Jess Tomlin

Jess Tomlin is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Equality Fund, a Canadian-led global investment fund dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s rights worldwide. Launched in 2019 with a historic $300-million commitment from the Government of Canada, the Equality Fund has grown into one of the world’s largest feminist funds, raising additional multilateral investment from G7 partners and pioneering a 100% gender-lens investment portfolio.

Under Jess’s leadership, the Equality Fund has disbursed over $100 million in flexible, trust-based funding to more than 1,800 grassroots organizations in 100 countries—primarily led by women, girls, and trans people in the Global South who are driving local solutions to complex global challenges. The Fund’s unique model combines grantmaking with impact investing to create sustainable, long-term resources for feminist movements.

Prior to founding the Equality Fund, Jess worked across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Asia with the United Nations, the World Bank, and civil society organizations. She is a recognized thought leader in feminist foreign policy and mobilizing capital for human rights movements, frequently contributing to global dialogues on aid effectiveness, gender justice, and the role of philanthropy in systemic change.

Jess is a sought-after speaker and advocate, known for convening unlikely allies and building strategies that fuel ambitious initiatives for lasting impact.

Upkar Arora

Upkar Arora is CEO of award-winning B Corporation Rally Assets, Canada’s leading impact investment management firm and, through Realize Capital Partners, one of three fund managers selected to implement the Government of Canada’s $400M social finance fund. Rally’s purpose for over a decade has been to shift capital systems to advance sustainability, equity and justice for all.

Over his 30-year career prior to Rally, Upkar held finance and leadership roles building, operating and advising some of Canada’s most successful corporations, families and philanthropists.

Upkar has extensive governance experience, having completed the Competent Boards Climate Competent director certificate and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has served on boards such as Meridian Credit Union, Vancity Community Investment Bank, Metrolinx, University of Waterloo, Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Why Not Theatre and several early-stage startups.

In 2017, he was awarded the accounting profession’s highest honour and named a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Upkar is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Waterloo and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accounting and economics from the University of Waterloo.

Andrea Dicks

Andrea joined Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) in 2015 as Vice President, before serving two years as Chief Operating Officer. She was named President by the CFC Board of Directors in January 2020. In addition to her work with CFC, Andrea brings 15 years of community and corporate philanthropy experience, including as the Founding Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. She also served in leadership roles with the Rideau Hall Foundation, PwC Canada Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Toronto and Central Ontario.

Working closely with Canada’s 207 community foundations, and fostering connection across the growing international community foundation network, Andrea is helping to strengthen philanthropy’s impact by being a vocal advocate for the role of community-driven solutions to pressing global challenges, from climate change to human rights and gender equality. She has played a central role in the launch of groundbreaking Canadian and international initiatives, including the Equality Fund, which is transforming how organizations and movements working to advance women’s rights and gender equality are supported. She has also played an important leadership role in strengthening Canada’s contributions to Agenda 2030 through her work on Alliance 2030, Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals platform.

Liban Abokor

Liban Abokor is the CEO of Reimagine LABS and the Executive Director of Youth LEAPS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for Black youth in Toronto. He’s also co-author of the UNFUNDED report, which highlighted the inequitable funding of Black communities by Canada’s philanthropic sector.

Liban co-founded the Foundation for Black Communities, Canada’s first-ever philanthropic foundation dedicated to supporting Black-led, -serving, and -focused nonprofits and charities. He has 20 years of experience and leadership in the areas of education, healthcare, housing, philanthropy and social service. He formerly worked as a Policy Advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Health, and led Local Economic Development Initiatives for Toronto Community Housing. Liban was also a founding member of Ontario’s Premiers Council on Youth Opportunities, which guided the development of Ontario’s Youth Action Plan and Youth Opportunities Fund.

Regarded as a social impact leader in Canada, Liban is a key voice in the philanthropic sector, where he works to disrupt inequitable practices and modernize the sector through a justice-based approach.

A dedicated volunteer, Liban has served on the boards of the Laidlaw Foundation, Central Neighbourhood House, and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. Currently, he’s a Board Director with the Samara Centre for Democracy, and with Shoot For Peace, and is a member of the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division’s Program Advisory Committee.

Sharon Avery

As President & CEO of Toronto Foundation, Sharon has championed ”the new philanthropy,” an inclusive, participatory, and power-shifting approach to charitable giving and grant-making. With Sharon at the helm, Toronto Foundation has become a gathering place for diverse new philanthropists, community organizations and grassroots leaders to embark on learning journeys and build partnerships to more effectively fight inequality in the city. 

Under her leadership the Foundation has introduced programs, such as Vision 2020 and Vision Next, aimed at mobilizing next generation philanthropists; the Trust Collective, focused on investing in women and girls; and harnessing the potential of social impact investing. Sharon played an instrumental role in helping secure $300 million in government funding to support global gender equality through the Equality Fund, an innovative multi-sector partnership between the non-profit sector, philanthropists and investors.

Armed with a broadcasting degree Sharon found her real calling in the charitable sector and has held senior roles at UNICEF, SickKids Foundation, Save the Children Canada and Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.

Craig Wellington

Craig Wellington is a strong believer in the Swahili principle of Ubuntu—‘I am because we are’ — that when all communities are allowed to achieve their potential, everyone is uplifted. That’s why, as executive director of the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), he’s working to establish equitable, sustainable funding for the social and economic empowerment of Black communities across Canada. He uses his considerable expertise in not-for-profit and community leadership to develop and execute innovative strategies to secure and deploy capital for community good, while always maintaining an anti-oppression lens with a focus on community engagement and partnerships. Prioritizing initiatives around youth and education, women and gender, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, health, and arts and culture, BOF seeks to elevate the outcomes for generations of Black Canadians.

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A community-led, registered Canadian charitable organization, BOF was established to respond to systemic underinvestment in Black communities by providing needs-informed capital streams managed by and designed for Black people to facilitate the growth of prosperous, healthy, and vibrant communities. BOF’s national scope allows them to cultivate strong networks and collaborations, and continuously create ever-more relevant and impactful methods of support and advocacy. They provide Black-led businesses and community organizations with grants, loans, and capacity building, and to date, have helped hundreds of organizations. They also serve as community orchestrators, meeting with Black community organizations and leaders across Canada to develop, mobilize, and catalyze collective action and policy solutions to pressing issues facing Black Canadians. In 2022, BOF launched a micro-loan program for Black-led businesses that had been previously denied loans from traditional financial institutions. This year, BOF is thrilled to be working towards the launch of a $50 million venture capital fund—that will be the largest of its kind in Canada—focused on equity investments in Black founders, and also funding other Black-led VC funds.

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Arti Freeman

Arti Freeman is the President and CEO of the Definity Foundation, a national philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing equity and justice across Canada. Founded in 2018 with $100 million from the demutualization of Economical Insurance (now Definity Insurance), the Foundation operates under a "justice model of philanthropy" that acknowledges historical wrongs while investing directly in Black, Indigenous, racialized, and equity-seeking communities, with a particular focus on women and youth of colour.

Under Arti’s leadership, the Definity Foundation has moved beyond traditional grantmaking to leverage all forms of capital—including impact investing, catalytic finance, and community wealth building—to address systemic barriers and create sustainable change. She is a prominent voice in the Canadian social sector, advocating for the need to shift from "fixing broken systems" to imagining and designing new ones that centre people and the planet.

Arti frequently contributes to national dialogues on the future of philanthropy, regenerative economies, and community finance. Her recent work emphasizes the critical role of imagination as a strategic tool for navigating instability and designing resilient futures. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, engaging with audiences on topics ranging from the "justice model" of giving to the importance of catalytic capital in building community resilience.

Aline

Nizigama

Aline Nizigama is the National CEO of YWCA Canada, the country’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to advancing gender equity. In this role, she leads a federated network of 29 local YWCAs across nine provinces and two territories, delivering critical services and advocacy in affordable housing, childcare, economic empowerment, youth leadership, and ending gender-based violence.

A dynamic, multilingual leader with deep expertise in policy, research, and serving equity-deserving communities, Aline’s career spans senior roles in the nonprofit, healthcare, and Ontario public sectors. Prior to joining YWCA Canada, she served as Director of Strategic Projects, Partnerships and Communications at the Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, where she led communications and key strategic initiatives.

Aline is a recognized thought leader on gender justice, antiracism, and inclusive leadership in the nonprofit sector. She has been honoured with the Governor General’s King Charles III Coronation Medal and the 2025 Visionary Impact Award, and was inducted into the Black Canadian Awards’ Wall of Role Models. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Toronto and an executive certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Yale University. Aline currently serves on multiple boards, including as Board Chair of Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services, and is a Board Director of the PayPal Giving Fund Canada.

Jehad Aliweiwi

Jehad Aliweiwi is a strategic thinker with more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles in social, settlement, philanthropic, and community service organizations. In all of these roles, Jehad has been an advocate for inclusion, diversity, and equity. He is passionate about building bridges between Canada’s oldest residents and its newest citizens. Jehad strongly believes that the well-being of Canada rests with Indigenous Peoples and immigrants, and refugees. Since 2014, Jehad has been the Chief Executive Officer of Laidlaw Foundation. Before that, he was the Executive Director of Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. Jehad has extensive governance experience and served on various Boards, including the Ontario Science Centre, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, the Arab Community Centre of Toronto, and FCJ Refugee Centre.

Cathy Taylor

Cathy Taylor is an experienced leader whose belief in the power of networks and passion for public policy has translated into more than 30 years of work and advocacy for non-profits and charities locally, provincially, and nationally.

Cathy joined the Lawson Foundation as president and CEO in April 2024. She previously served as the executive director at the Ontario Nonprofit Network for 12 years, before which she was the founding executive director of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington.

With roots in the environmental movement, Cathy holds a degree in political studies and history from Queen’s University and attended the Maytree-York University Executive Directors Leadership program and the Ivey Business School’s CommunityShift program. Outside of work, Cathy enjoys time with her family and pets – biking, hiking, and gardening in Erin, Ontario.

Gaby Polonco-

Sorto

Gaby Polanco-Sorto is a senior executive strategist with over 20 years of experience in multinational financial institutions.

Gaby is a recognized industry and community leader in sustainable finance and climate resilience. She chairs the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Sustainable Finance Working Group and serves on the Board of Directors for the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. She is also a lecturer in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Toronto, where she helps shape the next generation of purpose-driven business leaders.

Originally from El Salvador, Gaby is deeply committed to advancing inclusion and breaking down barriers for immigrants and refugees. Her career has spanned global roles at institutions such as Scotiabank and Manulife Financial, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cuso International. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and a degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Kalen Taylor

Kalen Taylor is a social entrepreneur and community leader based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, currently serving as Manager of Impact at The Winnipeg Foundation. In this role, Kalen leads the Foundation’s strategic investments in community-led initiatives, with a focus on advancing equity, inclusion, and systems change across the city.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Kalen founded and led Purpose Construction, an award-winning social enterprise that transformed vacant and dilapidated properties in Winnipeg’s North End into affordable housing while creating high-quality trades training and employment opportunities for people facing systemic barriers. Purpose Construction’s teams included recent immigrants and refugees, Indigenous people, single mothers, people coming out of the justice system, and LGBTQ2S+ community members—demonstrating that professional-grade construction, skilled career pathways, and housing solutions can be delivered simultaneously.

Kalen is a co-founder of multiple social enterprises and a driving force behind social impact investment and community-owned development in Winnipeg. Their work has helped reshape the city’s social innovation ecosystem, earning recognition such as the Winnipeg Regional Innovate Challenge award from Innovate Council Canada in 2026. Kalen is widely regarded as a visionary leader whose courage to redesign systems and commitment to an inclusive local economy continue to inspire community-led change across Manitoba.

Smitha Das

Smitha Das is Senior Director of Investments at World Education Services (WES), a global social enterprise dedicated to reducing barriers to global mobility for immigrants and refugees. In this role, she leads WES’s investment practice, stewarding the organization’s full balance sheet—approximately $300 million in assets—toward 100% mission alignment. By the end of 2025, WES had achieved 52% mission alignment across its total portfolio, with a target of full alignment by 2030.

Smitha is a recognized leader in impact investing, systems change, and community-centered capital. Her work spans government, renewable energy private equity, venture philanthropy, and innovative finance, with a focus on reimagining capital markets to centre equity, justice, and ownership. She is a Just Economy Institute Fellow and serves on the boards and investment committees of several organizations, including Mission Driven Finance, Echoing Green, the Unlock Ownership Fund, and New Power Labs.

A passionate advocate for inclusive financial systems, Smitha frequently contributes to national dialogues on catalytic capital, alternative credit models for newcomers, and the role of institutional investors in building an ownership economy. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB with Honours in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard College, where she co-founded the HBS Impact Investing Club and the Harvard College Social Enterprise Club.

Celina Chavannes

Celina Caesar-Chavannes is a celebrated Canadian author, equity advocate, and former politician who currently works at the intersection of neuroscience and leadership.

She served as the Member of Parliament for Whitby from 2015 to 2019. During her political tenure, she held high-profile roles including Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to the Minister of International Development. She gained widespread national recognition for her fierce, independent advocacy surrounding mental health, social justice, and equity, earning honors like Chatelaine’s Woman of the Year (2019) and a feature in O (Oprah) Magazine.

Before entering public office, Caesar-Chavannes was a successful entrepreneur, managing a research-focused healthcare consulting firm specializing in neurological conditions. In 2021, she published her bestselling memoir and leadership book, Can You Hear Me Now?, which was a finalist for the prestigious Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.

Today, she is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at Queen's University and the founder of The Awakened Leadership Institute (TALI), where she leverages brain science to deliver international keynotes and train organizations on sustainable, inclusive leadership.

Stephen Huddart

Stephen Huddart is the former President and CEO of the McConnell Foundation in Montreal, where he led work in philanthropy, social innovation, and impact investing from 2011 to 2020. He is currently Director of the Regenerative Economies program at the Victoria Forum, co-hosted annually with members of the Senate of Canada and the University of Victoria. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business and a recognized leader in social finance, systems innovation, and regenerative economic development.

Danya Pastuszek

Danya Pastuszek (she/her) is President & CEO at The Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, which supports more than 400 communities across Canada to end poverty in ways that honor people, place and planet. She has lived and worked in both the US and Canada. Her early career was spent in New York City, working with resettling refugees and then with with people impacted by the US’s systems of criminal justice. In 2012, she moved to Salt Lake City and began a decade-long career at United Way of Salt Lake, supporting cross-sector partnerships designed to support economic mobility. In February 2022, she was appointed as Co-CEO at the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement. She supports communities across Canada in their work to end poverty, activate just climate transitions, and foster communities where everyone experiences belonging. She studied English, Psychology and Business and is a Utah Business Magazine CxO of the Year (2021), a participant in the inaugural cohort of Women in Power. She (2022), and a recipient of the Schwab Foundation’s inaugural Collective Social Innovation Award (2023). She holds a BA (English) and an MA (Psychology) from Stanford University and an MBA from New York University.

Ikem Opara

Ikem Opara is an inclusive designer, relationship builder, and strategist focused on creating systems and building communities and social structures that work for all. He has 20 years of progressively senior Canadian and global experience in the broader public and non profit sectors. Ikem brings his ability to listen, learn, and educate to strengthening partnerships and community connections across all boundaries with demonstrated success.

Ikem has led the design of transformative strategies, programs and partnerships, channeling hundreds of millions of dollars in multi-year investments from government, corporate, and private philanthropic partners. He applies his deep knowledge of equity, inclusion, and human rights-centered approaches to ensure that this impact is community focused and long lasting.

Ikem spends far too much time reading and writing about the conversations that people engage in to build better bridges within and across communities. One of his favorite questions is: "How does that make things better?"

Duke Chang

Duke Chang is the President and CEO of CanadaHelps, the country’s largest online donation platform, serving more than 85,000 Canadian charities and connecting millions of donors with causes they care about. Under his leadership, CanadaHelps has grown into a national catalyst for generosity, driving digital transformation in the charitable sector and championing initiatives such as GivingTuesday Canada, which has seen donations on the day increase more than fivefold since 2018.

A recognized voice on philanthropy and the social economy, Duke is a frequent commentator on trends in Canadian giving, including the impact of cost-of-living pressures on mid-level donors, the rise of rural and community-based generosity, and the critical role nonprofits play as economic drivers and employers across the country. He has advocated for greater support for small and mid-sized charities, which often rely most heavily on individual donations to deliver essential services.

Duke’s vision for CanadaHelps extends beyond transaction processing: he sees the platform as a movement-builder that helps Canadians rediscover and act on their innate generosity. His public commentary emphasizes that generosity is not just about money—it’s about connection, community, and collective action. He regularly engages with media, policymakers, and sector leaders to advance conversations about how technology, storytelling, and trust can unlock a more generous Canada.

Chantelle Moore

Chantelle Moore is an award-winning corporate social responsibility executive who serves as the Manager of Social Impact at Gore Mutual Insurance Company.

With over 17 years of experience spanning the non-profit and insurance sectors, she is widely recognized for modernizing corporate philanthropy through trust-based grantmaking and community-driven initiatives. At Gore Mutual, Moore leads the company’s national social impact strategy, overseeing major volunteer mobilizations and innovative funding programs like the Brokers for Good Matching Program.

Prior to her corporate career, she spent more than a decade in charitable leadership, notably serving as the Director of Development for the YMCAs of Three Rivers, where she drove top-tier national fundraising growth. Her leadership in advancing equity and climate resilience has earned her industry acclaim, including being named the 2023 Most Instrumental Insurance Company Social Impact Leader by Acquisition International and a 2026 Vanguard Under 40 Nominee.

Tonya Surman

Tonya Surman is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), a pioneering social enterprise that has been building collaborative infrastructure for changemakers for over two decades. Under Tonya’s leadership, CSI has grown from a bootstrapped co-working startup in 2004 with 14 founding tenants into a 64,000-square-foot ecosystem that now supports more than 1,500 social purpose organizations across Canada and beyond.

Tonya is widely recognized as a thought leader in social innovation, systems change, and the emerging purpose economy. She has championed CSI’s evolution from shared space to “co-creation,” positioning the organization as a Collaborative Infrastructure Organization (CIO) that builds the trust, relationships, and social capital needed to tackle complex challenges like climate change, food sustainability, and economic inequality. Recent initiatives under her leadership include partnerships on regenerative food systems, the launch of Purpose Economy Coffees, and the creation of We Create Our Futures, a climate-focused arts and culture festival in Toronto.

A sought-after speaker and convener, Tonya frequently contributes to national and global dialogues on the future of social impact, the role of collaboration in movement-building, and the need to redesign economic systems to work for people and the planet. Her work has helped shape the social innovation landscape in Canada and inspired similar models worldwide.

Keith Ippel

Keith Ippel is a serial impact entrepreneur and investor with over 25 years of experience at the intersection of technology, innovation, and social change. He is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Spring Activator, a Vancouver-based global incubator and accelerator that supports purpose-driven founders to launch and scale ventures addressing social and environmental challenges. To date, Spring has supported more than 3,300 entrepreneurs across Canada and globally, and helped over 1,100 Canadians step into impact investing.

Keith also co-founded Spring Impact Capital, an early-stage venture fund focused on the intersection of People and Planetary Health, which closed a $14-million fund in 2025 to back climate and healthtech startups. Under his leadership, Spring has catalyzed more than $21 million in investment into impact ventures and built Canada’s largest early-stage impact investing network, the Spring Investing Collective.

A recognized ecosystem builder, Keith is a frequent speaker and thought leader on impact investing, blended finance, and scaling social innovation. He holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business and has raised over $80 million in angel and venture capital throughout his career. His work continues to focus on connecting underrepresented founders with the capital, networks, and support they need to create lasting impact and financial returns.

Kayla Isabelle

Kayla Isabelle is an award-winning executive and entrepreneurship advocate who serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Startup Canada.

A specialist in strategic communications and ecosystem building, she leads national initiatives designed to support underrepresented founders and strengthen Canada's small business sector. Under her leadership, Startup Canada transitioned into a vital digital support hub during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she continues to amplify diverse voices as the host of the popular Startup Women Podcast.

In addition to her corporate role, Isabelle is the Founding Executive Director of the Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation, supporting micro-business owners facing systemic barriers. Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including a Top Forty Under 40 designation and the Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader Award.

Alfred Burgesson

Alfred is the Founder & CEO of Tribe Network, a community of racialized people pursuing entrepreneurship and innovation - Tribe provides members with access to resources (Community, Capital & Coaching) to start, build, and accelerate innovative businesses in Canada. Alfred is a member of the Board of Directors at the Black Opportunity Fund and a member of the Board of Governors at Halifax Grammar School. He is a former member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council — he is also the co-chair of Canada’s first-ever ‘State of the Youth’ Report. Alfred is recognized as a 30 Under 30 Innovator by the Atlantic Business Magazine, and a Changemaker by Globe and Mail’s Report on Business.

Elena Yugai

Elena Yugai is an Investment Manager and Director of Advisory Services at Helder Ventures, an impact investment firm. She leads incubation strategy and investment activities in immigrant, refugee and women-led social enterprises. Elena serves as a Strategic Advisor to Groundswell, Social Ventures Mentor at e@UBC , advisor to SFU Radius Refugee Livelihood Lab, member of the Pacific Impact Investor Network, and has been named one of BC’s Most Influential Women in Tech – STEM Stars 2018 by BC Magazine for her work advocating for and supporting women in technology.

Ekua Quansah

Ekua is an experienced equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) leader with 15+ years expertise in assisting organizations to create and implement EDI strategies. Ekua is a practical and purposeful advocate for equity and justice and her mission is to work with organizations to drive systems change that will result in equitable outcomes.

With a background in law, sociology and equity studies, Ekua has worked in a range of organizational landscapes, including academic institutions, regulatory bodies, corporations and non-profit organizations. She has designed and facilitated training on understanding and addressing anti-Black racism, microaggressions, inclusive decision-making and other related topics. She has also helped organizations implement diversity and inclusion data collection initiatives, inclusive hiring practices, training programs and overarching EDI strategic plans.

Ekua is known for her thoughtful approach to driving EDI-related change in organizations. She believes that creating truly inclusive workplaces requires ongoing commitment and effort. She works closely with her clients to help them build sustainable EDI initiatives.

Carissa Campeotto

Carissa Campeotto is the Founder of FoodRevolution Innovation, a studio dedicated to designing sustainable food recovery solutions. She is known for her work in transforming food loss into economic opportunities, previously co-inventing farm-level mobile and stationary processing units to turn excess food into valuable upcycled products.

Campeotto collaborates with producers, corporations, investors, and governments to recover surplus, reduce food loss, and develop high-value products from agricultural byproducts.

She was named Best Food Waste Innovator at Canadian Business Magazine and previously co-founded Trendi, a company focused on stopping food waste and ending hunger.

She is a sought-after speaker at global industry events (such as the Global Symposium and Food Security SummitX) and frequently shares insights on the integration of artificial intelligence in sustainable food supply chains.

Ryan Knight

Ryan Knight is the inaugural inductee in the Pilon School of Business Recent Graduate category. He has distinguished himself with his tireless efforts to promote equity and remove historical barriers faced by Black business owners. He is the President and Co-Founder of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), created in 2018 as a response to his own experience of looking for support and networking. The ACBN works to unify and educate Black entrepreneurs in its network of more than 3,000 businesses, and in early 2021 began working on a research partnership with the Pilon School of Business to identify the needs of Black entrepreneurs and develop recommendations and resources to help build their business capacity.

“As a community, we face invisibility in currently available data,” Knight says. “Race-based data has not been historically collected, therefore, the actual reality that many entrepreneurs face in the Black community is not adequately reflected."

Wilfreda Edward

Beginning with an Honours Bachelor of Arts, Geomatics & Spatial Analysis and Geography from the University of Ottawa, Wilfreda has embarked on a career path dedicated to data quality, open data and digital transformation.

Before coming to CCNDR and Imagine Canada, Wilfreda was the Senior Policy Advisor to the Chief Information Officer of Canada within the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. In that capacity and working in both official languages, Wilfreda has worked to advance digital transformation across the Government of Canada by advising the CIO of Canada on strategic priorities towards achieving ‘Canada’s Digital Ambition’ with a focus on people, data-driven policy and technology. Wilfreda has also been active with the Canadian Open Data Society, serving as Board Vice Chair, where she worked with the team to increase awareness and advocate for the value of open data and organized key events in the Canadian Open Data Ecosystem.

Wilfreda draws from her rich Creole heritage, which is deeply rooted in the art of storytelling as a way to transfer generational knowledge, preserve cultural values, and solidify social impact. These traditions inform her work as a seasoned digital professional, where she leverages the power of data to craft compelling stories that drive meaningful change and create lasting impact.

Michelle Baldwin

Michelle Baldwin is a senior advisor, transformation at Community Foundations of Canada exploring societal transition and transformation at the intersection of equity, climate and economy. She is also a faculty member in the governance, leadership, ethics program at Huron University College, serves as the vice chair for Atlohsa Family Healing Services, and is past chair for the Ontario Nonprofit Network.

In her past role as executive director at the Pillar Nonprofit Network, Baldwin co-founded and collaborated to create Innovation Works, a shared space for social innovators and VERGE Capital, a social finance program for Southwestern Ontario. She is a network builder, systems thinker, productive disruptor and cross-sector collaborator.

Baldwin is a Royal Society of Arts fellow and recipient of the YMCA Women of Excellence, Business & Professions Award and holds a master of educational psychology and a bachelor of arts in psychology, as well as a Maytree Policy School certificate.

Carla Leon

Carla Leon is a serial innovator. She has been an intrapreneur in the for-profit sector winning the President’s Award for innovation. She has started an e-learning platform, a telemarketing social enterprise, and a consulting firm that supports small businesses and non-profits. She is beginning new initiatives in the United Church of Canada including a mentoring platform, a pitch competition for social entrepreneurs, and ramped up the innovation granting program which has funded 190 initiatives in two years. This fall she published the "Giveback Economy," a book about how to do well while doing good. Her latest initiative is Community Innovation Hubs. This is a national strategy in Canada that leverages church space to support spiritual entrepreneurs in their work. The hubs provide workshops, peer-to-peer learning sessions, mentoring and access to the social capital of the communities of faith. Most importantly, the spiritual entrepreneurs build new relationships and are connected with each other adding to the already existing networks between hubs.

Wayne Miranda

Wayne is the Founder of Wecelium working towards equitable capital flow to underserved groups across Canada. Wayne was previously the Founder and CEO of Growth Mosaic, a ‘Best for the World’ B Corporation in West Africa putting to work US$26+ million across 140+ clients in 3 countries, now under Mirepa Capital. Wayne was also previously the Director of Growth at the Centre for Social Innovation, Managing Director of TechSoup Canada, Social Finance Lead at McConnell Foundation / Innoweave, and has worked in social innovation and social finance policy at the Government of Canada. When not in Zoom calls, you can find Wayne running around with his dog Nala or dreaming of the next backcountry lake to paddle.

Amanuel Melles

amanuel melles (aman) is the Executive Director of the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC). He brings more than 29 years of management and senior management experience in various sub-sectors of the non-profit sector: settlement and immigration, community health, social services and community development, and funding & sector capacity. aman was on the Senior Management Team at United Way Toronto and the Director of Programs & Capacity Building where he led the development of the Organizational Capacity Building Unit and was responsible for leading the introduction of several innovative and creative leadership, capacity building, evaluation and granting programs aimed at building various capacities of non-profit agencies and communities in Toronto. Prior to his role at United Way Toronto, aman held various roles at OCASI, Lawrence Heights Community Health Centre and Family Service Toronto.

Bruce MacDonald

Bruce MacDonald is the President & CEO of Imagine Canada. When carnivals and social good combined, it pointed to a path and for 30 years Bruce has been walking that route. From working for organizations that provide services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce's experiences have led him to Imagine Canada. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and a former record in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 2019-2023, Bruce served as Co-Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector working with the federal government. In 2025, Bruce received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements and leadership.

Melanie Thomas

A prairie girl with a global outlook, Melanie has an eclectic work background in both the corporate and not-for-profit worlds. She holds a Honours of Business Administration from Ivey Business School and a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Melanie has worked at Bell Canada, developing a new retail channel for small and medium businesses, articled at Goodmans LLP, one of Canada’s top-tier corporate law firms focusing on mergers and acquisitions and was a producer for Saskatchewan’s highest-rated news radio station. Most recently, Melanie worked at Scotiabank, creating and implementing a global compliance testing and controls infrastructure across more than 400 entities worldwide.

In the not-for-profit sector, Melanie was an Executive Director of Ivey’s LEADER Project. The initiative coached entrepreneurs in emerging markets to envision, launch, and/or scale new ventures. Melanie has also been in the courtrooms of Cambodia and the brothels of Mumbai to fight trafficking and exploitation of underage girls with International Justice Mission.

Melanie currently volunteers with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada as a Development Champion, promoting international development around the country and she sits on the Advisory Board of Jubilee Designs, a social enterprise employing homeless and at-risk youth artists. In her spare time, Melanie attempts to surf and salsa dance.

Tracey Robertson

Innovation Lead, Partnership Investments Ontario Trillium Foundation. Tracey is passionate about social change and mobilizing and unlocking capital for good. She is a system thinker, a network builder and a natural connector that works across all sectors and disciplines for the purpose of transformational change and impact.

After spending the last 35 years in strategic philanthropy, community development, higher education and the social impact sector, Tracey believes that the most innovative solutions are developed when people from multiple perspectives and experiences come together to look at an issue in a new light. Tracey has a strong belief in partnership, leveraging all forms of capital, shifting inequities and embracing emergence and failure as a natural part of transformation. Over the last 15 years, she has focussed her work on investing and fueling social change at the grassroots, community, and systemic levels. More recently, Tracey has mobilized and leveraged over 2 million in new investments for advancing impact investing and social finance in Canada. She has advised and coached many philanthropists and non -profits and has a Master of Social Work in Community development and social policy and a Master’s Diploma for Social Innovation at the Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience at the University of Waterloo. She loves cycling, water, and doodles.

Dr. Somto Mbleu

Dr. Somto Mbelu has a background in philosophy with a focus on AI Ethics. He works at the intersection of AI ethics, policy, digital health, governance, compliance, risk, finance and business, bridging research and practice to shape technology that truly serves society. His work focuses on making AI fair, accountable, and inclusive, translating these principles into practical governance frameworks, policy strategies, and responsible design approaches. He is the founder of the Ottawa Responsible AI Hub (ORAH) and the convener of Canada’s foremost AI ethics summit, the Ottawa Responsible AI Summit.

Nancy Dossous

Nancy, the Director of Partnerships at Community Foundations Canada (CFC), enriches the team with her background in social services and healthcare philanthropy, bringing valuable knowledge in fostering community impact. Having joined CFC in 2024, she leads the development and implementation of CFC’s innovative partnership strategy, collaborating with corporate, philanthropic and government partners to drive CFC’s mission through impactful financial and non-financial contributions.

Drawing from over a decade of experience, Nancy has honed her skills as a fund developer, relationship builder and strategic connector, demonstrating a consistent track record of delivering tangible results by leveraging philanthropy as a dynamic force for social change. Before her role at CFC, she achieved remarkable success as the Director of Development at the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, raising millions for healthcare research and innovation. Advocating for health equity, Nancy also led funding initiatives dedicated to enhancing health outcomes for women and racialized communities.

Nancy’s commitment extends beyond her professional roles to volunteer service. She serves as a board director for the Welcome Collective in Montreal, QC, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada. Holding the certified fundraising executive (CFRE) designation, she earned her B.Sc. in Public Relations from Kent State University and a certificate in Fundraising Management from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Outside of work, Nancy’s interests include health and wellness, travel, and enjoying Montreal’s diverse array of arts and culture with her family.

Andre Vashist

I am a facilitator of multi-stakeholder and complex collaborations that support an inclusive, sustainable and resilient community through work with Pillar Nonprofit Network as the Director of Social Innovation. We are learning how to support initiatives that facilitate adaptive and meaningful collaborations between government, academic, business, finance and nonprofit sectors, such as: Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network, Libro Social Enterprise Incubator, VERGE Capital, Impact Consulting and CityStudio London. Areas of experience include nonprofit management, social enterprise, social innovation, social finance, evaluation and fundraising. I co-led the implementation of pioneering innovative social finance tools including a $1M dollar community bond and $2.2M Breakthrough Fund. Completing the Social Innovation Residency with Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resiliency and being a founding cohort member of Centre for Social Innovation’s Agents of Change opened new ways we can work together and share our home.

Darren Baccus

Darren brings more than 25 years of diverse global investment experience to FCC, having held a variety of senior executive roles at provincial and federal Crown corporation investment organizations. He started his career as an attorney with Torys LLP after graduating from the University of Manitoba. Prior to joining FCC, Darren was a co-founder of a U.S.-based farmland investment firm that acquired operating farmland alongside grower partners, with a business plan of transitioning management practices from conventional to regenerative.

Having lived in five Canadian provinces in addition to New York, Darren and his family support a variety of charitable initiatives throughout communities they’ve called home. These include the University of Winnipeg Foundation and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Alexandra Snelgrove

Alexandra is part of the social impact team that supports the capacity building and scaling of social purpose organizations in LIFT’s portfolio to affect meaningful and measurable impact. She brings an extensive background in non-profit management to the role with significant experience at both the executive level and as a consultant. Prior tojoining LIFT, Alex worked with Aperio, a consulting firm that specializes in the social sector. She worked with a diverse group of clients to creatively address their critical challenges, including support in the areas of strategic planning, organization and governance review, social enterprise and earned income, partnership strategy, program design and evaluation. Alex previously worked with MEDA, an international development organization focused on business solutions to poverty. With a focus on Africa and Asia, she conceived, developed and implemented a number of initiatives that helped connect low income entrepreneurs to growing markets. Alex started her career in financial services and then worked in trade promotion in Malaysia at the Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and as Executive Director of the Malaysia Canada Business Council. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Huron College, University of Western Ontario and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York City

Abby Wong

Abby blends strategy with a deep sense of purpose, using her strong communication skills to connect people and ideas for greater impact. A skilled project manager and energized by building relationships, she thrives in dynamic environments where collaboration and meaningful outcomes go hand in hand

Non-profit and voluntary sector professional with more than 20 years experience. Demonstrated success in project management, social impact, fundraising and stakeholder engagement. A positive and energetic leader/ advocate, goal and results driven. A strategic thinker, with exceptional communication skills and an eye for detail. Passionate about community and its potential.

JP Bervoets

JP has worked to foster collaboration and build partnerships across sectors to advance community wellbeing and sustainable development. He joined CFC in 2014 to help connect the work of Canada’s community foundation movement with a network of partners from the public and private sector and civil society.

Prior to joining CFC, JP held various positions in the international development sector in Canada, and internationally, including at North Star Alliance, a groundbreaking public-private partnership founded by the UN World Food Programme and TNT Express.

JP’s interests include public health, culture and development, and public-private partnerships. He sits on the Board of Directors of Impact Hub Ottawa and Art for AIDS International, and has voluntarily supported a number of organizations at home and abroad including Boys and Girls Clubs, the Nkosi Johnson AIDS Foundation, and UNAIDS.

Nicole Dawe

Nicole is a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian who is raising her daughter and building a life with her partner in the province. She grew up in Foxtrap, in a multigenerational family community, and has been working to create communities of care in her personal and professional life ever since. Nicole enjoys listening to what’s on people’s hearts and finding opportunities to make connections and pollinate between people, ideas, and resources in the communities she works in. Nicole is fortunate to have played a role in the journeys of charities and nonprofits, most often bringing together groups of people to support and resource ambitious community work.

She is currently stewarding the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and being curious about how to involve more people in becoming co-authors of their community and economy.

Nicole’s ancestry is English and Irish, with her family (Dawes, Pittmans, Kings, Doolings and many others) having settled in Newfoundland and Labrador in the 1700s and 1800s, largely on the tip of the Burin Peninsula, Conception Bay North and Kilbride. Nicole’s story is one of many that have intertwined into the fuller Newfoundland and Labrador narrative and made it such a special place.

As part of her reconciliation and equity journey, Nicole is actively learning more about all of the stories that contribute to the province’s beautiful tapestry, particularly from Indigenous communities who have stewarded this place since time immemorial. This journey also includes unlearning and examining the narratives, systems and structures that have held power in and over Newfoundland and Labrador and the people who call it home.

Mark Patterson

Mark Patterson is the Founder and Executive Director of Magnet at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), an organization focused on workforce development and preparing people for the AI-driven future. Since founding Magnet in 2014, he has also led Hire Immigrants, advancing inclusive employment and adaptive human potential.

Eloise Duncan

Eloise Duncan is CEO and Founder of the non-profit Financial Resilience Institute and a leading global authority on financial health and resilience and financial well-being. A dual Canadian and British national, she has lived and worked in six countries. Eloise is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC), a Global Reviewer and Advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) on financial health and inclusion measurement for banks, and a Global Reviewer and Partner to the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate (UNSGSA), Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and the World Bank on financial health and well-being measurement. She has led a dedicated financial health and resilience practice for over 15 years and brings more than 20 years of experience in financial health and resilience research, impact measurement, strategic consulting, inclusive finance, Index creation and social enterprise innovation.

An expert speaker on financial health and resilience, Eloise collaborates with leaders across sectors to drive positive change. She is a recognized expert in Small Business Financial Health and Resilience, Employee Financial Well-Being, and leading initiatives that help non-profit organizations strengthen their financial resilience while delivering greater community impact. She is passionate about advancing financial health and resilience for more vulnerable populations, women and women-led SMEs.

Eloise is the creator of the world-leading, peer-reviewed Financial Resilience Index Model, the Business Financial Health and Resilience Index and other evidence-based measurement instruments. She and her team advise governments, regulators, financial institutions, employers, CEOs, boards and international organizations on financial health and resilience strategy, evidence-based decision-making, and program and policy development. Together, they lead transformational initiatives that advance financial health and resilience and drive lasting systemic change.

Indra Sarju

Indra Sarju is a social impact and entrepreneurship specialist who has built a global repository of more than 100 innovative financial products spanning climate, education, health, housing, and agriculture. As Manager of the Future Economy Lab at SecondMuse Capital, she mobilizes blended capital and co-designs financial instruments with governments, foundations, and financial institutions to expand access for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Her experience includes leading the Systems Financing Facility in Zambia with UNDP, where catalytic systems mapping informs energy transition and inclusive growth. She has also partnered with institutions ranging from Goldman Sachs and the VISA Foundation to grassroots organizations, channeling millions in catalytic capital to ventures worldwide

Kate Ruff

Kate Ruff is Co-Director at 3ci and an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. She researches how organizations measure and report their impacts on society. Her research has won international awards. She is recognized for her work on standard setting in the social impact arena. She has a MSc from the London School of Economics and a PhD from the Schulich School of Business at York University. She serves on the boards of Social Value Canada and Social Value International. She sits on the UN SDG Impact Investment Fund Research Council. At present, Kate is leading a pilot study of a Common Approach to Impact Measurement for Social Enterprises, linking flexible organizational-level indicators to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rosemarie Powell

Rosemarie Powell is the Executive Director of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, co-founder of the Canadian Building Diversity Institute and Owner of Big on Green Property Management. She has been a passionate advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice for over 20 years and has advanced equitable approaches to policy development and implementation at various levels of government. Building on TCBN’s initial success of negotiating Ontario’s first Community Benefits Framework for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Rosemarie led the coalition through subsequent campaigns to secure community benefits for the Finch West LRT, West Park Healthcare Centre and Rexdale Casino Woodbine expansion.

In so doing, she has forged strategic partnerships among community, labour and industry leaders across Canada to unlock thousands of good jobs in construction and hundreds of millions in local and social procurement opportunities through investment in public infrastructure and urban development for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour with a focus on youth, women, and newcomers. Her community engagement and environmental advocacy work earned several awards for leadership and imagination.

Victor Beausoleil

Victor Beausoleil has served historically under-represented communities in the social economy, social finance, impact investing and cooperative ecosystems for two decades. At the age of 24, he Co-Founded Redemption Reintegration Services, one of the largest youth-led youth justice agencies in Canada. In 2013, he received his first public service appointment as a member of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Council on Youth Opportunities.

He is currently the founder and Executive Director of SETSI – The Social Economy Through Social Inclusion and co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Non-Profit Digital Resistance.

He has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, Laidlaw Foundation, the Toronto Community Housing Social Investment Fund, Toronto Community Benefits Network, The Canadian Community Economic Development Network, the Fair Finance Fund, the Table of Impact Investment Practitioners, New Power Labs, the Regional Ethno- Advisory Council for Corrections Services Canada, the Catalyst Community Finance Initiative, the Canadian Employee Ownership Coalition and the Tribe Network.

As a lecturer, he has travelled extensively throughout Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Africa to speak with community organizations, institutions and philanthropic foundations.

Victor has written thirteen books and is a husband and father of four brilliant children.

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