Wednesday, October 14, 2026
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Reynolds Secondary School, 3963 Borden St, Victoria, BC V8P 3H9 (open in Google Maps)
Free Event
Unavailable
Organizer(s): Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST)
Sponsor(s): Quicksilver Business Innovation Group
Featuring: Alyne Araujo, Mahum Azeem, Sabrina Lakhdhir, Sara Salem Hesari, Sydney Goodwin
The panellists talk through their experiences, including the challenges and the successes. Between them they cover civil engineering, software, wearable technology research, radio frequency engineering, and biochemistry and microbiology. In the organizers' words, it brings together future innovators from middle school, high school and post-secondary, along with professionals from a range of STEM fields. It runs in partnership with the Greater Victoria School District.
Anu's Take
Students finishing computer science programs, and those thinking of starting, keep asking me if AI is hurting their chances. The job hunt feels harder, and some are rethinking it altogether. I understand the worry, but I'm optimistic. AI will speed up the work and make it better, but it still takes someone who knows the field to decide what's worth doing and catch it when it's wrong, so there has really never been a better time to get into STEM, as long as schools and programs can quickly pivot to the new reality. STEM has been in demand for a long time, and this feels like an adjustment. I'd hate for short-term pain, real and perceived, to cost us our future strength. We've never had enough resources in this field, and Canada becoming the global powerhouse we can be starts with more STEM. I think we'll figure out how to harness them. That's where a night like this comes in. Five women, from grad school to working in the field, will share how they got there. Add entrepreneurship and business to these programs, and that's a recipe for success. Know a student on the fence? Send them.
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Published Saturday, September 26, 2026 by Anu Jolliffe on LinkedIn