Nancy holds a masters degree in political science with a graduate collaborative specialization in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toronto. Her professional background is in gender equality and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She previously worked as a consultant with UN Women supporting numerous initiatives including gender equality in the workplace and women entrepreneurs. She has also published multiple editions of the State of the Industry report with the Unstereotype Alliance on diversity and inclusion in advertising. At the Diversity Institute, Nancy works with stakeholders across the public sector, private sector and civil society to develop research and strategies to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within organizational processes. She has published the City of Markham’s Diversity Action Plan and Eliminating Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, The Socio-Economic Review of the Black Muslim Population in Canada, the Micropedia of Microaggressions and manages work as part of the 50 – 30 Challenge, among others.

Elise Ahenkorah is an award-winning strategist and founder of Inclusion Factor, known for helping organizations like Bayer, the World Bank, IBM, and BlackRock build high-performing and people-first cultures where talent thrives. With deep expertise in HR, change management, talent development, and workforce inclusion, she designs data-driven strategies that boost retention, engagement and performance across the employee lifecycle. Elise has advised over 100 organizations across 13 industries and three continents, earning global recognition for her impact, including the 2025 WXN Global Alliance of Inclusive Leadership (GAIL) Award and the Town of Oakville Chamber of Commerce Award for workplace transformation.

Dr. Wendy Cukier is a professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management and the co-author of the bestseller, Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership From Java to Jurassic Park. She is also the founder and Academic Director of the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, which has 10 hubs across Canada, 80 full time research staff and more than 350 partners focused on dimensions of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, future skills and entrepreneurship. She leads a number of large projects including Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub as well as projects for the Future Skills Centre and 50-30 Challenge.

Wendy is an active volunteer and serves on many boards including the Federation for African Canadian Economics (FACE), and the Lifelong Leadership Institute. Wendy has worked internationally on a range of projects and represented Canada in many regional and global fora. She was recently part of Canada’s W-20 delegation to the UN and has worked with governments of the U.K., Mexico, U.S., South Africa, France, Australia and New Zealand, as well as on projects in the global south. She is the founder of several startups, social enterprises and nonprofits. She holds a PhD in Information Systems from the Schulich School of Business, an MBA, an MA, and honourary doctorates from Laval and Concordia universities. Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross, one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.

Anya Klimbovskaia is Co-Founder and President of Diversio, a leading workforce analytics company. She previously led research in the Office of the CEO at RBC, where she focused on the future of work and the impact of AI on talent. Anya also serves on the Government of Canada’s Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) selection committee and sits on the board of St. Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter.

Dr. Patrick McNiel is a principal consultant for Affirmity. He advises clients on issues related to workforce measurement and statistical analysis, diversity and inclusion, and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) compliance. Dr. McNiel has 15 years of experience as a generalist in the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and has focused on workforce measurement and analysis for the last seven. He received his PhD in I-O Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is licensed to practice psychology in the state of Texas. Dr. McNiel is also member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Jenna Wray (she/they) is a Co-Founder and the Engagement Director of Better Belonging. The organization brings over 15 years of experience and education in human services, non-profits, and mental health education. For more than a decade, Jenna has been a facilitator of impactful learning experiences, guiding teams through complex conversations around equity, inclusion, and well-being. Jenna’s work is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience as a queer and neurodivergent person. Through trauma-informed facilitation, authentic storytelling, and relationships, Jenna cultivates supportive spaces that promote belonging, resilience, and meaningful change.