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.
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Co-Founder
BSc Chemistry
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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.
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Hannah Charnock
Co-Founder
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Karen Lithgow
Co-Founder
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Nova Hanson
Director of Grants & Funding
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Rhea Ashmead
Director of Communications
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Sree Gayathri Talluri
Interview Coordinator
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Teesha Luehr
Events Committee Member
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Lauren McMillan
Communications Committee Member
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Seanna Zintel
Communications Committee
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Emma Murowinski
Events Committee Member
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Emily Fulton
Events Committee Member
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Gill Dornan
Events Committee Member
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Sean Sawer
Treasurer & Events Volunteer
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Ellen Habke
Events Committee Member
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Ariana Sholinder
Communications Committee Member
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Meagan Beatty
Events Committee Member
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Callie Greene
Communications Committee Member
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Natasha Milosevich
Events Committee Member
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Gina Cousineau
Events Committee Member
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Lisa McQuarrie
Events Committee Member
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Ashwini Selvakumar
Events Committee Member
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Tillie Stainsby
Events Committee Member
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Camille Zimmer
Events Committee Member
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Becca Candlish
Peer Mentorship Program Director
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Liz Rohlicek
Peer Mentorship Program Coordinator
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Jessica Dhami
Events Committee Member
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Mia Kennedy
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Stan Liang
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Claire Stevens
Director of Communications
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Chloe Christensen
President
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Tasha Jarisz
Communications Support
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Ethan Schovanek
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Taylor Snowden-Richardson
Peer Mentorship Program Director
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Sarah Lane
Director of Grants & Funding
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Erin Grafe
President
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Hannah Dobbs
Co-Director of Events
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Sierra Mann
Co-Director of Events
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Bridget Ryan
Communications Committee Member
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Angela Jennings
Communications Committee Member
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Kascia Lovett
Communications Committee Member
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Hayley Parkin
Communications Committee Member
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Chanel Ghesquiere
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Chloe Blankers
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Claire Hodson
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Saja Al-Musawi
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Isabella Kroker-Kimber
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Jenna Fleetwood
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Robyn Swartman
Peer Mentorship Program Committee Member
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Tara Mathur
Peer Mentorship Program Coordinator
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Hannah Reid
Events Committee Member
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Natalie Berry
Events Committee Member
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Olivia Melville
Events Committee Member
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Sarah Toews
Events Committee Member
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Maria Hangad
Director of Events
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Gretchen Lewandowski
Social Media Coordinator
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Bethany Robson
Director of Finance