Executive Director
BlackNorth Initiative
Ms. Ahmed, has accumulated a wealth of experience and accomplishments in the performance measurement, policy development, HR planning analysis and employment equity and diversity sectors. Ms. Ahmed has been the recipient of notable awards over the years including the exceptional service within the Federal Public Service, the Canada150 Community Builder Award, The Hope Academy community contribution award, the Ottawa Black History Community Leadership Award and most recently the top 100 under 40 Most Influential Person of African descent in support of United Nations decade.
Ms. Ahmed is a founding member of the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, which advocates securing justice for the late Abdirahman Abdi and his family. A previous member of the Black Agenda Noir organization, a Circle of United Black Citizens whose goal is to cement Black presence on the national radar. Ms. Ahmed is also the Chair of the Federation of Black Canadians, which is a national non-profit organization that is driven by Black organizations across Canada, which advances the social, economic and cultural interests of Canadians of African descent.
In the professional realm, Ms. Ahmed was recently appointed as the Executive Director of the BlackNorth Initiative. In her previous role Ms. Ahmed was the Human Resources Specialist within the Public Sector and primarily responsible for the Visible Minority Advisory Steering Committee of the Agency and working in the agency-wide Employment Equity Action Plan and Anti-racism Strategy.
Among the many other organizations of which she has been a part of, Ms. Ahmed has played an instrumental leadership role in the Ottawa Mayor’s taskforce combatting anti-black racism. Ms. Ahmed was a lead researcher for Justice for Abdirahman for its submission to the Justice Tulloch Independent Police Oversight Review and street check review.
Ms. Ahmed has also played an integral role in the roll out of the new Ottawa Police Service’s recruitment strategy, as well as being a lead member of Black Agenda Noir. Her crucial role in the Nyansapo Wisdom, which promotes equity and inclusion for African, Caribbean, Black Canadians (ACBC) students in education, has seen Dahabo make deputations at the School Board to address series challenges facing children and teens of African descent within the Ottawa school Board.
Ms. Ahmed stands as a strong role model particularly to members of all Black communities, and has played a transformative role in improving the quality of life of Canadians of African descent and the community at large.