Maria Tkacheva, Defence Industry Leader and Mentor, Roshel, Incorporated

As Chief Operating Officer at Roshel Inc., Maria Tkacheva oversees production, workforce management, and logistics coordination for a rapidly expanding defence manufacturer. She entered the sector without the traditional pathway of military service or engineering training, building credibility through communications and operations — areas often underestimated, but critical to operational success — and helped grow a small Canadian company into a contributor to international security supply chains.

Her professional foundation began in strategic communications and corporate operations, where she managed large-scale international projects and stakeholder coordination. That experience shaped her leadership philosophy: complex missions succeed when people, logistics, and information flow reliably together. She later applied that mindset to industrial operations, overseeing workforce development, compliance systems, and large-scale production planning in an environment where delays can affect real-world safety outcomes.

During a period of unprecedented global demand for protective defence-related equipment, Tkacheva coordinated rapid operational expansion — aligning personnel, suppliers, and manufacturing capacity while maintaining regulatory and quality standards. The experience reinforced her view that defence production is ultimately human-centred work: equipment matters because of the people who depend
on it.

Alongside operational leadership, she has focused heavily on mentorship and professional access. Tkacheva actively supports emerging professionals through Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) and NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) network, advising women entering security and manufacturing fields where representation remains limited. She regularly speaks on leadership resilience and inclusive team-building, emphasizing practical competence over stereotype or background.

Her influence extends into professional development initiatives across Canadian manufacturing and defence communities. She has been recognized among Canadian Defence Review’s Top 40 Under 40 in Defence and Plant Magazine’s Top 10 Under 40 lists, distinctions reflecting peer recognition of both performance and sector impact. She also serves as a judge for international business communications awards, reflecting her continued role bridging operational and communications leadership disciplines.

Holding a master’s degree and an Executive MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, Tkacheva advocates continuous learning as a leadership responsibility. She often encourages younger professionals to enter unfamiliar fields confidently, arguing that industries evolve fastest when new perspectives are allowed to contribute.

Outside her professional work, she is equally committed to modelling sustainable work-life balance in leadership roles, openly integrating family life alongside senior responsibility and encouraging the retention of women in demanding
careers.

Tkacheva’s career reflects a broader shift in modern defence institutions — where operational effectiveness depends not only on uniformed service, but on diverse expertise supporting it. Her contribution lies in making space for new kinds of leaders in traditionally closed environments.

Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Eleanor Taylor, OMM, MSM, CD, Humanitarian Leader, Veteran Advocate and Retired Infantry Officer

Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Eleanor Taylor served 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces in the combat arms branch, building a career defined by responsibility for others in demanding environments. Her service culminated in a historic milestone during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.

In 2010, while deployed to Kandahar, Taylor became the only woman at the time to command a NATO infantry combat subunit in theatre. As Officer Commanding Charles Company in Panjwayi district, she led sustained combat operations in one of the mission’s most volatile regions. The role required constant judgment — balancing mission success with the safety and morale of her soldiers. Her leadership demonstrated that combat credibility rests on competence, preparation, and trust rather than gender. Her service was recognized with appointment to the Order of Military Merit, and the awarding of the Meritorious Service Medal. 

Her connection to Afghanistan remained deeply personal. A friend and colleague of Captain Nichola Goddard, Taylor has remained a strong supporter of the Nichola Goddard Fund, helping preserve the legacy of Canada’s first female combat casualty and supporting initiatives assisting military members and their families.

When Afghanistan fell in 2021, Taylor again stepped forward. Serving as volunteer operations officer for the veteran-led humanitarian coalition, the Afghan Strategic Evacuation Team (ASET), and then as Chief of Staff for the newly established not-for-profit organization Aman Lara, she coordinated efforts to help evacuate Afghans who had supported Canada’s mission. Working across time zones and agencies, she helped drive a veteran-organized operation that brought many at-risk individuals to safety — continuing a responsibility she felt did not end when the mission officially closed.

Her commitment to service also shaped her involvement with the True Patriot Love Foundation. Beginning as a volunteer, she later became Lead of Community Engagement and Advocacy, helping ensure veteran voices anchor the organization’s initiatives. 

A strong advocate for women veterans, Taylor served on Veterans Affairs Canada’s inaugural Women Veterans Council and provided testimony to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs study that resulted in the report Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans. Her focus has consistently been practical — ensuring policy reflects lived experience.

Today Taylor continues supporting serving members, veterans, and families, guided by a leadership philosophy formed in uniform: service is not defined by rank or employment but by responsibility to others.

Taylor was nominated by Captain (Navy) (Retired) Andrea Siew, Esprit de Corps Women in Defence Award recipient (2022)

Honorary Captain (Navy) Jeannette Southwood, Cape Scott and National Naval Engineering Community, EVP, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Engineers Canada

Honorary Captain (Navy) Jeanette Southwood has built her career at the intersection of engineering, public policy, and national service. As Executive Vice President (EVP) of Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at Engineers Canada, she helps shape policies affecting more than 330,000 engineers across the country. Her appointment as the first Honorary Captain affiliated with the Royal Canadian Navy’s national naval engineering community and Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott reflects her unique role linking civilian engineering expertise with national security.

An engineer by training and an award-winning national leader, Southwood has focused her work on strengthening public confidence in the engineering profession while advancing equity and sustainability. As a woman engineer of colour, she has also challenged long-standing assumptions about who belongs in leadership roles, emphasizing that diversity of perspective improves decision-making rather than complicating it.

Her involvement with the Royal Canadian Navy grew from recognizing shared challenges between civilian infrastructure and navy engineering — reliability, safety, and accountability under pressure. In her Honorary Captain role, she supports outreach, mentorship, and professional development within the naval technical community, helping connect engineers in uniform with industry, academia, and the broader public.

Southwood is widely recognized for mentorship. Through Engineers Canada initiatives as well as the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) PhD Project, the Black Engineers of Canada network, and the WXN Wisdom Top 100 Mentorship Program, she has supported early-career professionals navigating technical and leadership pathways. Her participation in Women in Defence and Security (WiDS), the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) has further extended this work internationally, promoting inclusive participation in security and technology sectors.

For Southwood, representation is not symbolic but practical — expanding the profession improves innovation and public safety outcomes.

Her advice to young professionals reflects this perspective: careers develop through persistence, curiosity, collaboration and willingness to learn from setbacks. She encourages emerging engineers to remain open to unexpected opportunities and to seek mentors across disciplines.

Looking ahead, Southwood continues advancing Engineers Canada’s strategic priorities in sustainability, inclusiveness, and public awareness while strengthening collaboration between Canada’s engineering community and the Royal Canadian Navy.

Southwood was nominated by Commander Iain A. Meredith.

Master Corporal Therese "Dollie" Simon, OMM, CD, Canadian Ranger

For Master Corporal Therese “Dollie” Simon, military service has never been separate from community service. A member of the Fort Resolution Patrol in the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1CRPG), her over three decades of service reflects a lifelong bond with the land, her people, and the North. Often referred to as an Elder, though she humbly resists the title, Simon has spent much of her life breaking down barriers of both gender and cultural misunderstanding. Her contributions have been recognized with the Order of Military Merit, one of the Canadian Armed Forces’ highest honours.

Simon has become a bridge between the military and northern communities. Her leadership does not begin in classrooms or training halls, but at kitchen tables, listening, sharing, and guiding conversations about resilience, healing, and trust. Through presence rather than authority, she has helped strengthen relationships between the Rangers and the 64 remote communities across the Arctic.

Her path began in childhood, where she was always happiest outdoors, able to watch the Rangers depart on patrol. Joining them allowed her to serve Canada while remaining rooted in her cultural and environmental heritage. Alongside her Ranger duties, she worked as a teacher and community wellness coordinator with the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, extending her influence into education and well-being.

One of her most enduring contributions has been leadership of the Junior Canadian Rangers program. Stepping forward when a predecessor could no longer continue the role, Simon combined her teaching background with mentorship to guide youth in Fort Resolution for three decades. She measures success not by awards but by transformation — seeing young people once struggling become confident community leaders.

For the past five years she has also served as a ranger mentor with 1CRPG Headquarters, travelling across the North to support patrols, encourage women in leadership, and strengthen the Junior Ranger program. She describes the role simply: being present, listening, and encouraging others.

Her selection marks the first time a Canadian Ranger has received this award, recognizing a form of service long rooted as an essential part of Canada’s defence team, built over generations of partnership and trust building with northern-based communities. 

Simon remains focused on expanding youth programming and ensuring traditional knowledge continues to be passed forward. Her advice reflects her approach to service: give your best effort, remain true to yourself, and support those around you.

Simon was nominated by Lieutenant-Colonel Travis Hanes.

Commander Teri Share, CD, Naval Warfare Officer, Royal Canadian Navy

Commander Teri Share commands HMCS Margaret Brooke, an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) designed for operations in some of the most challenging maritime environments in the world. She leads a crew responsible for sovereignty patrols, international deployments, and presence operations in the Arctic — a role that places operational leadership, crew welfare, and national representation on a single platform.

Share’s interest in the Navy grew from a lifelong connection to water and exploration. As she approached graduation, she considered careers ranging from engineering to environmental sciences before choosing the Regular Officer Training Plan.
The opportunity combined structured education with a profession built on responsibility and teamwork — elements she saw as defining a meaningful career.

Over time she advanced through the Naval Warfare Officer occupation, serving aboard multiple ships and on many international exercises. The steady progression through operational roles reinforced a leadership philosophy centred on competence and trust: credibility at sea depends on preparation and the confidence of the crew rather than authority alone.

One of the defining moments of her command came when HMCS Margaret Brooke crossed the Antarctic Circle — the first Royal Canadian Navy ship ever to do so. Operating in remote, ice-laden waters required coordination, planning, and sustained crew cohesion. For Share, the achievement was less about the milestone itself and more about the collective professionalism that made it possible.

Throughout her career, she has seen the influence of those who served before her. Rather than focusing on barriers directly, she emphasizes continuity — each generation widening opportunity slightly more than the last. Leadership, in her view, carries responsibility not only for mission success but also for the culture experienced by those serving.

She describes command primarily as stewardship: maintaining standards while ensuring sailors feel valued and supported. The close environment of a ship means morale and operational effectiveness are inseparable, making communication and consistency essential leadership tools.

Her advice to younger members is direct — commit fully, contribute actively, and take pride in professional competence. Confidence, she believes, grows naturally when preparation meets responsibility.

Following a period of high operational tempo, HMCS Margaret Brooke will enter refit while Share begins second-language training, continuing her professional development in preparation for future leadership roles.

Share was jointly nominated by Commodore Jacob French and Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz, Esprit de Corps Women in Defence Award recipient (2021).

Honorary Colonel (Retired) Lee-Anne Quinn, OMM, CD, Community Leader and CAF Nurse Practitioner (Retired)

Honorary Colonel (Retired) Lee-Anne Quinn’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to care as service. Over 26 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a nursing officer and nurse practitioner, she served in conflict zones, remote communities, and operational deployments before continuing that same mission among veterans and vulnerable civilians at home. She later became the first woman appointed Honorary Colonel of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, extending her role from caregiver to institutional mentor.

Joining the CAF in 1987, Quinn advanced her professional education through military service, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s degree as a primary health care nurse practitioner. Her leadership culminated in five years as CAF Nurse Practitioner Lead, where she helped formalize the nurse practitioner role within military healthcare — a contribution recognized through her appointment to the Order of Military Merit. 

Her operational career spanned demanding environments including Somalia, Rwanda, the Balkans, and Afghanistan, as well as isolated First Nations and Inuit communities in Northern Ontario and the Yukon. 

These experiences shaped her belief that medical care in uniform extends beyond treatment to trust, stability, and reassurance in uncertain conditions.

Physical endurance and resilience marked her service as well. In 1993 she joined an eight-person military team that carried a stretcher over 270 kilometres non-stop, entering Guinness World Records — as the only woman participant in the event. 

After retiring in 2008, Quinn continued serving her community in Peterborough. She founded the Brock Mission Primary Care Clinic providing free medical care and medications to homeless individuals, including veterans. She then raised over $250,000 to sustain the program before transitioning it from a nurse practitioner to physician-run model in 2025. 

She also guides veterans through complex benefits processes and frequently speaks to new Veterans Affairs Canada staff about the realities faced by former members. She further contributed formal testimony to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs study on the experiences of women veterans that led to the report Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans.

Her service extends beyond veterans. Since 2015 she has helped sponsor and support the settlement of more than two dozen Syrian and displaced Iraqi refugees into the Peterborough community. 

She also volunteered as a Nurse Practitioner at Camp Maple Leaf for children of fallen CAF members, reinforcing her commitment to military families. 

Across military and civilian roles, Quinn’s impact rests in continuity: the same compassion guiding battlefield medicine now supports veterans, families, and newcomers to Canada. She encourages younger professionals to serve with empathy, remain persistent, and remember that helping others is a lifelong responsibility rather than a career phase.

Quinn was jointly nominated by Brigadier-General (Retired) Gregory B. Mitchell, Honorary Colonel R. Kenneth Armstrong, and Ms. Michelle Ferreri.  

Sergeant (Retired) Jessica Miller, CD, Peer Support Advocate and CAF Medical Assistant (Retired)

Sergeant (Retired) Jessica Miller served 22 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a medical technician, including operational deployments to Afghanistan. Her transition from military service to civilian life became not simply a personal adjustment but the start of a new mission: addressing the systemic invisibility of women veterans, especially those impacted by military sexual trauma.  

Following her medical release in 2018, Miller founded the Veteran Farm Project Society in rural Nova Scotia. Each farming season roughly 150 women, veterans and spouses, participate in  programming that, since inception, has provided tangible supports to approximately 900 veterans and 300 family members. 

A central component of the farm project is the “We Care” food-support program, addressing food insecurity — an often-overlooked challenge among veterans in transition. By integrating practical assistance with peer support, Miller sought to restore dignity alongside stability, emphasizing that well-being depends on both community and basic needs. The initiative emphasizes connection, shared experience, and purpose rather than diagnosis, creating an environment where recovery develops through trust and meaningful activity.

Miller’s military experience shaped this unique approach. As a medic, she observed both the strength of military cohesion and the difficulties many faced once separated from it. She also recognized that women frequently encountered additional barriers to recognition and care. Her advice reflects that perspective: resilience should never require silence, and seeking support should not be mistaken for weakness.

In 2021 she established the Sub-Lieutenant Abigail Cowbrough Garden for Joy as part of the larger Honouring Garden, now registered as a national military memorial. The project ensures women’s service and sacrifice are visibly represented within Canada’s commemorative landscape.

Miller has also become a national advocate, testifying before parliamentary committees on transition, gender-specific service gaps, and the impact of military sexual trauma, including in-person testimony to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs study on women veterans that produced Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans. She served as a founding member of Veterans Affairs Canada’s Women Veterans Council, advising on policy and program development.

She describes the most rewarding part of service as knowing her work directly affects people’s lives — a motivation that continues beyond uniformed service.

Looking ahead, Miller continues expanding the Veteran Farm Project while advocating for sustainable support structures for veterans and their families. Her focus remains practical: build community, remove barriers, and ensure no veteran feels isolated after release.

Miller was nominated by Captain (Navy) (Retired) Andrea Siew, Esprit de Corps Women in Defence Award recipient (2022)

Commodore Jeanne Lessard, CD, Logistics Officer, Royal Canadian Navy

Commodore Jeanne Lessard’s career reflects a steady reshaping of assumptions within the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
As Director General Naval Strategic Readiness, she advises the Commander of the RCN on force readiness, sustainment, personnel capability, and maritime information warfare. She is both the first woman to hold the position and the only non–naval warfare officer flag officer currently serving in the RCN — a distinction that challenges long-standing career expectations within the service.

Lessard left the Air Cadets to enter the Royal Military College of Canada at sixteen. There she joined the Logistics Branch, a path traditionally associated with support rather than operational command authority. Early sea postings aboard HMCS Montréal, HMCS Ville de Québec, and HMCS Protecteur built operational credibility and a reputation for reliability within shipboard teams.

Over time, she demonstrated that operational effectiveness depends as much on sustainment and planning as on tactical command. Her leadership assignments expanded from shipboard operations to institutional responsibilities, culminating in managing a multi-billion-dollar budget as Comptroller for the Chief of Military Personnel. The appointment broadened her understanding of how personnel policy and readiness intersect, reinforcing her belief that strategy succeeds only when logistics and people systems function
together.

A defining element of her career has been widening participation in senior decision-making spaces. While serving in NATO environments, she advocated for gender representation in senior delegations, ensuring family and personnel realities were considered alongside operational priorities. Her work supporting military families during the COVID-19 period in Belgium received formal NATO recognition, highlighting the operational impact of support systems, often viewed as
peripheral.

Her selection as a Flag Officer from a logistics background marked a significant institutional shift. Rather than following the traditional Naval Warfare Officer pathway, she demonstrated that readiness leadership requires diverse professional expertise. The appointment signaled broader recognition that modern naval operations rely on integrated capabilities — personnel, sustainment, and information — not solely command at sea.

Lessard is known as a mentor within the Canadian Armed Forces, particularly in her role as Senior Occupational Advisor for Logistics. She emphasizes preparation and confidence, encouraging members to bring their full professional identity forward rather than adapting to outdated expectations.

Her advice to younger members is consistent: believe in your abilities and don’t limit yourself. Stay true to your values, bring your uniqueness, and remember that you belong in the CAF.

Looking ahead, she continues focusing on readiness as a people-centred concept — ensuring operational effectiveness while sustaining those who deliver it.

Lessard was nominated by Colonel B. Maureen Wellwood, Esprit de Corps Women in Defence Award recipient (2018).