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Women4Climate recently marked its first year under the banner.

Women4Climate (W4C) empowers professional women and gender-diverse leaders in Metro Vancouver to take action on urban climate initiatives.

ZEIC director of grants and strategic initiatives Sarah Lusina says W4C supports emission reduction in three sectors: building, transportation and urban renewable energy.

“Women4Climate provides women participants with practical leadership training and helps them build professional networks,” says Lusina. “We want women to reach leadership positions at the decision-making table.”

The is partnering with ZEIC on W4C.

ASI CEO Tamara Connell says her organization works with ZEIC to design the W4C program and deliver its training component.

Connell says what sets W4C apart is that the program enables mentees to build their leadership competencies to be more effective in their climate work.

“We provide them with opportunities to learn about such topics as transition leadership, power, engagement, biomimicry (the imitation of designs and processes found in nature) and community – giving and receiving support from others.

“We also enable them to connect with other women and gender-diverse leaders in the region, building their network and support systems.”

The 2025 Women4Climate program wrapped up in November 2025, with 20 mentors and an equal number of mentees in the cohort.

Mentee Mariya Chugay is a project manager at Light House.

Her climate initiative, the Circular Construction Accelerator helps businesses turn the challenges of new carbon-reduction targets into business opportunities.

Her mentor was Robyn Wark, manager, market transformation at BC Hydro.

“My project was in the early development stage when I joined the program and began meeting with my mentor,” says Chugay. “I had a lot of questions around how to structure project delivery so that I could maximize its impact for participating construction companies.”

Drawing on her mentor’s years of experience building and leading teams, “I was able to also learn valuable management skills that have contributed to a successful delivery of my project,” says Chugay.

Parisa Mohammadi (mentee) is energy manager at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), where she oversees the development of its energy and climate resilience plan at the university’s four campuses.

The goal of Mohammadi’s project was to strengthen the university’s sustainability efforts.

Her initiative’s main objective was to identify strategies that reduce UFV’s carbon footprint, enhance energy efficiency and build climate resilience.

Mohammadi’s mentor was Erin Desautels, senior energy and climate action manager for the City of Abbotsford.

“In addition to learning from Erin, networking with other members of my cohort was very valuable,” says Mohammadi. “Listening to others helped me to think differently about my work.”

Mentee Claire Ewing is a senior climate action specialist at the City of Richmond. She developed a software app to help organizations use free software to identify high-emitting buildings, aging heating systems and those communities that are most vulnerable to extreme heat or high energy costs, with the ultimate goal of targeting interventions for those most in need.

Ewing’s mentor was Winne Tam, director of operations, West Coast Environmental Law.

“The app was designed for the climate and buildings team in Richmond, but it’s simple to make and use, so anyone outside Richmond can make a similar app,” says Ewing.

Virginie Brunetaud, acting manager of climate change and sustainability initiatives at Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC), developed the organization’s climate change strategy.

The strategy details the programs and initiatives proposed by EGBC to advance climate action and sustainability in its operations and through its regulatory role.

Brunetaud’s W4C mentor was ZEIC executive director Melina Scholefield.

“Melina gave me the benefit of her experience and insight on strategy formation and messaging on climate change strategy on how to talk to boards,” says Brunetaud.

W4C was “an amazing experience,” she says. “Networking with amazing women was very beneficial.”

Tanja Milosevic, associate vice-president, sustainability, with

Grosvenor Property Canada, was one of the mentors in the fall 2025 cohort.

Her mentee was Ayden Kristmanson, sustainability specialist at Bosa Properties Inc., whose W4C initiative was to strengthen sustainability communication strategies.

“It was a fantastic experience,” says Milosevic. “I worked with Ayden as a thought partner, translating climate goals into clear language.”

Miliosevic says she gave Kristmanson some practical examples of how to communicate about climate change and sustainability to company executives and show them climate goals can also be effective business goals.

“It was a pleasure working with bright young people who are passionate about their climate initiatives,” says Milosevic. “I’d recommend the program to anyone.”