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This award recognizes Black, Indigenous, and Persons of colour aspiring innovators who positively impact their communities, the world and future generations through their contributions to the innovation ecosystem.
Thanks to those that nominated! Keep checking our website and socials as the award recipients will be announced soon.
Treasa Leigh Brown is the founder of Leigh Event Group, a Toronto-based event planning company known for its innovative approach and dedication to excellence. With over a decade of experience, she has transformed visions into unforgettable events for diverse clients. Treasa launched the We Rise Experience, a conference empowering entrepreneurs, and ProfessionELLE House, a social business club fostering collaboration and growth.
Prof. Tizazu Mekonnen, inaugural director of the Indigenous & Black Engineering & Technology PhD Project (IBET) at the University of Waterloo, spearheads efforts to enhance Black and Indigenous representation in Canadian engineering faculties. Established in 2021, IBET, now spanning 5 faculties, is a highly effective tool recruiting Indigenous and Black scholars at the PhD level, with 9 additional STEM faculties joining and one on the verge.
As Director of the Indigenous Affairs Office, City of Toronto, Selina spearheaded the creation and City Council approval of Toronto's inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2032. This visionary 10-year strategy, developed collaboratively with Indigenous communities through extensive consultations, marks a significant achievement in advancing truth, justice, and reconciliation in the city.
Sage Lacerte, Founder and CEO of the Sage Initiative, is dedicated to building wealth for Indigenous women and communities. Her initiative empowers them to make impactful, balanced investments with social, environmental, and fiscal returns. As the National Youth Ambassador for the Moose Hide Campaign, Sage actively contributes to ending violence against women and children in Canada.
As Founder & CEO of Scale Without Borders and Bay Street Bull's Women of the Year 2021, she passionately aids newcomers in tech through her one-stop platform, helping over 2000 immigrants break into the tech field. As Programs Manager at the top-ranked DMZ, she leads Women Founders programs, supporting entrepreneurship and diversity.
forced organizations to declare their board representation and to explain their lack of diversity. It became known as the 'Comply or Explain' model.
Second, as the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada, Navdeep launched the Statistics Canada's Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics. This new data hub collects intersectional and disaggregated data to fill gaps that have not been previously available.
As a founding member of Shinydocs and the inaugural VP, Research & Development, Khalid played a crucial role in growing the team to 75+ employees over 8 years. At IGLOO Inc., he spearheaded the expansion of a provincially-funded project to a successful startup with 150+ employees across Canada, demonstrating his impactful leadership.
Lise, Managing Partner of BKR Capital, oversees a $20M VC fund dedicated to investing in promising under-represented founders in technology. In February 2022, BKR Capital, under Lise's leadership, invested in four Black-led tech companies, aiming to support 18 over four years. The fund focuses on early and transformative investments in disruptive companies addressing unmet needs in minority communities.
Jason, a Métis entrepreneur, founded Kite Electric Ltd. in Edmonton to offer ethical, sustainable energy solutions to his community. As a master electrician with certifications for sustainable energy products, he provides design, installation, and retrofitting for green energy projects, including Tesla car-charging stations. Licensed by Transport Canada, he also operates drones across Canadian airspace.
Ismail, a dedicated advocate, taught robotics to kids in Toronto Community Housing. As a member of the 1st Youth Innovation Council at MaRS, he led human-centered design workshops addressing barriers to employment. Transitioning to CCYP, he collaborated with SMEs to break down barriers for marginalized job seekers. Ismail actively works to increase representation of young people in various spaces.
Colleen, a participant in the Women in Leadership initiative, Black Executive Steering Committee, and Visible Minority network, defied traditional norms, climbing within Canada's top 5 banks as a woman of color. Balancing single motherhood to a teenage son, she recently joined the FIREHOOD initiative, investing in diverse women entrepreneurship, exemplifying her commitment to community giving.
Ashley is a renowned international motivational speaker and role model, addressing educational institutions, workshops, conferences, and award ceremonies. Notable speaking engagements include Harvard University, TED Talks, and WE Day. Ashley's impactful work earned her recognition with awards such as the Role Model Award at the Dreamcatcher Gala, Top 20 Under 30 Award in Canada, and a United Nations Role Model Award for Global Dignity Day.
Dr. Georgette Zinaty, Executive Vice President at Corporate Class Inc., leads the Leadership, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Practice. Recognized as one of six Canadian Empowering Women and a top Canadian Immigrant, she's a TEDx Speaker, global speaker, and mentor. Dr. Zinaty advocates tirelessly for equity, featured in Forbes as a thought leader and change maker. She's also a proud mother of three future leaders, demonstrating her commitment to allyship and positive change.
Alfred Burgesson, an immigrant from Ghana, is a former member of the Prime Minister's Youth Council and co-chair of Canada's inaugural 'State of the Youth' Report. He advised the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs and worked on the state of Black Entrepreneurs in Canada. As Founder & CEO of Tribe Network, Alfred continues his impactful work.
Joseph is an active partner with Ashley Callingbull and Jarret Leaman, Founder of CIIT leading this Indigenous Youth Initiative to raise awareness and highlight issues affecting Indigenous youth. He also has more than 25 years in First Nation Issues Management and Inter-Governmental
Relations and is a great communicator, negotiator, and community engagement specialist.
Additional skills include TV/Film producer/writer and Aboriginal history/cultural resource.
Ahmed, Founder of HXOUSE, played a key role in shaping the Weeknd's ascent to global stardom. His creative agency supports diverse communities, and he hosted PM Trudeau to announce a $221M aid program for Black Entrepreneurs. Ahmed launched Black HXOUSE and utilizes his platform with the Weeknd to promote inclusivity in the creative industries. As a fundraiser and philanthropist, he has raised millions to address challenges in underserved communities globally. Known as an Influence Broker, Ahmed excels as a connector.
Gurneet Kaur Dhami, an anti-racist activist and researcher in Canadian dietetics, collaborates on presentations addressing racism in the field. As a woman of color, she contributes to committees like the Diabetes Cardiovascular Obesity Network. Gurneet presented "Anti-Racism on the Menu" at the national Dietitians of Canada conference in 2021. Currently completing her thesis on the experiences of racialized dietitians, she advocates for change while progressing in her dietitian training.
David Fortin, an architect and Métis Nation of Ontario citizen, champions projects fostering deep connections with people and the land. His design work, like an off-grid storage unit for Kenyan farmers and utility core with Opaskwayak Cree Nation, prioritizes community impact. As the inaugural Indigenous Director at Laurentian's architecture school, he shaped a unique curriculum emphasizing inclusive teaching methods and foregrounding Indigenous knowledge.
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This award recognizes Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) aspiring innovators and allies who positively impact their communities through their contributions to the innovation ecosystem across Canada and globally.
Tristan Morris
Tristan's remarkable leadership elevated MentorU MentorMe from 12 to 40 youth participants in a year, employing innovative peer mentoring to impact over 430 youth. Under his guidance, the program extended its reach through FiresideChats with Canadian corporate leaders, fostering knowledge-sharing and network-building. Participants experienced a substantial LinkedIn network increase of over 230 contacts each.
Tizazu Mekonnen
Prof. Tizazu Mekonnen, inaugural director of the Indigenous & Black Engineering & Technology PhD Project (IBET) at the University of Waterloo, spearheads efforts to enhance Black and Indigenous representation in Canadian engineering faculties. Established in 2021, IBET, now spanning 5 faculties, is a highly effective tool recruiting Indigenous and Black scholars at the PhD level, with 9 additional STEM faculties joining and one on the verge.
Vitalis Omambia
Vitalis excels in relationship management, project delivery, and diverse IT domains. His expertise spans digital transformations, strategic business initiatives, and strengthening critical systems. Proficient in leadership, he guides multicultural teams and oversees national IT operations. With a decade of strategic IT and Product leadership in Telecom, Cybersecurity, FinTech, and Healthcare, he consistently delivers innovative solutions, leveraging technology for enhanced efficiency and customer experiences.
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