Meagan Suckling got the idea to start a resource group for young women at the kick-off meeting of the women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG).

The ERG — the first at Queen’s and one of two in Canada — was in the works for two years before launching last November. The ERG is a partnership between the Equity Office and Human Resources and was met generally with support from employees.

Suckling, the marketing and communications coordinator for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, coordinated the Young Women at Queen’s (YWQ) initiative.

Suckling said the ERG kick-off meeting was where she got the idea to start an initiative that would focus on professional development, networking and mentorship for young women ages 20-35 working at Queen’s, including faculty and staff.

Right now, she said, there are no specific plans for the group and the members will wait to hear feedback at YWQ’s first meeting before deciding what specific goals the group will aim to accomplish and how it will plan to accomplish them.

“What we hope develops at the first meeting is deciding exactly what sort of events that young women want to see,” she said.

“That could be anything from a social group, just getting everyone together, to a mentorship kind of group where we have older mentors working with younger women.” Suckling said the University has been supportive of female staff.

“Queen’s has provided fantastic opportunities for everyone that works here — this is just a way that we can continue to develop Queen’s as a vibrant and innovative place where people can really thrive,” she said.

“The support is great and we’re just hoping to move forward and be progressive.”

So far, there are approximately 15 registrants for YWQ’s first meeting, which will take place Feb. 20 from 12-1 p.m. in Mackintosh-Corry Room B176.