UCalgary event celebrates women in leadership

Many women in leadership empower others to take the lead, as well.

That’s the focus of a special March 7 panel hosted by the University of Calgary’s Office of Institutional Commitments and Calgary Public Library ahead of International Women’s Day 2025.

The lunchtime panel will feature three women paving the way in their fields, including a player with the new Calgary Wild FC, a quantum scientist and the Library’s very own CEO. This diverse group has one thing in common: they all showcase strength and leadership, despite challenges.

As a thought leader on subjects related to women’s issues, UCalgary is committed to creating awareness about the status of women across our society, says Provost Sandra Davidson. 

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women around the world, while also recognizing the ongoing work still necessary to ensure rights, equality and empowerment for future generations of women and girls,” says Davidson, PhD.

Calgary Public Library is likewise committed to using its platforms in conjunction with UCalgary to provide women in leadership a stage to share their stories. Nothing shows this commitment more than CEO Sarah Meilleur, BA’01, who led the design thinking, completion and launch of the award-winning new Central Library, which has seen more than five million visitors since opening in November 2018. 

Meilleur says she’s passionate about how public libraries transform lives, and works to foster curiosity, innovation, belonging and fantastic visitor experiences.

“International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity to honour and recognize the ways in which women make a difference in the lives around them. It shows how far women’s rights have come, and also the distance still to go. As a CEO, I feel a responsibility to help younger women see themselves in positions of influence and power, and contribute to a strong and healthy future for all women,” says Meilleur, CEO for Calgary Public Library.

Panellist Farkhunda Muhtaj, a graduate of York University, is a soccer luminary and social activist who unites the worlds of sport, education and humanitarianism. Muhtaj’s instrumental role in the evacuation of more than 300 people from Afghanistan, including the Afghan Youth Women’s National Football Team and their families in 2021, was profiled in the Cannes Lions Award-winning documentary, We Are Ayenda. 

Muhtaj currently serves as captain of the Afghanistan Women’s National Football team and, starting in April, will play professionally with the Calgary Wild FC of the Northern Super League as it launches its first season. Her social-activism work champions gender equality, anti-racism education, refugee and newcomer support, and humanitarian relief through sport and physical-wellness initiatives. 

Dr. Megan Lee, meanwhile, is managing director of Calgary’s Quantum City and has nearly 20 years’ experience across the full spectrum of research, innovation and commercialization. Lee, PhD, has a significant depth of experience in various organizations from operational leadership at a publicly traded biotech company and the world’s top university-affiliated incubator, to a large oncology research and care-funder.  

The panel will take place March 7 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Library (International Women’s Day itself is on March 8). Attendees have the option to participate online or in person. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees and both for online and in person the event is free to attend. For more information and to register, visit the event page.