Meet our Executive team

Admin

Facilitate the behind-the-scenes and support the Committee Leaders

SYD WADDINGTON

PRESIDENT

UNDERGRADUATE / NEUROBIOLOGY-PSYCHOLOGY

Syd is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UVic, studying in Neurobiology-Psychology, with intentions of pursuing a career in psychiatry. Her focus for research is on the relationship between abnormal psychology and brain physiology, as reflected in her work with research groups such as the Risky Behavior Lab, the Christie Lab, the Vancouver Island Health Authority, and Anxiety Canada. When Syd is not at school or in a lab, she can be found volunteering with advocacy groups such as the Victoria Brain Injury Society, Students Above Stigma, and NEED2, or taking her beloved bulldog, George, for a serene nature walk. Syd felt inspired to join WIS back in 2020, as she is a strong advocate for gender equality in STEM and aims to help women from all walks of life feel empowered to raise their voices in the scientific community.

Victoria Greene

Vice President

UNDERGRADUATE / Biology-PSYCHOLOGY

Victoria is a 4th year undergraduate student at UVic in the combined Biology and Psychology program. Her primary interests and areas of research include neuroscience and women’s health. When not on campus she can be found volunteering at the Cridge Brain Injury Services, working in the Christie Lab or crafting with friends. Victoria originally joined UVic Women in Science in September of 2021, with the hope of being another voice for all marginalized individuals within STEM and to find a like-minded community.

Human Resources

Maintain the WIS culture among the group and encourage an inclusive and healthy environment

Sharana Saini

Director of Human Resources

UNDERGRADUATE / PSYCHOLOGY

Sharana is studying as a fourth-year Psychology undergraduate student at UVic, with the goal of pursuing a career in dentistry. When not on campus she can be found working at Shelbourne Dental Clinic or volunteering at Finlayson Dental Clinic. Outside of school and work she enjoys clearing her mind through painting and art, exploring the beautiful island and spending time with her family. Sharana joined WIS in hopes of meeting like-minded individuals and using her voice as a woman of colour to support other BIPOC women in STEM-related fields.

Finance

Facilitate the behind-the-scenes and support the Committee Leaders

Hiroko Mahoney

Co-Director of Finance

UNDERGRADUATE / Buisness

Hiroko is a third-year undergraduate student at UVic in the business program, hoping to specialize in general management with a focus on accounting. Her main interests lie in accounting and finance, and she hopes to pursue her CPA after graduating. Hiroko joined the WIS finance team in 2024 to gain hands-on experience in financial management and to help support a powerful women-lead educational community in achieving their sustainable organizational goals.

Faith Dublonko

Co-Director of Finance

UNDERGRADUATE / Buisness

Committee Members

Yazen Alnoori

Yiming Zhao

Communications

Manages all marketing and communication-related endeavors, and curates the interviews.

Claire Troost

Director of Communications

UNDERGRADUATE / Biology-Neurobiology

Claire is a fifth-year Biology Undergraduate, with a concentration in Neurobiology. She has the goal of pursuing a career in medicine, most likely in the field of Neurology. Some of her main areas of interest include neuroplasticity, brain injury recovery, and women's health research. When not studying, Claire is working her way through school, and enjoys doing various visual arts as well as getting physically active. She just recently joined WIS this year, and looks forward to applying her experience being on social media teams in other clubs at UVIC to our platforms to boost engagement, create opportunities for marginalized groups in STEM, and build the overall UVIC WIS community. 

Committee Members

Grace Ridd (Interview Coordinator)

Seoyoon Lee (Social Media)

Anna Dansereau (Interview Coordinator)

Rebekah Shin (Photography)

Dominique Maucieri (Webmaster and Graphic Design)

Peer Mentorship Program

Manages the Peer Mentorship Program.

Katherine Boere

Director of the Peer Mentorship Program

PhD Candidate / Neuroscience

Katherine Boere is a Ph.D. Candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Victoria. Her core research examines how cognitive function rebounds after periods of depletion or exhaustion. Building on her Master's research in Biomedical Engineering, which centred on traumatic brain injury, Katherine is now deeply focused on unravelling the brain's resilience and capacity to adapt amid intense demands. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of British Columbia.

Katherine is deeply committed to promoting diversity in scientific research and believes in the transformative power of mentorship. To further this mission, she leads the Women in Science Peer Mentorship Program, dedicating her efforts to support and guide young researchers as they navigate their careers. Additionally, she collaborates with organizations like the Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) and the Young Persons' Cabinet (YPC). She shares her knowledge and passion for brain health within these roles, emphasizing its significance to younger adults.

Committee Members

Isabella Kidder (PMP Coordinator, PMP Events)

Frances Rush (PMP Events, PMP Research/Analytics)

Madeleine Brown (PMP Events, PMP Matching, PMP Education)

Rebekah Shin (PMP Matching)

Vanessa Zoros (PMP Education)

Aislinn Dressler (PMP Education)

Sarah Johnson (PMP Education)

Mckinley Kemp (PMP Communications)

Natasha Norton (PMP Floating Help)

Emma Houston (PMP Floating Help)

Events

Manages all events and the research symposium.

SYD WADDINGTON

Interim Director of Events

UNDERGRADUATE / NEUROBIOLOGY-PSYCHOLOGY

Syd is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UVic, studying in Neurobiology-Psychology, with intentions of pursuing a career in psychiatry. Her focus for research is on the relationship between abnormal psychology and brain physiology, as reflected in her work with research groups such as the Risky Behavior Lab, the Christie Lab, the Vancouver Island Health Authority, and Anxiety Canada. When Syd is not at school or in a lab, she can be found volunteering with advocacy groups such as the Victoria Brain Injury Society, Students Above Stigma, and NEED2, or taking her beloved bulldog, George, for a serene nature walk. Syd felt inspired to join WIS back in 2020, as she is a strong advocate for gender equality in STEM and aims to help women from all walks of life feel empowered to raise their voices in the scientific community.

Committee Members

Ava McConechy

Nilo Shakerian

Our Founders

The founders took the pioneering step of initiating the Women in Science program. Their vision and dedication led to the inception of the Women in Science program, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable STEM community.

  • Co-Founder

    BSc Chemistry

  • Co-Founder

    PhD Biochemistry and Microbiology

WIS ALUMNI

We would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions made by past members of the WIS Executive Committee and our team of Committee Members. UVic WIS would not be the organization it is today without their support and engagement.

  • Hannah Charnock

    Co-Founder

  • Karen Lithgow

    Co-Founder

  • Nova Hanson

    Director of Grants & Funding

  • Rhea Ashmead

    Director of Communications

  • Sree Gayathri Talluri

    Interview Coordinator

  • Teesha Luehr

    Events Committee Member

  • Lauren McMillan

    Communications Committee Member

  • Seanna Zintel

    Communications Committee

  • Emma Murowinski

    Events Committee Member

  • Emily Fulton

    Events Committee Member

  • Gill Dornan

    Events Committee Member

  • Sean Sawer

    Treasurer & Events Volunteer

  • Ellen Habke

    Events Committee Member

  • Ariana Sholinder

    Communications Committee Member

  • Meagan Beatty

    Events Committee Member

  • Callie Greene

    Communications Committee Member

  • Natasha Milosevich

    Events Committee Member

  • Gina Cousineau

    Events Committee Member

  • Lisa McQuarrie

    Events Committee Member

  • Ashwini Selvakumar

    Events Committee Member

  • Tillie Stainsby

    Events Committee Member

  • Camille Zimmer

    Events Committee Member

  • Becca Candlish

    Peer Mentorship Program Director

  • Liz Rohlicek

    Peer Mentorship Program Coordinator

  • Jessica Dhami

    Events Committee Member

  • Mia Kennedy

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Stan Liang

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Claire Stevens

    Director of Communications

  • Chloe Christensen

    President

  • Tasha Jarisz

    Communications Support

  • Ethan Schovanek

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Taylor Snowden-Richardson

    Peer Mentorship Program Director

  • Sarah Lane

    Director of Grants & Funding

  • Erin Grafe

    President

  • Hannah Dobbs

    Co-Director of Events

  • Sierra Mann

    Co-Director of Events

  • Bridget Ryan

    Communications Committee Member

  • Angela Jennings

    Communications Committee Member

  • Kascia Lovett

    Communications Committee Member

  • Hayley Parkin

    Communications Committee Member

  • Chanel Ghesquiere

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Chloe Blankers

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Claire Hodson

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Saja Al-Musawi

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Isabella Kroker-Kimber

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Jenna Fleetwood

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Robyn Swartman

    Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member

  • Tara Mathur

    Peer Mentorship Program Coordinator

  • Hannah Reid

    Events Committee Member

  • Natalie Berry

    Events Committee Member

  • Olivia Melville

    Events Committee Member

  • Sarah Toews

    Events Committee Member

  • Maria Hangad

    Director of Events

  • Gretchen Lewandowski

    Social Media Coordinator

  • Bethany Robson

    Director of Finance