2026 Conference Speakers
Tools for Change: How Women Are Solving the Skilled Trades Shortage
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
2:30 p.m.
Women aren’t a “nice to have” in the trades, they’re the solution to Canada’s skills shortage. This session explores how unlocking women’s talent transforms worksites, boosts innovation, and strengthens our workforce. Aligned with Tools for Transformation, we spotlight the practical tools reshaping how we build and lead: inclusive recruitment, equity driven practices, and community partnerships that work.
We’ll also share how our company is already using these tools with proven best practices for welcoming, training, and retaining women in the skilled trades. Attendees leave with practical, ready to use strategies to attract and support women and build more inclusive, resilient workplaces.
Naomi Jehlicka
Director, External Relations and Development, Women Building Futures
Meet Naomi
Naomi Jehlicka is a senior executive, workforce strategist, and advocate for women’s economic advancement with nearly 15 years of experience driving system-level change across government, non-profit, and industry sectors. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives that help women access, succeed, and lead in traditionally male-dominated industries, including skilled trades, transportation, public safety, forestry, and construction.
Currently serving as Director of External Relations and Development at Women Building Futures, Naomi leads fundraising, industry partnerships, communications, and workforce inclusion initiatives. She oversees teams dedicated to helping employers build more inclusive workplaces and develop strategies to attract, retain, and advance women in skilled trades and other underrepresented sectors. Through this work, she collaborates with employers, governments, industry associations, and community partners to address workforce shortages while creating meaningful economic opportunities for women.
Naomi’s commitment to advancing women in the workforce extends beyond her current role. She has mentored emerging female professionals throughout her career, including women working in the public service and those navigating leadership pathways in traditionally male-dominated environments. Her volunteer work has also included supporting newcomer women as they enter the Canadian workforce and built professional careers in their adopted communities.
Prior to joining WBF, Naomi held progressively senior leadership roles within the Government of Alberta, where she led multidisciplinary teams of policy, engagement, regulatory, and technical professionals. Her accomplishments include leading legislative and regulatory reforms, designing new government departments, managing complex stakeholder engagement initiatives, overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, and guiding organizations through periods of significant change and crisis.
Naomi holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria, where her graduate studies focused on public policy, governance, and organizational leadership. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), Prosci Change Management Practitioner, and IAP2 Engagement Professional.
A sought-after speaker and collaborator, Naomi is passionate about building workplaces where women can thrive and helping organizations unlock the full potential of a diverse workforce. Her work sits at the intersection of workforce development, industry engagement, public policy, and organizational change, with a particular focus on creating sustainable pathways for women into high-demand, high-opportunity careers.
