"Knowing the powerful paths women have paved in traditionally male-dominated fields like science, tech, engineering and math (STEM) gives girls and women a sense of ownership in these professions and areas of study and training," says Project Creator Jo Napier.

"We don't know the hidden half of our history; that gap in our collective consciousness has contributed to the gender gap in STEM...but that omission is also an opportunity  for us to educate this generation and inspire the next." Since launching in 2023, Great Women portraits now hang in the offices of Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, Lockheed Martin Canada, Women in Nuclear (Canada), universities, medical schools and libraries.

The Great Women Portrait Project

Project Backgrounder

Meet The GWP Team

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 As a former national newspaper columnist, documentary writer/producer and technology author, Jo Napier has interviewed the Internet’s seminal thinkers and pioneers for a PBS series, two PBS documentaries, and a book, Technology With Curves: Women Reshaping The Digital Landscape (Harper Collins).  During her interviews, dating as far back as the dot.com days, Jo kept wondering the same question: "Where are the great women shaping our digital world?"  That question led to her book, her art - and her growing sense of responsibility to show her daughter - and yours - the faces and stories of Great Women.  Her first Great Woman portrait collection was acquired by The Royal Bank for their national art collection. 

In 2023, she launched...

The Great Women Portrait Project

2023-2025 Project Participants