Denise Pothier, BEng’93 (back row- centre) with colleagues during the Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women Awards gala held in November, 2018.

Denise Pothier’s determination and deep community roots are making a big impact on approaches to engineering design and practice.

A chemical engineer, Denise (BEng’93 TUNS) has 25 years of experience working in the energy and resource sector. Currently serving as both Vice President, Practice Services and the first-ever Vice President, Indigenous Relations at Stantec, she has also been instrumental in helping to develop the company’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Denise, who grew up in rural Yarmouth County with Mi’kmaw and French Acadian heritage, has emerged as a leader in a predominantly male profession. She is a role model for young women across the country, and her community-centred, bottom-up approach to working with Indigenous communities is making an impact on communities around the world.

Valuing traditional knowledge

Denise and her team work in collaboration with Indigenous communities to bring local knowledge and traditional frameworks together with company expertise to complete projects that are reflective of the community.

“Often professionals feel the need to validate traditional knowledge in order for it to be considered scientific, not understanding that it is knowledge that has been observed and passed down for generations: it is already science,” explains Denise. “We have been able to work in mutuality with Indigenous communities in North America and around the world, applying traditional knowledge to projects ranging from mining to wastewater management.”

During construction of the Inuit Cultural Learning Facility in Nunavut, the Stantec project team met with local elders to learn about wind and weather patterns in the area. They used this traditional knowledge to design and build a centre with a roof that moves snow away from the building and is best suited to the natural environment and able to withstand the elements.

Other examples of Indigenous concepts that can be integrated into corporate culture and practice include two-eyed seeing, a Mi’kmaw concept familiar to most Indigenous cultures, which acknowledges the strengths in different worldviews and perspectives (Indigenous and mainstream) and thinking ‘seven generations ahead’: considering the impact of decisions we make today on future generations.

“For the vast majority of business operations, understanding and working with local Indigenous communities is critical. There is such richness and wealth of knowledge, you quickly learn what you don’t know – it is very humbling.”

Giving back to the community

Much of Denise’s work involves giving back by supporting outreach initiatives that help to strengthen communities in which she works. “In order to design with community in mind, we have to be connected to our communities. It is the right thing to do,” she explains.

Despite a busy work schedule with projects bringing her around the globe, Denise is a councillor for Engineers Nova Scotia and past chair of the Women in Engineering committee where she started a mentorship program for students, junior engineers, and professionals. She sits on the board of directors of Techsploration and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, is a member of Engineers Canada Equitable Participation Committee, and is Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Participation in Engineering Committee.

Leading by example

Denise has had to overcome no shortage of challenges during her life. “Being different, you have to stretch beyond your reach, push through the insecurity and self-doubt, and then you find you can do it. You make incremental steps and then all of a sudden you realize, you did it”.

Her years of hard work, time and dedication to promoting diversity has recently earned her the national recognition as a recipient of the Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women Award in the CIBC Trendsetter and Trailblazer category. Denise and 99 other powerful women from various fields and backgrounds were celebrated during an awards gala in Toronto held on November 22,2018.

“I didn’t set out to make a difference – I just wasn’t afraid to try. I realized it was going to be hard and that I was going to stumble, but I relied on my mentors and role models and kept going. Then all one day you suddenly realize you’ve become that person for others.”

Denise surprised five up and coming female Stantec employees from various departments ranging from communications to environmental engineering, with an invitation to join her and her family at their table during the Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women gala event, so that they could have the opportunity to hear the amazing stories and become inspired as the next generation of female leaders.

“What amazing role models for my 21-year old daughter to share the evening with” says Denise. “I hope that in a few years I’ll be there sitting in the crowd watching them on the stage.”