Why more women are needed in science

I was born and raised in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in northern Canada. As a student, I spent summers working in remote exploration camps mapping bedrock geology. After completing university, I started my career with the provincial government in Yellowknife and transitioned into exploration during the diamond rush in the Northwest Territories.

I started working at Diavik shortly after it started production in 2005. I set up the site drilling, sampling, and mining databases. I also brought the resource modelling in-house, standardised reporting and set up a reconciliation process to compare our predicted versus actual diamond yields. Today, I am a Principal Resource Geologist and proud to have been an important contributor to the successful mining project at Diavik as it moves towards the end of operations in 2026 and enters closure.

Over the years, there have been many opportunities to improve the way we do things and solve problems. Whenever I can, I encourage maximising the value of the ore we extract. This approach takes persistence, but this is truly sustainable mining.

I joined the RioExcel program in 2021 to progress my technical career. The program offered specialised training opportunities and exposure to other parts of the business. I am grateful for the knowledge-sharing and mentorship I have received along the way.

Women are underrepresented in technical fields. It is something I have seen throughout my career. To address it, the simple answer is more women need to be hired in technical roles.

I joined the Arvida Research and Development Centre (ARDC) in 2019 as a senior research scientist. I’m in charge of research and development projects looking for new ways to use bauxite residues and industrial by-products created during our production process.

One of my proudest achievements is the work I did to valorise anhydrite, a residue now recognized as a fertiliser for several crops such as wild lowbush blueberries. Our Chief Executive even has a pot of jam made from our blueberries!

Another career highlight, and something that surprised me, was being the first woman in Quebec to be accepted into the RioExel program.

My goal is to solve complex problems to bring positive change for the environment.

I want to be a role model for my children and for young girls who want to be in science. I want to set the example and break down barriers for women in the industry. That could be the difference — if you can see it, you can be it.

I’ve always loved science. When I was at school, I loved mathematics, physics and chemistry and from a young age I knew that I wanted to work in science, despite it being a male-dominated field.

I started working in research and development at the ARDC in 2017. At the ARDC, curiosity is a part of our daily lives. It's ingrained in us. We go beyond our ideas, break out of silos and work as a team. We truly believe that alone, we go fast, but as a team we go further.

We’re fortunate to be able to work in several facilities and benefit from a large "playground" where people open doors for us. The diversity of opportunities and projects you can work on is extraordinary. I love being an expert in my field and am proud of the work I do to help the company reach their ESG objectives. It’s a beautiful mission. It’s a great source of pride to be recognised by the company through the RioExcel program for the work I’ve done to help improve our environmental performance.

As women, it can be difficult to claim our space in a male-dominated industry. But that doesn’t have to be a reason to not go into science. We need more women in science because they bring diverse ways of thinking. My advice to women who are thinking about a technical career: don’t hesitate and you’ll find your space.