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Champion Sponsors:
PromoChrom Technologies Ltd. – Sample preparation solutions for trace analysis
Using innovative technology to deliver efficient, compact, and versatile Solid Phase Extraction systems for environmental, food, pharmaceutical, forensic, and fuel applications. Fully automated for PFAS, 1,4-Dioxane, PCBs, Pesticides, PAHs, mycotoxins, food additives, drugs, metabolites, antibodies, and more.
Wilfrid Laurier University – Inspiring Lives
Event Details:
Join us on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at noon for CIC Talks Careers: Women’s History Month Edition to connect with some of the women inspiring the next generation of chemical sciences and chemical engineering professionals. This free employment workshop allows participants to receive valuable career advice from experienced professionals who are committed to helping others overcomes common career hurdles – particularly women and other individuals who require further support and valuable advice to help them overcome common work challenges that have been further emphasized due to the realities of the global pandemic.
What to expect?
- Obtain valuable professional development tips from seasoned chemical sciences professionals to help you successfully navigate the Canadian and international job market.
- Connect and meet a diverse group of chemical sciences professionals and engineers working in Canada and abroad who are inspiring the next generation of young people.
- Enjoy a free career mentorship opportunity for early career professionals designed to help you learn about multiple career paths within the chemical sciences and engineering fields.
Audience: This event is specifically designed for chemical engineers, chemists, and all other chemical sciences professionals and students of all backgrounds and experience levels who are looking to obtain more guidance and direction to get their careers started.
Speakers:
Sandra Odendahl, P.Eng., CFA
Vice-President, Social Impact and Sustainability, Scotiabank
Sandra Odendahl is Vice-President of Social Impact and Sustainability at Scotiabank, joining the bank in November 2019 with almost 25 years of experience in environmental science, corporate sustainability, and responsible finance. At Scotiabank, Sandra leads the team responsible for corporate sustainability, global donations, employee engagement, and ESG reporting.
Before joining Scotiabank, Sandra was President and CEO of a small environmental company helping clients develop and scale up innovative carbon management technologies and strategies. Previously, she held several roles at another Canadian bank, including leading Corporate Sustainability, Social Finance and Environmental Risk Management. In her early career, Sandra worked as an environmental engineer in the natural resources sector.
Sandra is active in her community and enjoys serving on several non-profit boards and advisory panels. Sandra has a Master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder.
Dawn Pratt, MSc. Chem
Founder and Science Educator, Askenootow STEM Enterprise Inc.
Dawn Pratt is a member of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation. With varied experience in science education and an indomitable spirit, she has forged a professional consultancy as an Indigenous STEM Educational expert for the past 20 years. Dawn earned a Master of Science degree with a specialization in the design of organic adsorbent materials directed toward the removal of arsenic from contaminated water (University of Saskatchewan, 2011). Her research resulted in several peer-reviewed publications, including two first-authored and three co-authored papers along with her thesis entitled “Sorption of Arsenic Species using Chitosan-Based Biopolymer Sorbent Materials”.
Previously, she was actively involved in two University of Saskatchewan programs, Science Ambassador (2007) and MentorSTEP (2019). In both these programs, she contributed to designing or delivering STEM programming for Indigenous youth or young adults. Dawn is driven to reinstate Indigenous Elder and Knowledge Keeper teachings into STEM education for the benefit of Indigenous Peoples’ futures. She seeks to amplify Indigenous STEM role models and Indigenized STEM content by transforming instructional practices and curricula in ways that embrace Indigenous cultural, linguistic, and land-based traditions and resources.
She remembers the moment her career-calling took shape; in grade 4, her parents bought her a chemistry kit. Since then, she has pursued her passion for understanding the chemical world and sharing the joys of scientific discovery with children, youth, and adults. As part of realizing her passions, she is deeply dedicated to raising her two daughters to approach the world with a curiosity for STEM, replete with confidence in the Indigenous heritage she too derived from her family.
Carolina Diaz-Goano, Ph.D, P.Eng.
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Innovative Numerix
Dr. Carolina Diaz-Goano is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Innovative Numerix. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, an M.Sc. in Computing Sciences and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta.
Dr. Diaz-Goano has over 25 years of combined academic and industry experience. After her Ph.D., she worked at different national and international research centres, including a term at the Institut Francais du Petrole in France and as an assistant professor at the University of Alberta. Since 2007, Dr. Diaz-Goano has been working in the energy sector, evaluating and developing new technology related to enhanced oil recovery, simulation, strategic planning and optimization. Currently, she is the technology lead at a software start-up specializing in modelling and simulation of complex multi-physics engineering and scientific problems, optimization and data analytics. She has a proven track record that includes conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, books and patents.
Hind A. Al-Abadleh, Ph.D
Professor, Wilfred Laurier University
Professor Hind Al-Abadleh is a recognized and celebrated leader, mentor, and role model in the EDI in STEM space with 15+ years of active engagement at different levels. Her academic career in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Wilfrid Laurier University started in 2005 following a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa and a postdoctoral position at Northwestern University in the U.S. She is an award-winning scientist who established the EPIC lab for Environmental, Physical and Interfacial Chemistry research in the fields of atmospheric chemistry, air quality, geochemistry, and environmental remediation. She is currently the 2021-2022 University Research Professor, a Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and was the 2019 Fulbright Canada Visiting Research Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry, Air Quality, and Climate Change at the University of California Irvine. Among her leadership roles, Al-Abadleh is the current Chair of the Environment Division of the Chemical Institute of Canada.