Biography

Patty has been working with AWSN when she took on coordinating Operation Minerva in Medicine Hat in the early 1990's! Coordinating and hosting the Operation Minerva Conference all of these years has been an absolute honor and privilege to bring such an amazing program to so many (especially rural) girls all of these years. She is proud to say that some of the girls that have gone through the Operation Minerva Conference are now Mentors of mine as well as Board members of Praxis.

Mercy works as a Product Specialist at Eaton for the Low Voltage Control Assemblies and she has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba. Mercy has experience providing technical customer service for engineered products. In her spare time, she loves volunteering for causes close to her heart such as Women in STEM and sustainability initiatives. Mercy has had the opportunity to volunteer as a board member and membership director for the Congress of Black Women Manitoba. Mercy is beyond excited to join the Partnership committee at AWSN and she looks forward to advancing AWSN’s vision of promoting STEM programs focused on women/girls by collaborating with various stakeholders in Alberta.

Holly Vogel is a Masters in Neuroscience Graduate from the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute currently working in the area of stroke clinical trials. She previously completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alberta Specializing in Pharmacology. Through her position as a Board Member of AWSN, she hopes to contribute to many AWSN initiatives that promote the recruitment, retention, and recognition of women and underrepresented groups in the STEM fields.

Jen D. is an Environmental Science professional, sustainability advocate, and business development specialist. Passionate about advancing environmental solutions through innovation, education, and collaboration. With experience in environmental consulting, renewable energy sales, and emerging technologies such as UAVs and remote data collection. She is committed to helping industries make informed, sustainable decisions with up-to-date technology and resources. 

As an AWSN Board Member, I am particularly interested in bridging the gap between environmental science, drone and robotic technology, and youth education; inspiring the next generation to explore careers in STEM. While embracing innovative tools that support current environmental stewardship and responsible resource management goals. 

Personal time includes: spending time with newborn niece, my green cheeked conure, Oliver, and various hobbies such as painting, archery, and bird watching (Ollie as a partner sometimes).

Maria Beehan is a Calgary-based civil engineer and project professional with over 15 years of experience leading complex initiatives across the energy sector. Throughout her career Maria has been passionate about advancing women in STEM across all stages of their career, and strongly believes in the transformative impact of women and allies working together to drive change.

Carrie Vos is an Associate Dean in the School of Media and IT at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton. She began her career in higher education as an instructor in the Engineering Design Technology program before moving into leadership roles as a program chair and department head. Carrie later expanded her impact beyond post-secondary education, serving as a senior manager at Women Building Futures, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women in skilled trades and non-traditional careers. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences and a Master of Arts in Communications and Technology, both from the University of Alberta, and is a Certified Engineering Technologist in Engineering Design and Drafting Technology.

As an Advisory Council Member for Women Techmakers, Jasmine brings six years of experience advancing digital inclusion, gender equity, and systems-level impact across nonprofits, advisory councils, and global policy spaces. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Information Technology, expected to graduate in 2027, and holds a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence Policy with Distinction, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Health Sciences. Her leadership experience includes representing Canadian youth perspectives in global discussions on gender equality at the Inter Council of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. At AWSN, she focuses on leading youth civic engagement initiatives through program design and strategic partnerships and serves on both the Partnerships and Awards Committees.

Abigail is a Mechatronic Engineer with more than 15 years of experience supporting industrial automation, IoT deployments, and connected technology solutions across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations in the energy, utilities, logistics, and smart infrastructure sectors, helping bridge the gap between technology and real-world operations. 

In parallel with her technical career, Abigail has promoted STEM education and supporting initiatives that encourage girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She has participated in mentorship programs, workshops, science fairs, and educational outreach activities designed to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders. Her contributions have been recognized through national and international awards in STEM innovation, participation in the World Maker Faire in New York, and recognition for projects involving artificial intelligence, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Laura is an Instructor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge. She has a background in RNA biology and post-transcriptional modifications. Her role involves lots of STEM outreach and she is the faculty advisor for the U of L iGEM and Let's Talk Science programs. She loves to cook and read and hang out with her husband, son and dog.