Team Category: Presenter

Manju Varma, Ph.D. moved to Canada with her family at the age of two and grew up in Moncton, NB. She obtained her doctorate in anti-racist education from the Ontario Institute in Education/University of Toronto. For the past 30 years she has focused on issues around diversity and anti-racism in New Brunswick and has published both national and internationally on the topics of mental health, diversity & youth and anti-racist education. From 2001-2008, she was an Assistant Professor with the University of New Brunswick. Later she joined the Federal government and has worked at Canadian Heritage, Correctional Services Canada, and currently, is the lead for the Office of Inclusion, Equity and Anti-Racism at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. She is also a certified Conflict Mediator (Harvard Law School) and Negotiator (Dalhousie University).

Juliet is an Asian Canadian woman dedicated to the mission of creating more equitable opportunities in the world of work. To support this endeavour, Juliet is proud to be accredited in both Canada and USA as a Certified Canadian Inclusion Professional (CCIP) and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)..

Juliet has a unique perspective that fuels her belief that diversity is the key to creating a more sustainable physical and metaphysical world. With over 30 years of hands-on talent acquisition experience; Juliet melds her lived experience, with her work expertise and knowledge to unlock tangible outcomes.

Juliet is passionate about volunteering and currently serves on the boards of the National Association of Asian American Professionals and Lean In Canada.

Charlie Ung leads digital strategy for IBM’s Corporate Communications, Investor Relations and Global Corporate Events. He is also national co-chair of BlueQ, IBM’s LGBTQ+ business resource group.

A child of refugees, and a refugee himself, Charlie grew up in a small mountain town in British Columbia until the age of 16 when his family moved to Calgary. He graduated from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and has been with IBM since 2001.

Consultant, trainer & speaker in international and strategic development / DEI

Amélie is a self-employed consultant,trainerand speaker in the field of DEI. Sheadvisesorganizations on integrating equity,diversityand inclusion practices into their organizational culture.This involves analyzing current policies, recommending strategies for fostering an inclusive work environment, and coaching in the implementation of these strategies.

She is also an expert in International Development. Herexpertisecovers doing market research,planningand introducing services into new markets, and creating strategies adapted to local cultural and economic specificities.

Known for her ability to listen and her intersectional and inclusive approach, Amélie is committed to creating work environments where everyone feels valued and inspired.

Creative Director and Web Developper

YarijeyTecheris a graphic designer, art director and programmer in the making, currently training in design and web programming. He holds a Diploma of Vocational Studies in Computer Graphics from Canada, a Bachelor of Creative Technologies from New Zealand and aMaster’sdegree in Artistic Practices and Contemporary Creations from France.

His work is rooted in queer, decolonial and anti-capitalist approaches, exploring new ways of thinking, producing,creatingand collaborating. Through multidisciplinary practice, he integrates various forms of graphic design and technology, reflecting his commitment to inclusive and innovative creative processes.

Yarijeycontinues to explore new avenues in professional,technologicaland artistic practices, while actively engaging in initiatives that promote social justice, intentionalstorytellingand the liberation of marginalized communities.

Previously, Sarah was the VP, Strategy at Cossette working on consulting, brand, product innovation, integration, digital, media and 1:1 strategies for Canopy Growth, TELUS, TD Bank, and SickKids Hospital. Prior to that she worked in entertainment overseeing social media for Corus and in digital as Associate Director of Strategy for Mirum. She has held roles in start-ups, consultancies and agencies. While some may call her a marketing unicorn, she sees herself as a strategist who does the right thing for the business and the consumer.

Kunle Tauhid is the Vice President, Financing and Consulting at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). He is responsible for overseeing BDC’s lending and advisory services in Eastern and Northern Ontario corridor.

Originally from Nigeria, Kunle joined BDC as a Business Centre Manager in 2011 before taking on additional responsibilities within the organization. He’s notably taken a leadership on the adoption of new technology, providing mentorship for new hires and on the leadership council of the Bank for Diversity and Inclusion. With years of experience in Canada and Internationally, Kunle has acquired the skills and experience necessary for structuring financing and advisory solutions as well as leading high performing teams that meet the needs of entrepreneurs across every industry.

Prior to joining BDC in a leadership role, he had a very successful career with one of Canada’s leading Chartered Banks, in addition to international banking experience in a Nigerian Bank which was affiliated with BNP Paribas, with a wealth of experience cutting across, retail, commercial and Corporate Banking.

He is involved in the community, with a focus on advancing entrepreneurship, through mentorship and support to upcoming entrepreneurs. He also has been very active, through the CBA in championing the advancement of Financial Literacy for youths in Ontario High schools. He has held Board positions in not-for profit organizations within his community

Mr. Tauhid holds two degrees Finance and Banking and is an Alumni of the Ivey Business School. He has attended several leadership programs locally and internationally.

Mia Talavera is the Equity Specialist-Senior Consultant at Global Talent Engagement.Mia concentrates on driving positive corporate culture including the design and delivery of Stantec’s global Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) strategic portfolio- she is also commissioned as an active council member on Stantec’s Inclusion & Diversity Council for both the US council and Canada council. She believes that inclusion is a fundamental human right and that the equitable treatment and dignity of all human beings should be exercised and valued.

Mia is also responsible for Stantec’s Regulatory Equity Compliance portfolios: Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action (US Federal legislations) and Employment Equity (Canada Federal jurisdiction). Stantec is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is also committed to implementing Employment Equity to represent a workforce that truthfully embodies North American diversity. Mia collaborates with key internal & external stakeholders to ensure Stantec complies with the laws and regulations requiring the promotion of equity and nondiscrimination in business practices.

Susanna Tam is a lawyer and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leader with over 14 years of experience in creating innovative strategies and initiatives that promote inclusive workplaces. She is currently an organizational development consultant specializing in DEI with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), focused on enhancing structural inclusion by assessing and improving talent management processes for an organization of over 5000 employees. Before joining ICBC, Susanna served as the director of inclusion for a national law firm, and as the diversity policy lawyer for the provincial regulator of the legal profession.

Award-winning investigative journalist, TV, radio, and podcast host, and national bestselling author

Angela Sterritt is an award-winning investigative journalist, TV,radio, andpodcast host, and national bestselling author. She is from theWilpWiik’aax(we-GAK) of theGitanmaax(GIT-in-max) community within the Gitxsan (GICK-san) Nation on her dad’s side and from Bell Island, Newfoundland on her maternal side. Sterritt worked as a television, radio, and digital journalist at CBC for more than a decade. She also hosted the award-winning CBC original podcast Land Back.

Her bookUnbroken, published by Greystone Books, is part memoir and part investigation into the murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls. It became an instant national bestseller in May 2023. Unbroken was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious literary prizes. It was also nominated for the prestigious Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust award for best non-fiction book in Canada.

In 2024,Sterritt announced her second book, BREAKABLE,which will investigate how racism and colonialism cultivate harmful behaviors in men and how Indigenous men and communities are breaking cycles of unhealthy notions of masculinity. Greystone Books will publish Breakable in the spring of 2026.

As a motivational speaker, Sterritt talks about overcoming adversity, breaking stereotypes, and creating change and relationships in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, such as her Ted Talk about smashing stereotypes of Indigenous people.