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During day two of the #NLCABuildExpo2026, themed "Women Building Atlantic Canada," Tonya Whittle joins the show to discuss the critical intersection of culture, safety, and gender in the industry. As an empathy and human factors researcher, Whittle provides deep insights into why recruitment and retention remain significant challenges and how the industry can evolve to ensure women feel a genuine sense of inclusion and belonging.

Key topics from this interview include:

• Social-Emotional Safety: Moving beyond technical safety to address the social and emotional well-being of women on job sites.
• Barriers to Inclusion: Addressing unconscious bias and practical hurdles, such as the "pink it and shrink it" approach to equipment and the lack of appropriate facilities for women.
• The Burden of Representation: Discussing the complex feelings women often have between simply wanting to do their jobs and feeling a responsibility to build a better industry for future generations.
• Data-Driven Change: The importance of qualitative research and focus groups in turning personal stories into actionable data for organizations.
• Empathy in Safety-Critical Fields: A look at Whittle's latest research at the Marine Institute regarding seafarers and how empathy impacts risk perception and safety outcomes.

Whittle concludes with an optimistic look at the industry's trajectory, highlighting how the NLCA's initiatives for women are now being emulated across Canada and internationally.

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