Event Details

We are pleased to announce Canterbury chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), and Canterbury chapter of the Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) are joining forces again for this event, with breakfast kindly being provided by event sponsor Anderson Lloyd. Our organisations have similar missions - to support women working in our industries and to champion each other. The event is a breakfast function with guest speakers.

We will have a series of questions for the panellists to answer regarding their careers, journey in employment, how digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a part in their roles and advice for others. The intention will be that this will be an informal discussion between panellists and attendees.

Join us to hear from four inspirational women with the emphasis on digital technology: Valerie Papyn (Construction Workshop), Elsamari Botha (University of Canterbury), Louisa Bloomer (Stantec) and Megan Pearce (Anderson Llyod) who will share their career stories and learnings, and provide insights into pathways to roles working with digital technology. This event is also a fantastic opportunity to expand your network and make new contacts across different sectors. 

This event is open to members of NAWIC Canterbury and WIN Canterbury.

Presenter Details

Valerie Papyn – BIM Manager for Construction Workshop

Valerie Papyn is a BIM professional with a mechanical engineering background. She has vast experience in HVAC and energy system design, having implemented her skills on a range of projects across different industries during her career in Russia and New Zealand.

In the last five years Valerie has transition her skill set to BIM management, which is her passion. She successfully cooperates with designers and engineers, and has delivered BIM projects for commercial, multi-residential, specialised and industrial buildings. Valerie’s area of expertise includes BIM management and BIM coordination, as well as HVAC BIM. Among the projects she delivered were University of Auckland B201 (project value of $250m), Manawa Bay Outlet Centre ($200m), and AIAL Transport Hub ($350m).

Elsamari Botha – MBA Director at University of Canterbury 

Associate Professor Elsamari Botha is the MBA Director at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and an extraordinary associate professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. With 15 years of consulting experience, and experience assisting from small businesses to large corporates, Elsamari’s research focuses on adopting and monetising new technologies in organisations and digital strategy development, focusing on Artificial Intelligence. With a PhD in Industrial Economics and Management from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Elsamari has published in leading international journals. She has also been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in both Higher Education and Consulting, and has various advisory and governance positions.

Louisa Bloomer – Asia Pacific Digital Practice Leads, and Digital Director at Stantec

Louisa Bloomer leads Stantec's digital and innovation efforts across New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. As the Asia Pacific Digital Practice Leads and Director for Digital Technology, she guides a team of digital experts while aligning digital strategies and direction for 4,500 professionals across APAC.

A trusted advisor, Louisa excels in developing digital governance frameworks and fostering innovation as a mentor and coach. She is the founder and chair of Stantec’s Digital Governance group and has been instrumental in building a regional community that delivers industry-leading projects in spatial data, digital automation, digital engineering, and geospatial services.

Megan Pearce – Senior Associate, Technology & Digital at Anderson Lloyd 

Megan Pearce is a Senior Associate in Anderson Lloyd's Technology & Digital team having joined the team in 2019 following six years in Chapman Tripp’s TMT team specialising in IT procurement and digital transformation projects, privacy and cyber-security law. Megan has advised numerous private and public sector organisations on a range of privacy and data security issues, including advising on the privacy law implications of implementing new technologies, privacy breach response as well as third-party data processing arrangements. Megan's expertise also includes advising in respect of a number of complex IT transformation projects and the procurement of SaaS and other cloud-based services. Megan is currently ranked as a Rising Star in The Legal 500's 2023 directory for Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT).