Congratulations to SCWIST member Hiromi Matsui on a YWCA Woman of Distinction Nomination

Hiromi Matsui, 2007 YWCA Women of Distinction Award Nomination: Technology, Science and Industry

Director of Diversity and Recruitment
Faculty of Applied Sciences,
Simon Fraser University

As a professional and as a volunteer, Hiromi Matsui “is dedicated to the advancement of women in technological, scientific or industrial discovery or application. Her efforts forge new roles for women and create opportunities for future generations in fields such as the trades, science, applied science, and information technology.” No other woman in the Lower Mainland of BC so clearly embodies the above requirements for the 2007 YWCA Woman of Distinction award in Technology, Science & Industry. She has inspired hundreds of girls and women to pursue careers in science and technology. She is the benchmark for many other women who are ascending the career ladder in their chosen field, women who are there because of her direct encouragement and support. Hiromi has led by example; she has dedicated a lifetime to the advancement and promotion of women in science, engineering, trades, and technology. Both in her previous position as an Engineering Science Internship Coordinator at Simon Fraser University placing students in the workplace, to her current position as the Faculty of Applied Sciences Director of Diversity and Recruitment, striving for gender equity in the applied sciences, to her decades of volunteer work with non-profit organizations, Hiromi has achieved outstanding success. This is evidenced by the fact that Hiromi does not consider her achievements to be personal; rather they are achievements for every single girl or woman who has ever wanted to study or pursue a career in science, engineering, technology, trades, or non-traditional fields.

A Leader and Role Model

For nearly forty years, Hiromi Matsui has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to promote the status of women in science and engineering in Canada. Beginning with her Masters thesis from the London School of Economics in 1969, “Working Women in France, Canada, Japan, and the US,” Hiromi has advocated for women’s equality in the workplace—particularly in the world of science, technology, engineering, and trades. She has forged new roles for women and created opportunities for future generations. As a speaker, an author, and a mentor, through her active participation as president of SCWIST (Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology) and president of CCWESTT (Canadian Coalition for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology), as co-chair of the steering committee for the CCWESTT (Women in Science, Engineering, Trades, and Technology) WinSETT Project, and through her work at APEGBC (Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC) Hiromi has consistently worked—and is still working—to promote the values of diversity. Hiromi’s efforts are so successful because she is a dedicated colleague who listens to different viewpoints and works with community representatives to bring about positive change. Her contributions will leave an enduring legacy as more women choose careers in science and technology and their growing contributions are recognised as important assets for the Canadian economy.

Hiromi’s work begins at the grass roots level—and reaches to federal parliamentary hearings. Whether it’s doing “bubble science” with preschoolers at an SFU Open House or sitting on a panel in Ottawa to promote the goals of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades, and Technology (CCWESTT), she is a force at every level. She is a role model for young girls, who may encounter her at a physics workshop; she is a role model for young women with whom she works at Simon Fraser University; she is, in fact, a role model for all career women, who share her vision and see her determination to effect a change in women’s roles in science and engineering fields.

Many women who hold careers in science and engineering fields would not be where they are today without Hiromi Matsui. She has worked for nearly four decades to help define new roles for women in scientific fields that will make a difference for generations to come. For example, young women starting their careers now as assistant professors in applied sciences at Simon Fraser University likely weren’t even born when Hiromi began her efforts to encourage girls and women to consider careers in science or engineering. The foundation laid by Hiromi Matsui will enable these women to follow in her footsteps and continue to make a difference for other women working in engineering, science, or technology.

Groundbreaking Pioneer: A Tireless Advocate for Change

At all levels, local, regional, provincial, and national, Hiromi has worked to promote and encourage women in Science and Technology. At SFU, she worked with the Director of Human Rights to develop new policy guidelines for female students who took maternity leave during their graduate studies. Provincially, she continued breaking new ground by initiating a landmark study in BC “Where are the Women?” about women in high-technology, science and technology fields. As president of SCWIST, she contracted the production of the CD-ROM “Xplore Science Careers,” showing the career paths of eight women working in science and engineering fields. More recently, through CCWESTT, Hiromi has been devoting her efforts to promoting better human resource policies for the retention of women and men in industry. A national forum was held in Calgary in June 2006 where forty-four key representatives of industry, government, professional organizations, post-secondary institutions, and community organisations united to share ideas to strengthen innovation and global competitiveness through supporting diversity in science, engineering, trades, and technology (SETT). Hiromi represented CCWEST at this national forum.

Through SCWIST, Hiromi supported the development of a unique program called “Immigrating Women in Science” (IWIS) to help and support immigrant women in science, women who are trained professionals who come to Canada and face the challenge of having their credentials recognised in Canada. This program has made a tremendous difference to dozens of women who have immigrated to the Vancouver area. IWIS has allowed these women to form networking contacts, provided mentors and access to resources, and helped them find meaningful work that is appropriate for their education and skills. A number of these highly trained and skilled professional women have been able to start new careers in Vancouver because of IWIS, and now help new immigrants with the challenges and barriers they face when moving to a new country.

However, some of Hiromi’s most important work has been in the creation of new alliances between government, industry, academia, and trade-related representatives so that women in SETT are poised to make more of an impact in scientific policy. She has strived to ensure that important channels for communication are opening. Hiromi has built successful relationships with key organizations such as the Champion for Federal Women in Science and Technology, the National Science Advisor, NSERC and the NSERC/Industry Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering. She is a member of the 16 person Research Team for the SSHRC CURA grant led by Dr. Valerie Davidson (University of Guelph) and Dr. Ruby Heap (University of Ottawa). As a co-investigator on the application currently being reviewed in Ottawa, she will play an active role in this community-university research alliance.

Active Volunteer

Whether it’s a university open house, a workshop for preschoolers, a SCWIST ms infinity program, or SFU’s Computing Science ChicTech event, Hiromi is there as a volunteer. In addition, she serves on numerous panels, roundtables and committees, as well as the boards of many non-profit societies, virtually all of which have to do with encouraging and developing roles for women in science, engineering, trades, and technology in BC and Canada.

Even a quick glance at Hiromi’s resume shows just how many groups she has participated in over the years, and just how many of these groups have elected her as president or committee chair. For instance, she chaired the steering committee of Women in Science, Technology, Trades, and Engineering (WISTTE) in 1999. From 1996 – 1999, she was first the Vice President, then President of SCWIST. From 2000 – 2002, she served as President of CCWESTT. From 1997 onward, Hiromi has chaired the SFU Faculty of Applied Sciences Equity Committee. At the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC), Hiromi chaired a number of committees since 2001.

Mentorship

Maria Klawe, currently the President of Harvey Mudd College (and previously Dean of Science at UBC) states, “Hiromi is a great nominee for the 2007 Vancouver YWCA Woman of Distinction award in Technology, Science, and Industry because she’s devoted her career to encouraging and empowering young women in science and technology, and she’s had an enormous impact on the lives of many women. She’s a wonderful collaborator who never cares about turf, but always cares about accomplishing the overall goal. I love working with her and have learned a lot from her during our collaboration for almost two decades.”

As news of Hiromi’s nomination spread, the Dean’s office received many unsolicited emails from individuals in support of Hiromi’s nomination for the YWCA award. For instance, Michele Black, Applied Sciences Manager of Academic Programs and Services wrote, “Hiromi has done much to increase my own confidence including by making a few simple but timely words after a seemingly shaky presentation to upper administration…she stands in my corner and has made that clear through our entire working relationship. She has this same generous attitude to many of my female colleagues. It is wonderful to work with someone who is so unabashed in their praise (of course only when it is due). It is refreshing to come across someone who is not afraid to build up others and who has done so much to contribute to the professional maturation of many.” Many others echo the same sentiment. Sara Swenson, past president of the Society of Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), puts it this way: “The word that best describes Hiromi is ‘unparalleled’. No matter what she has been involved with or whoever has needed help, Hiromi is there. She’s grounded, friendly, conscientious, and above all, she seems to know what kind of support to provide for maximum impact. As someone who has had the privilege of being mentored by Hiromi, I realize she is truly an incredible individual. Her work has not only been of enormous benefit to women such as myself, but also to my young daughter and other girls who are learning at an early age the value of keeping their options open by studying math and science.”

Vision, Creativity, and Initiative

No diversity staff existed in SFU’s Faculty of Applied Sciences until Hiromi started this initiative. She had the vision to approach the Dean and create the position she now holds. As Internship Coordinator for the School of Engineering Science at SFU from 1993 – 1999, Hiromi discussed diversity in the workplace with many Co-op employers. While President of CCWESTT, Hiromi developed alliances with the first NSERC Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering, which led to outreach work with Maria Klawe (UBC) and Mary Williams (Memorial University). Perhaps Hiromi’s crowning achievement was her work during the past two years with CCWESTT and their development of a compelling economic case for increasing women’s participation and leadership in science, engineering, trades and technology.

Highly Respected by her Community for her Contributions

Hiromi has had no shortage of invitations and appointments to committees and boards that recognize her skills and the breadth of experience she brings to these groups. Her most recent recognition occurred at the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC). Annual General Meeting in October 2006. This professional association awarded Hiromi Matsui an honourary membership in recognition of her substantial and continuing contributions to the engineering and geoscience professions. APEGBC has bestowed only three such honourary memberships in the entire history of the association and Hiromi is the only woman ever to receive one. This achievement is yet another example of how Hiromi Matsui is breaking new ground and breaking down barriers for women. As Tim Smith, President of APEGBC, writes in a letter, about the award they bestowed upon her: “This is an extremely rare honour that APEGBC bestows on non-members who make a significant and meaningful impact on the professions of engineering and geoscience—only three recipients hold this mark of distinction in the history of APEGBC.” He goes on to state that Hiromi’s dedication to engineering and geosciences professions “is evidenced through her sustained and insightful leadership on several committees of the Association. While not an engineer or geoscientist by profession, her unique view, and thorough and insightful understanding on issues related to the professions are of enormous benefit to APEGBC and its membership.”

Hiromi Matsui has made a substantial and unique contribution that has changed attitudes, perception, and administrative decisions within our University, across our Province, and throughout Canada. She has been pivotal in encouraging women to understand the value in pursuing science, engineering, trades, and technology careers and in making their future employers and colleagues view their contributions as valuable assets in the global economy. Her vision and selfless hard work is deserving of the recognition provided by one of the Province’s top honours: the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Technology, Science & Industry.

Learn more about the YWCA awards.