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September 21 and 22
2 days, 2 disciplines, 2 ways to participate – defining our professional roles and uniting to build more equitable, accessible and inspired communities.
#2GETHER2022
Facing change and guiding Ontario into the next quarter century
Diane Freeman is a Professional Engineer with over 25 years of engineering and project management experience. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers, the organization that recognizes accomplished engineers, who are dedicated to the application of science and engineering principles in the interest of the country, and a Fellow of Engineers Canada the national organization of the 12 engineering regulators that license the country's 295,000 members of the profession. Diane also has over 25 years of Board Governance Experience including serving in a variety of leadership roles.
Diane believes in the importance of volunteering her time and talents. She served the Engineering profession for over 25 years on the Board of Professional Engineers Ontario as well as the Board of Engineers Canada. On these boards, she held many executive positions including President of Professional Engineers of Ontario in 2010-11.
Diane has served on the Council of the City of Waterloo continuously since 2006. During her over 12 years on Council, Diane has been an unrelenting champion for building accessible communities by planning, funding and installing sidewalks, trails and dedicated bicycle infrastructure. Through her work on the Board of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Share-the-Road Coalition Diane helped to deliver Ontario’s first Bicycle Summit. This summit led to the creation of the Bicycle friendly community awards in Ontario as well as the first Provincial cycling strategy.
For her work in building a cycling friendly Ontario, Diane received a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal and a cycling leadership award from the Share-The-Road Coalition.
Spurred by the lack of licensed childcare space in Waterloo Region and a desire to inspire Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics learning in children, Diane led the incorporation, design, development, and fundraising of a 10,500 square foot not-for-profit childcare centre in Waterloo called the Butterfly Learning Centre.
Diane’s greatest achievement in her life will always be the legacy she is creating with her husband of 27 years, Peter Hicks. Peter is also a Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of Waterloo. Together they are raising two young men who inspire them daily to be the best they can be.