Guided by confidence and purpose, Dr. Cécile Siewe’s journey from engineering to leading a national hydro-meteorological service shows how one voice can shape science, policy and people. As WMO Executive Council Gender Champion and Canada’s Permanent Representative, she champions inclusive leadership that paves the way for the next generation.
Current Role
Dr. Cécile Siewe is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Meteorological Service of Canada in the department of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), in which capacity she also serves as WMO Permanent Representative of Canada and Executive Council Gender Champion. In her current role, Dr. Siewe leads responsibilities spanning weather prediction, climate monitoring, and critical environmental services.
Education and Early Career
She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London, and an MBA from the University of Calgary, Canada. Dr. Siewe started her career in academia as a Post-doctoral Fellow and Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, then over a decade in Research and Development with Shell Canada.
Public Service and Leadership
She later joined the federal public service, holding progressively senior roles across natural resources, energy transition, policy development, and environmental protection. Throughout her career, she pursued leadership positions where she can contribute to strategic decision-making and shape policy outcomes - work she finds deeply rewarding.
Inspiration for Pursuing a Career in Weather, Climate, and Water Sciences
Dr. Siewe’s path into weather, climate, and water science was sparked by a transformative conversation with her predecessor at the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), which highlighted the consequential nature of activities at national and global scales.
She highlights how weather and climate shape daily life and admires the dedication of professionals producing forecasts and climate data. Ultimately, that initial conversation inspired her to pursue a career in a field that touches every person on Earth - one where, regardless of global politics, collaboration remains essential.
Career Milestones
Being inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
An invitation-only honour awarded based on recognition of one’s peers for significant contributions to the engineering profession and for the benefit of Canadians.
First time stepping into a leadership role as a female engineer.
As a Black woman in the science field, this moment marked meaningful professional and personal growth. Over time, she became comfortable and confident in that space, recognizing the significance of representation.
Collaborative Leadership Approach
Dr. Siewe has sought career roles that align with what she genuinely enjoys and where she can make a meaningful impact. For her, motivation comes from influencing outcomes, shaping policy, and contributing to positive change.
Dr. Siewe’s collaborative leadership has been central to her career, enabling her to make a meaningful difference as she embraced roles of greater responsibility. She believes real accomplishments are realized through people by bringing together diverse expertise, building strong teams, and enabling everyone to succeed. She believes that learning can come from anyone, whether it’s an intern asking a thoughtful question, a colleague offering a perspective, or raising a challenging issue.
A memorable piece of advice from an early manager left a lasting impact on her leadership journey: "If you give a small person a big job, they will shrink the job . But if you give a big person a small job, they will grow the job."
Today she encourages emerging women leaders to be visible, take initiative and connect actively. She values when people approach her, as those conversations reveal aspirations and how she can support their growth. She encourages people to reach out proactively to leaders in their orbit, as taking this initiative can leave a lasting impression and demonstrates leadership.
Overcoming Challenges and Leadership Lessons
One of the earliest challenges Dr. Siewe encountered in her career was establishing credibility. She notes this is common for many professionals, but especially for women in male-dominated fields, where unspoken expectations and higher scrutiny persist. In successive leadership roles, she was aware of the importance of demonstrating her value by clearly articulating her strengths, supporting teams, and guiding organization’s evolution with purpose.
Dr. Siewe emphasizes that leaders must believe in themselves before expecting others to follow their lead. She reflects that confidence, clarity, and active listening have been essential in earning trust and navigating challenges. She also notes the importance of “contrarian voices” as a leader, those who ask hard questions and offer different viewpoints. For her, openness to such approaches is both a leadership tool and a continuation of the scientific mindset.
Dr. Siewe attributes her ability to overcome challenges to resilience. She believes setbacks are inevitable, but what matters is the capacity to pause, reflect, and move forward with purpose. Approaching difficulties with a solution-oriented mindset has been a guiding principle in her career.
Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, she shares: "No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes and sometimes even avoidable or frustrating ones. What matters is what you learn from them, how you adapt, and how you move on."
This mindset continues to influence how she leads teams and manages challenges today.
Inspiration and Advice for Aspiring Women in Weather, Climate, and Water
Self-belief
As a Gender Equality Champion in weather, climate, and water, Dr. Siewe emphasizes the importance of self-belief. She learned early in her life that confidence can be transformative, a quality she considers essential for young women entering scientific fields:
“Everyone can make a difference. If you believe in yourself, you can make a difference.”
Diversity of options
Dr. Siewe highlights the diversity of career options in this field. She encourages students to pursue subjects they enjoy, noting passion makes the journey easier and more rewarding.
“The field offers a wide range of roles, and no one should feel locked into a single path: there is room for everyone to contribute meaningfully.”
Mentorship is critical
She advises aspiring professionals to seek guidance from mentors and those they admire. Observing how others navigate challenges provides valuable lessons, but she emphasizes authenticity over imitation.
“At the end of the day, you cannot copy someone else entirely - you need to be yourself.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Siewe has seen firsthand the impact of curiosity, proactive engagement, and thoughtful guidance. Asking questions, paying attention to others, and learning continuously has been central to her career. Her message to young women is clear:
"Pursue what you love, cultivate your confidence, seek mentors, and embrace the opportunities that allow you to make a real difference in weather, climate, and water science."