Melanie Ratnam is the Interim CEO of The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), an organization dedicated to advancing equity and fostering opportunities in STEM. For over 40 years, SCWIST has championed the full STEM lifecycle, supporting talent from education through to career advancement, with a strong focus on addressing barriers that persist along the way. Melanie’s work is centered on supporting STEM leaders who drive systems change, which she believes is important to Canada’s innovation ecosystem and future economic growth. She holds a PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Toronto and has mentored over 1,000 students, from elementary to university levels, helping them develop STEM projects in areas ranging from climate change to transportation. Melanie continues to shape SCWIST’s mission and advocacy efforts and for her contributions, she was recognized by Women and Gender Equality Canada during Women’s History Month in 2023.