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.
Rukhsana Syed is the Diversity & Inclusion Acceleration leader for IBM Canada, responsible for making sure IBM meets and exceeds corporate & government standards for equity, diversity & accessibility. In her current role, she is utilizing data to predict trends that uncover actionable insights and building Analytic and AI processes, best practices, and technology that powers solutions used to cultivate a more inclusive environment. She spearheaded IBM efforts to become AODA & AMA compliant nationwide while maintaining the corporate accountability framework. She is IBM Canada’s Employment Equity Officer and played a vital role in creating a global model for IBM to roll out Transgender Benefits. IBM Canada is 1stTechnology Company in Canada to announce this coverage.
Two decades of experience include leading IBM’s flagship programs specific to Indigenous People, Women, & People with Diverse Abilities. Rukhsana is a proud certified LGBT+ Ally since May 2014. She takes pride in creating and delivering 100+ IGN.I.T.E. Technology camps for Aboriginal students from coast to coast to coast (Halifax to Vancouver to Resolute Bay) for past 14 years.
Rukhsana has led over 300 Women In Technology (K-12) sessions, reaching more than 18,000 female elementary students. She is Civilian Co-chair of the Muslim Consultative Committee and on Chief’s advisory Committee with Toronto Police Services. She mentors within & outside her community globally and works closely to promote education & women rights. She also works as the Treasurer at her local religious by the Women for the women mosque/community center.
Her efforts were acknowledged by the former Lieutenant governor of Ontario, Honorable James K. Bartleman for her contributions to his Aboriginal Literacy program. She also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Honorable David Onley in 2012.
Rukhsana was born and raised in Pakistan, she graduated from The Institute of Business Administration at University of Karachi. She immigrated to Canada in 1993 where she now lives with her three children.
Jody Spiegel is the Director of the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program at the Azrieli Foundation.
Hired at the inception of the Toronto office in 2005, Jody launched several exceptional projects. In her current role, Jody has worked with her team to produce over 123 survivor stories. She is the Executive Producer of Re:Collection, an interactive experience that invites users to explore the first-hand accounts of Holocaust survivors and the Azrieli Series of Short Films, which features stories and animatereat d excerpts from memoirs written by Canadian Holocaust survivors.
Across Canada and internationally, Jody is a guest speaker and panelist on the role of best practices in Holocaust education, memory and storytelling, Holocaust distortion and the future of Holocaust education without survivors.
Jody is a Canadian delegate of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) representing Canadian expertise in areas of pedagogy, first person accounts and the Holocaust distortion in the classroom. Jody sits on the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial. In 2022, she chaired the Education Working Group of the IHRA.