RC114 SeptOct 2024 - Magazine - Page 8
LEADERSHIP
A TALE OF TWO WOMEN
Moving the needle and empowering the next generation
by Connie Vitello
McLean has 14 years of experience working
in project management, consultation and asset
management of large infrastructure projects,
speciocally public-private partnerships (P3),
orst as a project manager at the Provincial
Health Services Authority, then as senior project consultant with Infrastructure BC.
Connie Vitello is
contributing editor of
ReNew Canada.
8
HE WOMEN9S INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK (WIN) recently held
its 10th Annual WIN Awards ceremony, honouring
emerging and outstanding female leaders across the
country. In total, 49 women were nominated across
both categories, with a shortlist of ove nominees
named.
ReNew Canada recently engaged the winners to share
their career journeys and some words of wisdom: Cheryl
Nelms, general manager at Metro Vancouver, recipient of
the Outstanding Leader award and Andrea McLean, senior vice president at Fengate Asset Management, winner
of the Emerging Leader award.
Nelms oversees a portfolio of major infrastructure
projects worth over $6 billion for B.C.9s most populated
regional district. Previously, she was the deputy general
manager of Engineering Services at the City of Vancouver,
a department of 2,200 employees.
T
RENEW CANADA – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
Who inspired you along the way?
CN: I found my way into the engineering and construction industry and haven9t looked back. I9ve grown up in
the construction sector and came to it with an interest
in building infrastructure that has a positive impact for
the community when it comes to creating livable cities. Leading mega national projects using collaborative
and alternative delivery approaches has allowed me to
work with some of best in the industry. I9ve had several
mentors and sponsors along the way, some from similar
sectors and some from completely diferent professions
and jurisdictions. Having a wide global network to learn
RENEWCANADA.NET
WOMEN’S INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK
2024 Women’s
Infrastructure Network
(WIN) Emerging
Leader Award winner
Andrea McLean (left),
and Outstanding
Leader Award winner
Cheryl Nelms.
How did it feel to win this prestigious award?
CHERYL NELMS (CN): For me personally, this award
is a reminder of the importance of having
many diferent role models in our industry to
advance diversity. It is also a reminder that we
can achieve pretty great things when we work
as a team and support each other. This is particularly meaningful at this point in time, with
the need to attract and retain diverse teams
to respond to the climate, afordability, and
reliability challenges we face in building out
critical infrastructure for our communities.
ANDREA MCLEAN (AM): I was so honored just to be
nominated and I didn9t expect to win, so it
was such a wonderful surprise. There are so
many outstanding nominees every year for
this award4women who have accomplished
so much in their careers and women who you
know are just getting started. One of my very
favorite parts of the award process has been
getting to know the other nominees. By the time the
award ceremony rolled around, I felt like every one of
those women deserved to win, which made it even more
special when I was selected.
