Directors

Vanessa Werden

President

Vanessa is a construction lawyer at Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP in Vancouver. Her clients include contractors, developers, trades and suppliers. She regularly advises clients on contracts (including CCDC and MMCD standard forms), builders liens, unpaid invoices, delays and cost overruns.

Vanessa was the Secretary on the CCW Board of Directors in 2015 and 2016, and has been the VP since 2017. Her overall goal is to assist
CCW with its mission of increasing women’s representation in the industry.

president@constructionwomen.org

Kate Kirwan

Vice President

Kate is the Virtual Design and Construction Manager for Turner Construction Company in Canada. She has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Technology from Dublin Institute of Technology and is an Autodesk Certified Professional, concentrating on innovative technology, 3D construction design and 4D animation. She is a recognised certified professional in BIM (building information modeling), holding a certificate of management from The Association of General Contractors of America.

Kate is involved in all stages of construction, from creating animated videos at project pursuit stage through to developing as built drawings at project close out.

In the past few years, Kate has mentored numerous BCIT design students along with high school students through her involvement with the Green Bricks organisation. Kate has presented on VDC topics at BuildEX, for BIMbc and at numerous LCI (Lean Construction Institute) – Canada conferences. She advocates for the use of building information modelling (BIM) in the construction industry and is involved with numerous BIM groups.

Kate has been involved in Canadian Construction Women since 2011 and has been Programs Director since September 2014.

vp@constructionwomen.org

Halima Qureshi

Treasurer

Halima is an Architect with eight years of experience, working in interdisciplinary environment on array of projects both in the public and private sectors. The roles and responsibilities she took on varied from assistant design manager to assistant project manager with abilities to focus on both micro and macro aspects of the design process. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family, friends and volunteering. She is a strong believer of giving back to the community and she looks forward to her contribution to CCW.

treasurer@constructionwomen.org

Jane Andrew

Secretary

Jane has over 30 years of experience working in the construction industry. She is presently employed by the Mechanical Contractors Association of BC (MCABC); she has been a dedicated employee of MCABC for the past 22 years.

Jane started her career at a sheet metal company in the lower mainland, but wanted to spread her wings in other areas of the industry. She became part of the MCABC team in the fall of 1992 where she began working at the Sub-Trade Bid Depository for the mechanicals. From there, she was promoted to the association’s reception desk, and then Executive Assistant to the CEO. Finally, Jane earned the title of MCABC’s Director of Membership Development, Services and Events.

In her pastime, Jane enjoys skiing, golfing and volunteering.

Jane is pleased to continue her work with the Canadian Construction Women. She is looking forward to using her skills to assist other women in the trade grow professionally and reach their full potential.

info@constructionwomen.org

Shuwen Ma

Director of Programs

Shuwen Ma graduated from the University of Florida with a Master of Building Construction degree in 2011. She has a certificate of management in BIM (Building Information Modeling) from The Association of General Contractors of America.

Shuwen joined Canadian Turner Construction company as a VDC (Virtual Design in Construction) Coordinator since 2018. Prior to Vancouver, Shuwen worked with Turner Construction in Philadelphia and another GC in Miami. She has five-year demonstrated construction history across a variety of project types and she is passionate about the intersection of technology, design and construction. In her free time, she likes traveling, reading and hiking with Daha (her dog).

Shuwen is excited to join Canadian Construction Women and she is looking forward to promoting diverse events and activities throughout the year.

events@constructionwomen.org

Renée Auer

Director of Sponsorship

Renée brings more than 25 years experience in marketing, research and sales. She began her working career in advertising.

After stints at such places as JWT and Eveready, she owned and operated an award-winning tourism business and consulting company in the 1990’s in Toronto.

After selling the business, she moved back to Vancouver and eventually came to work at the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA). She is currently the Director of Membership & Sales and credits landing the position to her many years of absorbing good people skills and networking savvy.

She is honoured to sit as the Director of Sponsorship for Canadian Construction Women.

sponsorship@constructionwomen.org

Kirsten Robertson

Director of Membership

Kirsten bring 8 years of successful recruitment experience to her role as Practice Lead at Strive Recruitment. She’s an active member in the construction industry and has developed in depth knowledge for the sector through her involvement in CCW, NAIOP, BOMA, ULI, UDI and CREW associations.

She Join CCW as a committee member on the Membership team before taking her current role as Director of Membership in 2013. She feels privileged to be working among a team of bright ambitious women in supporting all women in the construction industry.

membership@constructionwomen.org

Nancy Maribel

Director of Communications

Nancy Maribel has developed and implemented strategic, comprehensive marketing and communications campaigns for B2B firms for over 15 years. From strategy through delivery, she’s led and provided tactical support to a variety of successful projects, including award-winning advertising campaigns. Nancy believes in the power of social action and volunteers her time as Director of Communication for the Living Future Vancouver Collaborative.

communications@constructionwomen.org

Donna Grant

Director of Community

Donna Grant heads the Marketing Department at Scott Construction Group, a locally founded construction management firm that has provided services to the BC and Alberta institutional, commercial, residential, and light industrial markets since 1984.

Donna brings many years of marketing and business communications experience to her role at CCW. She served for a number of years as Director of Marketing for a commercial interior design-build firm; provided marketing and proposal services to a local environmental recycling and waste management firm; and taught marketing and career planning at local colleges for almost 2 decades. In addition to marketing, Donna has been a business writer and editor for 30+ years, providing content to numerous business publications and companies, as well as editing multiple books.

In her role as Director of Community at CCW, Donna will magnify our efforts for student outreach to ensure that women of all ages are well informed on the many ways they can be a part of the exciting and lucrative construction industry. She will spearhead a number of events and activities each year to further our involvement in Lower Mainland communities.

community@constructionwomen.org

Seema Lal

Director at Large

Seema Lal is a principal of SHK Law and is a member of the firm’s construction, insurance, commercial litigation and employment practices.

Her clients in the construction industry benefit from Seema’s focus on the negotiation and preparation of construction contracts, procurement issues, builders liens, disputes and construction litigation, including claims for extras and delay. Seema has acted as counsel in mediations and arbitrations, and has appeared before administrative tribunals and all levels of Court.

Seema is actively involved in the community and donates her time by participating on the Boards of a number of industry groups and non-profit organizations. She is excited to be able to assist the CCW in its mission of increasing women’s representation in the construction field.

OUR DIRECTORS

CURRENT DIRECTORS