A Conversation with Honorary Captain (Navy) Jeanette Southwood: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

As a woman working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), it was wonderful to be able to have a conversation with someone who not only understands the shoes many of us walk in throughout our lives and careers, but who can speak so clearly to the many barriers that impede the path toward a more equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace. The challenges of systemic discrimination felt by under-represented groups within STEM, and elsewhere in workplaces across Canada, is real, and addressing these challenges head on is an essential step in creating a workplace that best represents and takes advantage of the rich diversity Canadians have to offer.

The Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence have made the elimination of discrimination a top priority, and last October it was a great pleasure to welcome Ottawa-based engineer and RCN Honorary Captain (Navy)Jeanette Southwood as our guest speaker for an online naval technical professional development session to speak about creating a workplace that is welcoming to all.

HCapt(N) Southwood is Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, with Engineers Canada, the national organization of the 12 engineering regulators that license Canada's more than 300,000 members of the engineering profession. Her portfolio includes: equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), outreach and engagement, communications, government relations, public affairs, and public policy. As an immigrant from South Africa, and as a Black woman working at the top of her engineering profession, HCapt(N) Southwood was able to speak to us from both a personal as well as a corporate perspective on the importance of EDI within STEM workplaces, and to the strategies for removing barriers that limit people’s full potential.

As was reported earlier in the Journal, in late 2020 the Minister of National Defence appointed this extraordinarily gifted woman and role model as an RCN Honorary Captain, affiliated with the Naval Technical branch, in recognition of her outstanding professional credentials and deep personal accomplishments. In addition to the A Conversation with Honorary Captain (Navy) Jeanette Southwood: Speaking the Language of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion FORUM expertise she brings to our community, HCapt(N) Southwood is also learning from us. She fulfills an important role for the Minister by raising awareness about the RCN’s unique STEM workplace environment across the wider engineering community in Canada.

Our virtual meet-up with HCapt(N) Southwood came about as part of a mentoring and networking initiative for Women Naval Technical Officers (WNTOs) that I have been developing with senior WNTOs for the past few years to encourage community and connection. When interest was expressed in having a professional development session on the challenges facing women pursuing engineering and technical careers in the Navy, I invited HCapt(N) Southwood to speak to us, knowing this award-winning engineer was highly skilled in speaking to the overarching topic of EDI in the workplace.

Her response to our invitation was enthusiastic, and on Oct. 25, 2021 we presented “A Conversation with HCapt(N) Southwood” over MS Teams, with people joining the discussion online from across the country. The attendees included a cross-section of the Defence community, including representatives from the Defence Women’s Advisory Organization (DWAO). HCapt(N) Southwood is an excellent role model for military and civilian technical personnel of all ranks and all genders, and our session with her was outstanding. For myself, the key takeaways that day were:

• Under-represented groups should not be burdened with “fixing” EDI/cultural problems. In order for systemic barriers to be removed, majority groups need to take a leadership role in addressing discrimination, and becoming allies and sponsors;

• The RCN’s technical branch has expertise in many areas, but we are not experts in how to initiate meaningful EDI culture change. For this, we need the guidance of subject matter experts in EDI;

• Change leadership and change management are crucial elements in establishing lasting culture change; and

• Formal mentorship programs are highly useful tools in achieving organizational goals.

Because the Oct. 25 session was not recorded, DGMEPM Unit Chief CPO1 Monika Quillan suggested that an upcoming Journal interview with HCapt(N) Southwood might revisit our highly successful event. We gathered what notes we had and passed them to production editor Brian McCullough, who spoke with Jeanette on Dec. 7. In the Q&A segment that follows, HCapt(N) Southwood describes the key actions that Engineers Canada recommends to any organization looking to establish substantial EDI culture change in the workplace. We thank HCapt(N) Southwood for her kind cooperation in this endeavour, and sincerely hope that people will feel encouraged to become more proactive in establishing a cultural “new normal” that is defined by a willingness to address discrimination, and an acceptance of equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our lives.

In January, following 25 years of naval service, Capt(N) (Ret’d) Seana Routledge transitioned to civilian employment within DND. She continues to remain active within the women’s NTO community, and in promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in DND.