Women at the Centre

March 7, 2024

Celebrate International Women’s Week with six incredibly talented women, at different stages in their careers, who will share their experiences working on Ottawa’s most iconic project, Centre Block’s Rehabilitation Project. This is the largest, most complex project to rehabilitate a heritage building in Canada, EVER.

Centre Block and selected sections of Parliament Hill are undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation to meet the contemporary and operational requirements of the Parliament of Canada. The rehabilitation is a complex blend of heritage conservation with appropriate contemporary interventions.

This is an exclusive opportunity to learn more about the women leading this legacy project and network with other City BuildHERS in the most beautiful event space overlooking Parliament Hill, NAC’s O’Born Room.

Moderator

Jennifer Cross, Business Development Manager for MARANT Construction
For over 25 years, Jennifer has built a career focused on connecting people and projects to support leaders in propelling their businesses forward. Jennifer is a dedicated city builder and passionate about being a part of the growth and development of our downtown core as the Future of Work changes how we think about and occupy our city. She is well versed in building inspired relationships in the private and public sectors that have and will positively shape the future of our community and the built environment. Jennifer’s work in the community has been recognized with a number of industry accolades and awards including, the prestigious Ottawa Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40’ award, a nod from the Ottawa Business Journal on the Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies List, and a Top Finalist for Women’s Business Network’s Business Women of the Year. Jennifer also sits on The Ottawa Business Journal Advisory Board, many construction industry committees, spearheads fundraising events for the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and the Ottawa Mission.

Panelists

HOK

Tanya Crowder,
Senior Design Technology Specialist

Tanya Crowder is a Senior Design Technology Specialist at HOK, contributing to the CENTRUS BIM Team for the Centre Block Parliamentary Rehabilitation Project. In her role, Tanya manages software troubleshooting, strategic planning, and workflow implementation for Revit modeling. She provides training, conducts research for tools and applications, ensures BIM execution aligns with project goals, and establishes modeling and drawing standards. As part of the CENTRUS BIM Management Team, she reviews overarching BIM strategies under Mark Cichy, HOK’s Director of Design Technology. Tanya previously served as Assistant BIM Manager and Retail/Residential Project BIM Coordinator at WZMH Architects, where she implemented Revit and BIM standards. Before her architectural career, Tanya had a successful 20-year career in Professional Contemporary Dance in Canada, including work as a company dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Dance Matters, a charitable arts foundation supporting independent dance choreographers. Tanya holds an Architectural Technology Advanced Diploma from George Brown College.

Annegret Hayward, OAA,
Principal

Annegret is the Principal in Charge of the Centre Block Rehabilitation project in Ottawa. With 30 years of experience, she has managed a diverse range of projects in healthcare, government, corporate, commercial, and residential sectors. Annegret grew up in Freiburg, Germany and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at the Technical University of Berlin. She is also a trained as a teacher for vocational schools, having taught masons, carpenters, stucco plasterers and technologists in regards to the theoretic aspects of their profession. As a certified passive house designer, Annegret emphasizes sustainable design practices. Fluent in English, French, and German, she excels in effective communication and collaboration. Annegret is responsible for initiating, developing, and monitoring methods of technical production, quality assurance, and construction phase services for the Centre Block Rehabilitation project. Her holistic approach to design and passion for creating synergistic teams contribute to successful project outcomes. She encourages a comprehensive understanding of client needs and project goals, facilitating smooth navigation through complex projects.

Lynn Ferron, ARIDO, IDC, NCIDQ, LEED AP,
Principal, Registered Interior Designer

Lynn currently serves as a Principal, Interiors in HOK’s Ottawa practice. She is team lead for the CENTRUS Interior Design Team for the Centre Block project, aiming to modernize the iconic Canadian Parliament building. With over 30 years of experience, Lynn has led significant projects for major companies and government entities, receiving awards for her interior design work. Actively involved in professional organizations, Lynn serves on the ARIDO EOC Board and is an advisory board member for Algonquin College’s interior design degree program. Recognized for her professional achievements, Lynn was honoured as Distinctive Women’s Professional of the Year (2018) and was a finalist for the Ottawa Businesswoman of the Year Award (2019). She also received the Algonquin College Coop Employer of the Year in 2020 for her commitment to hiring and mentoring interior design students. Lynn engages in philanthropic activities in her community and is an avid hiker, with plans this year for a nine-day trek around Mont Blanc in the French Alps. She is married and a proud mother of two adult children.

WSP Global Inc.

Sarah Zakaib

Sarah joined WSP (then Halsall) in 2011 after graduating with her Master’s in Structural Engineering from Queen’s University. She has worked on a variety of buildings in Ottawa, including rooftop solar panel installation at schools across the city and seismic restraint of non-structural components. Sarah has been on the Centre Block Rehabilitation since 2017, working on the Investigations program to confirm site conditions and then leading the structural design of many Heritage spaces including offices, Committee Rooms, the House of Commons Chamber, and the Senate Chamber.

Susan Vivian

Susan Vivian leads CENTRUS, a WSP-lead joint venture with HOK Architects delivering architecture, conservation, and engineering services for the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project. Susan has been on the project since the award, acting as the Commercial Director from 2017-2021. Prior to the Centre Block Project Susan was WSP Canada’s Commercial Director, International Projects, and the global lead for WSP’s Long Term Agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services for the delivery of multidisciplinary consulting services in Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. She spent nine years based in Trinidad & Tobago during which time she started and lead what grew to be the company’s largest project management business at the time and oversaw the acquisition and growth of multidisciplinary engineering and architecture services. Susan holds a BA in Political Science and International Development from McGill University, and an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Concordia University.

Christie Lyons

Christie Lyons is a Professional Mechanical Engineer with over 15 years of experience in the design of HVAC systems for large commercial and institutional buildings. Currently working with the CENTRUS team on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project, Christie is a Senior Engineer focused on the offices, roofscape and BAS controls. Christie enjoys collaborating with all disciplines to create bespoke solutions for clients. Prior to joining CENTRUS, Christie served as a Director, Mechanical and Electrical, for WSP in southwestern Ontario. She has her undergraduate degree from Queen’s University, an MBA from Ivey School of Business and her PMP. She loves Ottawa for its small community feel and quality of outdoor activities.