Suzanne Balima, MDes., EIT

In my role as a Taskforce member, I support the Dean and Strategic Project Leads in their respective roles by providing advice, relationship connections, and additional leadership to achieve the Taskforce’s strategic outcome-based objectives by:

- Providing guidance on industry challenges, emerging trends, talent development and R&D
gaps that could be supported by collaborative partnerships with the Faculty.
- Assisting with the identification and facilitating introductions with… Mehr zeigen

In my role as a Taskforce member, I support the Dean and Strategic Project Leads in their respective roles by providing advice, relationship connections, and additional leadership to achieve the Taskforce’s strategic outcome-based objectives by:

- Providing guidance on industry challenges, emerging trends, talent development and R&D
gaps that could be supported by collaborative partnerships with the Faculty.
- Assisting with the identification and facilitating introductions with industry partners
- Attending and acting as a Judge in one of the academic events such as Design Week,
Design Day, Graduate Studies Poster Competition, or other Faculty competitions.
- Identifying projects that are relevant to my sector in relation to the Taskforce.
- Identifying experiential learning opportunities for the Faculty’s students.
- Leveraging my network to facilitate introductions for Faculty, students and alumni. Weniger anzeigen

The Black Spinel Initiative teaches Leadership and Innovation to black youth by building ESTEAM skills (Entrepreneurship- Science - Technology - Engineering - Arts - Math).

Comments such as "there are no Black role models to look up to" shouldn't limit us.

We want to build confidence and empower Black youth to see themselves in positions of leadership, and hold leadership positions in their social circles (family, school, etc) and in their communities;

Black communities… Mehr zeigen

The Black Spinel Initiative teaches Leadership and Innovation to black youth by building ESTEAM skills (Entrepreneurship- Science - Technology - Engineering - Arts - Math).

Comments such as "there are no Black role models to look up to" shouldn't limit us.

We want to build confidence and empower Black youth to see themselves in positions of leadership, and hold leadership positions in their social circles (family, school, etc) and in their communities;

Black communities have always been disproportionally affected when it comes to economic opportunities, making it hard to reach for the stars - The Black Spinel Initiative believes leadership training from a young age can change that!

Through the program, we are building an inter generational network of social, intellectual and cultural capital with a foundation in STEM, leadership & entrepreneurship.
Weniger anzeigen

- Co-lead the planning and development of a workshop to help youth 9-14 learn and apply the principles of inclusive design and biomimicry to real world problems
- Co-developed a Nuclear science and engineering workshop with NPX. The objective was to promote this field of STEM to young black girls.
- Co-developed content for a Nature Workshop to celebrate Earth Day 2021! Content included a mini-lecture on nature (key topics: seasons, ecosystems, the principles of scientific inquiry), a… Mehr zeigen

- Co-lead the planning and development of a workshop to help youth 9-14 learn and apply the principles of inclusive design and biomimicry to real world problems
- Co-developed a Nuclear science and engineering workshop with NPX. The objective was to promote this field of STEM to young black girls.
- Co-developed content for a Nature Workshop to celebrate Earth Day 2021! Content included a mini-lecture on nature (key topics: seasons, ecosystems, the principles of scientific inquiry), a scavenger hunt, as well as a booklet with careers in nature! Weniger anzeigen

See It Be It STEM it is a program that encouraging young women to pursue STEM education and careers, by providing them with role models in the industry. We all know how important representation is!

http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Ride/Toronto2017?px=4165538&pg=personal&fr_id=1581

Took part in the 2017 and 2020 editions of the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Facilitator at the CivicAction “Canvas” 2019 CivicAction summit. Inspired by Art pieces presented by art historians at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), I facilitated discussions around the 5 topics of the 2019 summit: Unlocking inclusive cities; future of work; sex trafficking; climate change; affordable housing in the GTHA (Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area). Insights from the discussions will be used to inform CivicAction’s 4 year plan.

Mentored a group of 5 participants (mix of professionals and students) as part of a Deloitte corporate social responsibility initiative. I mentored the group as they worked through a Deloitte use case on “The future of work.”

- Recruited volunteers, created and agenda and managed logistics with the organization and the volunteers for Deloitte’s annual Impact Day - a day dedicated to volunteering in the community.
- In 2019, planned and led a Digital Bootcamp in which I taught participants about Design Thinking, story mapping, rapid prototyping.

Facilitator with Doblin in their DesignTO installation ‘Living Studio’ where – over four days Doblin facilitators opened up their problem solving process to the public and involved them in the process! The topic explored was "How might we include play in the workplace?"

During the "National Black Canadians Summit", I participated in strategic planning sessions around the topics of "Education" as well as "Migration", to accelerate collaboration around an inclusive Black Canadian agenda.

One of the goals for the "National Black Canadians Summit" was to push the agenda forward for the United Nation's International Decade for People of African Descent - 2015-2023.

Coached participants by sharing my skills in UX/UI design, business development, idea formation, pitching and design thinking.

Participated in the annual CN Tower climb, and fundraised $100.

***Translates articles to French and liaises with the Communications Strategists to coordinate the website content between the French and English sections of the website.***

The NSERC / Pratt & Whitney Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for Ontario is program to advance women in the fields of science and engineering, supported by NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), Pratt & Whitney Canada as industrial partner and the University of… Mehr zeigen

***Translates articles to French and liaises with the Communications Strategists to coordinate the website content between the French and English sections of the website.***

The NSERC / Pratt & Whitney Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for Ontario is program to advance women in the fields of science and engineering, supported by NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), Pratt & Whitney Canada as industrial partner and the University of Ottawa.

The Chair program aims to address issues for the entire spectrum of women from early interest in schools, through university studies and professional lives, in particular at the mid-career stage and on to leadership.

http://scieng-women-ontario.ca/en/ Weniger anzeigen

***With the help of other volunteers, builds the Database to help OBEC in becoming skilled at managing information on sustainability in Ottawa. As a team leader, reviews all submitted projects before publishing them to the website.***

Creation of the Biosphere Eco-City Model was stimulated by a UNESCO decision to bring the study of urban issues back into its Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program. In 2009, a Canada MAB pilot study to test the model created the Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC)… Mehr zeigen

***With the help of other volunteers, builds the Database to help OBEC in becoming skilled at managing information on sustainability in Ottawa. As a team leader, reviews all submitted projects before publishing them to the website.***

Creation of the Biosphere Eco-City Model was stimulated by a UNESCO decision to bring the study of urban issues back into its Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program. In 2009, a Canada MAB pilot study to test the model created the Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC) initiative in that city. The OBEC Council continues to test BEC tools and sends quarterly progress reports to UNESCO, although it is not currently part of the MAB program.

http://obec-evbo.ca/ Weniger anzeigen

Motionball is a not-for-profit organization that builds awareness and raises funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation (SOCF).

As a volunteer, I fundraised for the cause and we then spent a day volunteering by playing sports with Olympians and children with disabilities.

I was invited as a keynote speaker, to inspire the students at Abbey Park High school in Oakville ON. I spoke about the potential of technology for innovation, and encouraged the students to pursue their ideas.

https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/37461