Conference-Presenters

Mark Adams is a business owner based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) at Memorial University in 2010. He is currently a co-owner of Living Planet Studio, having taken ownership of the business in 2015. In spare time, Mark is a drag performer and resident DJ, performing for several establishments and events in the city of St. John’s.

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Dolan holds a degree in International Business and Supply Chain Management from MacEwan University. Working with Public Services and Procurement Canada since 2004, he has held numerous positions, ranging from the purchase of goods and services, business and policy support, to the design of workload management and risk assessment systems for procurement officers across Acquisitions Branch within PSPC. Dolan currently leads a team of outreach officers for PAC-WR​ Fun Fact: Dolan helps run a farm that has been in his family since 1915.

Program Manager, Community Futures BC

Brett Carter is a project manager, entrepreneur, and strategic communications professional with over 10 years of experience driving innovation and social impact. Launching his first business at 18, Brett has worked with numerous start-ups, small businesses, and non-profits in fields such as artificial intelligence, community advocacy, and consumer services. A proud 2SLGBTQ+ ally, he has led initiatives in digital engagement, Indigenous labour market development, and international collaboration, while consulting on major projects that promote inclusive growth and economic opportunity. Brett holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Manitoba and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Outside of work, he’s a passionate musician and hands-on creator, often found playing guitar or working on home renovation projects with his remarkably patient wife, Aline.

Elio Choquette is a Montreal-based disabled queer trans settler, artist and licensed architect with over fifteen years of experience. Their multidisciplinary practice mixes architectural research, photography and writing. Since 2018, their work on using queer liberation and spaces as new frameworks for architecture has been published in several journals and anthologies. Recently, their research on ‘undesigning’ and embedding inclusion in architectural practices, by using transness as a tool for sustainable transformation, was presented at conferences across Canada and Europe. Elio created “Here We Will Be” in 2023, a self-published visual and written archive of queer joy, which showcases their photography work and poetry. Their writing has been featured on online platforms like the Australian Writers’ Centre, and will appear in STRAP magazine’s latest issue. Their work has received funding from Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec (CALQ), as well as festivals, conferences, and publications.

Dr. Ailsa Craig is a full professor in the department of Sociology and has held a range of leadership roles at Memorial University, including Special Advisor to the President for Continuing Education, Interim Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Dean (Curriculum and Programs), and Head of the Sociology Department. Dr. Craig is also a co-founder and co-chair of the first 2SLGBTQAI+ community centre in Newfoundland and Labrador (Quadrangle), and a 2016 recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching (Faculty). A Fulbright alum and graduate of New York University in the United States and York University in Toronto, Ontario, Dr. Craig’s research interests include the sociology of art, gender and sexual diversity, structural inequality, the sociology of emotions, and community building and mentorship strategies

Janeen Demaniuk (they/them) is a queer, neurodivergent, and disabled EDI consultant and co-founder of Circle of Belonging. Before consulting, Janeen spent 12+ years in the skilled trades as a Red Seal electrician, business owner, and workplace safety leader, moving from apprentice to running crews across commercial, residential, and industrial sites. As a gender-diverse person in the trades, they were often underestimated or overlooked; that lived experience fuels their commitment to cultures where people can belong and do their best work. Based on Treaty 6 territory, Janeen is raising three kids with their partner and co-founder, Sydney. Outside of facilitation, you’ll often find them behind a camera; photography helps them slow down, notice everyday moments, and remember why culture change matters. Janeen’s practice centers practical tools, plain language, and trauma-aware approaches that translate intention to practice.

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Co-Founder and the Operations Direction of Better Belonging

Daphne Gardiner (they/them) is a certified Transformational Coach and founder of Living in Possibilities. With over 20 years of experience across government, business, and nonprofit sectors, they help individuals and organizations lead with courageous communication, self-trust, and values-aligned action. After surviving cancer, a brain injury, and coming out as queer later in life, Daphne rebuilt from the inside out—redefining leadership through lived experience. Their work supports others in moving from fear and limitation into clarity, connection, and grounded possibility. Daphne brings deep presence and practical tools to every space they facilitate. Known for creating inclusive environments that honor complexity, they guide entrepreneurs, teams, and changemakers to reconnect with vision and take action that reflects who they truly are—starting now, not someday.

Carlo Gómez Arteaga is an experienced organizer, advocate, fundraiser, and trainer with nearly 30 years of experience focused on youth equity, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant rights. Currently, the Co-Executive Director for Transgender District in San Francisco, he supports the organization to create an urban environment that fosters the rich history, culture, legacy, and empowerment of transgender people and their deep roots in the southeastern Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.

Grants Manager, Research, Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce

COO, Social Entrepreneurship Enclave

Courtney Lahey (she/her) is a queer real estate professional and business owner with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology and a deep history of working in the shelter system. Her work is grounded in the understanding that housing is not just a market issue but a justice issue, often shaped by systemic inequalities across race, gender, class, and sexuality. Through Courtney Lahey Inclusive Real Estate, she brings a values-driven, community-focused approach to the industry working to make real estate more inclusive, accountable, and accessible for everyone.

Dupré Latour is a Black trans woman, entrepreneur, and founder of DupréLatour Cosmetics, Canada’s first makeup brand created by a Black trans woman. Her inclusive and bold brand offers vegan, paraben-free products made in Canada, designed for diverse skin tones and identities. Beyond cosmetics, Dupré delivers custom makeup services, workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions that foster self-confidence, artistic expression, and mental well-being. She is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and representation, particularly for BIPOC and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Her work bridges beauty, community, and activism, redefining industry standards to ensure everyone feels seen and valued. A sought-after speaker and host, Dupré has participated in national conferences, media programs, and cultural events, inspiring others to embrace authenticity and celebrate their identities. She believes that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for social change and collective empowerment.

Daniel Layden is a PhD student in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph. Their research focuses on rural, place-based belonging among historically marginalized identities, with a particular emphasis on understanding pathways of resilience in the face of rural isolation and discrimination.

Matthew LeDrew is a writer, artist, and business leader from rural Newfoundland. He has written over twenty-five novels, some of which have gone on to become Canadian and international bestsellers. Since 2007 he has traveled all over Canada promoting his work as well as teaching seminars on writing and publishing. He currently holds a Canada Council for the Arts Research and Creation Grant and an ArtsNL Professional Projects Grant for the completion of his first two Newfoundland-set novels. He holds an Honours Degree in English from the Memorial University of Newfoundland with a minor in Anthropology. He studied Journalism at College of the North Atlantic. He has been called "the face of Newfoundland genre writing" and is one of the most successful authors working and living in his province today.

Prof Jen Marchbank (Board Member) is a Professor of Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University and the recipient of Surrey Board of Trade Business Women of the Year – Social Trailblazer. Rodney deJong (Chair) – A seasoned project manager and nonprofit leader, Rodney co-founded the Living with Pride Foundation to champion inclusive housing and community for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors. Gary Waunch (Treasurer) – With an operational mindset and passionate advocate, Gary brings decades of experience in highly regulated organizations with good governance and community engagement. Dr. Eric Berthelet (Board Member) – A retired radiation oncologist and academic, Eric co-founded the Foundation to advance dignity, health equity, and social connection for queer elders.

Sydney McNeill (they/them) is the Co-Founder and Lead Consultant of Circle of Belonging, an equity-focused consultancy helping organizations build cultures of care, accountability, and systemic inclusion. A queer, non-binary, disabled, and neurodivergent white settler living on Treaty 6 territory, Sydney brings lived experience and relational depth to all they do. They are currently completing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University, focused on organizational change, social justice, and communication and previously served as Director of Strategy at AndHumanity, an inclusive marketing and communications agency. For Sydney, entrepreneurship is both a path to possibility and a practical necessity; as a disabled queer parent, traditional work structures often don’t fit. Building a business became a way to align their values with their work and challenge extractive models of entrepreneurship. Through Circle of Belonging, they reimagine business as a space for connection, collective liberation, and lasting change.

Morgan Moakler Jessiman (they/she) is a queer, multidisciplinary artist and communication specialist originally from Ktaqmkuk & Nunatsuak (Newfoundland & Labrador). Morgan is the Community and Strategic Relations Coordinator for Quadrangle NL, and has increased social media engagement 261% over the last ten months. Working for almost 10 years in the non-profit sector, they are excited to present about best practices for social media engagement and compassion fatigue in the communications sector.

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Myriane Ouellette is an award-winning speaker, strategist, and organizational change expert who helps leaders and teams navigate transformational change, build resilience, and align around a shared vision. As founder and CEO of O Strategies, she partners with organizations to transform uncertainty into opportunity in fields like immigration, health, education, and community development. She specializes in supporting leadership teams to clarify purpose, break down silos, and foster collaboration—turning change from paralyzing into possible. Her dynamic, practical approach equips groups with strategies and tools to adapt and thrive in complex environments. A passionate advocate for inclusive, community-led initiatives, Myriane brings workshops and talks that resonate with REKH’s mission: co-creating resources and interventions rooted in community-identified needs. Proudly women-owned and 2SLGBTQIA-led, she is also a dedicated mom and partner. She is deeply committed to creating cultures where people feel valued, safe, and ready to contribute

Lara Pinchbeck is a multi-award-winning Design Anthropologist, Universal Design expert, RHFAC Professional Accessibility Assessor, and Professional Human Ecologist. She researches how design--both process and product--can be more inclusive so our communities are safe, functional, comfortable and joyous places for everyone. With over 30 years’ experience working with marginalized people and her own lived experience, Lara specializes in engagement and evaluation as key phases of the design process so clients and users drive the design process of projects that directly impact their quality of life.

Maheen Rajani (they/them) is a queer South Asian entrepreneur, community advocate, and undergraduate student at Brock University, pursuing Political Science and Labour Studies. As the founder of Axis Homme, a gender-inclusive skincare brand tailored to the unique needs of men and masc-identifying individuals, Maheen is passionate about challenging toxic masculinity and redefining beauty through a 2SLGBTQI+ lens. Their work bridges wellness, identity, and economic empowerment—centering racialized, queer, and neurodivergent voices in business. Maheen is also active in student leadership, youth employment, and volunteerism, with a focus on equity-building and accessible community care. They are currently launching their venture through Ontario’s Summer Company program and have received the Brock Scholars Award for academic excellence. Whether in a boardroom or at a community fridge, Maheen believes in business as a tool for joy, justice, and liberation.

Robyn Scott is a queer artist, entrepreneur, and community organizer based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She owns Robyn Scott Fine Art, creating mixed media paintings that embed natural materials to explore human-wildlife relationships in Northern environments. Robyn also teaches visual arts and mentors emerging artists through workshops and public programs. As president of NorthWords NWT, she supports northern and Indigenous writers through festivals, open mics, and community outreach. A passionate advocate for creative entrepreneurship, Robyn is especially committed to helping others build sustainable arts-based businesses in remote regions. Her work bridges artistic practice, education, and community storytelling—amplifying voices often overlooked in national conversations. Whether leading workshops, curating events, or exhibiting at the northern festivals, she brings deep insight into the realities of making a life and a living in the North.

With over a decade of expertise in financial and operational management across multi-national environments, Niss drives FLARE’s mission to bridge the gap between creativity and business acumen with a disruptive approach. As a personable Chartered Accountant (CPA & ACCA) from an artistic family, Niss understands the disconnect between creative and business realms. A passionate dancer herself, she deeply appreciates the unique challenges faced by artists. Inspired by her journey & love for the arts, she founded FLARE to revolutionize how creative individuals & innovative startups approach financial literacy & operational excellence, infusing business management with a touch of flare. Through strategic alliances and a commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial spirit, Niss is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of creative endeavours.

Mallory Solomon (They/Them), whose spirit name is Snow-Covered Forest, is a member of the Buffalo Clan from Constance Lake First Nation in Ontario. They are Anisininew (colonially known as Oji-Cree) and identify as Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer. Mallory holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology from Algoma University and is currently in their final year of a Master’s program in Clinical Psychology at Lakehead University. Their thesis supervisor is Dr. Christopher Mushquash. More information is available on https://www.mallorysolomon.com/

I’m a Jamaican-born community advocate with experience in newcomer settlement, and LGBTQ+ refugee support. I currently manage Refugee Support Services at The 519 in Toronto, where I lead a team supporting over 10,000 refugee claimants across Ontario. My work focuses on cultural integration, social inclusion, and economic resilience for queer and trans newcomers, especially those facing systemic barriers. I bring a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lens to every program I design, drawing on both lived experience and professional expertise. My approach blends strategic thinking with deep compassion and a commitment to equity.

Naoufel Testaouni (he/him) is the Co-Founder and CEO of QueerTech, an organization transforming Canada’s tech ecosystem to empower 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals. With a background spanning AIESEC, Microsoft, and Montreal’s startup scene, he brings deep experience in innovation, community building, and inclusive leadership to today’s conversation on AI and the future of work.

Hello there! This is Ekrem Usta. I am an undergraduate student in the Foreign Language Education Department at Bogazici University in Turkiye, currently studying at the University of Alberta as an exchange student. As someone with a rich cultural heritage, I’ve always been passionate about how language shapes identity, access, and belonging; especially for marginalized communities. My path crossed with REKH - CSEA, where I hope to further explore the language particularly in relation to endangered and Indigenous languages. My work is grounded in lived experience and a commitment to challenging monolingual and heteronormative norms in business, education and beyond. I believe everything starts with the words we choose. Moreover, the language we use influences the words we think to choose. It’s in these details that exclusion builds up until we realize workplaces/institutions need more than new policies, it needs an inclusive language.

Mackenzy Vida is a multidisciplinary artist from Treaty 4 Territory in Regina, SK, focusing on illustration, painting, and printmaking. Early childhood art therapy sparked her passion for creativity. Her love of accessible art shines through in the art workshops and community art projects she facilitates. Through expressive lines, she explores her practice as an emerging Francophone artist on the Prairies. She is a graduate of the University of Regina with a Bachelor’s in Visual Arts and a minor in Creative Technologies, and a member of SK Printmakers, SaskQueer, and Fierté d’entreprendre.

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Jenna Wray (she/they) is a Co-Founder and the Engagement Director of Better Belonging. They bring 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.

Chih-lan Winnie Yang is a Grant Notley Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta. She holds a PhD in Sociology from McGill University, with a Graduate Option in Gender and Women’s Studies. Her research interests include culture and meaning-making related to marriage and family; social mobility within and across generational lines; and work-family trajectories over the life course. In each of these areas, she pays particular attention to how sex, gender and sexuality intersect with other axes of social inequality, using various data sources, including censuses, administrative tax records, surveys, and in-depth interviews.

Seon Yuzyk is a doctoral candidate (ABD) in political science at the University of Alberta, specializing in Canadian politics, political theory, and racial capitalism. Supervised by Dr. Jared Wesley, Yuzyk's research examines “queer reconstruction”, the processes and techniques in which 2SLGBTQI+ people reconstruct their lives in the afterlives of slavery and state-sanctioned homophobia. Yuzyk publishes on Substack, where he writes about race, political economy, and environmental justice, and serves as Community-Based Research Lead for the Rainbow Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (REKH), supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. At REKH he implemented the pipeline method to study Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, mapping how knowledge and resources move between universities and public domains. He examines how entrepreneurship is taught in business schools across Canada, which debates shape the economic landscape, and which cornerstone journals publish leading research in the field, as well as the forms of knowledge they often produce that exclude the complex experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ citizens, masking systemic violence. Developed in his dissertation to analyse discussions on race and anti-Blackness in Canadian Political Science, this multidimensional approach has since proven effective in revealing layered exclusions across scales.

Originally from Indonesia, SQEP’s Executive Director Egi Ahmad (he/him) relocated to Canada in 2009 to pursue love. Over the past 15 years, he has worked across the health, disability, and sports sectors - holding roles from Office Manager to Interim CEO - with a focus on supporting underrepresented communities. Now based in Regina, SK, Egi brings a wealth of lived and professional experience to his work with SQEP, where he is committed to building inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQI+ business. Vada Boyer (they/she) is a 2 Spirit entrepreneur, artist, and passionate advocate for queer and Indigenous representation. With a background in nonprofit engagement and the arts, Vada understands firsthand the barriers faced by queer individuals in professional spaces. As SQEP’s Manager of Membership & Outreach, she brings creativity, care, and a community-centred strategy to the work of uplifting 2SLGBTQI+ business across Saskatchewan.

Myrna Bittner is the CEO and Founder of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, an advanced synthetic data and generative AI modelling platform company working to inform global population futures, including health, equity, housing, economics, sustainability, and resilience. Myrna is passionate about connecting today's technology, policy, and service choices to analytics that feature impacts and outcomes for our planet and its people. RUNWITHIT is a Certified Indigenous Business, women-led and global award-winning company pioneering the field of synthetic data and populations since 2014.

Vanessa Burns is the owner of Vanessa Burns Grant Consulting and a trusted grant strategist with over 20 years of fundraising experience. She helps grassroots organizations and small businesses take a strategic, sustainable, and stress-less approach to grants. Vanessa’s “One-Stop Grant Shop” combines workshops, training, mentoring, and hands-on support to make funding more accessible, inclusive, and even a little fun. Whether you’re new to grants or looking to level up, Vanessa meets you where you’re at, with clarity, care, and a big-picture lens. She’s a Certified Diverse Supplier with the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), a member of the Grant Professionals Association, and was proudly named CGLCC Atlantic Canada Certified Supplier of the Year in 2024. When she’s not helping changemakers unlock funding, Vanessa’s probably climbing mountains, scaling frozen waterfalls, hitting a spin class, or hanging out with her Border Collie, Arthur.

Scott Cameron is a champion of community resilience and safety, specializing in leveraging social capital to address complex challenges. As the President/CEO of bassa Social Innovations Inc., and co-founder of Emergency Management Logistics Canada, Scott has dedicated his professional career and entrepreneurial endeavors to community and social development. With a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from Royal Roads University, focusing on Sustainable Community Development and Leadership, Scott is passionate about the power of collaboration. He believes communities achieve remarkable outcomes by sharing collective wisdom, networks, and resources. Scott is based in Calgary where he lives with his husband. Outside of work and career, Scott enjoys spending time with his kids and grandbabies, travel, cooking and entertaining, and achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

TIKA is a Canadian Screen Award–winning composer, cultural strategist, and founder of Iverna Island and Stereo Visual. Her work explores the intersection of sound, story, and sanctuary — creating pathways for collective healing and creative sovereignty across the arts, wellness, and technology sectors. Through Iverna Island, she builds traveling sanctuaries and initiatives that center Black Womxn and Womxn of Colour in rest, ritual, and imagination. Through Stereo Visual, she leads sound and film projects that amplify under-represented narratives through immersive storytelling and score. Her practice merges trauma-informed artistry with community innovation, exploring how rest and ritual can become radical acts of resistance within entrepreneurship and creative economies

Michelle (she/her) is a queer, Chinese, neurodivergent investor, entrepreneur, community educator, drag king, K-pop dance instructor, songwriter, and founder of the NWT Womxn Financial Empowerment Club, living on Chief Drygeese Territory (Yellowknife). Born in Hong Kong as an immigrant, she brings lived experience navigating CPTSD, anxiety disorder, and generational trauma while working as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the North. After experiencing burnout, Michelle turned to investing to reclaim freedom, choice, and stability. She built her first real estate portfolio of five doors in a single year and expanded into multi-asset investing, including precious metals, crypto, stocks, and small business ownership — tools that are often gatekept from queer, femme, disabled, neurodivergent, immigrant, and other intersectional communities. Through her work as founder of the NWT Womxn Financial Empowerment Club, Michelle’s goal is to empower queer and intersectional folks by tapping into financial and investment knowledge that is usually kept out of reach — so they can build collective power, choices, and wealth together.

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Dr. André dos Santos is the Principal of Responsible AI at the Alberta Motor Association and founder of Xplain AI. He specializes in Generative and Responsible AI, helping organizations use AI ethically and effectively. A former Director at the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, André holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is known for making complex AI topics accessible through his talks and workshops.

Hi, I’m Vash Ebbadi-Cook (he/they)! I am a settler, immigrant, and refugee born in Iran and raised in Toronto, the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. I now live in Prince George, BC, on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lheidli T'enneh. My journey working across several areas of healthcare and social services has given me a unique perspective on improving systems. I began my career in clinical care as a ward clerk in the transplant unit and have since held roles spanning clinical research, facilities planning, research governance, population and public health, and workforce sustainability. Most recently, I served as an executive leader, overseeing health workforce innovation, quality improvement, and cultural safety initiatives to address systemic inequities. With nearly two decades of experience, I bring expertise in strategic planning, culturally safe program design, quality improvement, and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships. My approach is deeply rooted in collaboration and the belief that sustainable solutions come from empowering organizations to align their work with their values and the communities they serve. Through Endura Consulting, I now focus on supporting organizations to drive meaningful, systemic change by designing strategies that advance health, wellbeing and social equity, innovation, and measurable improvements.

Hi, I’m PJay (they/them) — a trans-inclusive strategist, community builder, and the soul behind **Hello Gender**. I support organizations across all sectors in creating cultures of true belonging — where equity isn’t a box to tick, but a living, breathing practice. Rooted in my Acadian heritage, I bring a bold vision to every space I enter. I work in both French and English, designing and facilitating programs that resonate across linguistic and cultural contexts — creating space for authentic dialogue, reflection, and growth. Through Hello Gender, I lead bilingual allyship workshops, co-create community-rooted programs, and hold space for courageous conversations that move beyond symbolic gestures. My work is grounded in **intersectionality**, centering trans and non-binary people while honoring the realities of race, class, language, and ability — always with care, clarity, and brilliance.

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Steph Gillies is a Keynote Speaker & Career Story Coach, focused on helping professionals own their story and live authentically. Having had 32 jobs in 15 years, Steph tried many avenues to find a job that fit and gained valuable insights into how to align passions with career paths. After being laid off from what she thought was her dream job in 2020, she started resume writing and career coaching. Today, she combines coaching, resume writing, and speaking to help individuals embrace their authenticity and design careers that truly align with their passions.

Andrew Hartman (they/them), is a queer, Métis evaluator and applied social psychology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Saskatchewan. Andrew’s education and training focuses on program evaluation, where they have led evaluations at local and national levels utilizing an array of theoretical approaches and mixed-method designs. Their primary areas of focus are natural supports, gender-based violence, help-seeking, psychological healing, housing, 2SLGBTQ+ youth homelessness, undergraduate and graduate student affairs programming, and STEM pipelines. Andrew has been sharing evaluation knowledge through evaluation workshops, assisting in graduate program evaluation course lectures, mentoring emerging evaluators, and presenting and publishing on queer and community-based participatory evaluation and research. Andrew has a love for evaluation and using evaluation to amplify the voices of those who access services.

Rae is the founder of Origami Customs, a trans and gender-diverse clothing brand and community program in Montreal, made by queer and trans community members. Rae also works with over 100 organizations to provide life-changing gender-affirmation products to people facing intersectional oppression and financial barriers. Rae’s work has been featured in hundreds of major publications such as by The New York Times, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, and more, and has earned several awards championing their work as a 2SLGBTQIA+ community member and ethical and sustainable entrepreneur. In addition to running their production studio and community program, Rae is an awarded educational speaker and business consultant. They've given workshops, business training and spoken on panels worldwide, at various universities, community spaces and healthcare centres. Rae offers consultation and speaking arrangements worldwide on gender affirmation, ethical labor practices, sustainable fashion, and trans-integral business practices. Rae draws from their background in Sociology, experience in the fashion industry, and trans healthcare advocacy work over the past 15 years.

My name is Fazal Aman Khan and also Pakistani human rights activist, social worker, and political leader. He is the Chairman of Pakistan Falahi Tehreek and Amanvi Human Rights & Development Organization. With decades of grassroots service, he advocates for justice, transparency, education, and social reforms. He has launched awareness campaigns, participated in public movements, and helped vulnerable communities during crises. His mission is to build a fair, inclusive society by promoting peace, human dignity, and national integrity. He believes in empowering youth and uniting voices for sustainable progress.

Angelina Lamy (she/they) is a 2 Spirit, Afro-Indigenous (Métis and Colombian) person living on Treaty 1 territory and a proud registered member of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). As the EcoSystem Project Lead at 2SiMS, Angelina plays a key role in supporting and amplifying the work of 2S entrepreneurs through hands-on guidance and community-building initiatives. Their work includes leading masterclasses that showcase the skills, stories, and successes of Two-Spirit business leaders, creating space for empowerment and connection. Deeply rooted in community, identity, and sustainability, Angelina brings a unique and intersectional lens to their leadership, fostering inclusive economic growth while uplifting Indigenous knowledge and voices

Javelin Laurence is a storyteller, educator, and coach born and raised in Treaty 7 territory. Their work spans several industries but a common thread is their fierce advocacy for neurodivergent and gender diverse acceptance and celebration. Through Alchemy Divergence Coaching Javelin leverages their lived experience and education (BA Psychology, University of Calgary, Professional Counselling Diploma, Rhodes Wellness College) as an AuDHD artist and coach to support creatives in building lives and careers that work for them instead of against them. They also provide high quality, human made DEI training on neuro-divergence for teams and collectives. Javelin is dreaming of a world that values all neuro-types equally. They are also the Director of Industry Education with Spindle Films Foundation, where they leverage data and training best practices to improve the Canadian Film Industry for gender diverse filmmakers, and a professional actor working in film and theatre.

Nick LeBlanc is a thinking and accountability partner for 2SLGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent professionals seeking growth and authenticity. As an executive coach, she founded Sapwood Executive Excellence & Training (SWEET) to empower equity-deserving communities and to help organizations thrive while dismantling systems of oppression through their operations and cultural environments. Nick’s perspective is informed by her path as a trans, queer, disabled white settler in Sipekne’katik, an unceded Mi’kmaq territory within Mi’kma’ki, where SWEET observes the Peace and Friendship Treaties. She has spent over twenty years working in construction, education, consulting, corporate leadership, and coaching, helping her relate to people with empathy and insight. SWEET’s clients include entrepreneurs, executives, senior leaders, and boards. Clients highlight Nick’s calming and intuitive relational style, which allows them to sink into a trusting space of exploration and problem-solving. Nick leads local 2SLGBTQIA+ community programming and co-chairs the Nova Scotia Youth Project Board of Directors.

Dr. Glynnis Lieb (she/her) is the Executive Director of Fyrefly, housed in the Faculty of Education. She identifies as a 2SLGBTQIA+ community member. Dr. Lieb holds a PhD from the University of Manitoba, and has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award (2022) for her activism for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. Prior to her role at Fyrefly, Dr. Lieb served in a number of direct social service provision roles, as well as with Alberta Federation of Labour.

Elli McDine (she/her) is a strategist and community builder based in Edmonton, Alberta. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, where she leads work at the intersection of economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, and queer and trans joy. With a background in public administration and psychology, Elli has held senior leadership roles across the public, nonprofit, and education sectors, driving transformation through insight, storytelling, and collaboration. She is also a documentary filmmaker and writer exploring themes of identity, personal transformation, and belonging.

Corrie Melanson (she/they) is a facilitator, strategist, and lifelong learner with over 25 years of experience leading change and learning processes across sectors. She uses visual tools, universal design, and culturally responsive practices to foster inclusion, clarity, and collective action. Corrie holds a master’s in Lifelong Learning, certificates in Adult Education, Appreciative Inquiry, Facilitation, and Participatory Evaluation, and is co-founder of the Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she dances salsa, sings with friends, parents three racialized adopted children, and swims year-round in the Atlantic Ocean.

Host/Consultant

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An uninvited guest in Amiskwacîwâskahikan and racialized ally to equity seeking groups including the pandisability community. After a decade of immersing myself in trauma informed practices, cross cultural therapeutic community modalities and working with systems that impact children and youth, I arrived at Gateway Association. I see my role as holding space for the pandisability community and their support network to build safe and inclusive spaces with equitable access that recognizes diversity. Values guiding my work are patience, love, courage and creativity. Passion for creating mindful work culture, equitable universal design principles and deconstructing systems thinking. Spending time by the ocean is a privilege I enjoy periodically.

Colt Politte (he/they) is the Executive Director of Quadrangle NL, the only registered charity in Newfoundland and Labrador with the sole mandate to support and advocate for the queer and trans population of the province. He holds a varied background of experience in housing and homelessness policy, advocacy, and front-line support, communications, education and outreach, and in harm reduction. A system-focused thinker at heart, Colt enjoys learning how things interact, and how communities can influence the different social systems at play to create better outcomes for their people.

I am Diane Rodríguez, a transgender activist and advocate for LGBT+ rights from Ecuador. I have dedicated over a decade to advancing equality, inclusion, and justice for the transgender and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. As the founder of the Asociación Silueta X, I have championed legal reforms, such as Ecuador’s gender identity law, and led initiatives to improve healthcare access and combat discrimination. In 2013, I became the first transgender woman to run for a seat in the Ecuadorian National Assembly, raising visibility for trans issues. Additionally, I founded the Cámara LGBT+ de Comercio y Turismo del Ecuador, where I promote economic inclusion and entrepreneurship for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals by fostering business networks, providing training, and advocating for inclusive policies. Through the Cámara, I have developed programs like networking platforms and regional summits to empower diverse entrepreneurs, including trans, neurodivergent, and refugee communities. For this conference, I believe applying through the Cámara LGBT+ aligns best with the focus on 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurship, as it directly supports business development and economic empowerment. However, Silueta X’s community-driven initiatives also complement the conference’s goals. I am eager to share insights on creating equitable economic opportunities at the REKH/CSEA Conference. If selected, I would be honored to provide a photo to complete my biography.

Coming Soon

Willa Small (she/her) is a queer, trans woman from Conception Bay South, NL. Currently, she is working as Quadrangle NL’s Entrepreneurship System Mapping Officer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce (hons.) with a concentration in marketing from Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador. During her studies she also worked as a research assistant and copy editor with the Asia-Pacific business research unit, volunteered as a member of the business day committee, and helped improve student-life as class VP. She is experienced in the non-profit and private sectors, and has worked in various industries such as tech, hospitality, and arts and entertainment. In her free time, she enjoys learning various instruments, attempting to make the perfect pavlova, and acting on stage.

Daius Steiner (they/them) is a Program Manager at Propel Impact. Daius participated in Propel Impact’s Summer Analyst Program, where they worked at RADIUS SFU as an Impact Analyst in 2022 and at Vancity Savings Credit Union as a Community Investment Analyst in 2023. Daius is a recent graduate of Simon Fraser University’s Sustainable Business Joint Major Program (BBA), where they were awarded the Sustainability Leader prize in 2023. They supported the advancement of sustainability in business education by contributing to the development of Simon Fraser University’s first mandatory lower-division business sustainability course, BUS 275: Business in a Sustainable Society, as a Research Assistant. Additionally, Daius advocated for integrating sustainability into business schools across Canada as a Curriculum Change Coordinator at Re_Generation. Outside of work, you will find them running, cycling, baking sourdough, or perfecting their latte art.

Kaci (they/them) is a disabled, trans, non-binary lesbian from Alberta, currently living in Toronto. They are a researcher, artist, teacher, and second-year PhD student in Gender, Feminist, and Women’s Studies at York University. Their doctoral research focuses on how 2S/LGBTQIA+ people engage in radical acts of community care to heal from religious trauma. Kaci’s artistic practice and community-based research spans fat liberation, the medical industrial complex, and eating disorders, with a particular interest in the intersection of these three topics as they pertain to 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. Kaci also holds a Master of Arts in gender studies (McMaster University), Bachelor of Education (University of Calgary), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Alberta University of the Arts).

I am currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and hold a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Peshawar. My research interests include the sociological dimensions of marginalized populations in Pakistan, particularly within the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These groups include transgender persons, homosexual individuals, gay and lesbian communities, and other socially excluded populations. My research critically engages with structural inequalities, cultural stigmas, systemic discrimination, and the everyday violence faced by these communities, while also highlighting their agency, resilience, and identity formation within a conservative socio-religious landscape. I have presented my work on these themes at several prestigious international conferences in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, where I engaged with leading scholars and contributed to global academic conversations on gender, and minority rights.

Dr. Cathy van Ingen is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Brock University whose work bridges academic research and community activism. Her scholarship examines gender-based violence and the intersections of sport, inequality, and social change through feminist and critical race frameworks. As co-founder of Shape Your Life, a trauma-informed boxing program for violence survivors, van Ingen has directly impacted over 3,000 participants over 17 years, creating safe spaces for women, trans, and youth communities. In 2024, van Ingen completed an MFA in documentary media, expanding her research practice to include film as both methodology and medium. This interdisciplinary approach allows her to document and amplify voices often missing within traditional academic boundaries. Her work demonstrates how sport can serve as a catalyst for social change, and she focuses on community-engaged scholarship that prioritizes social justice and transformative change.

I am an upcoming third-year Ph.D. student studying Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. I am passionate about research on LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity, morality and ethics, and connections at work. I'm excited to participate in this conference to learn from the research and experiences of experts from diverse sectors, and also contribute insights from my review on LGBTQ+ research at work with my co-authors to the conference.

Coming Soon

I bring nearly four decades of experience in Inclusive Employment across Australia and Canada, with a focus on building inclusive communities through lifelong learning and innovative career development. Holding a Master’s in Adult Education and certification as a True Colors Facilitator, I design and deliver engaging training that advances equity, diversity, and inclusion while helping employers strengthen recruitment and retention practices. I played a key role in establishing the Alberta Association for Supported Employment (AASE) and the Calgary Employment First Network, and have delivered career development workshops for the Alberta Government as well as courses in adult education settings. I collaborated with GEDI HUB and other partners to build employer capacity and embed inclusive hiring practices. Passionate about social inclusion, I remain committed to advocating for meaningful participation and creating pathways that allow marginalized individuals to thrive in their workplaces and communities.

Victor Yin: Victor (he/they) is the project manager for Fierté d'entreprendre, a program by the Comité FrancoQueer de l'Ouest that aims to strengthen queer francophone entrepreneurs in Western Canada. Victor's experience is interdisciplinary, and spans academic, public and non-profit sectors.