Fredericton, NB - The J.D. Irving, Limited 2019 Girls STEM Up Conference is the first event of its kind in Atlantic Canada. The conference aims to empower women and celebrate diversity across the traditional STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, where women have been historically underrepresented. Event organizers hope to drive conversation about the opportunities and barriers facing women of all ages from pursuing careers or further education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). 

“We are pleased to partner and sponsor the upcoming Girls STEM Up conference – a first for New Brunswick! We are committed to help empower the younger generation of females to get excited about pursuing careers in STEM. One key area where we want to see more females is in non-traditional occupations.” said Colleen Baxter, VP of Human Resources with the presenting sponsor, JDI. "There are so many opportunities and it is an absolute pleasure to support an event so focused on driving this kind of change. Our organization alone forecasts 7,500 full time hires over the next three years – many in STEM fields.” 

Girls STEM Up was inspired by a group of young, female students who found a knowledge gap among their fellow students relating to opportunities for women in STEM. The organizing committee is comprised of nine post-secondary students studying at the University of New Brunswick across multiple degree programs.

“We were incredibly excited when JDI extended an offer as the title sponsor,” said Jillian Lamb, the Girls STEM Up conference chair. “To us, it was validation that someone else believed in the same vision and goals.”

Girls STEM Up is open to women enrolled in high school or post-secondary education, as well as Allies (students who do not identify as women but support stronger female representation). Over 250 delegates are expected to attend the full-day conference at the Fredericton Convention Centre on March 23, 2019. Tickets for Girls STEM Up are $25 each for students and are available for purchase online until March 15th via https://www.girlsstemup.org/attend . 

About Girls STEM Up
Girls STEM Up is proud to present Atlantic Canada’s first conference dedicated to increasing engagement and excitement for women in STEM fields. Science, technology, engineering and math are disciplines that are fuelled by exploration and ambition. Year after year, we see that women are continually underrepresented in these fields and we aim to spark conversations about the adversities preventing women from pursuing these careers. This conference will bring new ideas to the forefront, foster networking opportunities and present an encouraging forum for delegates and speakers to share their experiences as women in STEM.

On March 23rd, we look forward to welcoming over 20 engaging speakers to the stage to connect with 250 bright delegates through keynote speeches, interactive workshops and panel discussions.

About J.D. Irving, Limited: 
Established in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited. (JDI) is comprised of a diverse group of enterprises, spanning agriculture, construction, consumer products, hydro energy, food, forestry, retail, shipbuilding and transportation. With a team of 16,000 full time employees across Canada and the United States, JDI employs best practices, continuous improvement and innovation to deliver top tier products and service every day. 

JDI strives to make a positive difference in its communities, prioritizing social, corporate and environmental sustainability. 

Media Contact:
Mary Keith
Vice President Communications
J.D. Irving, Limited
(506) 650-8209
(506) 632-5122
keith.mary@jdirving.com