Robert "Bob" Thirsk, Canada's record-holding astronaut, as he shares his extraordinary journey in space and the leadership lessons learned in zero gravity. In this keynote, he’ll discuss the unique challenges of leading in space and how principles like adaptability, collaboration, and resilience are amplified in such an extreme environment. Drawing from his diverse experience as a retired engineer, physician, and astronaut, Bob will offer valuable insights on applying these leadership qualities to succeed in high-stakes, high-pressure environments, both in space and on Earth.
Bio
Andrew Steer is the Director of Internal Communications at AIMCo, with over 20 years of experience in strategic communications. He specializes in marketing, change management, and process improvement, and advocates for inclusion while aligning teams to achieve corporate goals.
Session
This session covers the crucial role of crisis communication in high-pressure situations. Learn strategies for delivering clear, timely messages to ensure transparency, trust, and alignment. Discover how to manage organizational stability, stakeholder expectations, and public perception to maintain your brand’s reputation during crises.
Bio
Kirusha Srimohanarajah is a MedTech leader, Professional Engineer, and venture studio head for physician and nurse founders. With 10+ years of experience in medical devices, she excels in strategy, team building, and problem-solving. Kirusha also lectures on product development and is pursuing an MBA at Johns Hopkins.
Session
Join Kirusha Srimohanarajah for a session on creating equitable workplaces in healthcare and engineering. Drawing from her experience in medical devices, strategy, and team building, Kirusha will share insights on fostering inclusive environments, overcoming challenges in diverse teams, and building structures where innovation thrives. Learn to champion inclusivity and lead with empathy in your career.
Bio
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Stephanie Lovering, Specialist Ethics and Compliance
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Guri Pannu, Managing Legal Counsel
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Nyasha Mpofu, Legal Assistant, are dedicated professionals shaping Enbridge's mentorship initiatives.
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Enbridge views talent development as a long-term investment, beginning at the high school and university levels. Their collective expertise drives impactful mentorship programs, nurturing future leaders and fostering growth in students and early-career professionals.
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Join Enbridge’s Mentorship Team to learn how mentorship accelerates career growth. Discover strategies for finding mentors, building relationships, and maximizing opportunities at any career stage. This session offers valuable tips for both mentors and mentees to thrive in a supportive, growth-focused workplace.
Bio
Andi is a skilled process engineer specializing in biological wastewater treatment and process design. With degrees from Sharif University and Western University, she excels in project design, data analysis, commissioning, and training, contributing to environmental assessments and technical reports across diverse projects.
Session
Join Andi, a process engineer specializing in biological wastewater treatment, for a session on Engineers in Action. She will discuss how engineers address environmental challenges through sustainable solutions, environmental assessments, and technical reports. Learn how engineers drive positive change in industries like water treatment and environmental sustainability.
Bio
ESSCO's VP Advocacy
Session
Join Grace Oly, VP of Advocacy at ESSCO, for Advocacy 102, where you'll learn the key strategies for advocating effectively for yourself. This session will explore how to ensure your voice is heard in both professional and academic settings, offering practical tips on asserting your ideas, building confidence, and navigating challenging conversations.
Bio
Ryan Shkopiak is an accomplished Project Management Professional (PMP) and P.Eng with over 20 years experience in managing EPC projects in a variety of industrial sectors. He has delivered keynote speech lectures on project management and continues to evolve his project management career.
Session
Engineering has laid the foundation to a stimulating and rewarding career in Project Management. What have been the key success factors and lessons learned along this 25+ year journey that continues to grow and evolve? How can you apply these insights to your own career to ascend to new heights? Whether you are about to embark on your career journey or feel its time for a change, this session is packed with golden nuggets of inspiration to lay the groundwork for you to evolve yourself to reach beyond your potential.