INWED Breakfast 2026
Breakfast, Brilliance and Belonging: U of G Celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2026
Written by Rebekah Natarajan
On Tuesday, June 23, the University of Guelph celebrated International Women in Engineering Day under this year’s theme: #EngineeringIntelligence. To mark the occasion, a breakfast event at the Bullring welcomed more than 100 members of the U of G community for a morning of networking, connection and empowerment.
International Women in Engineering Day was launched in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society in the United Kingdom and is now celebrated around the world every year on June 23. The day recognizes the achievements of women and gender-diverse individuals in engineering while encouraging more young women to explore careers in the field.
This year’s theme, #EngineeringIntelligence, highlights the creativity, insight, collaboration and problem-solving that engineers bring to complex challenges. At U of G, the day offers an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of students, faculty and staff while strengthening a more connected and inclusive engineering community.
“Here at U of G, we have this event to celebrate this important day where we can get together to catch up with old friends and colleagues, and make new connections between students, staff and faculty in engineering and beyond, because community is so important,” said Dr. Jana Levison, Doody Family Chair for Women in Engineering and professor at U of G. “So, please enjoy the morning and eat lots of food and talk to lots of people!”
The event was organized by the Doody Family Chair for Women in Engineering team, which includes Dr. Jana Levison and Jean Hein, Outreach Manager for the College of Engineering and the College of Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, with support from student staff and student leaders. The event was generously sponsored by DENSO, whose support helped make the morning possible and contributed to creating a welcoming space for connection and celebration.
Levison also shared appreciation for the co-op and work study students who supported the event, including Sofia Rimando, Rebekah Natarajan and Grace Basso. Special thanks were also extended to Raoul Vaz, a PhD student in U of G Chemistry, whose support as an ally included 3D printing the plant pots that were given away to attendees.
The morning began with networking activities and a land acknowledgement delivered by mechanical engineering graduate Megan Davidson, followed by remarks from College of Engineering Dean, Dr. Moncef Nehdi.
Student leaders and campus partners also shared reflections and updates on initiatives that support women in engineering and STEM. Alexandra Willem, a Women in Science and Engineering leader involved with the Big Sisters Little Sisters mentoring program and a Lead Coordinator at Creative Encounters, spoke about mentorship and student engagement. Natalie Kowalyshyn, Creative Encounters Organization Lead, highlighted the PAGES (Promoting Awareness of Girls in Engineering and Science) program. The breakfast also provided an opportunity to recognize Creative Encounters’ 2025 Actua National Girls Award.
Through conversation, mentorship and celebration, the breakfast reflected the importance of creating spaces where women and gender-diverse individuals in engineering feel recognized, supported and empowered to lead. By strengthening community and advancing inclusion, U of G continues to help shape a future where engineering intelligence is built through diverse perspectives, shared opportunities and collective action.
Women in Engineering help engineer the future. Together, through inclusion, equity and connection, the U of G engineering community is building a stronger path forward.
