Engineering a Healthier Future: Women Breaking Barriers at the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion
Left to right: Jessica McNeil, Project Manager, Healthcare Infrastructure (Industrial), Alex MacDonald, Project Manager, Operational Readiness (Industrial), Juliet Egbulefu, ICAT Project Manager (Environmental), Susanne Tiraei, Clinical Engineer (Biomedical/Clinical), Emma Leeshanok, Industrial Engineer, Operational Readiness (Industrial), Sabine Wilkie, Acting Director of Shared Technical Services (Civil/Structural), Nancy Soliman, Director, Project Delivery (Electrical), Courtney McCardle, Mechanical Engineer, Healthcare Infrastructure (Mechanical), Gail MacDonald, Project Director, Enabling Works and Renovations (Civil) and Britt Drysdale, Engineering Student (graduating in 2027; Mechanical).
International Women in Engineering Day – June 23, 2025
On June 23, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the trailblazers who are shaping our communities through innovation, resilience, and technical excellence.
Here in Halifax, 10 women engineers are doing exactly that—playing pivotal roles in one of the largest and most transformative healthcare projects in Nova Scotia’s history: the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project (HIEP).
Among them are Sabine Wilkie, Susanne Tiraei, and Emma Leeshanok – each bringing distinct expertise to a shared goal: building better care.
Sabine Wilkie, a Civil/Structural Engineer and Acting Director of Shared Technical Services, joined the project in November 2024 as Design Manager. She oversees the design team, coordinates with consultants, and engages stakeholders to ensure the facility meets both clinical needs and long-term resilience.
“We’re not just constructing a building—we’re creating a space that people need to trust,” says Wilkie. “It has to function, support care, and serve the community well into the future.”
Sabine’s advice to aspiring engineers? “Trust your character. Do the right thing. Ask questions – you’ll be surprised how often that moves things forward.”
Clinical Engineer Susanne Tiraei, who joined the team in October 2023, brings a patient-first mindset to the work. With a background in biomedical engineering, she focuses on medical technology integration, clinical workflow, and patient safety.
“My role revolves around patient safety. I advocate for a patient-centered approach in our design process, which organically leads to supporting clinicians in working efficiently and effectively. That means clinicians have the right tools, in the right place, at the right time.”
She looks forward to the opening of new acute care tower, which will help reduce wait times, speed up diagnoses, and deliver better outcomes. “I hope our systems support early diagnoses and high-quality treatments that help prevent conditions from advancing to critical stages.”
For Industrial Engineer Emma Leeshanok, the path to engineering wasn’t traditional. Initially a student of psychology, she discovered engineering in her first year of university and quickly changed programs. Now, she’s part of the operational readiness team helping clinical departments navigate construction impacts and prepare for the future.
“My work is about making sure things continue to run smoothly for staff and patients as the site evolves,” says Leeshanok. One of her current projects is updating wayfinding signage to help patients navigate changes within the facility.
Born and raised in Halifax, Emma sees her work as a way to give back. “I hope this new tower elevates care and helps to recruit the healthcare professionals we need to reduce pressure on our system.”
Her advice to other women? “Follow what interests you – even if the path isn’t linear. Every step teaches you something.”
Together with their colleagues, these three engineers are proving that women are not only vital to engineering—they’re leading some of the most life-changing infrastructure work in our region.
Left to right: Susanne Tiraei, Clinical Engineer (Biomedical/Clinical), Emma Leeshanok, Industrial Engineer, Operational Readiness (Industrial) and Sabine Wilkie, Acting Director of Shared Technical Services (Civil/Structural).