Laurier panel celebrates women’s leadership during the pandemic

On March 4, Jane Klugman, real estate broker, president of Whitney and Company Realty and vice-chair of the Waterloo chapter of the International Women’s Forum, moderated the panel “International Women’s Day: Celebrating Women’s Leadership & Resiliency Amidst a Global Pandemic” in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University.  

“For the fourth year in a row, we were proud to partner with the International Women’s Forum to host an International Women’s Day event,” Bridget McMahon, assistant vice-president of alumni and community engagement at Laurier, said in an email statement.  

“This year’s theme was Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Resiliency Amidst a Global Pandemic and featured a diverse panel of women, including a moving keynote from Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor Deborah MacLatchy.” 

Tammy Schirle, professor of economics at Laurier’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Donna Duncan, chief executive officer of the Ontario Long-term Care Association; Rebecca Jamieson, president and chief executive officer of Six Nations Polytechnic; and Rahel Woldegiorgis, COVID-19 service navigator at Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre were the speakers at the event.  

Rosa Lupo, a partner with Gowling WLG and chair of the Waterloo chapter of the forum, gave closing remarks.  

The free, virtual panel which was open to the public via registration, was a celebration of the important work and contributions women have made during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“With nearly 200 participants, we were thrilled with the turnout and grateful to the event panellists who led an engaging and authentic discussion on the resiliency of women during the pandemic,” McMahon said.  

The panel provided the opportunity for speakers to share their personal insight and experiences as women in positions of leadership.  

“As we look forward, I hope we all keep the question from panellist Donna Duncan (MA ’96) at the fore,” McMahon said.  

“She asked: ‘how do we find our agency as women and as caregivers, and how do we find our voice to use that agency to create the changes we need coming out of this pandemic?’”