The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec encourages women to make their voices heard within the profession

MONTREAL, Feb. 13, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Some 130 women engineers participated this morning in the third "Women in Engineering" breakfast conference held by the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec in Montreal. This event presents the inspiring careers of women who have distinguished themselves in the world of engineering in an effort to promote the contribution of women to the profession.

Guest speaker Nancy Venneman, Eng., President of Altitude Aerospace, spoke with Radio-Canada host Patrick Masbourian and answered questions from participants about her professional experience, career trajectory, greatest challenges and top achievements.

"I chose engineering because it is an exciting profession that offers many career opportunities," explained engineer Nancy Venneman, who founded Altitude Aerospace, an engineering firm that specializes in aerospace, in 2005.

"For me, being a woman in a male dominated field has never been an obstacle. In engineering, it is the skills that take precedence," stated Venneman, who stressed the importance of continuing education and networking to develop and achieve a successful career.

"Increasing numbers of women are joining the profession, which is excellent news," said Daniel Lebel, Eng., FIC, PMP, President of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, who encouraged women engineers to make their voices heard within the profession and to work with the OIQ to regain the public's confidence. "At this time, the profession really needs positive role models. A leader in her industry, Venneman has the technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as the know-how to manage and motivate teams to do their best, which makes her an excellent ambassador for our profession," added Lebel.

The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec now has nearly 8,300 women engineers as members, which is approximately 13% of its membership. The percentage of women engineers grows steadily every year. This growth should continue in the years to come, as women make up over 17% of the students currently enrolled in undergraduate engineering programs in Québec.

In addition to promoting the contribution of women to the profession, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec wants to promote engineering with young women by teaming up with the "Les filles et les sciences: un duo électrisant" (Girls and Science: An Electrifying Combination) event, which will be held for the 15^th time on Saturday, February 15 at several universities and schools of engineering across Québec. This event is designed to explain to teenaged girls in secondary 2 and 3 the exact nature of professions in science and technology and the education programs that lead to them.

The OIQ's commitment to the public
The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec has made a formal commitment to dedicate all resources required to ensure that all engineers adopt exemplary professional practices and regain the public's trust. More specifically, the OIQ has committed to protecting the public by taking preventive and disciplinary action, finding concrete solutions to the current crisis, improving engineering practice and ensuring transparent management by promoting ethics and professional conduct.

About the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
Founded in 1920, the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec has a membership of more than 60,000 engineering professionals in all fields, except forest engineering. The mission of the OIQ is to ensure the protection of the public by supervising the practice of the profession within the framework of its constituent laws and ensure that the profession serves the public interest. For more information, go to the Web site www.oiq.qc.ca. 

SOURCE: Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec

For further information:

Aline Vandermeer
Communications and Public Affairs Department
Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
514 845-6141, extension 3253