Speaker Profile
Roxanne Tate
President and Founder
Engineer
Sustainability and Housing Advocate Values-Driven Leader
Women in STEAM
Speaker Bio
Safe, Affordable Housing can Change the Trajectory of a Family’s Life
Roxanne Tate is a Professional Engineer, entrepreneur, and President of Tate Engineering Inc. and Airtight Spaces. With over 20 years of experience spanning research, manufacturing, energy consulting, and construction leadership, she brings practical expertise to every stage of the built environment and to every room she steps into.
Growing up in poverty, Roxanne experienced firsthand how access to safe, affordable housing can change the trajectory of a family’s life. That early experience shaped her belief that buildings are never just technical assets; they are foundations for stability, dignity, and opportunity.
Today, Roxanne leads with a people-first lens, helping clients design and deliver buildings that are cost-effective to build, operate, and maintain, while advancing energy efficiency, sustainability, and long-term resilience. Her work includes energy auditing and benchmarking, net-zero strategies, and full project and construction management from concept through occupancy.
Known for her grounded, values-driven leadership, Roxanne speaks candidly about housing affordability, sustainable design, women in STEM, and the leadership choices that shape both workplaces and communities. She brings a calm, practical voice to complex conversations, bridging technical insight with lived experience.
SIGNATURE KEYNOTE
From Poverty to Purpose
How Values-Driven Leadership Shapes Careers, Communities, and the Built Environment
KEYNOTE DESCRIPTION
In this keynote, Roxanne shares how growing up in poverty shaped her understanding of housing, stability, and opportunity. She speaks openly about how those early experiences continue to influence her leadership approach as an engineer and president of a growing firm.
Blending personal story with professional insight, Roxanne explores how values-driven decisions, long-term thinking, and people-first leadership shape not just careers, but communities. She challenges audiences to consider the real human impact behind technical and business decisions, especially in industries where the stakes are high and consequences are lasting.
AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS
After this keynote, audiences leave with:
- A deeper understanding of how values guide leadership decisions under real-world pressure
- A renewed sense of responsibility for the human impact behind technical and business choices
- Practical perspective on leading with purpose while navigating complexity, growth, and change
BEST SUITED FOR
Leadership conferences ∙ Women in Business ∙ Entrepreneurship ∙ Cross-sector Events ∙ Opening or Closing Keynotes
BREAKOUT SESSION 01
Beyond the Blueprint
Housing Affordability, Energy, and What Communities Really Need
SESSION DESCRIPTION
A practical, grounded session for organizations grappling with rising construction and operating costs, sustainability targets, and affordability pressures. Roxanne explores how siloed decision-making often creates long-term risk and how integrated, people-first approaches lead to more resilient housing and communities.
PARTICIPANTS LEAVE WITH:
- Clear language to discuss affordability and sustainability together
- A better understanding of total cost of ownership beyond upfront build costs
- Insight into balancing financial, environmental, and social priorities
BREAKOUT SESSION 02
Designing for the Long Term
Sustainability, Total Cost of Ownership, and Smarter Decisions
SESSION DESCRIPTION
A jargon-free look at how energy efficiency and sustainability decisions affect long-term financial and operational outcomes. This session helps decision-makers understand where investments matter most and where short-term thinking quietly creates long-term risk.
PARTICIPANTS LEAVE WITH:
- Practical tools for evaluating long-term value
- Better questions to ask consultants, designers, and partners
- Confidence to advocate for decisions that stand up over decades, not just budgets
BREAKOUT SESSION 03
Designing for the Long Term
Sustainability, Total Cost of Ownership, and Smarter Decisions
SESSION DESCRIPTION
A candid discussion about navigating non-traditional career paths, building confidence, and shaping workplaces that genuinely support women. Roxanne shares lessons learned as both an engineer and business leader.
PARTICIPANTS LEAVE WITH:
- Language to advocate for themselves and others
- Insight into how leadership choices affect retention and culture
- A clearer picture of what values-driven workplaces look like in practice
Panels and Fireside Chats
Roxanne is a thoughtful and articulate panelist who brings a rare combination of technical expertise, leadership perspective, and lived experience. She thrives in conversations where policy, design, leadership, and human impact intersect.
SHE IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AT HELPING AUDIENCES:
- Understand the real-world implications of housing, sustainability, and leadership decisions
- Bridge gaps between technical experts, decision-makers, and community stakeholders
- Move discussions beyond theory into practical, people-centred insight
REPRESENTATIVE LANGUAGE FROM COLLEAGUES, CLIENTS, AND COLLABORATORS
Endorsements
“Roxanne has a rare ability to connect technical decisions to real human outcomes. She brings clarity, credibility, and a values-driven lens that resonates across sectors.”
“What stands out about Roxanne is her calm authority. She doesn’t oversimplify complex issues, she makes them understandable and actionable.”
“Roxanne leads with integrity and long-term thinking. Her perspective challenges how we define success in both business and community development.”