Danielle Zaikoff

Danielle W. Zaikoff is a French-Canadian geo-technical Engineer. She was the first woman to become the president of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) and of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

Education When she was 10 years old, Zaikoff moved to Montreal, Canada. Zaikoff went to school at Collège Marie de France and went on to study Civil Engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal. She was the only woman in her cohort. Zaikoff returned to study for her Masters in Geotechnical Engineering, securing a scholarship from her employer and graduating in 1972.

Zaikoff retired in 2004 and spent more time on painting. Further, Zaikoff became the first woman to become a member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

In 2023, Zaikoff was awarded an honorary doctorate by her alma mater, École Polytechnique de Montréal.

Personal life Zaikoff's father advised her that she could continue to be a painter whilst having a career in engineering. Her husband Pierre also works in engineering. They have two children.