The S.L. Devereaux Award for the Advancement of Women in the Engineering Profession recognizes engineers who, through their engineering and career achievements, have demonstrated noteworthy contributions to the advancement of women in the profession. This includes being recognized as a role model within the profession. 

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Andrea Doncaster, P.Eng., has combined a successful engineering career with a longstanding commitment to creating opportunities for women in engineering. Through her work as a structural engineer, business owner, educator, and volunteer, she has helped create pathways for students, emerging professionals, and women pursuing careers in engineering. 

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Andrea began her engineering studies at Acadia University before earning her Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1995 and her Master of Applied Science in 1997. After beginning her career with Campbell Comeau Engineering and later joining BMR Structural Engineering, she established herself as a respected structural engineering consultant known for her practical approach and collaborative style. 

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In 2012, Andrea founded Andrea Doncaster Engineering Limited. What began as a sole proprietorship has grown into a multidisciplinary engineering firm with expertise in engineering, CAD, and project management. The firm's growth has provided opportunities for students, early-career professionals, and aspiring engineers while demonstrating the success of a woman-owned consulting practice in a field where women remain underrepresented. 

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From 2012 to 2019, Andrea served as Engineer-in-Residence at Dalhousie University, bringing industry experience into the classroom and helping students better understand professional engineering practice. She has continued to support future engineers through Dalhousie's Capstone Project program, mentorship of Engineers-in-Training through Engineers Nova Scotia, and co-op and early-career opportunities within her firm. 

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Her involvement with initiatives such as Go ENG Girl and Techsploration has introduced young women to careers in engineering, science, and technology while providing opportunities to hear directly from practicing engineers. Through presentations, mentorship, and volunteer involvement, she has helped encourage young women to consider careers that may previously have seemed out of reach. 

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Andrea has also contributed extensively through committee work, education, and professional service. She has served on the Structural Design Committee of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes and currently serves on the National Model Code Committee on Referenced Documents. For more than a decade, she taught Structural Engineering for Non-Structural Engineers through Dalhousie Continuing Education, helping professionals from a variety of disciplines better understand structural engineering principles and practices. 

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Many students, engineers-in-training, and young professionals have benefited from Andrea's guidance. Through mentorship, workplace experience, and educational initiatives, she has helped prepare future engineers for professional practice. 

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Beyond engineering, Andrea has maintained an equally strong commitment to community involvement. She has served as Past President and Honorary Life Member of the Halifax YWCA, Past Board Chair of the Penhorn Lake Area Trails Association, a longtime participant in the MS Bike Tour fundraising event, and a coach in both university and youth basketball programs. 

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In 2010, Engineers Nova Scotia recognized Andrea with its Citizenship Award for contributions to both the profession and the community. Since then, she has continued to invest her time and expertise in initiatives that support education, professional development, and greater participation within engineering. 

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The impact of Andrea's work can be seen in the students she has taught, the engineers she has mentored, the organization she has built, and the many women who have been encouraged to pursue careers in engineering. Through education, mentorship, professional service, and example, she has helped foster a more inclusive profession for future generations. 

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For her accomplishments as a structural engineer, her dedication to mentorship and education, her leadership in creating opportunities for women in engineering, and her lasting impact as a role model within the profession, Andrea Doncaster, P.Eng., receives the 2026 S.L. Devereaux Award for the Advancement of Women in the Engineering Profession.