Megan Ali (BASc, Electrical Engineering with Computer Science Minor, ’24)
Where are you from?
Oakville, Ontario
What brought you to UBC?
The great reputation of UBC’s engineering program. For the Okanagan campus specifically, I loved the tightknit community on campus, smaller class sizes and the easy access to pursue outdoor activities.
Why engineering? What inspired you to pursue education in this field?
I always loved solving problems. I grew up solving puzzles with my grandfather who is a retired engineer. I loved math and science classes in high school and had a high school shop teacher who encouraged me to join a robotics team. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career where I would get to solve problems using math and science concepts.
What were some of the most rewarding experiences as a student? (What were some of the challenges you faced?)
One of my most rewarding experiences was celebrating the OK Motorsports team achieving their best performance to date at competition in Michigan in 2023 alongside my hard-working teammates. It was amazing to see the results of our work pay off especially with all the growth the team had seen coming out of the pandemic.
Throughout my degree I have seen that the representation of women in the automotive and manufacturing industries are low, however I have been fortunate to have had female engineering mentors throughout my co-op terms.
Are there any club, design team, or other campus / school involvement you’d like to highlight?
I led the OK Motorsports team during my time at UBCO. I enjoyed my involvement in the team, collaborating with students in different programs and disciplines. I loved the sense of comradery that I had in working with my peers. The team also presented me with many opportunities to learn, grow and apply the concepts that I had learned in my classes and on my co-op terms.
What is your proudest moment at UBCO?
One of my proudest moments at UBCO was seeing our capstone project’s solution being successfully adopted by BC Cancer. Our project was to improve the process of generating lead face shields for skin cancer treatment. The new process was implemented and the results were overwhelmingly positive.
What are you most looking forward to about Convocation?
I am excited about getting to celebrate my time at UBCO alongside my friends and peers at convocation!
What is next for you? What are your future goals / plans?
I am taking some time off to go on a road-trip around BC, doing lots of hiking and mountain biking. At the end of the summer, I will be starting as an Associate Electrical Engineer for Saltworks Technologies in Vancouver where I will be working towards my P.Eng.
June 23 is International Day of Women in Engineering:
Do you have reflections on women in engineering?
I believe it’s incredibly important to have a community of supportive women in engineering and allies to provide a positive space for working and learning.
Are there any women in engineering who inspire(d) you?
My boss from my first co-op: Amanda Kalhous. She has had an amazing career in the communications and automotive industries. She works hard, is a great leader and was a great support for me.
Any advice for women looking to pursue a career in Engineering?
It’s important to find mentors that are approachable and supportive. As well as its important to pay it forward to help other women in engineering.