Alice Payne

Alice Virginia Payne (Alice Payne) is a Canadian geologist. She became the first female president of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists in 1992. The University of Calgary granted her an honorary doctorate, and she also was honored by the Order of Canada. She is an important Canadian female figure in paving the way for female geologists, a field previously male-dominant. as the eldest of three children, Payne is the daughter of a nurse, named Olive Amelia (Olga) Banks, a native of Forestburg Alberta, as well as Thomas Payne of England, who was a gold prospector. Payne spent much of her time in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories supervising work at her father's gold mine and prospecting minerals. Her fondness of her father's work is what led her to accompany him to Yellowknife over many summers to learn how to spot promising land to lay claims and mine for gold. It was here she completed grades 10 to (the formerly required) 13. Her mother was of the belief that a rugged industry, such as geology, was no such place for a woman, and as such hoped that she would rethink her career path. being the only female in her graduating class.

As a university student, Payne was denied the ability to participate in geological fieldwork and struggled more so to operate underground. With field experience being an important aspect of geology and with Payne's desire to become a practicing geologist, this was a considerable obstacle. She was only able to continue her pursuit of her future career as time eventually brought more flexibility within the rules set for women in geology. \

Career After graduation, Payne joined the Geological Survey of Canada in 1962 where her work was limited to the lab, a typical situation as women-geologists worked only as lab technicians in the 1960s. Wanting to perform field work, Payne obtained an MSc in geology at the University of Alberta in 1965,

Payne was once working as the treasurer of Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG). Her hard work in this role was approved by other members, which helped her to become the president in 1992. Payne retired in 1995, and started her own company Arctic Enterprises Limited.

Payne played a foundational role in the creation of the Alberta Science and Technology (ASTech) Leadership Foundation, and Operation Minerva. Operation Minerva supports young women wanting to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It provides mentorship programs. Furthermore, Payne was a council member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). She also offered her services to the Board of Examiners.

In 1975, Payne and her first husband divorced, leaving her a single mother of two, and needing to find a way to support the three of them. Following their marriage, she would retire from the Gulf corporation in 1992, yet remains even to this day, an active member of multiple geologic organizations, owns her father's gold mine, and currently resides on a ranch West of Calgary.

Awards Order of Canada (1997) YWCA of Calgary's Women of Distinction for Science, Technology and the Environment (1998) 1997–1998 Service Awards (CSPG) 2000 Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, University of Calgary