About Creating Connections

Creating Connections is a biennial diversity conference focused on attracting, engaging, and retaining women and underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Our conference brings together 300 STEM professionals, academics, and students for two days of personal and professional development, networking, and inspiration.

Through this series, we hope to create a space where everyone can explore and participate in STEM and work to better prep STEM industries for sustainable solutions and developments that better our world. Previous Creating Connections conferences have resulted in immediate, statistically significant positive changes for both participants' occupational self-efficacy and their awareness of the value of gender diversity. 

See how Creating Connections 3.0 had a lasting impact.
See the event report for Creating Connections 5.0.

Creating Connections is hosted by Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WWEST), the operating name of the current Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the BC/Yukon Region held by Dr. Lesley Shannon of Simon Fraser University.

Increasing diversity in STEM and creating an engaged community of individuals that respect each other will better prep STEM industries to create sustainable solutions and developments that better humanity and our world. Previous Creating Connections conferences have resulted in immediate, statistically significant positive changes for both participant’s occupational self-efficacy and their awareness of the value of gender diversity. See how Creating Connections 5.0 had a lasting impact.

Creating Connections 6.0 General Chair

Dr. Lesley Shannon
Associate Professor, Computer Engineering Option Chair
School of Engineering Science
Simon Fraser University
NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (BC/Yukon)

Creating Connections 6.0 Planning Committee

Conference Manager:
Danniele Livengood
WWEST Manager

Conference Coordinator:
Danika Wong

Program Chair:
Jennifer Pelletier

Track Leads:
Dr. Sheryl Staub-French
Anna Stukas

Committee Members:
Anja Lanz
Marita Luk
Lianna Mah
Christine Norquist
Emily Rousseau

Interested in volunteering for Creating Connections 6.0? Sign up here!