Quick EscapeResearch, Science, Technology, Trades category
Research | Science | Technology | Trades
Presented by:
Celebrating the women and girls who build Hamilton and Halton
Presented by:
This award honours a woman who is dedicated to the pursuit of scientific, technological, or industrial advancement and/or research. She is a trailblazer who could excel in one of many fields, including engineering, applied sciences, social sciences, life sciences, STEM, or a skilled trade. She recognizes the importance of elevating women in non-traditional occupations, using her own accomplishments and experiences to lead by example and to create future opportunities for women in her field.
Hamilton Winner:
Dr. Zobia Jawed
Dr. Zobia Jawed
Dr. Zobia Jawed, Ph.D., M.Eng., is a researcher, Faculty lead for Engineering design and policy projects, and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University. She is an expert in water & wastewater systems, climate change, environmental sustainability, and decision-support tools. Zobia is passionate about youth and women’s empowerment by providing them with opportunities in the field of STEM. During the pandemic, she supported many businesses in efforts to pivot and remain profitable during times of crisis. She also advanced research and development in a novel wastewater-based testing approach to assess the spread of COVID-19 at the community level. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Pakistani Business Association, Healthy Youth Network, and Conservation Halton.
Halton Winner:
Navita Dyal
Navita Dyal
Navita is an opportunity architect; at 17, she founded a non-profit organization, GLITR, which provides access to healthcare to vulnerable populations both locally and abroad. GLITR has served refugee, and homeless individuals in the Hamilton Area, as well as financially marginalized individuals in Guyana. As an undergraduate student, she founded her first start-up, Era Diabetes, to help kids self-manage their type 1 diabetes. As a graduate student, she founded WADE (Walking Analyzing Device), the first device to predict the onset of Autism when kids start to walk. Navita has held influential roles at the World Health Organization and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and is now a Product Manager at Google, within the wearable health devices section.
Hamilton Nominees
Carina Andreatta
Carina is currently the Program Manager of the Project Management Office (PMO) and Analytics departments at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. She has a passion for creating meaningful and valuable ways for patients to take better control over their health using digital tools and technology. Carina graduated from Western University with an Honours Specialization in Health Sciences and a Minor in Psychology. She pursued her interest in technology and patient-centered care through her post-graduate education at McMaster University, where she completed a Masters of Science, in eHealth. She has worked at SJHH for five years, leading the Epic Clinical Transformation Project. Previously, she has worked at Digital Health Canada, supporting various national communities of interest and working groups.
Debra Christmas
Debra Christmas is a 40+ year veteran of the information technology field. Prior to joining Gartner Canada as an Executive Partner, Debra was VP of Hewlett-Packard Software Technical Sales for North and South America and was formerly Chief Information Officer for the cities of Kingston and Kanata. Debra is the co-author of “Please Stay: How Women in Tech Survive and Thrive.” She is currently co-authoring two other books, “Get Smarter Faster” and “We Rise in Power: Amplifying Women of Color and Her Voices for Change” to help women excel in their careers and to encourage young girls to make technology a career choice. Debra is the founder of Stiletto Gladiators, a not-for-profit and diversity consultancy, and co-founder of Women in Tech Tribe, which supports women in tech.
Karen Mossman
Karen Mossman, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Medicine and Vice President, Research at McMaster University. She completed her Honors B.Sc. in Molecular Biology & Genetics (University of Guelph) and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and her Post-doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (University of Alberta). She joined McMaster in 2001 and her research focus is understanding interactions between viruses and their hosts, in healthy and cancer cells, with the goal of developing novel therapy approaches for emerging viral infections and cancer. In addition to her role as VP Research, she serves as Chair of the Board of the McMaster Innovation Park, co-Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities COVID task force and board member of Mitacs, TRIUMF and McMaster HealthLabs.
Shannon Tymosko
Shannon Tymosko is a 2nd year Electrical Apprentice and Skilled Trades Ambassador. She originally completed a Child and Youth Work Diploma where she found a passion for people, mental health and learning. She is a proud sister of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and uses her voice, story and platform to encourage, motivate and inspire change in the industry. Shannon’s combined passion for Child and Youth Work along with the skilled trades, makes her an amazing role model for young people and other women. Shannon uses her s spare time advocating for the skilled trades by sharing her story through podcasts, live events and motivational talks, hoping to inspire others, or just one.
Dr. Zobia Jawed
Dr. Zobia Jawed, Ph.D., M.Eng., is a researcher, Faculty lead for Engineering design and policy projects, and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University. She is an expert in water & wastewater systems, climate change, environmental sustainability, and decision-support tools. Zobia is passionate about youth and women’s empowerment by providing them with opportunities in the field of STEM. During the pandemic, she supported many businesses in efforts to pivot and remain profitable during times of crisis. She also advanced research and development in a novel wastewater-based testing approach to assess the spread of COVID-19 at the community level. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Pakistani Business Association, Healthy Youth Network, and Conservation Halton.
Halton Nominees
Jennifer Jahnke
As a faculty member, applied researcher and community advocate, Jennifer’s passion for creating an inclusive and accessible world is unmatched. Her contributions begin in the classroom, but they don’t end there. Jennifer put students first when she developed a curriculum that was meaningful and relevant to its audience, while also the first of its kind in Canada. Dozens of companies and community partners have sought her and her students for their expertise. And, most importantly, more people in Ontario and elsewhere can now take part in our virtual and digital world because of Jennifer’s belief that accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Navita Dyal
Navita is an opportunity architect; at 17, she founded a non-profit organization, GLITR, which provides access to healthcare to vulnerable populations both locally and abroad. GLITR has served refugee, and homeless individuals in the Hamilton Area, as well as financially marginalized individuals in Guyana. As an undergraduate student, she founded her first start-up, Era Diabetes, to help kids self-manage their type 1 diabetes. As a graduate student, she founded WADE (Walking Analyzing Device), the first device to predict the onset of Autism when kids start to walk. Navita has held influential roles at the World Health Organization and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and is now a Product Manager at Google, within the wearable health devices section.
Susan Kilburn
Susan Kilburn is currently Chief Operating Officer at LightPoint Financial Technology. She has over 25 years of leadership experience. Her roles have spanned many industries, with a focus on process optimization, business/IT alignment and large-scale business transformation. Prior to joining LightPoint, Susan was working as an independent consultant, providing executive guidance to organizations on complex change management initiatives. Other roles that Susan has held include Vice President, Solution Management at Rogers Communications, and Vice President, IT Engagement Services at Symcor. Susan currently serves as Chair on the Burlington Hydro Board of Directors and is also on the McMaster Engineering and Management Industrial Advisory Council as a proud McMaster Engineering Physics & Management graduate.
