For Anja Lanz, P.Eng., FEC, advocacy for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) did not begin in a classroom or boardroom. It began through lived experience.

Early in her engineering career, Anja often found herself as one of the only women in the room, navigating environments where belonging sometimes felt tied to assimilation rather than authenticity. Rather than discouraging her, those experiences sparked important questions: Why do so many women leave STEM careers mid-way through? Why are diverse voices still underrepresented in leadership? And what opportunities, perspectives, and innovation are lost when inclusion is treated as optional rather than essential?

Those questions shaped the path Anja continues to follow today.

A Professional Engineer and passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Anja has dedicated much of her work to helping create more accessible, supportive, and representative spaces within STEM and science, engineering, technology, and trades (SETT) professions. Through mentorship, speaking engagements, advisory work, and initiatives such as ASTTBC’s Women in Engineering and Technology project, she has become a strong voice for meaningful systems change and inclusive leadership.

For Anja, equity and inclusion are not separate from technical excellence, they are fundamental to it.

“When we exclude perspectives, we build incomplete solutions,” she explains. “When we design systems, tools, and infrastructure without diverse voices at the table, we embed our blind spots into the built world.”

That philosophy guides her work across engineering, healthcare, governance, and community sectors, where she focuses on bridging technical expertise with lived experience and human-centred design. Her approach emphasizes not only innovation, but responsibility, ensuring that the systems and services professionals create are equitable, accessible, and responsive to the communities they serve.

Anja is also deeply passionate about mentorship and representation, particularly for women and underrepresented groups entering technical professions. She believes visibility matters, not only in recruitment, but at every level of leadership and decision-making.

“The talent is already there,” she says. “What we owe women in this field is the opportunity, the support, and the culture to thrive.”

Throughout her journey, some of the most meaningful moments have come not from technical achievements, but from connection and impact; hearing from young women who saw themselves reflected in her story and felt encouraged to pursue careers in STEM because of it.

For Anja, that is the work that matters most: helping ensure the next generation enters a profession where they feel they belong exactly as they are.

Her message to emerging professionals is both simple and powerful: take up space, seek out community, and do not wait until you feel perfectly ready before stepping forward.

“You belong here,” she says. “Not conditionally, not despite who you are, but fully, exactly as you are.”

As industries continue to evolve, Anja believes the future of STEM and SETT depends on more than technical advancement alone. It depends on creating professions where diverse perspectives are valued, ethical leadership is prioritized, and people are empowered to contribute fully.

And through both her engineering work and advocacy, she continues helping build that future every day.