Each year, International Women’s Day helps to highlight the impact of women across society, especially those shaping industries that are traditionally male-dominated.
At Pario Engineering & Environmental Sciences, women leaders are driving progress through mentorship, collaboration, and technical excellence, helping to cultivate an inclusive and supportive work culture. We spoke with six extraordinary women at Pario for their perspectives on leadership and success in building resilient, high-performing teams.
Fostering a Culture of Collaboration
Successful organizations are built on respectful collaboration, bringing together diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
For Diane Wunder (Operations and Client Relationship Manager for Western Canada), that means demonstrating trust and allowing for more thoughtful decision-making. She believes that broader personal perspectives can enhance decision-making at all levels. Her philosophy is that leaders should help create more leaders, and her experience speaks for itself: Diane has spent decades leading teams, adapting to new challenges, and inspiring young talent.
Kathleen Hopkins (Project Coordination Manager) praises the open, constructive work culture at Pario. She emphasises authenticity and emotional intelligence as core strengths, recognizing how differing life experiences can foster empathy and improve team performance. In her experience, working to understand each other’s perspectives helps to promote safe and productive work environments.
The Power of Representation
Gender representation is essential in technical disciplines, allowing young women to see themselves not only in the industry, but leading it.
Yvonne Quigley (National Vice President of Business Development) points to increasing diversity in leadership as directly strengthening the company, both in culture and in decision-making. Across her career, she has worked to lead that change and inspire the next generation. As Yvonne looks to the future, she is optimistic about the direction of leadership, representation, and technical excellence in our industry.
Nicole Farry (Director of Environmental Services for British Columbia) notes that seeing women in senior roles helps others to envision similar paths for themselves. She has always felt welcomed throughout her career but recognizes the value of representation at all levels of the company. Through the years, Nicole has steadily risen through the ranks, and she now leads by example to help pave the way for young women at Pario.
Finding Balance In Personal and Professional Life
For many women, it can be difficult to find work-life balance, especially with the unspoken demands and challenges of working in a male-dominated industry.
Ashley Beckman (Manager of Materials and Mechanical Engineering) underscores the value of boundaries and time management as essential for sustaining personal performance and wellbeing. She has been especially busy in recent years, establishing Pario’s Vancouver laboratory and providing mentorship to students and junior engineers, but the flexibility and autonomy she found at Pario has given her the space to grow as a professional. Ashley hopes that her journey demonstrates that technical leadership roles can be both accessible and rewarding.
Bibi Lawal (Regional Manager for Western Canada) recognizes the importance of a positive team culture in long-term success. Supportive workplace practices are crucial for sustainability, and this extends to her team as well: she believes in listening, removing obstacles, and ensuring everyone feels heard and supported. By taking a structured, supportive approach to her work, she helps to strengthen her team and ensure everyone’s wellbeing, herself included.
Shaping the Future of Leadership
Pario is continuing to evolve through greater representation, robust mentorship, and an investment in our people. Our goal is to foster an environment where everyone can grow, contribute, and lead with confidence.
On this day and every day, we are proud to celebrate the rich contributions of women in our industry, working to strengthen our business and pave the way for the next generation of women leaders.