Author: paddy.moore@oceansupercluster.ca
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces CoLab Enterprise Project One of Three Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program Projects Announced Today
(St. John’s, NL) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced three projects from its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP) stream, including the CoLab Enterprise Project. Through the collaboration of startups, SMEs and other partners in ocean, this project provides a global solution for ocean sectors with an increasing focus on achieving greater productivity, remote operations, and environmental technologies.
With a total project value of $2,801,948, the Ocean Supercluster will provide $1,634,563 in funding for the project, with $1,167,385 in funding coming from industry. The CoLab Enterprise Project is led by CoLab Software partnered with Genoa Design, Kraken Robotics and Petroleum Research Newfoundland and Labrador to build and commercialize CoLab’s highly configurable, enterprise-ready review and engineering communication platform that supports the future of Agile Model-Based Enterprises and Digital Twin Solutions.
The CoLab Enterprise Project will help contribute to Canada’s competitive advantage in the digital development and management of complex engineering projects with a cloud-based solution that combines 3D design review technology and mechanical focused issue tracking to securely support thousands of users working together in real-time. Today there is no comparable platform on the market that combines these capabilities for digitalization and collaboration.
This technology is not only applicable to the partners involved and ocean sectors, but has broad applications across all verticals of the manufacturing sector for any company wishing to manage complex projects while reducing costs, and improving efficiency and quality.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is an industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling the shared challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally-relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. To encourage innovation and trigger new industry investment during these challenging times, the Ocean Supercluster supplemented its core programs with an additional project stream called Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP). This enables the development of smaller projects on a shorter timeline that deliver tangible outcomes, while continuing to build resiliency in our ocean sectors.
Quotes
“I am thrilled to see Canada’s Ocean Supercluster building such momentum, adding three new and highly-innovative projects to its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program. By investing in Made-in-Canada technologies and solutions, like the CoLab Enterprise Project, Superclusters are energizing the ocean sector ecosystem, which is really exciting for Canada. This kind of cross-sector collaboration is what will make the difference in pushing Canada further in ocean technology market.”
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry
“Canada’s Ocean Supercluster brings companies of all sizes together with partners to deliver game-changing solutions in ocean. We are thrilled to see a young SME like CoLab lead the development and commercialization of a product together with the support of more established organizations that will fundamentally change the capability for teams who work remotely to manage complex engineering projects.” Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“CoLab is very proud to be partnering with Genoa, Kraken and PRNL to build the future of how engineering teams work together. Strong relationships with industry leaders such as our AOSP partners make all the difference in being able to innovate and iterate quickly during the unprecedented challenges of 2020. Executing this OSC AOSP project will position CoLab to become the global industry leader and provide a mission-critical solution for the design and manufacturing sector.”
Adam Keating CEO – CoLab Software
“Genoa is proud to be a part of the ingenuity being built right here in Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean tech sector. The collaborative solutions being driven from local partnerships like these are what fuels our economy and makes our province the innovation hub it’s proven to be.”
Gina Pecore, CEO – Genoa Design
“We think this project has the potential to deliver a very innovative solution that will help our members – and other ocean industries and beyond, for that matter – digitize their design review processes, reducing costs and risks. PRNL is pleased to collaborate in this Ocean Supercluster project and look forward to working with CoLab.” Dave Finn, CEO – PRNL
“Kraken Robotic Systems Inc. is pleased to partner with CoLab Software on their AOSP CoLab Enterprise project. Kraken has been working closely with CoLab for two years, evaluating the CoLab Software platforms and helping to streamline Kraken’s engineering design review and communication processes. As Kraken continues to expand our operations domestically and internationally, it is important that we engage with technology companies that provide us with innovative tools to help us collaborate between offices, across oceans, and with customers” David Shea, Senior Vice President, Engineering – Kraken Robotics
Watch the project video announcement here.
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Media contact:
Nancy Andrews
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709-725-7070
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technology Project One of Three Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program Projects Announced Today
Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced three projects from its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP) stream, including the Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technology Project. This is an ecosystem building project designed to develop technical skills training for Inuit participants across Inuit Nunangat. The total project value is $1,787,238, where the Ocean Supercluster will provide $1,150,258 and the balance of funding will come from project partners working together from Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Nunavut to make this a reality.
SmartICE will lead the Ocean Supercluster project in partnership with Pinnguaq Association, Nunavut Fisheries Association, Ilitaqsiniq Literacy Council, and Social Research and Demonstration Corporation.
SmartICE is an internationally recognized work integration social enterprise (WISE) that empowers Indigenous communities to adapt to increasingly unpredictable ice conditions. As a social innovator, SmartICE harnesses the vast potential of Indigenous women and men—especially youth—to embrace science, technology and traditional knowledge as a vehicle for sustainable employment, economic development and wellbeing in their communities.
Based in principles of co-design and in partnership with communities and stakeholders, the holistic, culturally contextualized training curriculum developed, piloted, and evaluated through the Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technology Project will address the barriers faced by Inuit in remote northern communities and promote their inclusion and participation in the ocean economy. This project will create 14 direct jobs and dozens of indirect jobs.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is an industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling the shared challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally-relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. To encourage innovation and trigger new industry investment during these challenging times, the Ocean Supercluster supplemented its core programs with an additional project stream called Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP). This enables the development of smaller projects on a shorter timeline that deliver tangible outcomes, while continuing to build resiliency in our ocean sectors.
Quotes
“Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is undeniably building momentum, adding three new and highly-innovative projects to its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program. By working together in partnership with Inuit organizations, the benefits this project will provide will be numerous; from creating more opportunities for under-represented communities to better integration of modern technologies and traditional knowledge to monitor ocean climate change. This kind of cross-sector collaboration is what will make the difference in pushing Canada further in ocean technology market and help communities adapt to climate change.” The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry
“Building a workforce that draws on diverse knowledge, experiences, and perspectives is critical to realizing our full potential for inclusive, sustainable growth in Canada’s ocean economy. This project will help remove barriers to opportunities in ocean and increase the participation of Inuit living in remote northern communities, helping us grow a well-connected ocean network that is rooted in partnerships and collaboration.” Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“The funding announced today in support of our Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technology project will provide important training for Inuit to enter an emerging labour market in Canada. Building on the land skills of Inuit, and creating a training curriculum that is grounded in Inuit ways of knowing and learning, SmartICE and its partners will bridge many of the training barriers facing Inuit in remote northern communities, and promote their inclusion and participation in the ocean economy. We appreciate the support of the Ocean Supercluster in our northern social enterprise and its investment in Inuit women and men—especially youth—to embrace technology and traditional knowledge as a vehicle for sustainable employment and well-being in their communities.” Dr. Trevor Bell
“The Pinnguaq Association is delighted to collaborate with Smart Ice in bringing this incredible project to life. We are looking forward to coordinating our efforts in order to develop and implement a high quality holistic training program and are grateful to Canada’s Ocean Supercluster for supporting this initiative.” Ryan Oliver
“The Nunavut Fisheries Association is a proud partner of SmartIce and its important ice safety work in our member communities throughout the Qikiqtani Region. We look forward to working with SmartIce on its new Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technology Project.” Brian Burke, Executive Director, Nunavut Fisheries Association
“Ilitaqsiniq is proud to work in partnership to bring unique training and learning opportunities to Nunavut Inuit through this project. The value of this work will save lives, provide employment opportunities and acknowledge the wisdom and scientific knowledge of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.” Adriana Kusugak
“The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation are pleased to play a part in supporting this meaningful work, to co-create new and enduring solutions to complex problems. As evaluators, we will be joining SmartICE and the other partners on this journey and will be capturing the story of the initiative as it unfolds. We will focus on gathering key learnings that can inform and improve not only this project, but others to follow.” Christina Hackett
Watch the project video announcement here.
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Media contact:
Nancy Andrews
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709-725-7070
Sustainable Oceans: The Future of Food
Cybersecurity is a source of competitive advantage in our ocean sector
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The Hill Times – Canada’s an Ocean Nation
Amazon Prime Series The Future Code to Showcase Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Filming Begins in Atlantic Canada Today
The landmark television series exclusive to Amazon Prime called The Future Code will showcase Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and its game-changing projects that are developing innovative solutions to global ocean challenges and changing the way ocean business is done.
“We are excited to share the story of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. Every day we work with companies of all sizes to help them turn their ideas into collaborative, high-impact projects that solve big problems and generate sustainable ocean growth.” said Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “This is an incredible opportunity to put the international spotlight on Canada’s ocean innovation and profile the work of a number of Ocean Supercluster project teams who are doing amazing things.”
Produced by Re:Source Media Inc., filming began today in Nova Scotia and will continue in Newfoundland and Labrador later this week. The Future Code: Future of Oceans episode will feature Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and its projects that have brought together partners across ocean sectors, who in many cases had never worked together before, to develop and commercialize ocean solutions, triggering new industry investment and economic growth.
“This series focuses on the evolution of industries and how we do business, and the innovators and changemakers around the globe that are leading the way,” said Kevin Fox, President and CEO of Re:Source Media Inc. “With the world’s oceans under significant pressures while at the same time holding so much potential, the future of oceans and the approach Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is taking to solve ocean challenges and drive sustainable ocean growth is a story worth telling.”
The Future Code brings to its viewers stories of new technologies, new ideas, and new ways of looking at problems. In particular, the series focuses on disruptive technologies, as well as new models and leading companies which are revolutionizing industries, changing the workplace and rewriting the future. The Future Code: Future of Oceans episode will air later this fall in the UK, US, and as well as in Canada.
Follow along on Twitter during filming #OnSetwithOSC and #FutureCodeOceans.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces $4.9M OceanDNA System™
Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced its newest project, the OceanDNA System™. Led by eDNAtec Inc. together with partners Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador, Nunavut Fisheries Association, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the OceanDNA System will revolutionize how to assess, monitor and characterize the ocean.
With a total project value of $4.9 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has provided $2.2 million in funding to the project with the balance of funding coming from project partners. Seventeen jobs will directly support the research and development activity related to the OceanDNA System, and in addition, graduating university students will also have the opportunity to engage in the project to help build capabilities and experience in this area.
The OceanDNA System has applications across ocean sectors and could be used to help inform sustainable ocean management and activity. By reading DNA from environmental samples, such as sediment or sea water, a comprehensive range of organisms can be identified – from bacteria to marine mammals – which yields a complete picture of the ecosystem. eDNAtec’s technology achieves proven cost reductions, strengthens environmental stewardship, enhances safety and supports regulatory compliance.
Project activity will be led from eDNAtec’s Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications (CEGA) in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador in collaboration with project partners to develop and commercialize genomics solutions to modernize the way we monitor, measure and assess fish stocks. Environmental DNA (eDNA) data can also be combined with complementary data derived from acoustics, remote sensing, counts from fishing activities, and historical knowledge to generate predictive models about the presence, location and abundance of high value target species.
Conventional approaches for ecological assessment, such as direct sampling, and visual/acoustic observation, are expensive and often imprecise. ‘Catch and look’ sampling, sorting and individually identifying organisms is lengthy and labor-intensive and is sometimes harmful or disruptive to rare or endangered species. Through Canada’s Ocean Supercluster program, the OceanDNA System will not only address these limitations with its innovative technology, but will also commercialize the solution in world markets, generating new economic activity, creating new jobs and opportunities, while also helping to position Canada as a global leader in ocean genomics.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is changing the way ocean business is done. With an innovative model for growth that reduces risk for Canadian companies, we are increasing collaboration and data exchange across ocean sectors, creating a platform for the development of commercial, sustainable ocean solutions, building an inclusive and highly-capable workforce, and continuing to drive resiliency in our oceans.
About eDNAtec
eDNAtec, a leading innovator in environmental DNA technologies, is revolutionizing how to assess, monitor and characterize the ocean. eDNAtec’s EnviroSeq® is a new biological tracking system that analyzes environmental DNA (eDNA) using next-generation sequencing. By reading DNA from environmental samples, such as sediment or sea water, EnviroSeq® can be used in any ocean environment, including harsh arctic conditions, to identify a comprehensive range of organisms – from bacteria to marine mammals – and yield a complete picture of the ecosystem. EnviroSeq® achieves proven cost reductions, strengthens environmental stewardship, enhances safety and supports regulatory compliance. We empower the world’s ocean industries, including offshore energy, fisheries and aquaculture.
Quotes
“The Ocean Supercluster is teaching us more about Canada’s great marine resources. We are managing our oceans more sustainably while creating new jobs for Canadians.”
- The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Natural Resources
“Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce its newest Technology Leadership Project called the OceanDNA System Project. With activity led out of St. John’s, this project brings together partners from different ocean sectors across the country to not only revolutionize the assessment, monitoring, and characterization of the ocean, but also builds capabilities, creates jobs, and economic opportunities through commercialization.”
- Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“We are excited to work with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and our multi-sectoral partners to develop and apply advanced genomic technologies to characterize precious Ocean ecosystems. Genomic tools have been at the forefront of biological detection and surveillance such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. They represent a paradigm shift in our capacity to detect organisms and this can aid immensely for monitoring the ocean environment.”
- Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, eDNAtec Inc.
“This project will be seeking to expand the development of eDNA technology to provide significant information to assist in the management of our fishery resources. Used in combination with annual stock surveys and other technologies, including fish tracking programs, this will help improve our understanding of the marine environment and the ecosystem within which we operate our fishery.”
- Sakiasie Sowdlooapik, Chair of the Nunavut Fisheries Association
“Characterization of the marine environment is a critical requirement for operating safely and responsibly in the ocean, and environmental DNA is a very promising technology that offers huge potential for advancing our capability to monitor changes to that environment. The oil and gas sector has been working with eDNAtec to advance the development of this technology for a while now, and we’re really excited about working with other sectors through the Ocean Supercluster to expand its applicability.”
- Dave Finn, CEO, Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador
“The development of this technology can revolutionize how we conduct ecosystem science, extending our understanding and our capacity to manage ecosystems.”
- David Cote, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Research Scientist and DFO’s lead OceanDNA project coordinator
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Project Partners
Media Contact
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
709.725.7070
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
Learn more about the OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces Indigenous Career Pivot Project
Alongside members of its Indigenous Working Group and Indigenous community partners, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced its newest project called the Indigenous Career Pivot Project. This is a first-of-its-kind ocean innovation ecosystem project in Canada that is now fully developed and ready to deploy. The project represents a total investment of more than $740,000 of which $550,000 is funded by the Ocean Supercluster.
Led by Ulnooweg Development Group with their project partners, the Joint Economic Development Initiative and the College of the North Atlantic, the project will facilitate and support meaningful work placements for Indigenous peoples wishing to explore career options in the ocean economy. During their 12-month placements, participants will gain valuable experience in ocean and enhance their knowledge through placements that complement their existing skillset and natural aptitudes. Approximately ten Indigenous people will have the opportunity to work in Ocean Supercluster member organizations as a part of a pilot program.
Learning and support opportunities for both participants and employers have been imbedded into the project and they include: career mentoring support provided by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and employers; the development of a Peer Support Network for Indigenous participants; and intercultural competency training provided to employers.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster recognizes the value of traditional knowledge and has engaged Indigenous stakeholders in the development of its five-year strategy, works closely with its Indigenous Engagement Working Group, and employs a full-time Indigenous Engagement Lead. Although Indigenous people have a connection to the ocean, there is often a disconnect between ocean resources and ocean-related careers. Today’s announcement is the realization of one of the key priorities set out by the Indigenous Engagement Working Group aimed to help address that disparity.
Quotes
“The Ocean Supercluster is deepening our understanding of the great marine resources that Canada has within its territorial waters. This new project will provide work placements for Indigenous Peoples, recognizing their traditional knowledge and offering ocean-related career choices.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Together with our members, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is developing new partnerships, launching new projects, building capabilities and opportunities for growth, and we are supporting an innovative ocean economy that is sustainable and inclusive. This has been a true collaboration between the Ocean Supercluster, our Indigenous Engagement Working group, and members of the Indigenous community – and we look forward to continued collaboration as we work towards future projects and initiatives.”
- Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“Ulnooweg is enthusiastic about the long-term outcomes of pairing Indigenous professionals with training and career opportunities in the ocean economy. Indigenous people have a strong history of innovation and resourcefulness which has helped to advance modern industry. This synergetic collaboration furthers Indigenous participation and engagement as the Ocean Supercluster continues to evolve.”
- Chris Googoo, COO, Ulnooweg Development Group
“This is a great opportunity for Indigenous workers to have access to a very unique potential career path in Supercluster Member companies.”
- John Paul, Executive Director, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs Secretariat
“The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) is a leading Indigenous organization dedicated to working with partners to foster Indigenous economic and workforce development in New Brunswick. In collaboration with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, JEDI is committed to advancing the Indigenous workforce in the ocean economy.”
– Alex Dedam, JEDI President
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Media Contact
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
709.725.7070
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
Bring on the narwhals, Canada!
Technology innovators and investors are no strangers to the label unicorn, which is what Silicon Valley calls small, high-growth tech companies when they reach $1-billion valuations. In Canada, those same high-growth firms are dubbed narwhals—after our ocean-dwelling unicorns.
I see much enthusiasm and tremendous potential for narwhals in Canada’s ocean economy. Even with economic uncertainties from the global pandemic, the ocean economy remains a sector with massive opportunities for startups to influence the transformation of traditional ocean-related industries like fisheries and transportation, while finding more sustainable and healthier ways to provide energy, food, therapeutics, and other in-demand products.
When I say that Canada has the potential to be the best place in the world for startups in ocean technology, that is not misplaced enthusiasm. We already have startups leading the way and we have countless generations of experience in ocean industries. Plus, every year our universities and colleges turn out new talent to bring fresh approaches to long-standing challenges, to create startups that develop and apply new technologies, and to disrupt traditional ways of doing business. We have a renewed focus on the ocean.
But not at any cost. As a Maritimer, I know that having three oceans bordering our nation presents us with both great opportunities and equally important responsibilities. For the sake of our planet and a healthy future for today’s youth, I am pleased to see a surge of ocean startups on the horizon, many of them with an appetite to help businesses be better stewards through sustainable practices.
And increasingly investors want to invest in businesses with a sustainability focus. In the shipping industry, global banks and lending institutions are using their money to show they are on board. In what they call the Poseidon Principles, the banks are tying investments and loans directly to their clients’ decarbonization activities and environmental stewardship. And in a summer 2020 peer-reviewed report, economists and analysts presented the benefits and costs of ocean sustainability for 2020 to 2050, calculating that investors will see 5-to-1 returns for dollars spent on the sustainable ocean economy.* Philanthropic organizations are also creating impact funds to grow commercial ventures that improve ocean heath and sustainability. The triple bottom line is an appreciated concept by investors and customers alike in the ocean industry.
Through our recent Ocean Startup Challenge, we received three times more applications than we had anticipated receiving from innovators located across Canada and around the world. It was inspiring to see how many of those applicants proposed solutions to issues threatening healthy oceans and to our fisheries and aquaculture industries. Not surprisingly, another popular category involved leveraging enabling technologies like artificial intelligence, sensors, and data analytics for outcomes like achieving efficiencies, safer work environments and more-informed decision-making.
Here at the Ocean Startup Project, I am truly fortunate to interact with diverse innovators who are focused on ocean technologies, including those who are looking to pivot proven land-based technologies over to ocean applications. This includes highly qualified, mid-career professionals from large companies re-evaluating their options in light of the pandemic and choosing to start new companies. I am already seeing partnerships start to form between talented Millennials and open-minded Gen Xers and Boomers, groups with decades of knowledge and extensive networks.
Canada’s ocean ecosystem has much to offer and now is the time to take risks, collaborate and explore opportunities. Ocean tech startups are well served by Canada’s abundance of incubators and accelerators, engaged mentors who have founded and scaled companies, research teams at post-secondary institutions, and economic and technology development support organizations from municipal through to federal levels.
Consider Canada a nursery for narwhals that can be nurtured by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and collaborative regional ecosystems like we have here in Atlantic Canada and in pockets across the country. I want to see pods of narwhals.
Donald Grant
Executive Director
Ocean Startup Project
*A Sustainable Ocean Economy for 2050. Secretariat of the High Level Panel on Ocean Sustainability. World Resources Institute. July 2020
Diversity and Inclusion is our Corporate Culture
I am fortunate to call Canada home. As a Canadian, I think we often forget how inherently diverse we are as a population. I’m often telling international clients that in some of our larger cities, we can eat from a variety of cultures and for many of us – this is the new normal. But I’m very cognizant that it hasn’t always been this way.
I myself grew up in a small town of 19,000 people in Southern Ontario that was predominantly white. Born to immigrant parents that moved to Canada a few years before I was born, in my high school of 1800 students, the total number of “non-white” kids could be counted amongst two hands. Our family vacations consisted of road trips to various technical conferences around North America (hello family business) and a trip to India every 2 years to visit grandparents and cousins. As a businessman in small-town Ontario, my father insisted that we integrate as much as possible, while my mother maintained certain Indian traditions as well as the link to family in India. I started travelling at 16 – first on exchange to Switzerland and then to various internships all over the world. As travelling does, my eyes and mind opened drastically in those formative years and I believe it has made me the leader I am today.
I’m often asked if we have a diversity strategy at SensorTech, as we have an incredibly diverse workforce (and we always have). Bashfully, I always respond no – because frankly we don’t need it.
Diversity occurs naturally when you hire the best candidate for the job.
SensorTech has become a world leader in custom piezoceramics and underwater acoustics as a result of our world class products, cutting edge technology and experienced personnel – however we have no doubt benefited from our diversity. From the very beginning, SensorTech has been a diverse company, hiring the best candidate for each position, regardless of background. Today we still believe that diversity occurs naturally within any organization when you hire the best candidate for the job. Having a diverse workforce has allowed us to make connections and establish ourselves in global markets which may have otherwise been difficult to penetrate. We have been able to develop products we may not have otherwise envisioned due to not only of cultural background but also of diversity in experience and ideas. As a visible minority female CEO of a company that operates primarily in the defence market, diversity is something I am faced with on a daily basis.
I also feel it is critically important to support underrepresented groups so we can get to the point where they are among the best candidates applying for jobs; to ensure that women and visible minorities are afforded the opportunity to see themselves as industry leaders in this and all sectors.
Over the years, we have always supported local students who want to pursue Science and Engineering. We have recently sponsored an entrance bursary at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) which will be awarded annually to a female or person who identifies as a visible minority who enrols in the Ocean Technology program.
My challenge to other Ocean Tech companies is to see what they can do – whether it’s a co-op position, or a bursary, or even a mentorship. Small efforts can make big impacts, not only for the student but for an organization as well.
Ultimately diversity and inclusion shouldn’t be a strategy. They should be part of the fabric of your organization. When we stop worrying about race and language barriers, we can start focusing on the technology that will help us better understand the Oceans.