Ladies Learning Code

Girls Learning Code: 3D Printing Mentors

It’s the final countdown to the much anticipated 3D printing workshop with Girls Learning Code! Meet the experts and mentors:

Lead Instructors: Bi-Ying Miao and Matthew Compeau
(@hotpopfactory | http://www.hotpopfactory.com)
Hot Pop Factory

“Matt and Bi-Ying are the founders of Hot Pop Factory, a digital fashion studio based in Toronto. They use 3D printing to fabricate jewelry, creating intimate adornments for the human body. Drawing on their background in architectural design, the duo has developed a novel take on jewelry. Matt and Bi-Ying hope to use digital fabrication to disrupt the way people consume products and turn consumers into creators. As part of this mission, they offer 3D printing workshops to empower smart, young stylish women to take complete ownership of what they wear.”

3D Printing Expert: Andre Tiemann (http://printmyhouse.com)
Production at Entire Imaging Solutions

What are you passionate about? “3D Printing.”
Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “I have a few 3D printers. Plus I like anything 3D Printer related.”

3D Printing Expert: Kelly John Rose (@kjrose | http://kjro.se)
CEO at Panda Rose Consulting Studios, Inc.

What are you passionate about? “Bleeding edge technologies, improving everyone’s life.”
Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “It was a great way for Suzanne and I to meet similarly minded individuals in Toronto.”

3D Printing Expert: Derek Quenneville (@techknight | http://www.techknight.com)
Communications officer at Site 3, writer at Ponoko, developer and 3D printing evangelist at techknight.com

What are you passionate about? “I’m passionate about sharing the awesomeness of 3D printing, and all of the changes to society and manufacturing that come with it. I’m also a strong proponent of videogame preservation, and understanding game design/mechanics/UX.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “Because at least ten people forwarded Laura’s call for 3D printers to me. As you can see on my events page, I jump at just about any chance to get people excited about making: http://www.techknight.com/3d-printing-events-appearances/”

3D Printing Expert: Jacob Botden (@jacobbiljo)
Controls Designer – Designing, programming and wiring industrial machines – at Athena Automation

What are you passionate about? “Electronics design, 3d printing and the Open Source Hardware community.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “I always look forward to opportunities to expand the 3D printing community.”

3D Printing Expert: Becky Shrimpton

What are you passionate about? “Encouraging co-operation in innovation, regardless of what field you come from.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “I wish there had been more programs like this outside of Girl Scouts when I was growing up. If I can be part of one now that encourages positive growth that’s an amazing opportunity.”

Ashley Lewis (@AshleyJaneLewis)
Girls Learning Code Event Producer, TIFF Workshop Facilitator

What are you passionate about? “With a background in fine art, she also enjoys painting, sculpting and drawing when she isn’t coding. She loves collaborating on creative projects with people of different specializations and is currently aiding in the launch of Toronto’s first mobile Children’s Museum, inspired by the late great Marshall McLuhan. She has worked and interned for companies like TIFF and CBC and is thrilled at the opportunity to add Girls Learning Code to that list. As a lady learning code herself, she is excited at the thought of passing on that passion to younger generations.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “Girls Learning Code is an awesome organization! Seeing the girls learn skills and confidence in the realm of tech each week is really inspiring. We’re really motivating girls to be the best that they can be, all while having fun.”

Laura Plant (@lauralynplant)
Director, Ladies Learning Code

What are you passionate about? “Laura grew up all over Southwestern Ontario, moving around her whole life. Always “the new girl” Laura began to understand, pretty early on, the importance of relationships and “staying connected”. With an educational and professional background in Human Resources, Laura made the shift to the world of consulting four years ago and has not looked back. The link between technology and human relationships fascinates her. This has ignited a personal passion for exploring and helping others to learn how to leverage and evolve the technology available to us in our world today and even tomorrow. In her spare time, Laura is exploring what technology has to offer and how it can help her do her job better, much like many of Ladies Learning Code’s beginner-level students.”
Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “Laura is thrilled to have the opportunity to shape the way a group of 9-13 year olds view technology, and show them that it can be a creative medium for self-expression.”

Hannah Allen (@hannah_dna)
Intern, Girls Learning Code

What are you passionate about? “My background is in fine art and my passion has always been photography, but I’ve recently begun to immerse myself in the world of all things tech.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “I am the new intern at Girls Learning Code, and I’m excited to be part of such an exciting community! It’s interesting to see how much the level of comfort and understanding of technology has changed for the girls compared to when I was their age.”

Lucy Feng
RL Solutions

What are you passionate about? “My passion is for clean and functional user experience, and a advocate for our clients profusely…. If you were to ask me in the context of my current employment.  Life-wise, my passion lies in music. It started with piano in typical early childhood. I went to a performing arts high school, pursued biotech in university and landed in software as a professional. I picked up the guitar a few years ago and after some failed attempts to learn to play I’ve picked up enough skills to write the music and lyrics to a folk album. Recorded in my bedroom next to a noisy air conditioner last summer with my Thinkpad T-42, it’s about as close as I’ve ever been to chasing that passion. I like an audience and I have this energy that loves to come out in a performance, even if it’s just to my roommates who are trying to sleep.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “I’m not a developer but I value my limited knowledge of how programming works so very much. I think kids (of either gender) should be exposed to the kind of problem solving and critical thinking it takes to work in the tech industry.”>

Xing Xu Jiang
Grade 12 Student at Richview CI

What are you passionate about? “Music, sleeping and most of all computer science! Music is my passion during my spare time because I believe that music is the universal language in the world. Not only do i love music, but computer science is also on that list. Currently still in high school and I fell in love with programming. Programming is so much fun! But most importantly, for me it is a way that I can be creative and challenge myself.”
Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “When I first learned about Girls Learning Code, this program inspired me becuase this program made me truely believe that girls can make a difference in the world of technology. Ever since then I wanted to be a part of this program to inspire more young ladies to learn more about programming. I want more girls to believe that they can and will rule the world of technology.”>

Ami Sangster
Grade 12 Student at Richview CI

What are you passionate about? “I am passionate about many things including travelling, trying new things, and my education. When I’m travelling I enjoy the different cultures and exploring their past, and this usually brings me to trying new things. Most importantly I love computer programming because it allows me to design new programs and I think it’s fun!”
Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “I got involved with Girls Learning Code because the stereotype, of a very intelligent young man with glasses sitting at a computer typing, that is given to programming is very misleading and I want to help change that. A lot of my friends, who are girls, don’t realize that programming is not like a math or a science. Programming is something completely different, it allows you to play with your knowledge of problem solving and making a solution in your own way. If more girls could see that programming isn’t just random words and numbers, and that it’s actually really fun, then there would be more girls working with not only programming, but technology in general.”>

Andrea Zeelie (@azeelie)
Commuications Coordinator for HC Link

What are you passionate about? “I love to learn! I’m really interested in finding creative ways to display and disseminate health promotion information.”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “For so many reasons, but mostly because technology can be so empowering! I wish I had access to opportunities like this when I was a girl.”

Kathryn Barrett (@kathryn_barrett)
User Experience Web Designer at Bora New Ventures

What are you passionate about? “Simplistic interface design and overall user experience within web, mobile and physical environments. The development of technology and its corresponding experience has always been about taking risks and learning until something wonderful is created and I think now is the perfect time for more people to get involved and become creators. We live in such a fascinating world with such fascinating tools!”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “First and foremost, to share information and knowledge. Would also love to see more women in the industry.”

Dileshni Jayasinghe
University of Toronto

What are you passionate about? “Learning new technology, sharing my knowledge and being involved in open source projects. Also, the Toronto Raptors, and scuba diving!”

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? “To get more girls involved in technology.”