We are pleased to open the floor to Dr. Andrea Hemmerich, Adjunct Assistant Professor – Faculty of Engineering at McMaster for a discussion on embracing diversity for creative excellence in design.

We’re missing out on top tech talent because equity-deserving groups, including women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ2S+ folks aren’t well-represented. It’s not just about having fewer qualified candidates; it’s also about lacking diverse perspectives that drive innovation. We must go beyond boosting diversity and reimagine our innovation and organizational culture for true creativity to thrive.

Event Details

In this session, you’ll learn about equity-based design approaches that focus on people before technology to create inclusive, innovative design solutions that resonate with a wider group of end-users. By reflecting on our personal values and how these are supported within our teams and organization’s leadership, we will explore ways to hold space for creative opportunities to emerge from our diverse identities within a collaborative innovation ecosystem.

If you are a business leader, member of a design team, or aspiring contributor to the tech industry, join the session to explore the benefits of integrating our values and unique identities in the innovation process.

In this session, Dr. Andrea Hemmerich, a biomedical researcher, educator, and Co-Founder of Up4 The Challenge, will discuss:

• How incorporating identity into our work can enhance creativity;
• The impact of personal values on collaboration and decision-making;
• The role of team diversity in fostering an inclusive organizational culture and value creation.

Meet the Speaker

Dr. Andrea Hemmerich, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Faculties of Engineering at McMaster University & Queen’s University, Co-founder at Up4 The Challenge

Dr. Andrea Hemmerich is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Faculties of Engineering at Queen’s and McMaster Universities and Co-Founder of a not-for-profit social enterprise, Up4 The Challenge. She teaches graduate courses in Design Thinking, building on her research and design practice that extends across engineering, health and wellness, and international development fields. Her projects have addressed maternal health challenges, orthopaedic implant design, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems in Africa and South Asia. At Up4 The Challenge, she and her team co-create and deliver hands-on programming for youth that promotes STEM (science technology engineering and math) as a means to achieve positive social change in the community. Andrea’s priorities are to create opportunities for social impact through a human-centred approach to design and innovation.