2026 Board of Directors

Colleen grew up in Logy Bay, Newfoundland and was inspired to study mining and geology upon the discovery of the Voisey’s Bay mine in the early 90s. She studied mining engineering in Montreal at McGill obtained a masters (also in mining engineering) from the University of British Columbia. Her career to date has taken her from Dublin to Yellowknife, Yukon, Arizona while also supporting projects in Mexico and Chile.

In 2023 she returned to NL with her husband and two sons. Colleen is currently the general manager of health, safety, environment and risk for Vale Newfoundland and Labrador supporting the Voisey’s Bay Mine and Long Harbour Processing Plant.

She was a WISE NL summer student in 1993 and went on to coordinate the program and serve on the WISE board of directors. Colleen has supported WISE NL like organizations wherever she’s lived and includes school presentations on mining and geology among her career highlights. She sits on an advisory board for a small mining company in the US and enjoys coaching any sports her sons play. She is thrilled to assume the role of WISE NL President this year.

Dr. Svetlana Barkanova obtained her BSc in physics from the University of Latvia in 1994 and earned her PhD in theoretical subatomic physics from the University of Manitoba in 2004. An internationally-acclaimed researcher and an award-winning teacher, Svetlana is currently a Full Professor of Physics at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus, there she leads the provincial science outreach program designed to engage rural youth, girls and Indigenous students.

Svetlana is the Chair of the Division for Gender Equity in Physics of the Canadian Association of Physicists, the Chair of Hadronic Physics/QCD Scientific Working Group of the Canadian Institute of Nuclear Physics, a member of WISE NL working on initiatives such as Indigenous Youth Gatherings, and a popular presenter with lectures ranging from astrophysics to clean energy.

Marie Curtis is a project management and operations professional with over eight years of experience in higher education and clinical research, transitioning into business development and innovation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology (2014) and is certified as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (2016).

Marie began her career in blood biomarker and rehabilitation research, managing over 14 research projects and assets valued at $2.3M. In 2021, she coordinated the arrival of Memorial University students during the pandemic and managed a $310K COVID-19 bursary program.

As a Project Manager with the Ocean Startup Project, Marie leads national programming that promotes ocean innovation in academia. She has a proven track record in financial management, recruitment, and stakeholder engagement and is passionate about fostering connections that help underrepresented groups succeed in STEM fields.

Since 2021, Marie has been a member of the Rock Island Dragons (community dragon boat team). In her free time, she enjoys reading, taking fitness classes, playing video games, experimenting in the kitchen, and exploring NL with her family.

After completing a BSEE in 1978, Gloria Montano began her career in the Silicon Valley where she advanced through high tech positions in design, customer support, technical sales and marketing support, project and program management. She left private industry to join the Institute for Women and Technology (now AnitB.org) as the director of an innovative, design-based experiential learning program, the Virtual Development Center. She came to NL in 2006 to earn a Master of Education degree and then worked in various roles in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University.

Now post-salary, Gloria continues to seek to broaden discussion on the role women play in the identification, development and distribution of technology-based solutions, and she uses her experience and skills for the benefit of non-profit and volunteer organizations. Gloria is a Past President of WISE NL, a national Past President of the Society of Women Engineers in the US, and has served on several boards including the Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT).

For fun, Gloria likes to golf and go for walks in the summer, play hockey and snowshoe in the winter, and take the occasional trip outside North America. She also shamelessly enjoys the pleasure of pets belonging to her friends.

Veronica Naterer is from Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived in two other provinces before coming to Newfoundland in 2012. She graduated from Gonzaga High School in 2020 and while at Gonzaga, completed the WISE SSEP program. Through the SSEP program, she developed a passion for motivating and advocating for other women in STEM careers. She is now in her final year of Mechanical Engineering at Memorial University. Her plan is to graduate in April of 2025 and pursue higher education the following September.

Veronica has made a persistent effort to stay involved in her community as well as the engineering faculty. She is involved in many clubs and societies at MUN in hopes to improve student engagement within the school of engineering and applied science. She has been a member of the WISE Undergraduate Society since 2022 as VP of Engineering Society B. Veronica plans to stay on the society until the end of her degree in efforts to continuously encourage and empower other like minded women interested in STEM careers!

Kathleen Shallow earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Memorial University in 2022. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Neuroscience from King’s College London. Kathleen has been a dedicated member of WISENL since 2018 driven by her passion for supporting and advocating for women in STEM fields.

Kathleen is a committed advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion and an active volunteer in her community. Kathleen is a Swim Coach with Special Olympics Canada teaching individuals with intellectual disabilities to swim. She is also a mentor for young women facing life challenges through Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition, she advocates for the rights of women and LGBTQIA2S+, as well as for humanitarian and environmental causes.

In her free time, Kathleen enjoys pottery, she uses wheel throwing to create functional ceramic art. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, appreciating nature and immersing herself in a good book.

Dr. Mona Maadani is a dedicated mentor and advocate for women in STEM, with extensive experience supporting students and professionals in their academic and career development. She is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Chemical Engineering at the Marine Institute of Memorial University, where her work focuses on advanced coating materials for marine and corrosion protection applications. She holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Engineering with expertise in nanomaterials, polymer alloys, and mechanical property characterization.

Prior to academia, Dr. Maadani worked as a polymer expert in the automotive manufacturing sector, bringing valuable industry insight to her mentoring and teaching. She has taught multiple chemistry laboratory courses at the Marine Institute and has actively mentored newcomer and international students through WISE NL.

Dr. Maadani currently serves as Member-at-Large with CAPS and Member-at-Large with LUMUN, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Education (Post-Secondary) to further strengthen her teaching and mentorship practice. As Director of Mentorship at WISE NL, she aims to strengthen mentorship pathways, foster meaningful connections, and support inclusive participation of women in science and engineering.

Sheldon Baikie’s career path to Civil Engineer at Newfoundland Power has been anything but typical. He began by earning a Kinesiology degree with a focus on the business side of sport and recreation. Upon returning to Labrador, he worked as a government administrator for about a decade before deciding to shift gears. His involvement in the construction of a museum sparked an interest in the engineering required for its foundations, prompting him to return to school to study civil engineering. After six years, he completed his degree and started working as a civil/structural engineer. Currently, Sheldon is the Asset Management Lead at Newfoundland Power, where he is helping to review the company’s asset management practices.

Sheldon is originally from North West River, Labrador and a proud beneficiary of the Nunatsiavut Land Lands Agreement. He is also engaged in several volunteer activities including, the Indigenous Advisory Committee of Engineers Canada, the board of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador and Women in Science and Engineering’s Indigenous Youth Gathering Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, golfing, hiking, and biking with his family.

Abygail Pike is a graduate of Memorial University, earning her Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) in 2023. She is an Engineer in Training with Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL), and since graduating, Abygail has worked as a Field Engineer in heavy civil construction with both rotational site and office experience working on a variety of hydroelectric generating projects within Newfoundland and across Canada.

Abygail’s passion for promoting women in all STEM fields and careers runs deep. During her time in university, Abygail was an active member of the Women in Science and Engineering Undergraduate Society (WISE US) executive where she served as the VP Engineering (2019-2022), President (2022-2023), and Past President (2023-2024), before joining the WISE NL Board of Directors in 2022 where she has been a Director-at Large ever since.

Abygail wanted to pursue a career in engineering for as long as she can remember and not long after setting on that path became aware of the visible deficit of women in many STEM-based fields. Abygail got involved with WISE because as a person who was discouraged by peers, educators, and professionals from pursuing engineering simply due to her gender she recognizes it is not always easy for young women to find their place in STEM. As a member of the WISE NL board, Abygail wishes to not only encourage other girls and women to feel confident in whatever program they choose to study but also do her part to help end the gender gap in STEM fields and show that a woman in STEM is not something to be dismissed but rather celebrated!

Alison Cox is a Professional Geologist registered under the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador. She graduated from Memorial University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Earth Sciences focusing on economic geology and biogeochemistry. In 2018 she completed a Masters by Research in Mining and Mineral Engineering from the University of Exeter (Camborne School of Mines) in the UK. Since graduating, Alison has worked in greenfields and brownfields mineral exploration in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Greenland focusing on precious and base metal projects.

Alison is passionate about women having equal representation in technical roles, especially within the junior exploration and mining sectors. She hopes to introduce young students to geology and other STEM related fields and to build a network that can support graduates and young professionals throughout their career progression.

Jacqueline Blundell completed her PhD in Neuroscience from Memorial University and moved to Dallas, Texas to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In 2008, she returned to Memorial University as a professor in the Department of Psychology. Her primary research interests lie in understanding the behavioural and neuroplastic changes that underlie affective and cognitive disorders. More recently, her lab is investigating the multi-generational effects of trauma. Overall, her goal is to make a significant contribution in understanding and advancing the treatment of neuropsychiatric illness.

Since 2020, Jacqueline has taken on an administrative role in the Faculty of Science as Associate Dean of Science, Research and Graduate Studies. As Associate Dean, Jacqueline has had the opportunity to support students and faculty in their research endeavours. Jacqueline has supervised WISE NL students in the past, and is passionate about supporting women in science and is thrilled to be part of WISE NL!

Kim Byrne is a Senior Development Officer at U of T Faculty of Law, and the former Vice President of WISE NL. With a career spanning university advancement and non-profit leadership as an Executive Director, Kim specializes in formalizing strategic goals into operational success. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and brings a global perspective to her work from her experience teaching and working abroad.

Kim’s background is defined by a lifelong commitment to service, including volunteer roles with organizations such as TEDx, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and The Gathering Place. She is a passionate advocate for equitable work environments and is deeply invested in youth outcomes, creating pathways for the next generation of leaders through strategic policy and opportunity.

Ashley Critch is originally from the West Coast of Newfoundland and got her start with WISE during high school, as a participant in the SSEP program. A few years later, she flipped roles and spent a summer as a SSEP coordinator – grateful to have the opportunity to help encourage young individuals to pursue STEM, just like she was. She is excited to be staying involved, having joined the board in 2024.

Ashley is currently studying Naval Architecture and has luckily already been exposed to the industry, confirming her passion for the marine sector, all things ships, and a diverse and welcoming workforce! In her free time, she can be found hanging out with her dog and cats, or crocheting something new!

Asha De Silva is a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Originally from Sri Lanka, she holds a Master’s in Public Administration and Management from the University of Colombo and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Peradeniya. After completing her veterinary degree, she served as a government veterinarian before moving to Canada to pursue her PhD.

Asha is actively involved in student leadership, volunteering, and community service. She has contributed to organizations such as the Biochemistry Graduate Society, WISE NL GSS, Let’s Talk Science, and many community organizations, including Canadian Blood Services. Her dedication has been recognized through awards, including the Faculty of Science Graduate Leadership Award and the Margaret Stephens Professional Development Bursary, along with a national volunteer award nomination from Let’s Talk Science.

Asha is passionate about science outreach, mentorship, and empowering women in the STEM field. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys cooking, reading, and listening to music.

Dr. Christine Fontaine is a 2008 WISE SSEP alumnus & previous WISE SSEP Director from 2008- 2013. She completed her PhD in Neuroscience from the University Of Victoria where she was a Vanier Scholar having been recognized as one of the top doctoral students in Canada. Her research focused on the impact of fetal alcohol exposure on the mechanisms that support learning in the brain. In this work, she found that the effects of alcohol differed between pre-pubescent males and females. Outside of the laboratory, she was a member of the Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology Strategic Development Committee and is a member of the Philanthropic Education Organization, an international organization that raises funds for women’s education. Christine is now a Paid Search Manager at Supreme Optimization, the world’s leading life science digital marketing agency built by PhD scientists. In addition to her own bench experience, Christine brings to the table skills in grant-writing, leadership, science communication & digital marketing.

Having returned to Newfoundland in 2020, Christine is keen to return to WISE NL to further encourage young women to consider an education or career in science & engineering. Christine is passionate about education, science outreach, youth mentorship and the representation of women in science. In her free time, Christine enjoys working on creative projects and spending time outdoors with her young family.

Dr. Taryn Hearn is a psychiatrist and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry. She is currently the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education at Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine.  She has a BA in Pure Mathematics (Harvard, 1995), MSc in Applied Mathematics (McGill, 1997) and MD (Memorial, 2002). She has an interest in medical education accreditation.

Sylvia Moore, PhD, is an educator, mental health professional, and founding faculty member of the School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies. She is the Vice Provost of the Labrador Campus of Memorial University and Dean at the School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies (pro tempore). She is also the inaugural Chair of Indigenous and Northern Education, University of the Arctic, and is the Vice-Lead of the Verdde Indigenous Education Thematic Network.

Her community-led research and pedagogies are developed in response to the expressed needs and priorities of Indigenous communities and governments across the North. Sylvia promotes Indigenous voices and cultures in all aspects of her work, builds capacity, and mentors emerging scholars. Both her research and her pedagogical approaches contribute to Indigenous self-determination, Indigenous wellness, and the decolonization and Indigenization of education. She leads efforts to strengthen Northern education, foster collaboration among Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, and centre Indigenous languages, cultures, and land-based learning in education across the Circumpolar North.

She is the former faculty lead for Memorial University’s teacher education programs in Labrador and the Labrador Research Lead for the National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education.

Georgina White is the Assistant Head at the School of Ocean Technology, Marine Institute of Memorial University. With a strong background in education, ocean technology, and leadership, she is passionate
about fostering inclusive learning and work environments that encourage collaboration and innovation. Georgina brings extensive experience in teaching, organizational management, and stakeholder engagement, supported by graduate degrees in Education and Environmental Science. Recognized for her leadership and service, she has received multiple distinctions, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Canadian Forces Decoration.

Ting Zou received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering and the M.Sc. degree in automatic control engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China, and the Ph.D. degree in robotics and mechatronics from McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Afterward, she joined the Centre for Intelligent Machines of McGill University as a Postdoctoral fellow, working on the optimum design of the next-generation multi-speed transmissions for electric vehicles and nonlinear motion control of autonomous tracked vehicles for mining drilling operations.

She is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada. Her current research interests include mechanism design and control of biologically inspired robots, advanced human–robot interaction, machine learning for robotic applications, soft robots, and MEMS.

Dr. Zou is a senior Member of the IEEE, and member of ASME, Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineers, Canadian Committee for the Theory of Machines and Mechanisms, Research & Training Committee of Canadian Robotics Council.

Mona El-Tahan is the founding president of WISE NL, leading the development of a provincial chapter of WISE National in 1988. Mona is a professional engineer, businessperson, and successful entrepreneur experienced in leading diverse and highly talented teams of professionals in the offshore and high technology industries. She is recognized nationally and internationally through awards for success in engineering, business and entrepreneurship, and has an extensive network of professional industry and academic contacts throughout the Middle East, North America, Europe and Southeast Asia.

After obtaining a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Cairo University in Egypt and a Masters in Ocean Engineering from Memorial University. After graduation she worked with Lavalin-Fenco Newfoundland Ltd. as a Project Engineer and Senior Research Engineer/Manager then moved to C-CORE as a Senior Research Engineer/Manager. Mona founded InCoreTec Incorporated, an applied research and development company specializing in offshore and environmental engineering, marine navigational aids, sea ice management, project management and consulting. She stepped away from the company and is now in a consulting role.

Mona’s numerous awards include Canadian Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award (1999), NLOWE Entrepreneur of the Year NL 2000), Sara Kirke Award – Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) (2002), and the Canadian Muslim Contributors to the Business Sector – Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) (2005).

Mona’s own favourite quality is her love of helping others. In 2019, this very quality won her a community service award offered by the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland & Labrador (PEGNL).

Melissa Keats is the Program Administrator at WISE NL. Since moving to St. John’s in 2015, she has earned a BSc. (Honours) in Biology, with a minor in Psychology, from Memorial University in 2020. This was followed by a Master’s degree in 2023, where her research focused on aging and Parkinson’s Disease genes using the fruit fly as a model organism. Now, she is excited to be coordinating WISE NL programs which engage and promote young women in STEM.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys baking sweet treats, as well as playing board games with friends and testing her knowledge in trivia.