Keynotes
Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson
Vice President of Technology Operations & Services at Cloud Transformation
Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson
Vice President of Technology Operations & Services at Cloud Transformation
Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson is an award-winning Technology Executive, with over 25 years of experience in Technology. She is currently Vice President of Technology Operations & Services at Cloud Transformation, accountable for the operations, support, maintenance and modernization of all Technology leveraged by the organization — but that is not all.
She is Founder and CEO of Empowered in My Skin Inc., author, professional bodybuilder, host of Empowered in My Skin podcast, and an inspirational speaker, with speeches that have been viewed over 10 million times worldwide. She’s received numerous awards for her
leadership prowess and community involvement. Most notably, in 2020, nominated by TD Bank Group, she was awarded WXN Most Powerful Woman Canada – Top 100.
She is on a mission to help one billion people think in empowering ways. She is a firm believer that empowered people, empower people, which is the key way to create sustainable change in this world.
Sarah Baldeo
Neuroscientist, Artificial Intelligence Expert & Public Speaker
Sarah Baldeo
Neuroscientist, Artificial Intelligence Expert & Public Speaker
Sarah Baldeo is an accomplished neuroscientist, technologist, corporate strategist, and successful entrepreneur with expertise in futures, innovation, technology, and digital transformation. She currently holds positions at ID Quotient Advisory Group and CGI. Sarah has founded two consulting firms and played pivotal roles in three companies' IPOs. Her outstanding contributions to the consulting and technology industry have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 Global Business Elites Top 40 Under 40 Awards and the 2021 University of Toronto Rotman Social Impact Award. Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah is also an actress and an advocate for better representation of Caribbean women in film. She has been featured in commercials and corporate videos for prominent brands, and she actively participates as a keynote speaker, represented by the Speakers Bureau of Canada. In her personal life, she is a dedicated parent to her 12-year-old son and devotes herself to championing and supporting other single parents through community involvement in her local area.
Kwame Osei
Recruiter, Teacher, Coach and Public Speaker
Kwame Osei
Recruiter, Teacher, Coach and Public Speaker
Kwame was born in Ghana but raised in a community within Toronto called
Rexdale, which is known for low income housing, high drugs, violence and gang rates. Kwame’s environment created a low expectations narrative for him. Kwame’s mindset as a teen was “expect the worst and hope for the best” This perspective on life lead to Kwame getting in trouble with the law. Through sports Kwame was able change his mindset and escape the negative narrative. Since then he has earned two University Degrees, he became a teacher and has taught at the high school level and also at a Federal Prison in Ontario. Kwame played professional football in the CFL and has coached at multiple levels in Canada including coaching at Queen’s University. Kwame is currently the head of Equity Diversity and Inclusion at Nikki Ray Media. Kwame is an entrepreneur, author, Amazing Race Canada cast member and recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award. He has a passion for public speaking and particularly loves to speak to youth, as he strives to be the person he needed when he was young.
Sarain Fox
Canadian Anishinaabe Activist, Broadcaster, & Filmmaker
Sarain Fox
Canadian Anishinaabe Activist, Broadcaster, & Filmmaker
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First
Nation. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities and
amplifying their voices, especially those of the youth. She is a
multifaceted artist and activist who comes from a long line of
storytellers. Her family have passed down ancient teachings from
generations of knowledge-keepers and have raised her to be proud of her
Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful and vibrant
voice for the Indigenous community. She is a dancer, choreographer,
stylist, activist, brand ambassador, television host and content
producer. A storyteller at heart, Sarain has combined these various
mediums to create a compelling social platform for amplifying the voices
of her people.
Keziah Osei
HGTV Personality & Owner at Keyz To Your Home
Keziah Osei
HGTV Personality & Owner at Keyz To Your Home
Keziah is not your average contractor; she's a disruptor and trailblazer, becoming HGTV Canada's first female presenting Black contractor in 25 years. With a passion for renovation and craftsmanship, Keziah embarked on her journey in the skilled trades as a Carpenter, bravely challenging the male-dominated construction industry. Through her company, Keyz To Your Home Renovations, she empowers women and non-binary individuals, leaving a positive impact on the community through various construction, remodel, and renovation projects. With over 300 projects already under her belt, Keziah is breaking barriers and promoting diversity and inclusivity in the construction industry, employing women of all backgrounds. Her dedication to creating a more inclusive field is evident in the extensive range of services her company provides, from custom designs to installations, plumbing, electrical, and more, establishing her as a significant force in the construction industry.
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie
Decorated Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie
Decorated Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces
Brigadier-General Brodie joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989. She is a graduate of Royal Roads Military College and was commissioned under the Regular Officer Training Program.
During her time in the Canadian Army, she has commanded platoons, a company and a battalion. Brigadier-General Brodie has also commanded a Formation in the Canadian Joint Operations Command.
She has been deployed to Croatia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan as well as serving with both NATO and the United Nations. With qualifications as an aerial delivery specialist, she also earned American jump wings on exercise with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment (U.S).
Indira Naidoo-Harris
Public Leader, Legislator, Journalist, & Human Rights Advocate
Indira Naidoo-Harris
Public Leader, Legislator, Journalist, & Human Rights Advocate
Indira Naidoo-Harris is a distinguished public leader, policy-maker, journalist, and human rights advocate. As Ontario's first Minister of the Status of Women and currently the Associate Vice-President of Diversity and Human Rights at the University of Guelph, she has left a significant impact. Recognized as one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women, Naidoo-Harris actively champions gender equity in leadership and focuses on women's empowerment, gender-based violence, and various social issues.
Her expertise in education, equity, diversity, and inclusion makes her a prominent voice in national webinars, where she advocates for positive change and inclusive representation. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in shaping impactful initiatives, collaborating with diverse groups, and striving to create a more equitable and just society.
Gary Kimmel
CTO at Salesforce
Gary Kimmel
CTO at Salesforce
Gary Kimmel is a highly experienced leader in the Financial Services industry, leading a team of industry experts and architects within one of the world's largest software companies. With a focus on driving revenue growth, cost optimization, compliance improvements, and competitive advantages, Gary and his team provide strategic consulting to C-suite and senior executives. His extensive business acumen, international experience, and technology leadership have been instrumental in advancing numerous businesses across industries over his 28-year career. With a strong track record in large enterprises, Gary has successfully built teams, enhanced revenue generation, improved agility, reduced time to market, and effectively managed technology costs and innovations. He brings expertise in corporate acquisitions, process improvement programs, business re-architectures, and technological disruption initiatives. Currently serving as the Field CTO and Head of Financial Services Enterprise Architecture at Salesforce, Gary has also held key roles in strategic digital marketing and strategic innovation within the company. Prior to his tenure at Salesforce, he gained valuable experience in the Financial Services sector at TD Bank Financial Group and held positions at Microsoft, where he provided consulting and strategic guidance to the industry. Gary's accomplishments include successfully founding and growing businesses, achieving profitability, and divesting both companies. He holds various certifications, including Salesforce, TOGAF, ITIL, Microsoft Solutions, Operations Framework, and is a Certified Blockchain Expert.
Patrick Lor
Managing Partner at Panache Ventures
Patrick Lor
Managing Partner at Panache Ventures
Patrick Lor is an influential figure as the Managing Partner at Panache Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm managing assets exceeding $150 million, dedicated to investing in early-stage technology companies. Notably, he co-founded iStockphoto, a renowned platform for stock photography, which later achieved a significant milestone by being acquired by Getty Images. Additionally, Patrick played a crucial role as the head of North American operations for Fotolia, a company that caught the attention of Adobe, leading to its acquisition in 2014.
Academically, Patrick Lor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and an MBA, both from the prestigious University of Calgary. Beyond his remarkable achievements in the business world, he is deeply committed to making a positive impact in various communities across Canada. Patrick actively volunteers and advocates for causes close to his heart, particularly in supporting youth, education, and entrepreneurs. His dedication extends to mentoring aspiring talents at several technology incubator programs, where he shares his wealth of experience and knowledge. Additionally, he proudly contributes as a charter member of thea100.org and thec100.org, further cementing his commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the technology landscape.
Entertainment
Paul Tawil
Disc Jockey at DJ PJ Productions
Paul Tawil
Disc Jockey at DJ PJ Productions
Paul Tawil, also known as "DJ PJ," is the founder of "DJ PJ Productions," a successful DJ business he established nearly twenty years ago. With a passion for entertaining, he offers a wide range of services to his clients, including disc-jockeying, LED uplighting, and special effects like Dry Ice Machines and Sparkler Machines. Paul's expertise as an MC and his exceptional talent in playing the Arabic Drum (Tubel) at weddings and events have made him renowned in his field. His dedication to his Lebanese culture and love for entertaining led him to build a thriving business that provides cherished memories for his clients' momentous occasions.
Moe Ismail
Teacher & Stand-Up Comedian
Moe Ismail
Teacher & Stand-Up Comedian
Moe is a talented Egyptian-Canadian stand-up comedian who brings a unique blend of energy, diversity, and authenticity to the entertainment space. Immigrating to Canada at a young age, he has spent the past 13 years as a center-stage comedian, gaining nationwide recognition as a touring headliner across the country. Opening for renowned names like Colin Mochrie and Todd Barry and featuring on platforms such as SiriusXM and CBC radio, Moe's comedic prowess has earned him acclaim from even the toughest of critics.
His passion for value-based entertainment has led him to blend his humorous "back of the class" days with uplifting energy, connecting with audiences through laughter and relatable truths. From humble beginnings to co-headlining the Just For Laughs comedy festival, Moe has rapidly become a nationally respected entertainer. Recently selected to host the Prism Prize Awards by the Canadian Academy of Film and Television, he has proven himself as a skillful storyteller and an emblematic comedian. With his fun-loving ambiance and captivating performances, Moe continually raises the bar, leaving audiences excited to see what he has in store for his next act.
Christie Nelson
Co-Founder & Project Manager at Family Fuse
Christie Nelson
Co-Founder & Project Manager at Family Fuse
As a singer/songwriter and community collaborator, Christie has worked independently with Canadian producers as well as Grammy and Juno award winning artists. More recently, building and creating connections through passion projects has given Christie more inspiration to help get people on the dance floor. Music like her collaboration with Alonso Mendez, “Rise Up” and her song “Building A Dream”, co-written by her child Aletha, produced by Alonso Mendez, with a hip hop spin by Cody Brown, are intended to bring people together. With motivation across generations including trailblazers like Build A Dream Founder Nour Hachem-Fawaz, Christie aims to empower through music with and for those dedicated to creating positive changes for themselves and others.
Special Guests
Aditi Shah
Yoga Instructor
Aditi Shah
Yoga Instructor
Aditi Shah is a South Asian wellness leader based in New York City who teaches live on-camera classes for Peloton. She is also a global Puma ambassador, speaker, content creator, and actor. At the intersection of fitness, wellness, and culture, Aditi has a unique ability to connect and empower.
Delaney Krieger
Interior Systems Mechanic Apprentice at United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Delaney Krieger
Interior Systems Mechanic Apprentice at United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Delaney realized halfway through high school that she wanted to build things for a living. She wanted to stand back at the end of her day and see something she had built with her two hands. Delaney also knew that she wanted to make a difference, and inspire people to create change. That said, being a woman in the skilled trades gives her the opportunity to do both.
Delaney attended a Build A Dream Career Discovery Expo in high school and connected with The Carpenters Union Local 494. Upon graduation, she signed up as an apprentice through Local 494 and she has been working/training ever since. Delaney's job consists of a variety of different tasks from building a layout, to steel, to stud framing, to drywall boarding, and to installing ceiling systems. Since starting in the skilled trades, she has been involved with Build a Dream. From speaking at various events to running workshops with high school students, her goal is to inspire other people from marginalized communities to consider a career in the skilled trades. Choosing the apprenticeship pathway was the most rewarding decision she has ever made.
Allison Chong
Project Manager, Mechanical Engineer & Technical Field Services at Enbridge Gas
Allison Chong
Project Manager, Mechanical Engineer & Technical Field Services at Enbridge Gas
Allison Chong has been an invaluable member of Enbridge Gas for over 7 years, where she has excelled in various roles, contributing her expertise to tasks ranging from redesigning field tools to overseeing large-scale pipeline projects. With a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University, she gained valuable experience as an intern at Hydro One. Allison's dedication to her profession led her to pursue a Master's degree in Engineering Education at Queen's, further enhancing her ability to mentor and support aspiring engineers. Her commitment to continuous growth is evident in her Professional Engineering license from Professional Engineers Ontario and her Project Management Professional certification. Beyond her professional achievements, Allison enjoys indulging in her hobbies, such as canoe trips, playing the guitar, and home renovations, while also finding joy in spending time with her beloved pets.
Florine Ndimubandi
Black, African & Caribbean Support Tutor at GECDSB
Florine Ndimubandi
Black, African & Caribbean Support Tutor at GECDSB
Florine Ndimubandi's extraordinary journey combines a deep passion for community work and a love for music. Graduating from the University of Windsor in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and a minor in French, she currently excels as a program coordinator at ACFO WECK, where she supports and coordinates impactful programs benefiting the French community. Beyond her career achievements, Florine's exceptional talent as a singer has earned her widespread recognition, captivating audiences with her captivating performances, including a standout role as Effie White in Dream Girls. Her vibrant personality, unwavering determination, and positive spirit fuel her dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, all while pursuing her musical aspirations.
In every aspect of her life, Florine shines as a role model, showcasing the perfect harmony between her dedication to community service and her unwavering commitment to the performing arts. With boundless enthusiasm, she continues to enrich the lives of those around her, leaving a lasting impact through her invaluable contributions to society and her passion for music.
Roy Fernandes
Superintendent of Education, Equity, Diversity, Indigenous Education & Community Relations
Roy Fernandes
Superintendent of Education, Equity, Diversity, Indigenous Education & Community Relations
Roy Fernandes is the Supt of Indigenous Education and Equity with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. He is honoured to be part of the Build of Dream Equity Career Fair as building dreams is what life
should be about. His career has been devoted to helping students find what they’re passionate about and encouraging them to take the steps to pursue that passion. Stereotypes in the workforce do not do justice to helping all students reach their dreams. Breaking (Smashing) barriers starts by embracing what you aspire to become as you matter and so do your choices. Everyone has the right to dream and the dream of a better future is for us all.
Nour Hachem-Fawaz
President & Founder of Build a Dream
Nour Hachem-Fawaz
President & Founder of Build a Dream
Nour utilizes her 15 years of experience as a workforce advisor, mentor, and influencer to inspire youth to make informed career choices that challenge the status quo.
Nour Hachem-Fawaz wants to change global perspectives on women’s contribution to society. Inspired by her mother’s perseverance to excel in a male-dominated field, Nour dug deep into the ‘why’ behind the lack of women in skilled trades. She realized that the barriers keeping women out of these rewarding careers were common to other male-dominated paths and created a non-profit to encourage and empower young women to explore careers they may never have considered.
Nour’s challenge to listeners is that one must first address internal preconceptions before being capable of making significant strides that transform our work and world. A brilliant connector and facilitator, audiences are drawn to her candour and unique perspective from an extensive career in workforce development and her lived experiences as a woman of colour. She shares energetic stories of what leaders are doing right and offers real-world examples of how embracing diverse workplaces accelerates success.
Nour earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor and expanded Build a Dream across Canada while completing her MBA, raising children, and earning many awards and accolades. She spends each day following her passion: creating equity not just in the workplace, but in all of the spaces around us.
video apperances
Caroline Codsi
Founder & Chief Equity Officer of Women in Governance
Caroline Codsi
Founder & Chief Equity Officer of Women in Governance
Caroline is the Founder & Chief Equity Officer of Women in Governance, Canada’s preeminent nonprofit created in 2010 with a mission to help women access decision-making bodies and male-dominated fields through advocacy, major events, mentoring, and governance training programs.
In 2017 Women in Governance (WiG) developed the first North American Parity Certification™ with the pro bono support of McKinsey & Company, Accenture, Mercer, and WTW, to close the gender gap in the workplace in corporate Canada. WiG’s Parity Certification™ was also successfully launched in the US in 2020 through a historic partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA and will be launched in Europe in 2023. Today, more than 700,00 employees work for a Parity Certified organization.
A Citizen of the world, fluent in four languages, and having lived on three continents, Caroline was born in Beirut and grew up in the civil war. A highly sought-after speaker, Caroline has addressed audiences across the globe, including two TEDx (120k+ views).
She has also done more than 100 fireside chats with preeminent CEOs, Chairs of Boards, and global public figures, including Hillary Clinton, Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan, Lord Mayor of the City of London, Tarana Burke, Randy Zuckerberg, Winnie Byanyima, Uzo Aduba to name just a few.
Widely quoted in national and international media, she is the recipient of numerous awards from prestigious organizations including the United Nations’ Women’s Committee, the Quebec Business Women Network, The Federation of Chambers of Commerce, and the New Delhi Women’s Economic Forum.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nominated Caroline on Canada’s National Gender Equality Committee and Mayor Valérie Plante on the City of Montreal’s Business Committee. She was also recognized as a Top 20 Diversity Leading Figure in Quebec, Top 75 Canadian Immigrant, Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, and Top 100 Entrepreneurs changing the world. Caroline is a Forbes Business Council member.
Judaline Cassidy
The Feminist Plumber, Founder/Chief Visionary Officer of Tools & Tiaras Inc., Tradeswoman Activist, & Speaker
Judaline Cassidy
The Feminist Plumber, Founder/Chief Visionary Officer of Tools & Tiaras Inc., Tradeswoman Activist, & Speaker
Judaline Cassidy, who hails from the beautiful twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, is a hero in a hard hat, one of CNN's 2020 'Champions For Change’, and the founder and activist behind the trademarked phrase, "Jobs Don’t Have Genders". As a history-making plumber in NYC (Plumbers Local Union No. 1), Judaline has broken countless barriers in fighting for equity for women in the male-dominated construction trades for the last 25 years. As the founder of the pioneering nonprofit Tools & Tiaras, Inc. (est. 2017), Judaline is inspiring the next generation of tradeswomen through hands-on, mentoring workshops and summer camps for girls (ages 6-14). The organization's mission is to advance girls’ interest in pursuing non-traditional careers in S.T.E.A.M. professions, which include all aspects of the construction industry. To do that, T&T puts tools directly into girls’ hands, helping them realize - and believe - just how capable they are. A powerhouse role model, captivating speaker, and the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, Judaline has been featured by the Associated Press, CNN, BBC America, Good Day LA, No Barriers Podcast, and countless other media outlets. Her ability to inspire crosses generations and genders, and the impact she makes extends to her industry and beyond
Riya Karumanchi
Computer Science & Computational Biology Student at Stanford University
Riya Karumanchi
Computer Science & Computational Biology Student at Stanford University
Riya is a previous med-tech. founder who is studying Computer Science & Computational Biology at Stanford University. She founded two med tech. companies over the past couple of years, one building an enhanced white cane for the visually impaired to assist with haptic-navigation called artCane, and another developing wearable devices for patient monitoring in retirement homes. This experience led her to lead an aging-technology team at Deloitte to develop an innovation for a wearable device that predicts falls three weeks in advance with machine learning to improve independent-living and quality of life for the elderly. She is currently a startup mentor for founders in Silicon Valley and Toronto, and loves helping young people get involved in entrepreneurship. Beyond health-tech., she recently became interested in energy resource engineering for innovations in clean-tech., and is exploring some ideas in that field. Riya is also very grateful to be recognized in Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 & Time Magazine’s list for 7 Young Inventors who See a Better Way. Overall, Riya is really excited about ambitious health and climate-tech. innovations to improve quality of life, and am eager to meet people in the Zurich area and learn about their journeys and experiences.
Special Guests
Looking for this year’s panelist roster? We’re just putting the finishing touches on our list! Panelists to be announced shortly. In the meantime, sign up below for email updates to stay up-to-date with all things Build A Dream!
Alyssa Atkins
Founder & CEO of Lilia
Alyssa Atkins
Founder & CEO of Lilia
Alyssa is the founder and CEO of Lilia, the most enjoyable egg-freezing experience in the world. Lilia is on a mission to bring reproductive freedom to every woman by making egg freezing affordable, accessible, and convenient. Alyssa raised Lilia's first round of funding in 5 weeks with no product, deck, or website, and went on to gain backing from Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's most prominent investor.
Anjalee Narenthiren
Program Director at Startup Dojo
Anjalee Narenthiren
Program Director at Startup Dojo
Anjalee Narenthiren is the 19-year-old speaker, Program Director at Startup Dojo, and host of the Youngpreneur with Anjalee Naren podcast. Anjalee is an international VEX Robotics champion, having beat over 20,000 teams in two consecutive years. She also founded her first startup at age 15. Currently, she is enrolled in the Jerome Fischer M&T Program at The University of Pennsylvania – pursuing a double degree with the Wharton School Of Business and Penn School of Engineering.
Armughan Ahmad
President & Managing Partner of Digital at KPMG
Armughan Ahmad
President & Managing Partner of Digital at KPMG
Armughan Ahmad leads the firm’s digital transformation solutions go to market serving large enterprise, commercial, and public sector clients. KPMG is bridging the consulting services with mainstream and exponential technologies to deliver business function-level customer experiences. Before joining KPMG, he served as the Senior Vice President & General Manager at Dell Technologies, where he led the company’s Global Cloud, Solutions, and Alliances organization with a team of engineering, sales, marketing, and customer success organization across North American, European and Asian markets. Before Dell Tech, he held executive positions at Hewlett Packard, Huawei 3Com, and other technology firms.
Armughan serves on the advisory board of Future Skills Center and Queens University’s AI and Analytics board. He is a passionate promoter of girls’ STEAM education, mental health awareness, and homelessness resettlement programs.
Brittani Stevenson
Manager, Talent Acquisition at Spark Power
Brittani Stevenson
Manager, Talent Acquisition at Spark Power
Brittani has spent over 10 years in Human Services and Human Resources positions. She began her career with YMCA Employment Services as an Employment Counsellor and Community Outreach Consultant. She’s partnered with High School Co-op, OYAP, Specialist High Skills Majors students, and has assisted hundreds of job seekers in pursuing education, training, and employment opportunities.
Brittani has had a focus on Trades and Technical Recruitment across Canada and the US for over 6 years in industries ranging from Automotive, Food and Chemical Manufacturing to Distribution, Construction, Engineering and of course the broad scope of services Spark Power offers.
Brittani is truly passionate about bringing high quality talent of all levels to Spark Power! From first year Apprentices to Project Managers, she loves to dig into someone’s skills and experience, as well as their career goals and values to ensure their next career change is truly rewarding.
As a Talent Acquisition professional, she can provide insight to the current labour market, your potential career trajectory and path, what employers look for in resumes, interviewing skills, and how you can elevate your job search through social media.
Claudette McGowan
Global Executive Officer at TD
Claudette McGowan
Global Executive Officer at TD
Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with more than 20 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service and cybersecurity experiences. She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank.
Claudette completed her studies in Canada and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration along with certificates in Artificial Intelligence, IT Management, Project Management and Smart Buildings.
Over the past few years, Toronto Life recognized Claudette as one of the city's Top 50 Most Influential Torontonians, Digital Finance Institute honoured her as one of the Top 50 Canadian Women in FinTech, IT World Canada named her as Top 20 Canadian Women in Cybersecurity, and the Women’s Executive Network recognized her as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada.
In 2022, Claudette received the DMZ Women of the Year Award and NACO named her as a Nation Builder of the Year in Canada.
Claudette is an active member of the Canadian innovation ecosystem. She is the chair of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR), a group of senior business leaders committed to fighting systemic racism within the innovation economy. McGowan recently co-led the launch of Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a multi-million dollar women-focused angel fund and network for women in technology.
Her commitment to community is evidenced by her multiple board seats for leading organizations such as MaRS Discovery District, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Black North, CILAR, Elevate and First Book Canada.
Constanza Maass
Environmental Field Technician
Constanza Maass
Environmental Field Technician
Constanza (@technically.a.tech on Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok) is an environmental field technician and has built a following on social media sharing her day-to-day life at work, as well as reviewing women's workwear. Constanza is passionate about getting women into workwear that actually fits, and she speaks candidly on the experience of women in STEM and construction, creating a community for women to feel heard and understood. Constanza is your job site bestie, she will also make sure you're staying hydrated and UV protected during those long days on site!
Delaney Krieger
Interior Systems Mechanic Apprentice at United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Delaney Krieger
Interior Systems Mechanic Apprentice at United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Delaney realized halfway through high school that she wanted to build things for a living. She wanted to stand back at the end of her day and see something she had built with her two hands. Delaney also knew that she wanted to make a difference, and inspire people to create change. That said, being a woman in the skilled trades gives her the opportunity to do both.
Delaney attended a Build A Dream Career Discovery Expo in high school and connected with The Carpenters Union Local 494. Upon graduation, she signed up as an apprentice through Local 494 and she has been working/training ever since. Delaney's job consists of a variety of different tasks from building a layout, to steel, to stud framing, to drywall boarding, and to installing ceiling systems. Since starting in the skilled trades, she has been involved with Build a Dream. From speaking at various events to running workshops with high school students, her goal is to inspire other people from marginalized communities to consider a career in the skilled trades. Choosing the apprenticeship pathway was the most rewarding decision she has ever made.
Desiree Norwegian
Founder & CEO of Atunda Inc.
Desiree Norwegian
Founder & CEO of Atunda Inc.
Desiree Norwegian is a member of Liidlii Kue First Nation, she is part of the Dene clan, meaning the land of the people from North West Territories. Desiree graduated from Algoma University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting. With Desiree’s strong determination and drive she next went on to obtain a Chartered Professional Accountant designation.
Desiree has worked in senior-level accounting positions for the Municipality of Wawa and in the Energy Sector for Brookfield Renewable Power and Plasco Energy Group. Working in these roles had given Desiree the skills to take on her next big adventure, the purchase of Abraflex 2004 Ltd in early January 2016, which she owned until August 2020.
Since then, Desiree has decided to pursue her passion through Atunda Inc. and strive for Indigenous engagement, rights, equality and reconciliation, gender diversity, and teach/talk about the huge advantage that clean energy plays in our society and great careers in stem & skilled trades.
Hana Ahmad
The Knowledge Society Alumni
Hana Ahmad
The Knowledge Society Alumni
She is a passionate 17-year-old alumni of the human accelerator called The Knowledge Society. She loves working on solving meaningful problems using exponential technologies. She has worked on projects and presented my solutions at conferences on climate change by incorporating Artificial Intelligence to reduce Co2 emissions. She is now researching areas of dermatology on how detecting skin issues using machine learning can create a positive impact on a billion people. Hana finds the intersection of technology and business marketing as a fascinating area to explore the power of storytelling and making the complex simple.
Jelissa De Torres
Carpentry Apprentice
Jelissa De Torres
Carpentry Apprentice
Jelissa is a carpentry apprentice, welder, entrepreneur, and advocate for women in the trades.
Outside of work and trades advocacy, she runs a business designing and building a variety of custom wood pieces and displays for local event planners, decorators, and makers.
She serves as a regional representative for the BC Centre for Women in the Trades and is a board member for the non-profit's Build a Dream and The BC Tradeswomen Society.
She loves to provide mentorship and guidance to women who are just starting their career in the trades or who are considering, yet hesitant, to pursue one.
She also seeks to change the negative stigma of a trades career and make pursuing a career in this industry more appealing and accessible to those who are underrepresented.
Jen Scholten
Head of Marketing and Communications, SpaceRyde
Jen Scholten
Head of Marketing and Communications, SpaceRyde
Jen is a proud generalist. She's led global marketing teams for cutting-edge technologies and negotiated, secured, and handheld chart-topping artists through their most significant partnerships. She's even convinced five-star restaurants to serve beverages to dogs! But, by far, marketing the incredible innovations in the space industry has been her biggest adventure to date.
Upon graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University, Scholten loaded her car with all her belongings and headed to New York City. During her six years in NYC, Jen worked with top fashion houses, tech start-ups and, stereotypically, in the food and beverage industry. Most notably, Scholten founded her own ethically produced fashion brand that was presented at international Fashion Weeks and adorned by such celebrities as Justin Bieber, Wu-Tang, WAFFLE NYC and CamRus. After closing her start-up, Scholten took all her learnings and committed to applying them to building start-up go-to-market and partnership strategies.
She built and launched the go-to-market strategy as Echo Bone Beverage launched its beverage for dogs into the market, uniquely positioning it within the food and beverage sector to differentiate the product in the existing pet food market. Within eight months, dogs were drinking alongside their owners at bars and restaurants across New York City.
Scholten then led the marketing charge as DroppTV, the first integrated shoppable video platform, hit the market and executed partnerships with Ashanti, A$AP, The Band, LG Electronics and Nike.
She is now applying her vast knowledge to the space sector as the Head of Marketing and Communications at SpaceRyde. She spreads the company's work in pioneering domestic Space access for Canada and building the brand Canadians will be proud to call their own.
Jen has lived and worked in Canada, New York, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. She also spent a year as a digital nomad, travelling and working from Europe, the UK and Mexico.
Jennifer Todd
President of LMS General Contractors
Jennifer Todd
President of LMS General Contractors
Jennifer Todd is President of LMS General Contractors. Based in South Florida, LMS is a woman-owned, demolition and environmental services contractor completing work across California and the Southeast. Todd is the founder of 501c3 nonprofit, A Greener of Tomorrow, which promotes the skilled trade advancement of minorities and women.
Todd is a 2020 Engineering News-Record Top 25 Newsmaker, Construction Business Owner Magazine Outstanding Women in Construction finalist & November 2020 cover feature, and 2021 Engineering News-Record Top 20 Under 40 Professional.
Jennifer Todd is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Industry Leaders Council and the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC).
Todd graduated from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law graduate and acquired her PM Certificate from Emory University.
Lina Shamoun
Owner of Artline Salon
Lina Shamoun
Owner of Artline Salon
Her love for her craft is beyond anyone's imagination, there is nothing that rewards her more than sharing her skills and creative passion with everyone around her.
Lina was born in Baghdad, Iraq and her family immigrated to Canada in the summer of 1998 when Lina was 14 years old. After learning English and competing in high school as a grade 11 student at the 2002 Skills Ontario Competitions, she apprenticed as a hairstylist in November of that year. She continued competing in the hairstyling category with Skills Ontario, earning 6 Skills Medals in 3 years.
As her hairstyling apprenticeship started, this sparked her love for hair and all that comes with it. She took this passion and founded Artline Salon at the age of 23 in 2007. Since Artline’s inception, Shamoun has trained over 20 co-op students and 9 apprentices. Shamoun also judges Skills Canada-Ontario competitions and trains high school teachers to help students to be successful in competitions. In addition, she fosters cooperation among local salons through an annual charity event called HairUnited.
With a strong desire to give back to the community, through the Business and Education Partnership Program of Waterloo Region, Shamoun speaks at local high schools on entrepreneurship.
Lina believes in young talent and anyone who wants to explore this beautiful world of hairdressing.
Among her many accomplishments, Lina has represented Team Canada at the OMC Hair Olympics ‘www.omchairworld.com' since 2006. Starting with Moscow 2006, Chicago 2008, Paris 2010, Milan 2012, Frankfurt 2014, Seoul 2016, and Paris 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019. Winning two European Championships in 2015 & 2016 and the World Championship in the Progressive Cutting category in 2016.
Lisa McBride
Vice President & Country Leader of GE Hitachi SMR Canada
Lisa McBride
Vice President & Country Leader of GE Hitachi SMR Canada
Lisa is the Country Leader of GE Hitachi’s SMR Canada business. In her role, Lisa provides the vision & strategy to lead the deployment and implementation of the BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor in Canada. She leads the collaboration with customers, the Canadian government, industry, and partners and provides leadership and oversight of the GEH SMR Canada business operations.
Lisa has over 19 years of experience in the nuclear industry, starting her career with Ontario Power Generation. Her drive and commitment have propelled her into several key leadership roles in nuclear and corporate functions. Lisa’s diverse experiences have positioned her to engage in several critical initiatives, where her expertise across the business has resulted in her leadership of several multi-disciplinary teams. Lisa holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from the University of Guelph.
Lisa McBride is also the President of Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada. In this role, Lisa provides vision, strategic direction, and oversight of the day-to-day operations of WiN Canada, an organization comprised of over 4,000 members across Canada. Lisa holds a seat as a Director on the Canadian Nuclear Association Board, the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries Board, the WiN Global Board, and the Lakefront Utilities board. Lisa is also the Chair of the Women for STEM Council at Ontario Tech University.
Lora McMillan
Special Projects Manager at Ledcor Construction
Lora McMillan
Special Projects Manager at Ledcor Construction
Lora McMillan is a queer woman working in Ledcor Construction’s Toronto branch. She started her career as a carpenter and worked her way up to a Project Director and working to establish the Special Projects division at Ledcor Toronto. Lora is a founding member of Ledcor's Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Council, and a staunch advocate for inclusion within the construction industry.
Dr. Marcia Braundy
President of Sigma-West Consulting, Inc and Kootenay Women in Trades and Technology
Dr. Marcia Braundy
President of Sigma-West Consulting, Inc and Kootenay Women in Trades and Technology
Dr. Marcia Braundy is a multidisciplinary academic feminist who keeps her hand in as a Red Seal construction carpenter, multimedia project manager, educator, author, archivist, independent research scholar and social change activist who has built Victorian renovations, double coal silos in a camp job with 400 men & 5 women, senior’s housing and shopping malls. Braundy is currently creating a full-text, freely available Equity in Apprenticeship & Technical Fields Digital Archive.
She has developed/delivered trades exploratory curricula used across Canada. Chairing the Equity Committees of the CLFDB National Apprenticeship Committee and the Provincial Apprenticeship Board in British Columbia, she was the Founding National Coordinator of Women in Trades and Technology National Network (WITTNN) for eight years. She has since achieved a PhD in Technology Studies from UBC. She works men and with women, often separately, to bring about effective integration for women in trades & technology training and work. In 2017, Braundy completed a national study for the Federal Government on “Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Increasing the Successful Participation of Women in Apprenticeship and the Skilled Trades,” recommending, to the Minister, Newfoundland & Labrador’s Office to Advance Women Apprentices as the number one best practice in Canada. They have since been contracted to duplicate that program in several other provinces.
Marissa West
President and Managing Director of GM Canada
Marissa West
President and Managing Director of GM Canada
Marissa West leads GM Canada at a pivotal time, as the automotive industry shifts to electrification. In this role, Marissa’s focus is supporting customers, dealers and employees as GM prepares for an all-electric future. Among Marissa’s key priorities are leveraging GM’s Canadian Technical Centre as a hotbed of innovation, and continuing to improve gender equity, diversity, and accessibility in the workplace and in GM’s vehicles.
In the 20 years she’s worked at GM, Marissa has held a variety of engineering roles in multiple departments. Most recently, Marissa was Executive Chief Engineer for GM’s Global Mid-Size Truck and Medium-Duty Truck programs. Before that, she was the Chief Engineer for the Next Generation Full-Size Truck programs, for which her team launched the 2020 GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Silverado HD, two of GM’s best-selling vehicles.
To support GM’s vision of inclusive transportation, Marissa formed GM’s Accessibility Center of Excellence, which works across the entire organization using technology and innovation to unlock barriers to mobility.
Marissa is passionate about encouraging girls and underrepresented minorities to pursue education and careers in STEM. She sits on the Advisory Committee for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and frequently participates in various panels on STEM education and outreach to youth and minorities, including through partnerships with local highschools.
In 2018 Marissa was nominated for a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) award for “Advocating in Women in Engineering”.
She is an avid proponent of improving diversity representation in her field and in 2022 she was a collaborating author with the Society of Engineers (SAE) International on a book entitled “Doing the Heavy Lifting: Insights from Women Leading the Commercial Vehicle Industry”.
Marissa’s community efforts often involve her children, including coaching her daughter’s cross-country team and running STEM segments for the Girl Scouts.
Marissa holds a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. Additionally, she has completed Positive Leadership and Design Thinking executive training through the University of Michigan and the Transformational Leadership Executive Education Program at Stanford.
She lives in Toronto with her husband Bob and their four children.
Markie Tuckett
Owner, Operator, & Designer of Timber + Plumb Inc.
Markie Tuckett
Owner, Operator, & Designer of Timber + Plumb Inc.
Markie Tuckett is the proud owner of Timber + Plumb Kitchens and Cabinetry in Windsor, ON. A creative and optimistic Metis-Canadian, who strives to make impactful connections with her clients and community.
Markie has always had a love for anything design related. From a young age, her passion for design developed into more than just a hobby, and later recognized her true career passion was working with interiors. This drove her to focusing on a post-secondary education in Interior Design.
Following her post-secondary education, Markie successfully opened her own business, Timber + Plumb. Among her career achievements, Markie was recently nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2022 Windsor Business Excellence Awards, named one of the KBB’s Magazine “Praise-worthy Picks” for Person of the Year, National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) Top Thirty Under 30 as well as the DesignHounds Kitchen Design Influencer of the Year.
Now, as the owner, operator & head designer at Timber + Plumb, Markie recognizes that there is more to running a business than just the books. It means supporting your community. It means being a cheerleader for other women-owned businesses, and supporting girls and young women to follow their career goals. Everyone is deserving of a seat at the table, and Markie will continue to use her platform to be a voice for change!
Michele Harradence
President of Enbridge Gas, Inc.
Michele Harradence
President of Enbridge Gas, Inc.
Michele is responsible for the overall leadership and operations of Ontario- based Enbridge Gas Inc., as well as Gazifère, which serves the Gatineau region of Quebec.
Prior to assuming her current role, Michele was the Chief Operations Officer for Enbridge’s Gas Transmission & Midstream (GTM) business unit, based in Houston, Texas. She is a principled safety leader and has been integral to Enbridge’s safety performance journey in her time with the company.
Michele has 25 years of experience in the energy value creation chain including the upstream, midstream, downstream, retail, and oil and gas services sectors. Before joining Enbridge in 2014, Michele worked for Shell for 16 years in roles of increasing responsibility, including General Manager of Shell’s Sarnia Manufacturing Centre in Ontario.
Michele has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a law degree from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
She has successfully combined her engineering, legal, and business background to become a strategic leader with a demonstrated track record in successful business and operational transformations. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Oil & Gas by the National Diversity Council (US).
Michele is based in Toronto and she and her husband have two teenagers and two dogs.
Mya Beaudry
Creator of Kokom Scrunchies
Mya Beaudry
Creator of Kokom Scrunchies
Mya Beaudry is a talented 11-year-old Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. Since starting Kokom Scrunchies in the fall of 2019, Mya has always ensured that all Kokom Scrunchies are handmade with love in Canada.
Mya named each of the original Kokom Scrunchies after Indigenous role models in her life. She also hopes to inspire others in her journey. What started off as an idea has taken Mya on the path of bringing Kokom Scrunchies to everyone, young and old.
Naeema Hassan
Digital Health and Customer Advisory consultant at KPMG
Naeema Hassan
Digital Health and Customer Advisory consultant at KPMG
Naeema Hassan is a Somali-Canadian that aims to pave an equitable path for marginalized youth in both academic and professional spaces. She currently works as a Digital Health and Customer Advisory consultant at KPMG where she brings both of her passions in User Experience Design and Health Equity into life. Outside of work, Naeema serves her local community as a Youth Mentor and supports 50 young women with career navigation, academic support, and personal development. Her passions include healthcare innovation, community development, and creative writing.
Sabrina Gomez Vila
CTO & Co-Founder of Ripple Studios, Head of A220 Fleet Performance at Airbus Canada
Sabrina Gomez Vila
CTO & Co-Founder of Ripple Studios, Head of A220 Fleet Performance at Airbus Canada
Sabrina Gomez Vila is the CTO and co-founder of Ripple Studios. Sabrina is passionate about the advancement of women in technical fields and is committed to inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers and game-changers.
Sabrina completed a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in 2016, specializing in Management Sciences for Engineers. At university, she held the role of Team Manager of Ryerson Formula Racing (RFR), an engineering design team that builds race cars. RFR is where Sabrina and her co-founder Mallory first met.
After completing her degree, Sabrina started working at Bombardier Aerospace as an Engineering Analyst in the Maintenance Engineering Department. In this position, she worked on various projects overseeing the reliability and maintenance costs of the Q400 and CRJ aircraft fleets. She worked with engineering teams from different aviation companies and airlines to solve worldwide fleet issues.
Sabrina completed her Master of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Toronto in June 2020. After completing her master's, Sabrina joined Mallory to create Ripple Studios. With Ripple, Sabrina has participated as a Design Judge for Formula Bharat in India and Vex Robotics. Sabrina has also participated as a Mentor for students with organizations like Engineers of Tomorrow Future City Experience, FemSTEAM, Girls and STEM by Science World, and Zebra Robotics, among others.
Sabrina currently works at Airbus Canada as Section Chief of the A220 Fleet Performance Team. She leads a team with a mission to optimize the technical and economic performance of the A220 aircraft fleet (formerly known as the CSeries) in the areas of aircraft availability, operational reliability, and maintenance cost.
Serena Nguyen
Chief of Staff at the MaRS Discovery District
Serena Nguyen
Chief of Staff at the MaRS Discovery District
Serena is an advocate and ambassador for start-ups with over 12 years of global, cross-industry experience. She’s worked with highly respected organizations such as Deloitte and Microsoft and currently holds the position of Chief of Staff at the MaRS Discovery District. For those of you who don’t know, MaRS Discovery District is one of North America’s largest urban innovation hub. MaRS works with over 1400 ventures to help drive the innovation community by enabling start-up success and growth, and by connecting talent, capital and customers with entrepreneurs.
Serena is also the Executive Director of CILAR - the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism -which works with some of the big names in tech and consulting such as Google Canada, BlueDot, Meta Canada, Deloitte, and KPMP just to name a few. CILAR’s focus is on increasing access and opportunity for diverse innovators in the Innovation Economy.
Shaun Hintz
Assistant General Manager at Magna Exteriors: Engineered Glass Holland
Shaun Hintz
Assistant General Manager at Magna Exteriors: Engineered Glass Holland
Shaun Hintz is the assistant general manager at Magna’s Engineered Glass Division in Holland, Michigan. In this role, she leads 1,000 employees in two facilities and supports a $300-million business portfolio. Her team is focused on the innovation of new production lines, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Ms. Hintz chairs Magna’s Women’s eXchange, a resource community that promotes an inclusive environment enabling women to advance their skills and leadership potential.
Prior to joining Magna in 2014, Ms. Hintz worked for Tier 1 automotive companies in engineering and account-management roles. She also owned and operated two non-automotive startup companies while raising her young children.
She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Engineering and earned an MBA from Wayne State University. She is an active member of her community in western Michigan, where she coaches youth athletic teams and volunteers in her local schools.
Stephanie Thompson
Technical Manager, Manufacturing Engineering at General Motors
Stephanie Thompson
Technical Manager, Manufacturing Engineering at General Motors
Stephanie Thompson is a passionate engineer and community leader who actively pursues new and innovative ways of promoting science, technology, and learning in the Niagara area.
With an extensive 21-year professional career at General Motors, Stephanie leads engineering teams to launch world-class production lines for engine and transmissions, managing capital investment projects for high-performance manufacturing. With more than 15 years invested in FIRST Robotics, she draws energy from supporting grassroots programs in STEM, particularly for women in her community.
In 2018, Stephanie launched her social enterprise, STEM by Steph. These innovative projects break down barriers by making STEM subjects accessible to all women. Since its inception, Stephanie has run 15 STEM workshops for hundreds of women both virtually and in person.
In 2020 and again in 2021, Stephanie was recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She was the winner of the GNCC Business Award for Science and Technology and received from her alma mater, the University of Waterloo, the 2020 Alumni Achievement Medal for Community Service. In 2021, the Women of Inspiration recognized Stephanie with a Finalist Award.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering, a Certificate of Professional Management from Brock University, and a Professional Engineer in Ontario. In 2021, Stephanie joined Brock University’s Board of Trustees as well as Niagara College’s Industrial Automation Program Advisory Committee.
She and her husband are raising their daughter to love STEM by exploring the unique ecosystems of Niagara.
Vanessa Vakharia
Founder & Director of The Math Guru
Vanessa Vakharia
Founder & Director of The Math Guru
Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a super cool boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto. She is also the author of Math Hacks, a new book that totally makes math fun, stress-free and relatable for young kids and parents, and the host of Math Therapy, a podcast that works through guests’ math trauma. She has her Bachelor of Commerce, Teaching Degree, and Masters of Math Education. She appears regularly on national television and news outlets as an expert in math education and speaks globally at conferences about re-inventing media representations of women in STEM. Her #goals are to be Lady-Gaga-famous and to totally change math culture so that STEM is finally as cool and accessible as basically every single Taylor Swift song ever. She failed Grade 11 math twice, which was the best thing that ever happened to her. Sidenote, but totally relevant: Vanessa is a founding member of Toronto indie-rock band Goodnight, Sunrise. Mindy Kaling is her idol and Vanessa believes that she should be yours too.
Victoria Mancinelli
Director of Public Relations, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships for the Labourers International Union of North America Ontario Provincial District Council & the Region of Central & Eastern Canada
Victoria Mancinelli
Director of Public Relations, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships for the Labourers International Union of North America Ontario Provincial District Council & the Region of Central & Eastern Canada
Representing the interests of over 140 000 members across various sectors in Canada including construction and the skilled trades, healthcare and industrial work, Victoria’s creative vision translates into progressive action with measurable results to achieve social impact and industry advancement with the respect of unionized labour, ensuring it be at the forefront of all communication. Her responsibilities linked to media relations, content creation, branding, and marketing strategies, public and community outreach and government advocacy have developed a dynamic and diverse spread of campaigns and social outreach all of which center around the promotion of invaluable opportunities in sectors represented by LiUNA. Through the establishment of strategic partnerships, her role is extended to outreach including a significant focus on empowering opportunities for youth and underrepresented communities.
As an Advisor to LiUNA’s Indigenous Relations Department and a tireless advocate as the Chair of LiUNA OPDC Women in the Trades Department, Victoria remains committed to empowering opportunity, dismantling structural barriers, and challenging the assumptions and implicit biases that have traditionally prevented women from entering the workforce. Through outreach and education, her work aims to empower a path to economic independence, strengthen unionized labour across Canada, and promote the skilled trades as a first choice career option, while advocating for accessible tools and resources for a diverse workforce at the centre of building and strengthening communities across the country. Victoria has served on the Exhibition Board of Governors and was recently appointed to the Ontario Task Force on Women and the Economy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and specialized in the field of Public Relations and Marketing at Humber College.
gala speakers
Julie Cafley
Executive Director of Catalyst Canada
Julie Cafley
Executive Director of Catalyst Canada
Dr. Julie Cafley is a creative, strategic leader and an accomplished academic with expertise in equity and inclusion, public policy, governance, and higher-education leadership.
Previously, she was the Vice-President, Communications and External Relations at the Digital Research Alliance of Canada where she helped to build the Alliance as a new non-profit organization and develop its brand and reputation.
Before that, she worked as the Executive Vice-President of the Public Policy Forum (PPF). Julie built bridges and enhanced the profile and visibility of the PPF while directing its communications, external partnerships, membership, and learning teams. In her previous role as Chief of Staff to two presidents at the University of Ottawa, Julie worked closely with the President and the senior executive team to develop and advance strategic initiatives.
Julie holds a PhD in education leadership from the University of Ottawa with sought-after expertise in university presidential mandates. Her thesis focused on higher education leadership and governance through the lens of unfinished terms of Canadian university presidents. She is a frequent writer and speaker on higher education, leadership, and gender equity.
Julie is an active community builder and a collaborative change-maker. Whether it is serving coffee and muffins to the region’s homeless people, on the board of Parkinson Canada, mentoring young policy wonks, or supporting her alma mater on its Campaign Cabinet and Dean’s advisory council, giving back is integral to who she is and a part of her every day.
Julie is a committed advocate for women and leadership, a constant ally for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples, and an indefatigable champion for diversity initiatives.
Michele Harradence
President of Enbridge Gas, Inc.
Michele Harradence
President of Enbridge Gas, Inc.
Michele is responsible for the overall leadership and operations of Ontario- based Enbridge Gas Inc., as well as Gazifère, which serves the Gatineau region of Quebec.
Prior to assuming her current role, Michele was the Chief Operations Officer for Enbridge’s Gas Transmission & Midstream (GTM) business unit, based in Houston, Texas. She is a principled safety leader and has been integral to Enbridge’s safety performance journey in her time with the company.
Michele has 25 years of experience in the energy value creation chain including the upstream, midstream, downstream, retail, and oil and gas services sectors. Before joining Enbridge in 2014, Michele worked for Shell for 16 years in roles of increasing responsibility, including General Manager of Shell’s Sarnia Manufacturing Centre in Ontario.
Michele has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a law degree from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
She has successfully combined her engineering, legal, and business background to become a strategic leader with a demonstrated track record in successful business and operational transformations. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Oil & Gas by the National Diversity Council (US).
Michele is based in Toronto and she and her husband have two teenagers and two dogs.
Nour Hachem-Fawaz
President & Founder of Build a Dream
Nour Hachem-Fawaz
President & Founder of Build a Dream
Nour utilizes her 15 years of experience as a workforce advisor, mentor, and influencer to inspire youth to make informed career choices that challenge the status quo.
Nour Hachem-Fawaz wants to change global perspectives on women’s contribution to society. Inspired by her mother’s perseverance to excel in a male-dominated field, Nour dug deep into the ‘why’ behind the lack of women in skilled trades. She realized that the barriers keeping women out of these rewarding careers were common to other male-dominated paths and created a non-profit to encourage and empower young women to explore careers they may never have considered.
Nour’s challenge to listeners is that one must first address internal preconceptions before being capable of making significant strides that transform our work and world. A brilliant connector and facilitator, audiences are drawn to her candour and unique perspective from an extensive career in workforce development and her lived experiences as a woman of colour. She shares energetic stories of what leaders are doing right and offers real-world examples of how embracing diverse workplaces accelerates success.
Nour earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor and expanded Build a Dream across Canada while completing her MBA, raising children, and earning many awards and accolades. She spends each day following her passion: creating equity not just in the workplace, but in all of the spaces around us.
Dr. Rola Dagher
Global Channel Chief of Dell Technologies
Dr. Rola Dagher
Global Channel Chief of Dell Technologies
Leadership is not simply a role that you fill; it is an action that you take each day. It is this philosophy that guides Dell Technologies’ Global Channel Chief, Rola Dagher. Over her career of more than two decades, Dagher has worked with some of the brightest minds in the technology industry while honing her natural leadership style.
Dagher returned to Dell Technologies in 2020 after leading as President of Cisco Canada for three years. Prior to this, she held various sales leadership roles at Dell and Bell Canada. Her impact on the Channel business has been recognized with her inclusion in CRN’s Top 25 Channel Sales Leaders, Power 100, and Women of the Channel. While Dagher is a proven sales and channel champion, she will be the first to say that her success is a direct reflection of the dedication and drive of the entire organization.
Dagher believes in the diversity of thought and has made it her mission to empower, support and foster diverse talent. Her commitment to empowering women is shown through her recognition as one of the 2020 Top 25 Women of Influence™, by WXN as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™, and by Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) as the 2019 Woman of the Year. She was selected as one of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrant winners for 2019, was named the “Lady of the Cedar” by the Lebanese Embassy, and received a 2018 Leadership Award from the Lebanese Chamber Business of Commerce.
Dagher’s perseverance and triumph through remarkable life experiences have earned her an Honorary Doctorate Degree (LL.D.) from McMaster University, and she is the recipient of the International Horatio Alger Award.
Dagher is a co-founder of the BlackNorth Initiative and an active member of the 30% Club advisory board, where she supports Catalyst’s work to accelerate progress for women in the workplace. She sits on the Circle of Champions for the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, promoting growth through diversity in the workplace. A champion of mental health, Dagher sits on the foundation board for the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health. She is a member of the Kids Help Phone board and serves on the University of Waterloo Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC).
Yet, through all of her accomplishments, Dagher firmly believes that no one achieves greatness in a silo. She believes that you have to “learn it, earn it, and return it,” and this process is one that she continues to work through at every stage of her career.
Sarain Fox
Canadian Anishinaabe Activist, Broadcaster, & Filmmaker
Sarain Fox
Canadian Anishinaabe Activist, Broadcaster, & Filmmaker
Sarain is a dedicated storyteller and activist who aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous and settler communities through authentic storytelling. Raised by oral record keepers, she takes immense pride in her Indigenous roots and has become a powerful voice for her people. In 2020, Sarain founded Land Back Studios, focusing on meaningful storytelling in various media formats. She gained recognition for her documentary film "Inendi" and has appeared in high-profile campaigns for Sephora and as a host for APTN and Viceland.
As an Indigenous Entrepreneur, she collaborates with brands like AMEX Canada to support BIPOC Businesses, celebrating Indigenous talent and culture. Sarain's advocacy extends to environmental and cultural preservation efforts, as an ambassador for the TreadRight Foundation and a board member of the Center for Biological Diversity. Through her work, she aims to create positive change and understanding for Indigenous communities while using her platform to amplify their voices.
Tanya Mushynski
Vice President, Customer Care, Enbridge Gas Inc.
