Levelling the Playing Field: Advocating for Yourself with Grace
✨ About the Event
Join us for an inspiring evening of connection, conversation, and career growth at Levelling the Playing Field: Advocating for Yourself with Grace, hosted by the BC Chapter of Women in Tech Canada!
This event is for women and allies in all stages of their tech journey—from students and career changers to seasoned leaders and executives. Together, we’ll explore how to speak up, stand tall, and move forward in your career—without sacrificing your authenticity.
You'll hear a powerful keynote from Minister Brenda Bailey, followed by a panel curated to spark discussion and questions from you, featuring more trailblazing women in tech. The conversation will dive into real-world strategies for advocating for yourself, navigating leadership, and tackling the challenges uniquely faced by women in the tech space.
🎙️ Keynote Speaker: Minister Brenda Bailey
Brenda Bailey is British Columbia’s Minister of Finance, and a longtime advocate for equity in the tech sector. Before entering politics, she co-founded Canada’s first women-owned-and-led video game studio, led DigiBC (the Interactive & Digital Media Industry Association of BC), and worked on policy to promote inclusive innovation. Her unique background—spanning tech entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and public service—gives her a rare and powerful lens on how women can thrive in traditionally male-dominated fields.
🎙️ Panel
Hon. Brenda Bailey - Minister of Finance, Government of BC
April Hicke - CEO @ Toast
Jill Tipping - CEO @ BC Tech
Jillian Frank - Employment and Labour Law Partner @ KPMG
Come ready to network, learn, and be inspired 🌼
🗓️ Agenda
5:00 PM – 5:50 PM | Registration & Networking
Arrive, grab a drink, and meet fellow professionals from across the industry.
5:50 PM – 6:00 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Kickoff by Bibi, Head of BC at Women in Tech Canada. An overview of the organization’s mission and what to expect during the evening.
6:00 PM – 6:20 PM | Keynote
The Honourable Brenda Bailey will give us an introduction to her personal story and experience in advocating for oneself.
6:20 PM – 7:00 PM | Panel & Audience Q&A
Moderated by Bibi, featuring Brenda, Jill and April. Audience questions will be selected from pre-submitted and live entries.
👉 Submit your questions to the panel in advance here: https://forms.gle/q34zWyP2fantYzkM7
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Breakout Group Discussions
Led by our fantastic mentors, you will get a chance to hear from their experience and receive mentorship in a safe group environment. Participation in this exercise is not required, you can just listen in!
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Closing Remarks & Open Networking
Final thoughts, group photo, and open networking with panelists and attendees.
🔗 Why Attend?
Hear from leaders reshaping the future of tech and public service
Learn practical strategies for self-advocacy and career growth
Connect with an empowering community of women and allies
Leave feeling seen, heard, and ready to take the next step in your journey!
🤝 Event Sponsors
KPMG Canada offers professional services for businesses across industries.
GREYDATA Consulting transforms ideas into fully compliant apps, designing experiences that keeps businesses ahead.
Atono is an all-in-one platform to plan, build, run, and improve software built for cross-functional teams.
Spots are limited. To ensure a fair mix of professionals in all fields and stages of their career, attendees will be pre-screened.