Please join us for a conversation about the experiences of Black women in SETT. Hear about the challenges and joys of their different career paths and their hopes for the future.
Event: Celebrating Black Women in SETT: From Challenges to Triumphs
Date: February 6, 2025
Time: 1:30 pm NT, 1:00 pm AT, 12:00 pm ET, 11:00 am CT, 10:00 am MT, 9:00 am PT
Place: Zoom
This session recording is available here
Panelist Biographies:
Nordia Brown serves as the Director, Inspections at HSB Canada, a premier engineering-driven specialty insurer. In this role, she oversees all inspection operations for Canada. Nordia has been a member of the Engineering & Inspection community for over 15 years and has held a variety of roles across the industry. She is a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng) in Ontario and has a bachelor of engineering degree specializing in chemical engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Nordia holds a Certified Risk Management (CRM) designation from the Risk Management Society (RIMS). She also holds a National Board Inservice Inspector Commission (IS) via the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors
(NBBI), and a Certificate of Competency (COC) via the TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority). Nordia contributes to the development and improvement of industrial codes and
standards as a voting member and Vice Chair of the CSA B52, Mechanical Refrigeration Code committee and as a voting member of CSA B51, Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code committee. Nordia is deeply committed to mentorship and professional development. She is an active member with the Black Engineers of Canada (BEC), recently nominated to the Board of Directors as Director, Programs overseeing the Entrepreneurship, Training, Students Liaison, and Events subcommittees. Nordia enjoys sharing valuable insights and experiences to support and guide the next generation of engineers in Canada.
Dr. Julianah Adediji is an environmental scientist with over five years experience conducting and communicating climate change and sustainability research. She recently concluded her PhD in Physical Geography at Queen’s University, where her work focused on the impact of climate change on soils and watersheds within Indigenous communities. This work provided her with valuable insights into the environmental challenges faced by these communities and has driven my commitment to sustainable and resilient solutions. She has also worked as the Technical and Administrative Support for the IDEAS4GenderEquality Project under Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada. Her involvement in this project allowed her to manage complex initiatives, engage with diverse stakeholders, and contribute to community development projects across Canada. She is currently working as a Program Coordinator in the Disaster Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Team at a provincial government body. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending a lot of time in nature and bonding with her family.
D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and immigrated to Canada to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering at McGill University before subsequently working in the Oil and Gas industry and then pivoting into Engineering Education and the EdTech space. D’Andre is founder and President of BrainSTEM Alliance, a non-profit company focused on delivering programming, workshops and events focused in engineering education, STEM outreach and EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion). D’Andre is also the Executive Director of Work Integrated Learning at Calgary Economic Development, leading the TalentED YYC initiative. In this role, D’Andre leads the development of a regional tech platform for local post-secondary institutions, businesses and non-profit organizations, to better align learning to work through student placements and projects. Over the course of her career, D’Andre has worked with various non-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions to develop programming and streamline processes that create equitable access to opportunities. D’Andre is a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng) and project management professional (PMP) and acts as a mentor with Black Engineers Canada. She is the co-founder of Bahamas Engineering & Technology Advancement (BETA) and works with a team of Bahamian engineers and technologists to lead outreach initiatives including the annual BETA Camp. D’Andre is also pursuing her PhD in engineering education focused on better understanding the alignment of student experience to career pathways for underrepresented groups,and is leading research on Black experiences in STEM through the Canadian Black Scientists Network. D’Andre sits as the co-chair of the EDI group for the Canadian Engineering Education Association as well as an Executive Board Member for the LearningCITY Collective. D’Andre is also a wife and mother to three young children.
Lyn Caine is a dynamic professional with a proven track record in fundraising, program management, and DEI initiatives. Currently, she is a Fundraising Consultant at Family Services of Peel, where she implements customized strategies to meet capital campaign goals. Lyn also serves as the Program Director for the Apprenticeship Service at Family Services of Peel, leading a multi-million dollar project funded by the Ministry of Employment and Social Development Canada. Previously, Lyn was the Manager of Employment Ontario Programs, focusing on DEI and recruiting initiatives. She also led the Women in Skilled Trades Program at WEST/Employment Ontario, supporting women entering skilled trades. Lyn’s career also includes serving as the Ontario Region Lead at CCWESTT, where she facilitated stakeholder forums and ensured project completion. With experience in international student recruitment and HR management, Lyn has developed strategies to increase enrollment and support student success. Lyn is dedicated to creating positive workforce impacts through DEI initiatives and empowering individuals in the trades and skilled professions.
