Rhonda Neary, president and chief operating officer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (left), and association vice-chairperson Valerie Penney.
The 2nd annual Women in Construction Forum is a go today at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s.
The event, which is open to all genders, is bringing together about 200 delegates to brainstorm around the topics of education, training and unconscious bias, with the aim of applying the takeaways to member organizations.
Miss Canada Ashley Borzellino, a development inspector and operator with the City of Brantford, Ontario, will share her experience in the industry during a keynote address over the lunch hour.
The forum will also include a panel on the challenges women face beginning at the high school and post-secondary levels, with experiences shared by new grads from MUN’s civil engineering program.
Valerie Penney is vice-chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association.
“We’ll come together as a community of trailblazers, changemakers and visionaries who are shaping the future of construction,” she said. “It’s a platform for all people of all genders to come together for professional development and support women’s progress in the construction industry.”
While the forum concludes today, the provincial construction association will hold its awards gala Saturday evening, to be emceed by VOCM’s own Gerri-Lynn Mackey.