Celebrating Women Shaping Canada’s Water Industry
The Canadian water treatment industry continues to grow and evolve thanks to the expertise, leadership, and dedication of professionals working across the country.
This International Women’s Day, the Canadian Water Quality Association is proud to highlight several women whose careers demonstrate the diverse paths and meaningful contributions shaping the future of water quality in Canada.
From engineering and product development to customer service and industry leadership, these professionals represent the innovation, collaboration, and commitment that define the water sector.
Jenna Smith
CEO, Neotec Water Treatment
Vice President, CWQA
Jenna Smith’s journey into the water industry wasn’t something she initially planned — it was an unexpected opportunity that ultimately became a passion and a purpose. With a background in accounting and finance, Jenna entered Neotec Water Treatment on December 2020, under a new management team, originally stepping in to support the company’s accounting and bookkeeping operations.
What began as a financial role quickly evolved into something much larger. Through dedication, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to both the team and the customers Neotec serves, Jenna’s responsibilities expanded — eventually leading her to step into the role of CEO.
Since entering the industry, Jenna has immersed herself in understanding water quality, treatment solutions, and the science behind safe, effective systems. Her passion for research and education has fueled her leadership style, ensuring that customers receive not just products, but knowledge and long-term solutions they can trust.
As Vice President of the Canadian Water Quality Association, Jenna is proud to contribute to advancing industry standards and supporting professionals across Canada. She is particularly passionate about mentorship and encouraging more women to pursue leadership roles within the water industry.
Balancing life as CEO of Neotec Water Treatment while raising four children as a single mother has shaped Jenna’s approach to leadership — grounded in resilience, adaptability, and hard work. She credits the incredible team at Neotec for being a cornerstone of the company’s growth and success, firmly believing that people make all the difference.
For Jenna, water isn’t just a business — it’s an opportunity to protect families, support communities, and continuously learn in an ever-evolving industry.
Taylor Morsky
Customer Success Manager & Process Engineer, Canature WaterGroup
Taylor Morsky is the Customer Success Manager & Process Engineer with the Canature WaterGroup Commercial division based out of Regina, Saskatchewan. In this role, she leads and supports the commercial team across Western Canada and the United States, assisting with commercial water treatment system design, technical guidance, and troubleshooting complex equipment challenges. She is recognized for combining strong technical expertise with a customer-focused approach, building strong customer relationships through support and thoughtful system design.
Previously, Taylor served as a Sales & Applications Engineer, where she specialized in designing commercial drinking water treatment systems for projects throughout North America. From initial sales consultation through system design and post-sale technical support, she played a key role in delivering tailored, effective solutions to meet diverse client needs over the last 8+ years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology (2014) and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Systems Engineering (2017) from the University of Regina, bringing a strong interdisciplinary foundation to her work in the water treatment industry.
Patricia Cook
Water Purification Product Manager – Reliance Home Comfort
I began my career in Water purification at Reliance Home Comfort in 2018 as the Water Treatment Manager for our Burlington branch. New to the industry, I embraced a steep learning curve, supported by the Canadian Water Quality Association (CWQA), whose courses and resources helped me build a strong foundation.
My growth strategy was focused on empowering our sales teams and plumbers to see water treatment beyond hard-water regions, highlighting the broader benefits of drinking-water improvement, softening, and chlorine reduction. Education, Installation integrity and adherence to all codes remained central to my approach.
In 2022, I became the Water Purification Product Manager, expanding this work across Canada. In this role, I guide product strategy, support cross-functional collaboration, and help shape our roadmap to meet evolving customer needs. Today, I remain committed to education, integrity, and elevating water quality in homes across Canada.
Lee Ann Babey
Customer Relations & Account Manager – Franklin Water Treatment Canada
Lee Ann Babey is a seasoned Customer Relations & Account Manager with 25 years of experience in the industry. Starting her career in an entry level role with Waterite Technologies, she has built a progressive and accomplished path through dedication, leadership, and a deep commitment to customer excellence.
With a decade of success in outside sales, Lee Ann developed a strong reputation for driving growth, nurturing long-term partnerships, and understanding customer needs from the ground up. Today, she oversees the customer service team for all Canadian operations, ensuring consistent, high quality service delivery across the country for Franklin Water Treatment Canada.
Known for her hands on leadership style, deep industry knowledge, and ability to strengthen client relationships, Lee Ann continues to be a trusted, strategic partner for both customers and colleagues.
Shelley Peters
Executive Director, CWQA
Shelley Peters has spent more than three decades contributing to the growth and success of the Canadian water treatment industry.
Her career began in 1988 as Purchasing Manager with Parameter Control, a distributor of water treatment equipment. Over the years she held several leadership roles including Office Manager, Operations Manager, Director of Sales, Vice President of Sales at Waterite Canada, and Director of Business Development for Canature WaterGroup.
Since 2018, Shelley has served as Executive Director of the Canadian Water Quality Association, where she supports industry professionals, promotes education, and strengthens collaboration across the water treatment sector.
Reflecting on her career, Shelley credits the industry for providing strong mentorship, professional opportunities, and a community she describes as both supportive and family-like.
“There is a technical aspect to the industry too learn, but if you have an aptitude for how things work then you can conquer this industry.”
Across Canada, women are playing a vital role in advancing water quality, strengthening industry standards, and supporting communities through innovative water treatment solutions.
The Canadian Water Quality Association is proud to celebrate the women who contribute their expertise, leadership, and passion to the industry every day.
This International Women’s Day, we recognize and thank the women helping shape the future of Canada’s water industry.
