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The Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 with its 18th Annual Seminar, themed “Give to Gain.” Join public works professionals and leaders in this special event that shines a light on the remarkable contributions of women in public works, while fostering discussions on advancing gender equity in our industry.
International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s also a call to action for continued progress toward gender equality. This year, as we come together, we’ll explore the significant strides made by women in public works and the vital work that remains to ensure a more inclusive future for all.
With insightful speakers and panelists, the seminar will delve into key topics around creating more inclusive workplaces, championing gender diversity, and building a stronger, more equitable public works community.
This event is open to everyone—all genders—who are passionate about fostering an inclusive future and supporting gender parity in public works. Bring your colleagues and join the conversation to help inspire change and shape the future of the industry.
Let’s come together to celebrate and advocate for a more gender-balanced world!
AGENDA:
To view the full agenda for the event click here
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Jane Wilson, M.Sc., P.Eng.
Senior Associate, J.L. Richards
Recipient of the Canadian Consulting Engineer’s Top 10 Under 40 Awards, Jane is the Director of Municipal Infrastructure & Planning at JLR. Since starting at JLR in 2013, Jane has grown to lead one of JLR’s largest markets, driving sustainable municipal infrastructure and planning services.
Jane’s career journey was profoundly influenced by the events in Walkerton, which sparked a deep commitment to help ensure all communities have access to safe, reliable infrastructure. That passion has guided over a decade of work in municipal planning and engineering, a field that continues to inspire her every day. Through her career at JLR, Jane has not just designed infrastructure, but built lasting relationships and help communities thrive.
Vimy Henderson, Ph. D., P.Eng.
Principal Engineer, PTech Engineering Solutions Inc.
Dr. Vimy Henderson is the Principal Engineer and President of PTech Engineering Solutions Inc., an entrepreneurial leader with over 18 years of experience in consulting engineering across Canada and internationally. She specializes in pavement, materials, and infrastructure management engineering, partnering with public and private sector clients to deliver innovative solutions throughout the life cycle of assets—including roads, airfields, railyards, ports, commercial operations, and race tracks.
Beyond her engineering practice, Vimy is deeply committed to education and research. As an Adjunct Professor at McMaster University, she teaches undergraduate and graduate students and leads research initiatives that advance the field. She has published and presented internationally and regularly delivers training to industry groups.
A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry, Vimy mentors and creates opportunities for emerging professionals and students. Her entrepreneurial journey and technical leadership are fueled by her enthusiasm for the projects she undertakes and the collaborative teams she works with.
Marlina Ramchandran, MBA, BA
ELLA Entrepreneurship Manager, YSpace, York University
Marlina Ramchandran leads YSpace ELLA, a national women’s entrepreneurship program at York University supporting women-led ventures across Canada. She is a strategic innovation and ecosystem leader with over a decade of experience designing and scaling founder-centered entrepreneurship initiatives at the intersection of government, academia, startups, and funders.
She brings deep expertise in building public–private partnerships, translating policy priorities into high-impact programming, and supporting founders with business models, go-to-market strategy, and growth planning. Through YSpace ELLA and related initiatives, she works closely with early- to growth-stage founders, providing structured advisory, partnerships, and ecosystem access.
Marlina serves as a Board Member of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) and has advised national entrepreneurship initiatives in Canada and India. She holds an MBA (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Andrea Chakma
Director-Guiding Experience,
Guiding Ambassador for Girl Guides of Canada
Andrea Chakma is currently a PhD Student at the University of Waterloo and the Director-Guiding Experience, Guiding Ambassador for Girl Guides of Canada. Her research focuses on developing emotion knowledge in children using social robotics and intelligent tutoring systems.
She began Guiding at the age of 6 and since has held multiple leadership roles including Ontario Youth Forum, National Youth Council. Her Guiding contributions also expand globally as a facilitator training leaders around the world on non-formal education and meaningful youth participation.
Crediting her experience at Girl Guides with a strong foundation, Andrea is a strong advocate for diversity in STEM and is passionate about encouraging the future generation of leaders to drive change in their areas of interest by being bold, engaged and confident.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, travelling, hiking and learning new languages.
Liza Sheppard, P.Eng., PMP
Vice President, Project Implementation, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
Liza Sheppard is Vice President, Project Implementation at York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC), where she plays a key leadership role in advancing the organization’s mission to deliver rapid transit solutions that align with York Region’s key priorities and direction, benefitting existing and future residents and businesses.
With over 15 years of senior leadership experience, Liza has led the planning, design, and construction of the Region’s bus rapid transit (BRT) network. She currently oversees early planning and design for priority BRT projects along some of York Region’s busiest corridors. A seasoned expert in large-scale transit infrastructure, Liza is known for her ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with local municipalities, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders, driving YRRTC’s success in delivering transformative transit solutions.
Before joining YRRTC in 2009, Liza spent over a decade as a consultant in the private sector, specializing in transportation engineering, including traffic operations, transportation planning, and roadway planning and design.
Liza received her Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario, a certified Project Management Professional, and actively volunteers with Professional Engineers Ontario’s York Chapter. She is also a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and WTS International.
Paragi Neema, MASc. – Young Professional Panelist
Water Treatment Specialist (EIT), WSP
Paragi Neema is a Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Designer at WSP Canada. Her work focuses on process design, project coordination, and proposal development for vertical infrastructure projects. She holds a Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Engineering from Delhi Technological University in India.
A purpose and people focused person, Paragi values collaboration, shared learning, and community impact. During her time in India, she led volunteer programs centered on women’s health and well-being. Paragi welcomes opportunities and conversations about water, community, art, and yoga.
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Cost:
Individual Member Registration – $175 + HST (13%) per person
Individual Non-Member Registration – $200 + HST (13%) per person
Table of 8 Registration – $1,350 + HST (13%)
Breakfast Sponsor – $500 + HST (13%) (2 available)
Lunch Sponsor – $1,000 + HST (13%) (2 available)
Networking Sponsor – $500 + HST (13%) (2 available)