Louise Adongo is a systems-focused, values-driven leader who works at the intersection of strategy, equity, and cultural transformation. Grounded in relational governance and informed by Systems Transformational Leadership, she leads with courageous imagination, clarity, and care. Her practice is rooted in feminist and community-based ethics — building institutions that center trust, shift power, and serve as vessels for intergenerational impact.

Abdelrahman is a final-year Mechanical Engineering student at the Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary. His academic journey reflects a strong interest in solving complex technical challenges and applying analytical thinking to real-world problems. During his 16-month internship at ATCO Gas, he worked as a Risk Analysis Engineering Intern, where he contributed to environmental and operational risk assessments for abandoned gas wells. Beyond his technical work, Abdelrahman is deeply passionate about community engagement and personal development. His involvement with Meals That Last began as an attendee of the very first program, where he discovered the power of connection and communication through cooking. Inspired by the program’s impact, he later joined the team to help guide others in building confidence, leadership, and empathy through shared experiences in the kitchen. Abdelrahman believes that growth happens through meaningful conversations, learning by doing, and creating spaces where people feel empowered to contribute. Whether in engineering or community work, he values curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Outside of academics and volunteering, Abdelrahman enjoys exploring different cuisines and has a particular love for mangoes, a reminder of his appreciation for life’s simple joys.

Nourelden Alsafadi is a third-year electrical engineering student at the University of Calgary. He has spent much of his time working and volunteering at events that matter to him, from teaching others to swim to coordinating activities at his local mosque. He enjoys taking part in something he and others find meaningful and positively impactful. With Danial’s cooking program, he wants to build on that and be part of something bigger than himself, something impactful and clearly helpful to others. Cooking is interactive and hands-on, making collaboration natural and helping people form deeper, more meaningful bonds and connections. He is also motivated to address the problems of meaninglessness and violence that many young men go through. These challenges often compound and can lead to destructive habits. He wants to help counter that by building friendship, social bonds, and brotherhood in a practical, face-to-face way. By putting their hands to work and talking honestly about what’s on their minds, he believes people can find solutions and comfort together and help prevent unsafe or unwanted behaviour toward themselves and others.

Marichu Piitaaki Antonio is a pioneering leader, advocate, and builder of alternative processes dedicated to grassroots empowerment, human rights, and systems change in Canada, the Philippines, and beyond. With more than five decades of experience, she works alongside communities to amplify voices often left unheard and reimagine, with them, what dignity and justice can look like.

From her beginnings as a high school activist to her current role as a community leader, mentor, and grandmother, Marichu has helped weave together movements among newcomers, youth, women, and front-line workers in both urban and rural settings. In 2020, she became the first woman of colour named Calgary’s Citizen of the Year, recognized for compassionate leadership and innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her many honours include the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, King Charles III Coronation Medal, and recognition from the Philippine Embassy on the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Canada for her bridge-building role between the two nations.

As the retired Executive Director and one of founding leaders of ActionDignity, Marichu led the organization for 12 years, transforming it into a major force for racial equity, social justice, and civic engagement. Earlier, she championed integration and inclusion at the Centre for Newcomers through innovative programs such as EthniCity Catering—a social enterprise creating first employment pathways for newcomers and refugees while fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Marichu’s influence extends well beyond her organizational roles. She has co-founded and guided numerous enduring racially diverse organizations including Babae: Council of Filipina Canadian Women, the Philippine Festival Council of Alberta, the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary (now ActionDignity), Filipinos Rising for Inclusion and Equity to Nurture Democracy (FRIENDS), the Asian Heritage Foundation, and EthniCity Catering. She has also helped strengthen equity-focused governance as a former board member with Momentum and the Women’s Centre of Calgary.

Since retirement, Marichu continues to foster transformation through mentorship, volunteerism, intergenerational leadership training, systems change, and advocacy. She served on the Council of Indigenous Elders and Global Leaders that created and implemented the Indigenous Education Toolkit for Newcomers. She acts as a knowledge keeper in community arts projects, and sits as member of the Calgary Foundation’s Major Grants Committee.

Marichu continues to provide guidance to groundbreaking initiatives that amplify rural and racially diverse voices of Alberta Fil-Can Community Leaders Association (AFCLA) by providing leadership training towards a community-led response to fast- and slow-moving crisis. AFCLA covers 62 rural counties and municipalities of Alberta. Marichu supported the formation and initiatives of African Women Empowerment Society Organizing for Meaningful Engagement (AWESOME) and helped organize an Alberta-wide Convention of South Sudanese Leaders for Healing and Reconciliation.

In 2021, a First Nations Elder honoured Marichu with the Blackfoot name Piitaaki—Eagle Woman—symbolizing strength, vision, and the responsibility to nurture others to rise. Rooted in this vision, Marichu dedicates her life’s work to building a world where her three grandchildren—and all future generations—can live with dignity, justice, and hope. It is a legacy of flying high enough to see the whole picture while staying grounded among the people, working hand in hand toward lasting, transformative change.

Adham Ali is an Egyptian engineering student whose passion for cooking and community engagement has become a powerful platform for connection and growth. He first joined the men’s cooking and wellbeing program as a recurring participant in its pilot cohort, where he experienced how shared meals could open space for honest conversation, mentorship, and belonging. Building on that experience, Adham is now supporting the adaptation of the cooking program for elementary-aged boys, focusing on baking as a way to spark conversations about friendship, teamwork, emotions, and self-confidence. This youth version extends the program’s philosophy of using food as a bridge – meeting young men where they are and helping them learn that care, creativity, and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses. Rooted in his experiences within Muslim and Middle Eastern communities, Adham works to bridge generations and foster understanding between elders and youth. He has long been involved in tutoring and mentorship, emphasizing empathy, accountability, and cultural pride. Through initiatives like these, Adham helps reimagine masculinity as something expansive and relational – rooted in generosity, reflection, and shared responsibility. Whether in the classroom, the kitchen, or the community, his work reflects an ongoing commitment to helping young men lead with compassion, confidence, and care.

Aleem Bharwani is a physician (internal medicine) and the director of Public Policy at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and is a senior research fellow at Ottawa Dialogue, where he applies Track Two Diplomacy to build shared understanding, strengthen relationships and drive innovation across differences

Bharwani is the founding director of the UCalgary Pluralism Initiative—a transdisciplinary applied research, education, and innovation hub that seeks to help us live well and create well together. He is a world leader in inclusive governance.

Bharwani graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, in public policy and administration, and was a resident of the Harvard Venture Incubation Program.

He is a celebrated educator, an internationally recognized leader in inclusive governance, and an active citizen who has served on a variety of community and corporate boards.

Francis Boakye is the Executive Director of ActionDignity. He brings a wealth of experience in supporting ethnocultural communities and fostering collaboration to build a diverse and united Calgary. A strong believer in the power of collective impact, Francis has successfully partnered with both settlement and non-settlement agencies to address issues that matter to our communities.

Prior to joining ActionDignity in 2021, Francis spent 11 years at the Centre for Newcomers, where he served as Vice President of Strategy and Outreach. His commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive city is reflected in his various leadership and board roles, including contributions to the Calgary Anti-Racism Action Committee and as former chair of CLIP’s Social Inclusion Working Group.

Susan has been with the United Way for 14 years and is the Vice President of Community Impact & Partnerships. In this role she works with agencies and other stakeholders to identify gaps, reduce barriers and build innovative and intentional partnerships to create greater community impact. In her time at United Way, she has also worked quite deeply in the area of financial empowerment as well as with the immigrant and seniors sectors. She has a Master’s Degree in social work, and has been working in the non- profit sector for 38 years.

Charles Buchanan is the Founder and CEO of Technology Helps, a pioneering organization focused on eliminating technology poverty across the social purpose sector. With a distinguished career in corporate technology leadership, including senior roles at Suncor Energy, Oracle, MNP, and Deloitte, Charles brings deep strategic insight and entrepreneurial acumen. He has successfully launched and led ventures in fintech, online gaming, and environmental tech, and continues to advise organizations ranging from global enterprises to grassroots nonprofits.

A committed community leader, Charles serves on multiple boards and advisory committees, including Calgary Black Chambers (co-founder), Calgary Foundation, Future of Good, and the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for Community Service.

Charles holds an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Cesar believes in the power of ordinary people to lead extraordinary change for themselves and their communities. He is the Chair of Filipinos Rising, a grassroots group doing community organizing, social advocacy, leadership development, participatory research and program innovation. With other community advocates, Cesar helped establish several organizations including ActionDignity, Asian Heritage Foundation and the Children’s Legal and Educational Resource Centre. He previously worked with United Way of Calgary and Calgary Foundation on grassroots grantmaking, neighbourhood hubs and Vital Signs. His first employment in Canada was with the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre. He currently sits on the board of Calgary Scope Society and is part of Calgary Arts Development’s Wisdom Circle. Before moving to Canada with partner Marichu Antonio and their two children, Cesar was involved in movements for democracy and human rights in the Philippines and other parts of the world. These days he enjoys being a doting lolo to three energetic grandkids.

Sherry has more than 20 years of experience supporting organizations to understand context, define goals, plan and act. She uses participatory processes and research in ways that bolster decision making with diverse perspectives and evidence. Her range of experience is broad. She has supported organizations working in mental health, social justice, community organizing, newcomer settlement, and environmental justice. Sherry leads in the areas of organizational needs assessment, strategic planning, business plan development, and aligning operational processes towards multi-year priorities. Prior to Habitus, Sherry worked as an independent consultant and a nonprofit manager. Her front-line nonprofit experience grounds her with a focus on what is practical and effective. Sherry is also experienced in program evaluation, curriculum development, and the design and delivery of learning opportunities to strengthen governance, operations, teams, and community organizing. Deliverables of her work include vision, mission and value statements, evidence-informed priorities, actionable work plans, and processes and tools for implementing and monitoring aligned work. Sherry is an experienced team builder. She enjoys facilitating diverse groups and has successfully worked with boards, staff, grassroots leaders, community partners and competitors to advance a wide range of goals.

Youssef Elsabban is a second-year student at the Haskayne School of Business with a strong passion for uplifting his community through advocacy, self-development, and humanitarian initiatives. Since high school, he has been deeply involved in working with children through educational, spiritual, and sports programs, always aiming to create spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered. Youssef first joined the Meals That Last program as a participant in its inaugural cohort and was later invited by Danial Jamal to join the core organizing team. This experience became a turning point for him, inspiring a deeper commitment to improving male well-being and addressing the stigma around emotional expression and vulnerability among young men. His motivation for being part of the program comes from witnessing individuals engage in open, honest conversations that lead to genuine growth and stronger, healthier relationships. For Youssef, the most rewarding part of leading this program alongside the team is seeing participants transform as they begin to communicate more thoughtfully, connect more deeply, and carry themselves with greater confidence by the end of each session. These moments reaffirm his belief in the power of community, compassion, and dialogue to create lasting change.

Yonatan brings a wealth of experience working with B3s/nonprofits, evaluation practitioners, and funders. He draws lessons from his work at the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC) and its partnerships with the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiatives (SBCCI), Healthy Communities Initiatives (HCI), designing & implementing evaluation capacity building initiatives. He firmly believes that in the context of nonprofit work, producing better outcomes for communities is a shared responsibility of B3s/nonprofits, evaluation practitioners, and funders. He also believes systems change requires engaging in difficult conversations that must first lead to personal transformation. He recognizes the complexity and messiness of systems transformation work and sees himself as part of the system that must change for the better.

Yonatan received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and master’s in education at York University, and is an alumnus of the Emerging Leaders Program, Management Certificate offered by United Way Toronto, Metcalf Foundation and York University’s Schulich School of Business, and Maytree Foundation’s Leaders for Change. As a passionate soccer player and grassroots soccer coach, he brings coaching principles and team spirit to his work.

Amr Gohar is a researcher, storyteller, and community builder passionate about understanding how people grow scientifically and emotionally. Based in Calgary, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Calgary and works with the Calgary Stroke Program, where he supports clinical research focused on expanding access to stroke treatment and improving patient outcomes. His curiosity about human connection extends beyond research, shaping his creative personal and community-driven projects. Through MealsThatLast, Amr works alongside Danial, Youssef, Adham, Nour, and Abdelrahman to bring young university men together through food and open discussions about masculinity and fatherhood, creating meaningful spaces that spark empathy and growth. As the host of The Bloomers Podcast on YouTube and Spotify, he dives into honest conversations about mental health, masculinity, and self-improvement, blending storytelling, reflection, and a little touch of humour to show that behind the smoke and mirrors of social media exist the tender emotions of the heart and mind, and that personal growth is a journey we all can work on together. Across his work in healthcare, community engagement, and social media, Amr’s mission is simple: to explore the ways people heal and connect, and to share those stories in a way that inspires others to do the same. Whether in the office, the kitchen, or in the podcast studio, he approaches every project with curiosity, care, and a belief that growth is something we do best together.

Darrell leads an exceptional team of staff and community volunteers at the Alex Community Food Centre (CFC) in Greater Forest Lawn–a place where neighbours gather to grow, cook, share and advocate for the right to good food.

Darrell has over 30 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, from supporting people with disabilities to experience full community lives, managing volunteers, developing innovative programs, championing community development initiatives, advocating for healthy public policy and enabling civic engagement at the grassroots level.

Danial Jamal is a Bachelor of Social Work graduate (University of Calgary, 2025) who, alongside a community of support and collaboration, helped create Meals That Last – a men’s cooking and wellbeing program that began with a pilot cohort exploring how working in the kitchen and shared meals can create space for honest conversation and belonging. The program has since expanded into recurring cohorts across campus and community settings, supported by UCalgary Residence Services. Guided by the question “What makes a good father?” Danial’s work explores what men hold – the stories, silences, and patterns they inherit – and the spaces needed to build new cycles of healing and accountability. Inspired by the words of English poet and artist Loyle Carner, Meals That Last builds community around the belief that humility, honesty, and presence are forms of strength. Beyond this program, Danial serves as the Inclusive Governance Coordinator with the Cumming School of Medicine’s Indigenous, Local, and Global Health Office, supporting community-engaged decision-making frameworks, and as a Research Coordinator with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women, contributing to a family-violence prevention initiative. Danial credits the continued motivation and growth of Meals That Last to the mentorship and encouragement of Dr. Aleem Bharwani, Dr. Liza Lorenzetti, Dr. Dianne Mosher, Lisa Yeo, Lateef Habib RSW, AJ, Immad Nayeem, and Noor Elsabban – whose guidance and belief in the program’s purpose continue to inspire its evolution.

Karen King is a community impact leader with more than 15 years of experience in the non-profit and social services sector. She is the Manager of Action Table Calgary, a groundbreaking cross-sector collaboration between United Way of Calgary and Area, the City of Calgary, and the Calgary Police Service. This initiative brings together over 50 community organizations to respond rapidly to individuals and families at acutely elevated risk, connecting them to the right supports within 48 hours and helping to prevent crises before they occur.

Alongside her leadership at ATC, Karen runs King Impact Strategies, a consulting practice focused on capacity building, partnership development, and strategic planning for non-profits and grassroots organizations. She has worked extensively with newcomer, disability, older adult, and housing-focused organizations to design collaborative approaches that move beyond competition for funding and instead create shared solutions for stronger, healthier communities.

Karen is also completing a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University, where she integrates academic research with real-world practice in cross-sector collaboration and systems change. She is passionate about building bridges between sectors, helping organizations discover the root causes behind community challenges, and designing innovative strategies that create lasting impact.

At the GEM Summit, Karen will share insights from Action Table Calgary and guide participants through an interactive workshop on collaboration, highlighting how working together on root causes—rather than competing for funding—leads to more sustainable outcomes for newcomer communities.

Michelle currently serves as Manager, Government Relations, and Advocacy with Cerebral Palsy Alberta. In this role, she leads the Alberta Ability Network (AAN), a collaborative partnership of more than 100 diverse stakeholders united by a common goal: to shape policy, promote social inclusion, and reduce inequities for people with disabilities. The network’s shared vision is for Albertans with disabilities to have the opportunity to fully participate in every area of life.

Michelle has been a passionate disability advocate focused on systemic change for more than three decades. Her commitment to this work was shaped early in life, growing up with a father who had progressive multiple sclerosis. From a young age, she developed a deep understanding of the many challenges and barriers faced by people with disabilities and how these barriers affect not only individuals, but also their families and support networks.

While Michelle believes that individual advocacy is essential, she is dedicated to driving change at the systems level, where progress can be made by transforming outdated attitudes, programs, practices, and policies.

Jeff works as the Executive Director of Momentum – a change-making organization that works to reduce poverty and develop a local economy in Calgary that works better for everyone. Momentum partners with people living on lower incomes to get good jobs, create their own jobs through self-employment, and save money to build their assets.

Jeff graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree and Master’s Degree in Environmental Design at the University of Calgary. He has also completed professional development at Harvard University, the Western Ivey School of Business, and Mount Royal University. After meeting at the University of Calgary as members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, Jeff and his wife Anna are now proud parents of three children full of positive energy and at all stages of secondary school – early elementary, junior, and senior high.

Jeny Mathews-Thusoo (she/her), leads Social Resilience at The City of Calgary, is a proud second-generation Malayalee woman with a vision that the future of cities belongs to the those who believe in the power of dreams. With over 20 years advocating for positive social change, she There she strives to democratize futures by inspiring communities and partners to collectively imagine possibilities of equitable futures, and to strengthen their capacities to navigate uncertainty, now and in the future. Jeny co-chairs the Resilient Cities Network Racial Equity Through Resilience Community of Practice, a coalition of cities in Canada and USA, influencing city practices and policies to dismantle racism. Jeny is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work teaching advanced policy practice with a lens of social innovation. Lastly, as co-founder of Effervescent Futures, a creative collaboration with her two daughters, Jeny facilitates workshops on liberation futures. She holds a Masters in Community Health Sciences and Degrees in Education and Science from the University of Calgary.

Dr. Moorthi is a co-founder of Habitus Collective with over a decade of international experience in India, United States and Canada. She specializes in leading equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives within Habitus. Her most recent projects include working on The City of Calgary- Community and Public Safety Anti-Racism Strategy, The City of Calgary Equity Audit, The City of Calgary Equity training and The Calgary Polices Services Equity, Diversity and Anti-Racism Strategy. She also has experience working within the immigrant sector in Calgary and extensive experience in training students as well community members. Over the course of the past few years she has been involved in a number of research and community projects extending over areas such as community health, migration, gender studies and social inequity. Gayatri has led multi-sector municipal engagement and strategic planning projects for the City of Calgary, Calgary Polices Services, and numerous community based non-profits. The range of engagements has spanned numerous intersecting groups, including diverse racialized and ethno-cultural groups, and other equity seeking groups. Gayatri also led a strategic planning and provided project support for a proposed palliative care housing project for people living with HIV for the SHARP Foundation. She is a strong project manager, coordinating research teams across multiple sites.

Luis has been with the City of Calgary for 12 years. He is currently the Program Manager in the Smart Cities section leading the portfolio of Digital Equity, Partnerships and Regional Collaboration. His role includes working with Calgary’s Smart City team to advance Smart Calgary strategy from making the new Wave Tech Centre a reality to working with community members to address the digital divide to building relationships to foster a regional approach to Smart Cities. In addition to the local government experience he has also worked in hospitality and financial services in Brazil. During the journey with The City he provided consulting services to several business units and departments across the corporation on strategic planning, governance and project and program management. He also worked with the business community to make Calgary more business friendly and with The City’s senior leadership to design and implement corporate strategic initiatives. Behind every project and initiative Luis works, he brings the power of design, systems thinking and engaging facilitation skills to solve complex systemic issues. Luis has an MBA from the University of Bradford in the UK.

Bina M. Patel helps leaders return to themselves so they can rise with purpose. As a coach, facilitator, and speaker, she works with changemakers and organizations who are ready to move beyond the surface and into deeper, more sustainable leadership. Her approach blends decades of policy and nonprofit experience with the embodied, heart-centered practices of breathwork, mindfulness, and neuroscience.

Through her Saathi methodology, Bina supports leaders in remembering who they are, envisioning what’s possible, and mobilizing together toward lasting transformation and impact.

Bina’s leadership journey spans over two decades across the nonprofit, philanthropic, and government sectors. As Deputy Chief of Staff at Chicago’s City Hall, she managed over $1 billion in policy and program work across public health, human services, and community development. That role solidified her belief: equitable, justice-centered decision-making is not only necessary—it’s the most powerful path forward.

In global nonprofit work, Bina partnered with marginalized communities and cultivated a deep respect for community wisdom and self-determination. Her approach centers on shared power, listening deeply, and designing with—not for—those most impacted.

She holds an M.S. in Social Protection Finance from the University of Maastricht and an M.A. in International Human Rights from the University of Denver. These degrees complement her hands-on experience with a grounded understanding of systems, change, and care.

In 2013, Bina founded Saathi Impact Consulting—a coaching and strategy firm working with leaders and organizations to advance equity, justice, and meaningful change. Today, Saathi offers values-aligned coaching, retreats, facilitation, and an annual leadership retreat: The Collective: a community of changemakers gathering together to amplify their purpose and recharge their leadership.

Bina’s work bridges the tactical with the transformational, drawing on breathwork, neuroplasticity, unencumbered leadership, and real-world systems thinking. Her style is both bold and tender, inviting leaders to show up fully and lead from that place.

Ashley Popko is the Manager of Inclusion & Belonging at TC Energy, leading strategic initiatives across the organization in Canada, the US and Mexico. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that recognize and celebrate unique experiences and backgrounds, and leverages her own experience working in health care, construction, and energy to develop programs focused on culture change, career progression, mentorship, and engagement. As a born and raised Calgarian she is passionate about contributing to the local community and has worked with various Alberta-based programs for youth, mental health, and basic needs. Since 2021, Ashley has also been the Team Lead for the GAIN program for United Way of Calgary and Area.

Rhonda Roth (she/her) is the Chief Operating Officer at United Way of Calgary and Area (United Way). A collaborative and strategic leader, Rhonda catalyzes community change and builds awareness and support for United Way to improve local lives. As Chief Operating Officer, Rhonda’s portfolio includes Community Impact and Partnerships, Government Relations and Strategic, Business, and Operational planning. Under her leadership, United Way is driving sustainable solutions for complex social issues.

Rhonda has a track record of motivating high-performing teams and more than two decades of leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, with specialization in health care and the social sector. Rhonda believes that everyone can make a difference and is passionate about creating a community where everyone thrives.

Dr. Malinda S. Smith is an Associate Vice President (Research-EDI) and a full professor of political science at the University of Calgary. She serves as Co-Chair of the President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Chair of the Dimensions EDI Team, and Lead of the One Child Every Child Equitable Pathways Accelerator and Equitable Pathways Council.

Dr. Smith holds a PhD in political science from the University of Alberta, an MA, MDA, and a BA magna cum laude in political science and criminal justice from Western Michigan University. She is the coauthor of The Equity Myth: Racialization and Indigeneity at Canadian Universities (2017), and editor or co-editor of seven books including the Nuances of Blackness in the Canadian Academy (2022) and Critical Concepts: An Introduction to Politics (2023).

Nationally, Dr. Smith serves on SSHRC Council and Executive, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) External EDI Advisory Board, Statistics Canada’s Immigration and Ethnocultural Statistics Advisory Committee. She is a Senior Fellow, Massey College, and serves as vice chair of the Steering Committee of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion.

Dr. Smith is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, from the Calgary Black Chamber (2023), a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Simon Fraser University (2021), 100 Accomplished Black Women Honouree (2020), a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship (2018), and an ISA-Canada Distinguished Scholar Award (2018-19).

Anne is a registered Social Worker with over 18 years of experience in clinical settings, community development, public speaking and education. Her professional journey has been driven by a deep passion for empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

She holds a master’s degree in social work and a master’s in philosophy in Guidance and Counselling. Raised in Zambia and Nigeria, and lived largely in the south of India, Anne grew up questioning the alarming socio-economic inequalities and gender biases within present- day societies, which determined her career choice in Social Work dedicated towards eliminating serious societal issues.

Anne’s work in India was in public health and counselling. In Canada, over the past 12 years she focuses on the intersectionality of the human experience, mainstream and immigrant populations and mental health. Her areas of interest include mental health, domestic violence, intersectionality, identity development for ethnic and sexual minorities, anti-racism work, research, public speaking and free-lancing.

She currently works for the City of Calgary, as a Strategist for Racial Trauma, and is the founder of Unique Pathways Counselling services.

A passionate advocate of cultural humility, Anne enjoys music, her time with family and nurturing the relationships in her life.

Dr. Andrew Szeto is the Executive Director for the Office of Institutional Commitments at the University of Calgary, which brings together Sustainability, EDIA, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Recovery on Campus under one integrated unit, reducing silos and increasing impact. Previously, Dr. Szeto had led UCalgary’s Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy for over 8 years, creating a caring campus community. Dr. Szeto is also a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts, where his research program has focused on the development and evaluation of mental illness stigma reduction and mental health promotion programs, such as The Working Mind, The Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary, and The Inquiring Mind Youth. He also conducts basic research that examines the stigma of mental illnesses through a social psychological lens, as well as with his transdisciplinary network of collaborators. In line with his strategy work, his more recent research has focused on mental health, well-being, and resilience of the post-secondary community. He is also a member of the Technical Committee that developed the Canadian Standards Association and Mental Health Commission of Canada’s National Standard for Post-Secondary Student Mental Health and Wellbeing. Dr. Szeto continues to publish academic articles on various topics related to mental health and wellbeing and the stigma of mental illness.

Bethany White is the Manager of Evaluation and Insights at United Way of Calgary and Area. A graduate of the University of Calgary with a master’s degree in Sociology, she is a strategy, evaluation, and impact assessment professional with extensive experience in non-profit, government, and private sectors. She is skilled in policy and social research, data analysis, data visualization, knowledge translation, evaluation, and strategy development.

Karen Young (she/her) is President and CEO of United Way of Calgary and Area, a visionary leader who knows the power of partnership and collaboration to achieve a common purpose. Karen joined United Way as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2014, before becoming President and Chief Executive Officer in 2017. Under her leadership, United Way has raised nearly $600 million for the local Calgary community, delivering a profound impact to people who need it the most.

Prior to United Way, Karen worked with The City of Calgary for over 20 years as an award-winning leader. As director of Community and Neighbourhood Services, she was instrumental in securing $480M to build four new recreation facilities and led the Emergency Social Services efforts during the historic 2013 Alberta Floods.

A catalyst for social change, which has been building momentum in communities for most of her career, Karen is driven by her belief that all Calgarians have the right to a good quality of life.

In 2020, she received the inaugural Calgary Influential Women in Business Award in the Social Enterprise category. Her notable accomplishments were honoured in 2024 with the George Hart Award for Excellence from United Way Centraide Canada. The award recognizes her lifelong dedication to building stronger communities. In 2025, Karen was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Champions for Children Award from Children First Canada.