Charlotte Crawley is proud to raise cattle near Rapid City, Man., a short drive from the land her family first farmed in 1897. She’s also proud to be a woman breaking down barriers in two occupations: farming and conservation.
DUC is recognizing Crawley and two of her Manitoba colleagues for their contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Three STEM roles that are diverse and meaningful
Crawley, a conservation specialist with DUC since 2015 working in the Brandon office, says: “If your heart is in it and you’re willing to work for it, women can do anything.”
Abosede Adeoye is the head of finance for DUC’s $15 million Manitoba budget. Originally from Nigeria, she holds an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from University Canada West in Vancouver, B.C.
“Women and girls often play a critical role in everyday management of natural resources in the family and community,” she notes. “I am a firm believer in the old African proverb, ‘If you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman, you educate a family (nation)’.”
Lisette Ross joined DUC in 1990 as a research biologist. Today, she is head of wetland services for Native Plant Solutions, an arm of DUC that provides environmental solutions for corporate clients and governments. Ross was instrumental in a first-in-Canada project in Niverville to transition a former sewage lagoon into community space using natural processes.
“The more diversity we can incorporate into our work and office environments, the better products and approaches we will possess for attaining our wetland and waterfowl conservation goals,” says Ross. “We often want to promote or work alongside people who think like us. It may be easier but there is a risk in that: you can lose that important diversity.”
We often want to promote or work alongside people who think like us. It may be easier but there is a risk in that: you can lose that important diversity.
Applying science-based solutions to environmental challenges
DUC employs 17 women among 34 staff at its provincial office in Brandon, plus nine of 11 staff at Oak Hammock Marsh Wetland Discovery Centre and eight of 14 at Native Plant Solutions in Winnipeg.
“Beyond the numbers, the experience and abilities provided by our female colleagues are simply astounding,” explains Mark Francis, DUC’s manager of provincial operations in Manitoba, “and the collective office mix makes for a great team. We salute Charlotte, Lisette and Abosede for their roles in applying science-based solutions to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.”
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