Starlene (Star) MacDonald-Ifill began her career in community social work and advocacy, laying the foundation for her deep commitment to equity and social justice. With over a decade of experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), she has led transformative initiatives across both private and public sectors. Her background in corporate learning, organizational development, and human resources informs her strategic and inclusive approach. Star holds a Master's in Education, a Bachelor's in Social Work, a Diploma in HR Management, and multiple certifications in Inclusion, Adult Education, Leadership, and Training & Development.
As an HR and DEI Advisor at The Globe and Mail, Shari has always been passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) long before it became a widely recognized focus. With over 14 years of experience at The Globe and Mail, and prior roles at The National Post and Rogers Publishing she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her position. In her role at The Globe, Shari specializes in Training and Development and Employee Engagement initiatives, all through the lens of DEI. As the lead for Black Voices at The Globe, The Globe's first Employee Resource Group for staff who self-identify as Black or biracial and their allies, Shari has hosted community events and lead several fundraising initiatives. Shari is passionate about creating inclusive work environments and has built strong relationships with organizations such as ACESS Employment, The Black North Initiative and The Canadian Association for Black Journalists. Her ultimate goal is to cultivate a workforce that reflects Canada's diverse population and one where everyone can be their true authentic selves.
Paula is a leader in Deloitte Canada's Culture, Leadership and Learning practice. Her work includes advising and supporting clients on workforce issues related to equity, inclusion, upskilling and continuous development. She is passionate about the intersection between equity x leadership x learning and loves helping her clients develop sustainable solutions to problems, that influence mindset and behavioural shifts. Paula's experience both within Deloitte and previous to Deloitte spans 20+ years supporting Canadian and Global businesses across different industries including Financial Services, Technology and Professional Services.
Michael is a Training Lead at TD Securities, boasting 9+ years in the banking industry. With experience in multiple sectors, spanning retail, finance, education, and hospitality, Michael brings a unique perspective on learning and development, understanding that L&D does not have a one size fits all approach. A proud member of the TDS Black Experience Committee, Michael strives to create space for Black colleagues to feel safe & valued in and outside of the workplace. He enjoys movies, reading, and cooking in his spare time.
Meghayu Dave is the Director of Talent Acquisition at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), where he leads strategic hiring initiatives across the organization. With over a decade of experience in recruitment and employer branding, Meghayu has built a reputation for designing inclusive talent strategies that scale with business growth. He's passionate about creating pathways for underrepresented talent and has been a vocal advocate for Diverse Talent in Workforce. Meghayu is also a speaker at various events like Scale Without Borders, Colelges, Universities, etc. where he shares insights on building equitable hiring practices and fostering belonging in the workplace.
Mark Harrison is the founder of the MH3 Collective, a group of ventures whose purpose is to connect people & ideas to create social impact. The Collective includes Humanity, a creative agency for the Human Age; Sidekick, a team of purpose-driven strategy consultants; T1, a sponsorship agency that works with impactful brands; and SponsorshipX, a global community of marketing practitioners. In addition, he Co-founded the Black Talent Initiative to support the Black community in professional workplaces and Park Street Education, a charity to remove all barriers to children's education. His community involvement also includes being Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, a Board Member of the CAMH Foundation, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The JUNO Awards, Ontario University Athletics, and an advisor to several ventures, including the Crankworx World Tour, and NFL Canada. In addition, Mark sits on the Board of Playmaker Capital, a leading digital sports media company. Mark is a recipient of the Harry Jerome Award (Business Category), annually presented by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA). In addition, his success in marketing over the last thirty years has led him to be the Association of Canadian Advertisers' 2022 Gold Medal Award winner. Mark is also CBC Metro Morning's business columnist, where you can hear his regular takes on corporate and societal matters.
Marcos is a seasoned professional, with over a decade of experience driving diversity and inclusion initiatives across multiple industries. Throughout his career at notable organizations such as the Department of Justice - Tax Litigation, Deloitte & PwC for corporate immigration, and George Weston as a Senior Auditor, Marcos has been instrumental in fostering inclusive work environments and specifically ERGS. Marcos' most recent position was as the Senior Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and HR Governance Specialist at Maple Leaf Foods. Marcos holds a BA and LL.B.
Justin Weaver is an HR professional with over 10 years of experience across various industries. He holds a Master's degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Illinois and has focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and workplace culture since 2020. Justin is passionate about creating psychologically healthy work environments, recognizing the deep connection between identity and the workplace. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities, weight-training, and cooking.
Joanna Forde is a dynamic leader in corporate learning and development, with a proven track record of aligning educational strategy to business performance across Canada Life's aligned and independent financial service and advice platforms. As Manager of Learning Solutions & Enablement, she leads a team of instructional designers and performance specialists who partner with executives to deliver data-driven programs that build knowledge, enhance operational outcomes and drive measurable ROI.
Joanna also serves as Co-Chair of Canada Life's Black & People of Colour (BPOC) Employee Resource Group, where she champions equity and inclusion for over 350 members nationwide. Her leadership was instrumental in orchestrating a multi-campus Black History Month 2025 initiative that mobilized 60 volunteers across five cities and engaged over 2,000 employees in a series of impactful educational and cultural events. Her work reflects a deep commitment to inclusive leadership, strategic innovation, and empowering diverse communities within corporate Canada.
Harriet is the Vice President of People Success and Transformation at GreenShield. In her role, she is instrumental in enhancing and transforming the employee experience in key areas of the organization. Prior to this, she played a pivotal role in growing GreenShield's mental health services. Harriet brings over 25 years' experience in the mental health sector, starting her career as a mental health nurse in the UK. Her experience in healthcare, coupled with her deep understanding of mental health, has shaped her into a compassionate and grounded leader. Whether navigating large-scale change or guiding high-performing teams, she leads with emotional intelligence and a commitment to psychological safety. She has held many transformative roles in the private and public sectors, including with KPMG, the Ministry of Transportation, eHealth Ontario and the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health. Of note, she oversaw the dramatic growth of Ontario's virtual mental health program supporting over 120,000 Ontarians during the COVID pandemic. She is recognized for her integrity, calm presence, and strategic insight. She currently serves as Chair of the board of Directors for Connex Ontario. Harriet holds a bachelor's degree in nursing, a Master of Business Administration, and Project Management Professional certification.
Giléne Graham is a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied Political Science and Communication Studies. She held many positions outside of school during her time at Laurier, including an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Black Scholars of Laurier Project funded by the Tshepo Institute of Research, the President of the Laurier Black Student Association, and Vice-President of Marketing for the Laurier Communications Program Student Association. On campus in her research, Giléne focused on the presence of Black individuals in academia at Laurier from 1911-2024. As President of the Black Student Association, she acted as the main representative for Black Students on Laurier's Waterloo Campus while collaborating with staff from the Laurier EDI Department and Dean of Students' Office to ensure the enhancement of the learning experience for Black Students. She also sat on the Advisory Committee for last year's Scarborough Charter Inter-Institutional Forum on Anti-Racism policymaking in post-secondary education.
Off campus in her professional experience, Giléne has had the privilege to work in the Sports/Entertainment and Financial industries with brands like the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs, Toronto International Film Festival, and PC Optimum. She now holds a position as an Investment Associate at Wealthsimple Investments Inc., and recently assumed the position as Co-Lead of the Black ERG at Wealthsimple. Throughout her academic, extra-curricular and professional endeavours, Giléne has actively engaged in strong leadership, strategic planning, and community building both on and off campus. Her diverse experiences showcase her commitment to social equity, diversity, and inclusion, and she intends to continue this work until those who come after her have equitable resources and opportunity to excel in their chosen fields at the same rate as their non-black counterparts.
Brooke Graham is an EDI strategist & facilitator who aims to transform workplaces, her passion drives her impactful EDI leadership and dynamic training sessions. She was awarded WXN's 2024 Canadian Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leaders award and HRD Canada's 2025 HR Rising award, highlighting her commitment to leading businesses towards impactful and purpose-driven EDI solutions. Brooke's expertise & care extends widely, from her work with Indigenous communities to global corporations, demonstrating her commitment to fostering change and equity in every and any space. She also works as an Associate Director of Global Inclusion & Diversity at AstraZeneca, focusing on I&D embedment into processes & practices across AZ. Brooke's collaborative and empathetic approach leads to what she believes is the underpinning of EDI: authentic & accountable relationships.
Born in the Middle East with South Indian heritage, Abhishek is an immigrant settler in Toronto. Abhishek leads Canadian Tire Corporation's diversity, inclusion and belonging strategy and employer brand portfolio. At Trillium Health Partners, Abhishek co-facilitated its antiracist journey. With a decade at Sun Life Canada, he led marketing, product and operations teams, and cultivated racial inclusion. He has been recognized as a 2025 Emerging Leader in People and Culture by The Peak and a 2024 Top 10 Diversity & Culture Impact Leader by DiversityCan Magazine.
Board Co-Chair for the Catalysts' Circle and former Board Chair for the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, Abhishek is a 2019 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow and a 2022 Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference alumnus. He enjoys binge-watching, eternally craves French fries, and is never not thinking about travel.
