Trish Mandewo is an experienced entrepreneur, board professional, politician and author.  Serving her second term as City Councillor for the City of Coquitlam, she is also the President of the Association of BC Municipalities (UBCM).  She has served on more than 25 boards. With an impressive early career in microbiology and embryology, followed by a transition into entrepreneurship, Trish specializes in decolonizing and demystifying governance and policy frameworks across sectors.  She has won several awards including being named RBC top 25 Canadian Immigrant, Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Leader and Top 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada.

In a span of 28 years, Trish built 4 successful businesses and authored 3 books. Her latest company, Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group is a leading pan-Canadian boutique firm specializing in board governance frameworks, organizational development and leadership recruitment. All the work that Trish does reflects her love of organizational excellence through human centered governance and policies.

Ron McKinnon is the Member of Parliament for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam. Active in politics for many years, Ron previously ran as a Liberal candidate in the 2008 General Election and for Port Coquitlam City Council in 2011. Ron is a member of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, as has served on the Standing Committee on Health as well as the Standing Committee on Science and Research and has contributed to many important studies including national pharmacare, LGBTQ2+ health and the opioid crisis.

As a long-time resident of Port Coquitlam, Ron is a proud community advocate, from serving on the Evergreen Cultural Centre board, to working with Amnesty International. As your Member of Parliament, Ron works hard to ensure that families in the community have the resources they need, from spending more time with their kids, to making life more affordable. He meets regularly with constituents, hosts advisory councils, and attends many community events in order to better understand the issues that are important to community members.

Through his annual Community Champions program, Ron celebrates the leaders in his riding that are helping to build and better Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam.

Recognizing that British Columbia is seized by an opioid crisis, Ron introduced a Private Members Bill, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. His legislation became law in May 2017 after receiving unanimous all-party support in both the House of Commons and Senate. The law is saving lives by encouraging people to call 911 in the event of a drug overdose by providing limited immunity from prosecution for possession of controlled substances.

Prior to his election, he was a successful business owner and computer systems analyst for major firms in Canada, the US, and overseas. In the 1970s, he worked as a meteorological technician for Environment Canada’s Atmospheric Environment Service.

Ron has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and an honours diploma in Computer Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He is married to Christine and has two daughters, Katherine and Sarah.

Synthia is a dynamic business leader with extensive experience across industries including technology, logistics, finance, real estate, and law. Recognized as one of Canada’s Best Executives in 2021 by the Globe and Mail, she currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Clark Wilson LLP, where she collaborates with the executive team to drive strategy and optimize processes. Synthia is also dedicated to mentoring and fostering leadership potential within her team.

A passionate advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, she co-chairs the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Advisory Committee and has mentored new immigrants through the MOSAIC Workplace Connections program since 2019.

Wyle Baoween works with boards, senior leaders and their teams to build equitable and inclusive organizations. He is the CEO at Inclusivity, a Canadian consulting firm providing data analytics to address inequality in our communities and workplaces.

Wyle has been recognized as one of Canada’s thought leaders in equity, diversity and inclusion for the solutions he has developed and re-engineered, including technology for assessing unconscious bias, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Culture Change Curve, and data analytics for EDI.

In 2024 Wyle was awarded with a Canadian Medal of Honour for his impact on diversity and inclusion, and in 2023 he was recognized as one of Canada Top 25 Immigrants.

Prior to Inclusivity, Wyle worked for 15 years in consulting and project management, specializing in process improvement, technology and strategies for change management. He holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), a certificate in Executive Leadership, a Bsc in Engineering, and is a certified Change Management and Project Management Professional (PMP).

Wyle also volunteers as a Regional Board Member at the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the University of Victoria’s Impact Investing Advisory Council. He is also Co-Founder of the Yemeni Canadian Society and an Ambassador for the University of Victoria’s Business School where he was recognized as one of the University’s 25 Alumni to Watch.

Wyle speaks regularly on the topics of equity, diversity and inclusion, unconscious bias, data analytics and organizational change.

Keri is the Chief People Officer, providing senior HR leadership to support all business units for Westland Insurance. An inclusive, collaborative leader with over 25 years of experience, Keri develops programs that empower professionals to think differently to deliver exceptional results.  Keri joined Westland in 2019 where she is responsible for developing people strategies in all areas of talent management aligned to Westland’s future growth and expansion plans. Prior to that she was with Colliers International for 10+ years where she held progressively senior roles before being appointed to Vice President. In that role she was responsible for leading the North American People Services team of more than 90 professionals.

Keri is passionate about engagement, diversity and inclusiveness. Under her leadership, Colliers Canada was recognized as an Aon Best Employer and most recently, the Westland Insurance People &Performance Team was awarded Innovative HR Team of the Year by HRD Canada.

Keri is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from E-Cornell and recently completed the Anti-Racism Program at UBC.

Mikelle Sasakamoose is a member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. She is also Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and Syilx and was born and raised on her reserve in Kamloops. Mikelle now lives with her family on the traditional and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Kwikwetlem Peoples, where the City of Burnaby is now located and where she was the first Indigenous person to be elected to a colonial government in 130 years. Mikelle worked as a federal public servant for 15 years working in Indigenous relations at federal departments and agencies, including Statistics Canada and Transport Canada. She currently works as the first ever Director, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation for the City of Burnaby.

Iyeba is a driven leader with a passion for sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment. She serves as an Operations Support Manager at Lafarge Canada Inc., where she focuses on operational excellence, quality assurance, and safety in the concrete industry. A passionate advocate for building inclusive communities, Iyeba is a board member of both Squash BC and the BC Council for Families.

With a background in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science, as well as certifications in Project Management and Six Sigma, Iyeba blends technical expertise with strategic leadership. She is also deeply involved in fostering connections and empowering newcomers to Canada through sports, volunteering, and mentorship. As a proud alumna of MOSAIC’s SCOPE program, she is excited to share her journey and insights on the panel, inspiring others to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Marie is an experienced professional with a strong background in not-for-profit work and leadership. In 2016, she founded an organization focused on women and youth empowerment in Nigeria. After moving to Canada, she served as an Ambassador for Nanaimo Tourism and held various roles, including Ambassador at Dress for Success Vancouver and Treasurer for the Parent Advisory Council at Burnaby North Secondary School. She is currently a Board Member of the Women’s Economic Council and a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Marie was appointed as a Fellow in the Impact Canada Fellowship in 2021. She has over 12 years of experience in Nigeria’s banking sector and has worked with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. She holds an MBA with Distinction from Vancouver Island University and a Master of Science in International Management from the University of Hertfordshire. Marie is also a certified Canadian Risk Manager and applies her expertise to support Canada’s federal priorities. In her free time, she enjoys engaging with youth and women in her community, and spending time with her three children.

Katie Crocker is the Chief Executive Officer of AMSSA, a British Columbia provincial umbrella association that strengthens over 90 member agencies as well as hundreds of community stakeholder agencies who serve immigrants and newcomers. Katie represents the BC Settlement Sector on the National Settlement and Integration Council, is a member of the Executive Committee of the UBC Centre for Migration Studies and is the Co-Chair of the Pathways to Prosperity Research Partnership. Along with her background in not-for-profit management and her knowledge of the settlement and integration sector, Katie brings an expertise in supporting neurodiverse children and their families as a mother of a child with Autism and Chair of the Board of UNITI. She has a deep interest in the settlement and integration journey of newcomers and strives to learn about and take accountability for the inherent privilege she has to live, work and raise her children in these unceded territories that have been stewarded by First Nations since time immemorial. Katie is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Matilda Williams-Obiajunwa graduated from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where she studied Creative Arts and majored in Directing for her first degree. She also has a postgraduate diploma in Educational Administration and Planning from the same university.
She possesses a rich background in Childhood cancer advocacy, event planning, and stakeholder engagement.
As an immigrant woman, Matilda struggled with self-esteem, depression, the several challenges of being a woman of colour and the constant fear of being accepted for who she is; these and her numerous life experiences as a woman have led her to create the Sisters In Canada Wellness Society, where Matilda strives to help other immigrant women find their voice, rebuild their self-esteem, most importantly find support amidst like minds and hopefully through collaborations, partnerships and mentoring programs, they can help women in their community thrive and become the next generation of immigrant women moving for greatness, questioning policies and making notable changes in their community.

Matilda has a solid knowledge of administration, sales and marketing practices and is highly focused on achieving results and taking organizations to the next level.

In addition to her work in Canada, Matilda is a passionate advocate for childhood cancer in Nigeria. Her work in this regard is shown through her non-profit organization, Daivyan Children Cancer Foundation, where she has written several noteworthy articles, granted a series of interviews with popular TV networks and held several successful advocacy campaigns. She is one of the most vocal advocates for Childhood Cancer in Nigeria.

Matilda was recently selected as a member of the IRCC Inaugural Newcomers Council, where she and other Council members will advise the Deputy Minister of Immigration on ideas and policies that will support newcomers in Canada.
Her relentless quest for supporting women and children led her to volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run For the Cure, Surrey Committee, where she served as the Communications Lead for four years. She also works with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver and Atira Women’s Society, where she supports women experiencing the struggles of homelessness or rehabilitation.

As a life coach, Matilda helps others navigate life’s challenges, drawing from her experiences as an immigrant woman overcoming societal obstacles. She is a mother of four and is supported by her fantastic partner in all her endeavours.

Valeria has more than six years of experience in the field of Social Justice. Her background in research and teaching informs her current work on Anti-Racism and Equity education. She is an educational content developer, facilitator, and consultant who has worked with public and private institutions in Canada, United States and Mexico. She has previously worked for the Equity Office at the City of Vancouver and the Social Justice Institute at UBC. Valeria holds a Master of Arts in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice (University of British Columbia, 2022) 

Sara Cortez Qureshi is a first-generation settler who came to what is colonially known as Canada as a refugee. She has had the pleasure of being raised on the traditional and stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She is eternally grateful to the Coast Salish Peoples, their land, and its teachers who have enriched her lived experience as a mixed-race, queer, woman and shaped her worldview.

She graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2021 with a bachelor’s in political science, law, and society. This history, as well as her lived experience, has fueled Sara’s fire for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Since joining the team at MOSAIC’s Centre for Diversity, Sara has worked as an instructional developer and facilitator. In 2024, she transitioned into her role as Coordinator with a continued commitment to improving processes and building a team environment that is supportive and inclusive; a place where each person feels welcome to be their whole selves. She is passionate about EDI and is looking forward to bringing her cumulative experience to the Centre for Diversity’s work in the future.

Ariba Dara is a South Asian Pakistani immigrant, who has paved her way into leadership spaces in Canada through her collaborative spirit and unwavering drive for growth. With a background in Social Sciences, Psychology, Gender Studies, and a Master’s in Training & Development, she brings over 12 years of experience in project management and inclusive program design.

She is dedicated to advancing equity-driven strategies and community-focused initiatives that create leadership opportunities for marginalized individuals. Currently, she serves as the Regional Program Manager at FORA: Network for Change, where she leads strategic partnerships and program execution across Northern and Western Canada.

Currently serving as the Advocacy Manager for Fora: Network for Change, Tehreem is keenly interested in civic innovation and audacious change-making. With a specialized degree in Political Science and a decade of experience in the sector, she often finds herself at the intersection of politics and philosophy as a researcher, advocate, and strategist. In this capacity Tehreem has spent the past ten years orchestrating and supporting systems change campaigns for international NGOs, mobilizing her peers into audacious and effective citizens.

A registered Professional Engineer with EGBC and a mother of a 6 years’ old, Olfat Omar is a multilingual mechanical engineer fluent in English, French, German, Italian, and Arabic. Her career journey reflects remarkable resilience, beginning with immigration to Canada. She navigated six rigorous academic exams to obtain her engineering license while working full time. In addition, she has successfully navigated multiple industry transitions amidst changing economic landscapes.

Specializing in business development, Olfat is a driving force behind sustainable infrastructure solutions, particularly in commercial buildings. Her expertise extends to manufacturing, consulting, oil and gas and sustainable energy management.

Beyond her professional achievements, Olfat is a motivational speaker and a passionate advocate for mentorship, dedicating over a decade to guiding foreign-trained engineers towards successful integration. Her commitment to fostering inclusive communities and nurturing talent underscores her role as a catalyst for positive change in the engineering field.