Dr. Marilyn Powers

Biography:

Dr. Marilyn Powers, P.Eng. has dedicated her career to applying technological advances to help people learn: from immersive simulations to learning management systems. As customer-centric Product Manager and Professor in XR Technology and Business, Marilyn works collaboratively to identify root problems and lead teams through creative solutions. Her experience in working with start-ups and within long-standing corporations from high-tech healthcare solutions to SaaS software has provided her with tools and frameworks that use the scientific mindset to set hypotheses, run experiments to validate learning and adjust accordingly.

Marilyn is Director, Academic Technology within the Centre for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Mohawk College in Hamilton. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering focusing on VR Surgical Simulation (University of Calgary jointly with Ecole Polytechnique Montreal), a Master’s of Biomedical Engineering in 3D Knee Joint Kinematics (University of Calgary) and a bachelors from the University of Waterloo in Mechanical Engineering. She is also currently Board of Directors of the Ontario Society for Professional Engineers.

Address:Canada

Stephanie Holko

Biography:

Stephanie is a Director of Project Development at Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen). She has 17 years of experience leading teams and projects in the steel industry. She loves connecting emerging technologies with existing manufacturing problems and believes the future of manufacturing is in the adoption of new ways of working. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science – Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a Master of Business Administration specializing in the Management of Innovation and New Technology from McMaster University. Stephanie is a licensed Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario, and is currently the President and Chair of the Board of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers.

Manjubasini Raveenthran

Biography:

Manjubasini Raveenthran is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in IT within the financial services domain. She's a firm believer that diversity is integral to building high performing teams and is striving to create work culture that enables autonomy, fosters openness, encourages creativity and embraces learning from failure. She is currently the Director of Product at Hubio, an insurtech startup that is enabling frictionless interactions within the insurance domain. Apart from her IT work, she has also co-authored a Tamil/English children's book called Amutha Loves to Read, a book that grew out of her own personal experience as a Tamil Canadian and her love of making language learning more accessible.

SHARON BARNEY MBA PMP

Biography:

Ms. Barney (MBA PMP) is a seasoned executive with over two decades of leadership in the construction sector, significantly enhancing the industry's approach to gender issues and workplace diversity. Her leadership in managing BuildForce Canada's "Working in a Respectful and Inclusive Workplace" course, a groundbreaking initiative that attracted over 2,000 registrants in its debut year - marking it as BuildForce's most successful course at the time - stands as a testament to her impact.

Her consultancy, covering finance, administration, business development and diversity and inclusion, reflects her commitment to creating inclusive environments in construction and engineering. An advocate for women and entrepreneurs, Ms. Barney has delivered impactful workshops and speeches for prestigious organizations, including the Society of Women Engineers, the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers' Women in Engineering Sections, and the Canadian Association of Women in Construction.

Dedicated to promoting gender equity in tech entrepreneurship and patenting, she notably delivered the keynote address "The Gender Gap in Patents and How to Overcome It" at the 2014 IEEE Women in Engineering Congress. Since 2019, Ms. Barney has mentored emerging engineering entrepreneurs at the University of Toronto's Entrepreneurship Hatchery Nest Program, helping transform innovative ideas into successful startups.

Ms. Barney's insights into the impact of technological advancements on women’s education and professional development make her an invaluable asset to discussions about integrating diversity into academic programs, workplace environments, and product development processes.

Shermineh Ghasemi (PhD Candidate)

Biography:

Shermineh Ghasemi (PhD Candidate) is a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence, especially recognized for her application of AI in healthcare advancements. Possessing a PhD in Computer Science along with a Master of Applied Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, her area of expertise includes machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. She has leveraged this knowledge in crucial healthcare projects at St. Michael and Mount Sinai Hospitals, significantly improving diagnostics and treatment processes through AI technologies.