Let’s Talk Diaspora Conference 2024
Meet the Speakers
Key Note Speaker
Anita VANDENBELD
Member of Parliament
Anita Vandenbeld was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Ottawa West—Nepean in 2015. Ms. Vandenbeld is an international expert on democracy and human rights. She has worked in over 20 countries on inclusive governance and women’s leadership, including with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Democratic Governance Group in New York.
Chandra Arya is a Canadian Liberal politician, Member of Parliament who represents the riding of Nepean in the House of Commons of Canada since the 2015 federal election.
Chandra Arya
Member of Parliament
Key Note Speaker
International Perspectives
Guy djoken
Guy Djoken is the Chairman of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations, and Executive Director of Washington, D.C. based UNESCO Center for Peace. Guy is a Global advocate for Social Justice, human Rights expert with extensive public speaking experience in domestic and international settings.
He is known for his passion for bridging the gap between the have and the have not with a documented track record in diversity training, public relations, leadership and international affairs. He has won awards that include the Gandhi Peace Award, the Nikola Tesla Global Forum White Dove Award, Justice Thurgood Marshall Award to name a few.
Marthe Carine Njakou
Marthe Carine est chef d’entreprise, passionnée du développement personnel, de l’économie, et de la liberté financière des femmes. Fondatrice et directrice de MC INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ACADEMY OTTAWA, elle fait partie des 100 femmes noires inspirantes du 21eme siècle, votée par l’Association des Femmes Inspirantes en 2023.
Entrepreneure en e-commerce, son but est de contribuer à l’autonomisation de la femme africaine, de développer l’Afrique par le digital et surtout de diminuer considérablement le chômage en Afrique. De ce fait, elle accompagne plusieurs client(e)s dans le monde entier pour soutenir le développement professionnel, le leadership et la confiance en soi. La citation favorite de Marthe Carine est : « Ne te demande pas ce que ton pays a fait pour toi, mais demande-toi ce que tu as fait pour ton pays. »
Youssouf Aboulhouda
Consultant international senior pour des organisations telles que le PNUD, la FAO et l’Union Européenne, Youssouf Abdoulhouda a plus de 25 ans d’expérience en lien avec le développement et la gestion des ressources naturelles, y compris l’élaboration, mise en œuvre et évaluation des politiques publiques et stratégies dans plusieurs secteurs liés au développement international notamment la sécurité alimentaire, l’énergie, la conservation de la biodiversité et les changements climatiques à toutes les échelles territoriales.
Youssouf est diplômé ingénieur agricole de l’École Nationale d’agriculture de Meknès Maroc; diplômé de l’Institut Médical Tropical d’Anvers, Belgique en Santé et production animale tropicale, et est certifié en développement durable de l’Université Laval au Québec.
William Thomas
William Thomas is the President of AgriFoodCity Ltd. He has dedicated his lifelong career to the study and understanding of agriculture and food systems.
With the experience gained from years of doing business domestically, his interests moved beyond Canada and the United to States and ranged from Asia to Africa where he conducted large scale agricultural projects to improve food security and the quality of life for small landholders. Academically, he studied Food Science and Agricultural Leadership at the University of Guelph.
Patrick Bizindavyi is an entrepreneur whose endeavors encapsulate his commitment to inspiring youth, fostering economic empowerment and leadership through sports and entrepreneurship to drive social change in Africa and beyond.
Patrick Bizindavyi
MODERATOR
Local & Regional Perspectives
Andrea Pierce is currently the Executive Director of Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH). She has extensive P&L and leadership experience in both the U.S. and Canada.
An entrepreneur with senior leadership roles in the Technology, Energy and Infrastructure sectors in both the United States and Canada, Andrea has proved herself in managing budgets of 750 million dollars USD. She is known as an innovative and strategic thought leader with a track record of successfully delivering programs, portfolios and projects from information technology to infrastructure construction.
Andrea Pierce
Cleopatra is a new immigrant from South Africa working for the federal government in Ottawa.
She had an opportunity to work with the UN Women in 2015 which was played a driving force for her passion to advocate for gender issues, women empowerment and Climate change justice. Cleopatra has a Masters degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seaton Hall university in New Jersey, USA.
Cleopatra Mbali Masinga
Jodi Bucholtz manages Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)– Lanark & Renfrew. Jodi has over 15 years of experience in higher education, marked by her passion for empowering newcomers and collaborative approach that has led to successful programs and initiatives that enhance integration, strengthen community ties, and celebration of cultural diversity.
Her profound belief in the transformative power of intercultural connections drives her compassionate leadership as she works closely with stakeholders, government agencies, and non-profits to create inclusive spaces for all. In her role as manager of
LIP -Lanark & Renfrew, Jodi leads a team of dedicated professionals working with community partners to establish goals and objectives in support to newcomers to the region who bring their distinct needs and contributions into the vibrant tapestry of the region.
Jodi Bucholtz
Landry Wamba est le président de l’Association des étudiants internationaux de l’Université d’Ottawa (UO-AEI). Il est aussi co-fondateur de Savigration, une organisation qui offre une variété de services de soutien aux immigrants pour les aider à s’établir, à trouver des carrières et à apprendre tout ce qu’ils doivent savoir pour commencer leur nouvelle vie au Canada.
