For Edmonton’s Dr. Arlene Ponting, now considered one of Canada’s most powerful 100 women, yesterday marks the day when her career built on helping others was recognized.
This came to pass as the Women’s Executive Network announced their list of Canada’s Most Powerful 100 Women of 2009.
Ponting has spent years in the not-for-profit sector working to help educate the public in the field of science, in part as the CEO of the Science Alberta Foundation, an organization that gets youth interested in careers in science.
“I can’t think of a better way to help others than by helping them learn and grow and that’s tremendously satisfying when I look back on that,” said Ponting.
The list is divided into eight categories and has become one of Canada’s most recognizable honours bestowed on the country’s highest achieving women leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
The 100 women, from across the country, were presented the award at an evening gala comprised of winners, future leaders, and Fortune 100 leaders.
For Ponting, the event is a way to set an example for the future.
“I think it’s important that we recognize high achievement and it’s nice that women are recognized because we have had a slower ascent into executive roles, whether it be in the corporate or the not-for- profit, and this is a way of role modelling some of us who have done that to encourage others to come behind.”
