Women supporting women in engineering

Kimberly Rinas P.Eng has been working as an engineer in the mining and fertilizer industries for over 17 years. After she graduated from the University of Regina with a degree in Industrial Systems Engineering, Rinas joined The Mosaic Company and has held various roles there throughout her career, including capital design, project management, process engineering, production support, technology development, and innovation. 

When she looks back on her time at the U of R, Rinas can identify valuable lessons and skills that she still uses every single day in her current role as an Applied Process Technology Manager.

I am sometimes the only female at the table, and that’s ok. Don't be afraid to speak up—your voice and contributions are important. — Kimberly Rinas P.Eng 

“There are days when I still find myself reaching for my thermodynamics textbook to work through a process problem,” she says. “As my role has evolved towards leadership, I find that I rely more frequently on the communication and teambuilding skills that were inherent to my day-to-day as a student. Whether it's collaborating on a project or presenting ideas clearly, the ability to communicate and work effectively within a team is essential to my current role.” 

Hands-on experiences led to lifelong career choices 

After completing co-op terms in the oil and gas and manufacturing industries, Rinas was able to discover which career paths were not the right fit for her, and which ones she thrived in. 

“The career path that I pursued is a direct result of the real-world experience I gained through the co-op program,” she says. “Co-op terms provided me with the opportunity to explore different roles, different industries, and even different locations. Choosing a career extends beyond choosing a company or field; you also need to take other factors, like preferred living environments, and other factors influencing work-life balance, into consideration” 

Classmates become colleagues

For current engineering students who are looking ahead to landing a job after graduation, Rinas recommends getting involved in the various societies on campus and volunteering. She says these are great ways to meet industry professionals, and you never know who could open doors for you in the future.

The people I met during my engineering studies have become lifelong friends,” she says. “Although it's been over 15 years since graduation, many of my classmates have become trusted colleagues whom I can rely on as my career progresses.” 

A champion for diversity and inclusion

In her current role with The Mosaic Company, Rinas leads a team of researchers, scientists, and engineers in creating cutting-edge solutions for the mining and fertilizer sectors. Above all, she is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in mining. 

While mining and engineering can be more male-dominated fields, Rinas says that women in STEM-based industries (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) need to trust that they always deserve a seat at the table. 

“There are fantastic people in the engineering world, do not be intimidated by gender discrepancies or the focus on gaps with respect to women in STEM,” she says. “I've had fantastic supervisors and mentors, both male and female, that have provided me sound advice and opportunities for growth. I am sometimes the only female at the table, and that’s ok. Don't be afraid to speak up—your voice and contributions are important.” 

Rinas also recommends finding a mentor or an ally who is already working as an engineer. Typically, a mentor can provide guidance and encouragement to their mentee and help to align them towards a career that they would find inspiring and fulfilling. 

30 by 30 Initiative

Rinas, along with fellow U of R Engineering alum Stormy Holmes, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), Executive Director and Registrar of APEGS, and Darlynn Lavallee, MSE., participated in a Women in Engineering panel discussion, hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Held just ahead of International Women’s Day, the event’s theme was Accelerate Action – 30 by 30, an important goal for ALL. The importance of increasing enrollment, graduation, and retention of women in engineering.

The 30 by 30 initiative, first conceived by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta in 2010, was adopted by Engineers Canada to be a national goal of raising the percentage of newly-licensed engineers who are women to 30 per cent by the year 2030.

Interested in a career in engineering? Check out all of the programs offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science!

Banner photo: After graduating from the Industrial Systems Engineering program at the U of R, Kimberly Rinas has spent over 17 years working as an engineer in the mining and fertilizer industries. Credit: University of Regina Photography