UM proudly represented among Canada’s top 100 most powerful women in 2024

Five UM community members have been named among Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024, recognized for their leadership, vision, determination, passion and mentorship of others. 

The annual list is compiled by the Women’s Executive Network, a national member-based organization that celebrates the advancement of women in all sectors and of all ages. Categories in which UM has been recognized include women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), emerging leaders and professionals.   

The winners will be honoured at an awards event on Nov. 27 in Toronto. 

Professional award recipient

Dr. Hope Anderson vice-dean graduate and post-doctoral studies, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and professor, College of Pharmacy

Dr. Anderson is a member of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ executive leadership team and was involved in the development of the RFHS’s Strategic Plan, MOMENTUM: Envisioning Our Future. Along with important research in cardiovascular health and disease, she leads the development of initiatives and support programs for RFHS graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and empowers these individuals by enhancing their success and preparing them as future thinkers and problem solvers. She is a champion for the promotion of women in the academy.

STEM award recipients

Dr. Kristine Cowley Canada Research Chair in function and health after spinal cord injury, associate professor of physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, director of the Spinal Cord Research Centre for Health, Balance and Motor Control

Dr. Cowley is recognized globally as a research leader known for wide-ranging discoveries in biomedical neurosciences, clinical spinal cord injury (SCI) research and community-based knowledge translation and application that improves health and function after SCI. She has mentored over 40 undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral trainees since joining UM, including 24 women. Dr. Cowley is a long-standing innovator in person-centered research knowledge mobilization and policy advances to improve life quality of those living with SCI.

Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee professor of internal medicine and immunology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Sex and Gender Science Chair in Respiratory Health

Dr. Mookherjee is at the forefront of integrating sex- and gender-based analyses in biomedical research. Her pioneering work on how air pollution affects males and females differently, and its implication in respiratory disease susceptibility and progression, has garnered worldwide recognition. As a strong advocate for women in science Dr. Mookherjee is the founding member of UM’s WISDOM (Women in Science: Development, Outreach and Mentorship) and has made valuable contributions to mitigate some of the barriers related to women’s representation in academic and professional leadership positions. Her advocacy was recognized in 2021 when she was one of only 22 women selected by an EU Commission Women in Leadership Campaign, which recognized women leaders in science, technology and innovation.

Emerging Leaders award recipients

Dr. Leigh Michelle McClarty assistant professor, Institute for Global Public Health, department of community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine

With a background in microbiology and global public health, Dr. McClarty conducts research focused on ways to optimize public health programming for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. She is motivated by a desire to reduce global health inequities and is committed to improve health outcomes for marginalized and criminalized populations such as sex workers, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and transgender people, who face barriers to accessing and using safe and inclusive health services. Dr. McClarty focuses on populations in Manitoba, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ukraine that span the divide between scientific research and public health programs to improve health outcomes. Her findings will be used by governments and program partners to make incremental adjustments to programs that will lead to improved health outcomes.  

Dr. McClarty is the current president on the board of directors for Nine Circles Community Health Centre in Winnipeg, which provides low barrier, culturally safe prevention and comprehensive care services for people who are living with or are at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Dr. Melanie Lalonde  program development specialist, Wawatay program, Faculty of Science

Dr. Lalonde is a proud Red River Métis woman, an active member of the Métis community, holds the volunteer elected position as the treasurer of Seven Oaks Métis Council and is a member of the Infinity Women Secretariate. Dr. Lalonde embodies resilience, leadership and a profound commitment to empowering Indigenous voices, both in the community and in the sciences.

Dr. Lalonde has been a prolific research scientist, contributing significantly to the fields of ecology and evolution and has authored 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Her work has focused on resolving a 100 year-long debate regarding species nomenclature and led to the discovery of a new butterfly species: the Grey Buckeye (Junonia grisea). Dr. Lalonde is currently focused on nurturing the next generation of Indigenous scientists in the Wawatay program, where she helps guide Indigenous students by facilitating their exploration of science using Indigenous perspectives and western science. By embracing a two-eyed seeing approach, she helps foster respect and understanding of cultural relationships to further enrich the impact of science, while at the same time creating a sense of community. In 2022, Dr. Lalonde was honored as one of CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 Award recipients, further highlighting her role as an emerging leader in both academia and her community.

The full list of the 2024 Canada’s 100 Award Winners can be found here.

UM Today Staff