Agents of Change: Women Building Women

Description

The HAVAN Women’s Council is proud to present Agents of Change: Women Building Women—an evening designed to empower, connect, and ignite meaningful conversations.

Special Guest:
Annelise van der Veen, MCRP (she/her/hers)
Manager of Strategic Projects & Operations, Purpose Driven Development

Annelise will share her journey leading the Soroptimist House project in Vancouver: a groundbreaking women-led development delivering 135 affordable homes for women. With $85M in secured funding, expedited rezoning, and an all-female company at the helm, this project is a living example of mentorship in action, social impact, and sustainable development.

“We’re not just in it to build buildings, we’re in it to deliver communities where everyone can thrive. We focus on a triple-bottom-line approach: social and environmental sustainability, with long-term financial success.”
— Carla Guerrera, Founder & CEO, Purpose Driven Development

Why Attend?

• Connect with inspiring leaders shaping the future of residential construction.
• Learn from lived experiences in mentorship, development, and leadership.
• Grow your network with peers equally committed to advancing careers and driving industry change.

This event welcomes everyone committed to supporting and advancing women in the residential construction industry.

Giving Back
Ticket proceeds from the HAVAN Women’s Council Agents of Change series support the BCIT ACE program, a pathway initiative providing recent high school graduates with skills in design, construction management, and technical training.

Don’t miss out—reserve your seat today and join the movement! Register now.

SPECIAL GUEST INTRODUCTION

Annelise van der Veen, MCRP (she/her/hers)
Manager of Strategic Projects & Operations, Purpose Driven Development

As Manager of Strategic Projects at Purpose Driven Development, Annelise van der Veen brings a background in local government and urban planning to her leadership in securing and structuring financing for complex mixed-income, mixed-use developments with non-profit, First Nation, faith-based, and investor partners. Guided by a commitment to wellbeing and inclusion, she ensures projects deliver on sustainability, affordability, and long-term financial viability.

Annelise’s career in development has been shaped by her leadership on the Soroptimist House project in Vancouver—a women-led development delivering 135 new affordable rental homes for women at all stages of life at a transit-oriented site. The project exemplifies not only community impact, but also mentorship in action: it created opportunities for young women professionals in design, development, and construction to grow into leadership roles. Annelise herself advanced from Development Coordinator to Development Manager, and most recently into a finance-focused role, under the mentorship of Purpose Driven Development’s CEO Carla Guerrera and senior finance consultants on the project.

This lived experience has made Annelise a passionate advocate for embedding mentorship and professional development into the systems and culture of real estate development. By both benefiting from and extending mentorship opportunities, she contributes to building a stronger pipeline of women leaders who are transforming the industry and delivering community-owned, impact.