2020 WiDS Emerging Leaders
As a community, we come together to connect, to reflect, and to celebrate our collective progress in creating a diverse and inclusive defence and security community.
We do this because it’s important.
It’s important that we provide women with a network that empowers them to be their whole selves. At WiDS, we’re proud of the work we are doing to ensure women are well supported throughout their careers.
But there is still work to be done.
As an industry, we need to make a collective effort and commitment to attract, retain, and promote women: to show our commitment to supporting women in leadership; to encouraging educational pursuits and lifelong learning; to creating connections and recognizing excellence – all of which are the core of WiDS values.
With that said, we are excited to kick off a new campaign centered on just that: recognizing excellence and celebrating emerging leaders.
What is an emerging leader?
Someone – in any stage of their career – who is doing great things; someone who is inspiring change; someone who is blazing a trail and setting an example for other young women to follow.
Please join us to recognize the incredible efforts these women are making.
And to Leonardo Canada, our Emerging Leaders Sponsor, thank you for leading the way.

Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in aerospace, defence and security. Leonardo has been an industrial partner of Canada for over 50 years. Purpose built to serve the Canadian market, Leonardo’s Canadian team leverages and draws upon the full strength and depth of the global company. Today, Leonardo’s local workforce across five operating sites is ready to provide comprehensive, competitive turnkey solutions that meet our Canadian customers’ requirements.
We are strongly committed to building a diverse workforce, including increasing the number of female employees at Leonardo, at all levels. This has been particularly reflected by a number of women holding senior executive positions worldwide across the Company.
Inspired by the vision, curiosity and creativity of the great master inventor, Leonardo is designing the technology of tomorrow.
WiDS Emerging Leaders Biographies
Marilia Araujo
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Michelle Armstrong
Christine Beauchamp
Andrea Berger
Nathalie Boisvert
Department of National Defence
Caitlin Brisco
Associate Contracts Manager
General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada
Shawna Brown
General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada
Paula Burnet
Krista Campbell
Stephanie Campbell
Yasmine Clarke
Rossila Dewan
Debbie Goodleff
DSO Trade Development Associate
UKTI in Canada
Marjorie Hallé
Amanda Hauck
Communications
Lockheed Martin Canada
Emma Heo
Major Kim Jones
Department of National Defence
Beyhan Kaya
CWO Jaime Lefebvre
Department of National Defence
Tina Maier
Inspector
Ontario Provincial Police
Stephanie McDonald
Melissa Michaud
Lesley Musker
Seyi Okuribido-Malcolm
Department of National Defence
Lisa Parker
Manager, Security Operations and Control Room
Bank of Canada
Silvia Penkova
Lilac Pho
Department of National Defence
Shelley Rossetti
S/Sgt
Ottawa Police Service
Cara Salci
Vice President, Strategy & Government Relations
Thales Canada
Rheanne Scott
Lorinda Semeniuk
Joelle Tremblay
Hillary Valpy
Elizabeth Young
Marilia Araujo
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Michelle Armstrong
Christine Beauchamp
Andrea Berger
Nathalie Boisvert
Department of National Defence
Caitlin Brisco
Associate Contracts Manager
General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada
Shawna Brown
General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada
Paula Burnet
Krista Campbell
Stephanie Campbell
Yasmine Clarke
Rossila Dewan
Debbie Goodleff
DSO Trade Development Associate
UKTI in Canada
Marjorie Hallé
Amanda Hauck
Communications
Lockheed Martin Canada
Emma Heo
Major Kim Jones
Department of National Defence
Beyhan Kaya
CWO Jaime Lefebvre
Department of National Defence
Tina Maier
Inspector
Ontario Provincial Police
Stephanie McDonald
Melissa Michaud
Lesley Musker
Seyi Okuribido-Malcolm
Department of National Defence
Lisa Parker
Manager, Security Operations and Control Room
Bank of Canada
Silvia Penkova
Lilac Pho
Department of National Defence
Shelley Rossetti
S/Sgt
Ottawa Police Service
Cara Salci
Vice President, Strategy & Government Relations
Thales Canada
Rheanne Scott
Lorinda Semeniuk
Joelle Tremblay
Hillary Valpy
Elizabeth Young