March Breakfast Session - What It Takes: Women Building Careers in Construction

Join the British Columbia Construction Roundtable (BCCR) in celebrating International Women’s Day with a focused conversation on building a career in construction.

Building on the success of last year’s International Women’s Week panel, this discussion brings together women from across the industry, representing a wide range of roles, sectors, and career stages. Panelists will share candid perspectives on how careers in construction evolve, the challenges and opportunities unique to the field, and the leadership approaches shaping its future.

Attendees can expect practical insights, honest reflections, and actionable takeaways on navigating career growth, building influence, and leading effectively in today’s construction environment.

Panelists

Melanie J. Kilpatrick, P.Eng., PMP, ENV SP is Project Director, Major Projects Governance and Controls at FortisBC. With more than 23 years of experience in energy infrastructure, she specializes in the design and construction of urban pipeline systems, delivering complex capital programs within highly regulated environments. Melanie is known for her collaborative leadership style, strong risk-management focus, and ability to balance technical execution with strategic oversight. A Mechanical Engineer by training, she brings a people-centred approach to building inclusive, high-performing teams. Outside of work, Melanie is a proud lacrosse mom and avid soccer player.

Olga S. Morozova is Senior Legal Counsel for FlatironDragados. She brings deep experience across all aspects of construction and infrastructure, advising participants at every level of the construction pyramid on projects across Canada. Her practice includes negotiating complex commercial agreements, supporting projects through execution, and managing multi-party disputes, surety bond claims, and bankruptcy proceedings. Olga has appeared on motions, trials, and appeals at all levels of court in Ontario and has resolved numerous matters through alternative dispute resolution. In her current role, she supports the pursuit and delivery of major Canadian infrastructure and heavy civil projects.

Anna Lary, MEd is a Master Electrician and the Founder and Project Lead of the BCIT ConnectHER Hub, a resource centre supporting the retention and advancement of women and gender-diverse trades workers. She is the recipient of the VRCA Inclusive Leadership in Construction Award and serves as Chair of the VRCA Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee. With 27 years of experience navigating male-dominated workplaces and 15 years on the tools across residential, commercial, service, and film sectors, Anna brings deep empathy and practical insight. A Red Seal Electrician since 2002 and longtime BCIT instructor, her work spans curriculum development, mentorship, and inclusive workforce development.

Janice Qian is a Subcontract Manager with Kiewit, bringing a diverse background in design, construction supervision, and project delivery. She began her career in electrical design and construction on major projects, including the New St. Paul’s Hospital. Over five years with Kiewit, Janice has built strong expertise in project controls, contract administration, and field and project engineering, with experience on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and the 264th Interchange. She is passionate about mentorship and leadership and enjoys sharing lessons learned with the next generation of industry professionals.

Moderator

Wendy Itagawa is the Vice President, Major Projects at Transportation Investment Corporation (TI Corp). She is an accomplished engineer with over 20 years of experience across both the private and public sectors and has been involved in some of British Columbia’s largest and most complex transportation projects. Since 2017, Wendy has led the $1.637-billion Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project through design development, procurement, environmental permitting, and construction. She prioritizes building strong partnerships with First Nations and project stakeholders to support the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in the structural design of buildings and bridges. She holds both a Bachelor and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from McGill University and is a registered Professional Engineer with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC).

Thank you, FortisBC, for being a Super Sponsor for this event.