Join us for a transformative summit dedicated to advancing the economic resilience, wellbeing, and integration of immigrant women.

About the Summit

The Pathways to Inclusion: Advancing Economic Integration for Immigrant Women Summit is a collaborative initiative between Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW) and the Rotman School of Management. This full-day event will bring industry leaders, policymakers, government officials, and key stakeholders to tackle the challenges and opportunities surrounding labor market entry, integration, and career advancement for newcomer women in Canada.

The event will also mark the launch of “Racialized Skilled Immigrant Women’s Labour Market Integration and Career Advancement in the Greater Toronto Area" research report and study findings, a collaborative initiative between Newcomer Women Services Toronto and University of Toronto. The study examined the experiences of highly skilled racialized immigrant women in Canada as they transition, integrate, and advance in their careers within the Canadian labour market..

Why Attend?

While great progress has been made in the province of Ontario to facilitate labour market inclusion for newcomers, the labor market outcomes for immigrant women continue to reflect significant challenges and disparities compared to native-born women and even immigrant men. This summit will explore these challenges and discuss how emerging workplace trends, such as automation, hybrid work, and policy changes continue to shape and influence labour market experiences and outcomes for this segment.

At the Advancing Economic Integration for Immigrant Women Summit, you will:

Engage with Experts: Hear from thought leaders and practitioners who are paving the way for greater labour market inclusion for newcomers.
Discover Insights: Learn about recent research findings, innovative strategies and policies changes that can enhance labor market entry and advancement for immigrant women.
Network and Collaborate: Connect with fellow advocates, policymakers, and community leaders to share experiences and ideas.

Agenda

8:30 - 9:30 AM: Breakfast & Arrival

9:30 - 9:45 AM: Welcome and opening remarks by the co-hosts

9:45 - 10:00 AM: Keynote by Dean Christoffersen

10:00 - 10:15 AM: Keynote by Minister David Piccini

10:15 - 10:30 AM: - Special announcement

10:30 - 11:00 am: Coffee break

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Racialized Skilled Immigrant Women’s Labour Market Integration and Career Advancement in the Greater Toronto Area.

Research finding presentation followed by Q&A with Dr. Norin Taj, Postdoctoral Fellow at Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Challenges and Trends Shaping Labour Market Integration for Newcomer Women

12:30 - 1:30: Lunch

1:30 - 2:30 PM: Panel Discussion: A Call to Action: Improving Labour Market Outcomes for Newcomer Women

2:30 - 3:30 PM: Fireside Chat - Beyond the Welcome, Being intentional about advancing economic well being for newcomer women

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Concluding Remarks by MPP Kristen Wong Tam

4:00 - 5:00 PM: Post Summit Connect

Opening Remarks

Dr. Walid Hejazi

Dr. Walid Hejazi is Academic Director of Executive programs and Professor of International Business, Economic Analysis and Policy at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He is a Fellow of the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship, and member of the Board of Directors of the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation. His research focuses on the development of strategies which enhance the ability of companies to compete in domestic and global marketplaces. He has overseen many programs at Rotman which focus on helping newcomers navigate the many challenges faced in integrating into the Canadian labour market. This is also a theme in his coauthored book entitled Everybody's Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity Through the Twenty-First Century. He teaches in Rotman’s MBA and EMBA, and Custom Executive Programs. He travels extensively and has delivered lectures in over 30 countries.

Sara Asalya

Sara Asalya, Executive Director of Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, is an award-winning leader who brings more than 20 years of experience working internationally and in Canada in various sectors including not-for-profit, NGOs, think tank and higher education institutions. She is a recognized champion of immigrants' rights. Her lived experience as an immigrant woman in Canada inspires her advocacy on key issues impacting the immigrant community. Her leadership and dedication to advancing newcomers’ economic resilience, and civic engagement have led to her being named one of Canada’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants and Women of Influence, and most recently as Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dean Susan Christoffersen

Dr. Susan Christoffersen is the Dean at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, the William A. Downe BMO Chair, and a Professor of Finance. From 2015 to 2020, Professor Christoffersen served as Rotman’s Vice-Dean, Undergraduate and Specialized programs. In addition to her work as Vice-Dean, she also founded and contributed to the growth of the TD Management Data Analytics Lab, an important hub of activity for advancing the Rotman School’s research and teaching in the field of data analytics. Susan also served as co-academic director of the lab. Her research focuses on mutual funds and the role of financial institutions in capital markets. She has published in top finance journals and cited in The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg News Service, and The Wall Street Journal..

The Honorable David Piccini

David Piccini is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Northumberland-Peterborough South and the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. He began his career in the federal public service as an international market analyst at Agriculture Canada and later served as a policy advisor at Service Canada. At the Office of the Minister of International Trade, he contributed to key initiatives like the Canada-Europe Free Trade Agreement. He also advised on international policy at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and helped found the Canadian International Health Education Association.

Research finding presentation followed by Q&A

Dr. Norin Taj

Norin Taj is a postdoctoral research fellow at OISE, University of Toronto, Canada. She holds a PhD in educational leadership and policy with a specialization in comparative, international, and developmental education from OISE. With over 12 years as an educational leader across diverse instructional environments and as a professional trainer, Norin brings a wealth of expertise in leadership and gender dynamics within educational contexts. Her broad research interests include interdisciplinary approaches to leadership and gender dynamics in education, community engagement, policy formulation, and the sociology of education. Her commitment to community engagement is reflected in her extensive involvement over the past decade. Norin currently teaches leadership and education courses at the University of Toronto and York University in Canada, focusing on gender, equity, and ethics.

Panel Discussion: Challenges and Trends Shaping Labour Market Integration for Newcomer Women

This panel will explore the challenges faced by newcomer women in the labour market, while also addressing key trends shaping their integration experiences, such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid work, and the digital divide.

Dr. Susan Murray (Panel Chair)

Dr. Susan Murray is a globally recognized advisor and expert on leadership. After two decades as a senior public education leader, she boldly took a new path. She completed a Doctorate in business focusing on leadership and organizational performance. In 2014, she founded her consulting firm, Clearpath Leadership. As a leader, advisor, professor, mentor, and coach, she has worked with hundreds of global leaders and organizations. She guides leaders to define their clear path from where they are to their vision for success. She works with teams to create a strategy for excellence, focusing on strengths, employee engagement, and business performance. Along with her coaching, she is a professor and a senior consultant on leadership, strategy, and governance for multiple organizations.

Dr. Sarah Kaplan

Dr. Sarah Kaplan is Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE). Her current research focuses on applying an innovation lens to social challenges such as gender inequality. She was a strategic lead in developing the 2020 Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada and co-authored with Peter Dey, 360 Governance: Where are the Directors in a World in Crisis which outlines corporate director responsibilities for the 21st century. She regularly advises corporations, governments and agencies on policies related to environmental, social and governance issues such as board diversity, board governance, care work, employment, pay equity, gender-based analysis and other topics. She was recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Dr. Rupa Banerjee

Dr. Rupa Banerjee is Associate Professor of Human Resource Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, and Canadian Research Chair of Economic Inclusion, Employment and Entrepreneurship of Canada’s Immigrants. Her research examines employment outcomes of newcomers, a topic on which she has published extensively. Her research interests also include diversity and ethno-racial discrimination in the workplace. Dr. Banerjee’s current program of research focuses on the role of post-secondary institutions and employers on the migration and labour market integration of temporary residents and immigrants in Canada.

Rania Younes

Rania Younes is the Senior Manager for Employer Networks and National Engagement at the Immigrant Employment Council of BC. With 17+ years of marketing expertise, she excels in strategic design, brand positioning, research, and team management. Passionate about social justice, she co-founded WelcomeHomeTO, addressing settlement challenges and fostering a dynamic network that welcomes newcomers with open hearts. Rania also co-founded PCAN, empowering professionals in the Canadian Arab community through coaching and peer support. Her unwavering commitment to diverse communities is evident in her support for community-led organizations, championing marginalized groups and making a significant impact on the lives she serves.

Amy Sylla

Amy is a multifaceted professional, balancing her role as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor at CBC with her coaching, and artistic career as a professional dancer. Hailing from France with Senegalese roots, she is a passionate speaker known for her engaging storytelling, captivating renowned organizations, and inspiring others to embrace change and advocate for equity. Her own journey, shaped by resilience and self-discovery, inspired the creation of Brown Sugar Talk in 2020—a platform dedicated to honest conversations on race and cross-cultural topics, amplifying marginalized voices and driving meaningful change. This passion for advocacy naturally evolved into a career in the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) sector, where she provides strategic guidance and fosters inclusive environments that uplift every voice. As a coach, Amy has guided over 20 racialized women and women with disabilities, equipping them with the tools to overcome obstacles and create the lives they envision.

Panel Discussion: A Call to Action: Improving Labour Market Outcomes for Newcomer Women

Newcomer women in Canada bring diverse qualifications, experience, and talent, yet they continue to face disproportionate barriers in accessing the labour market. Improving their labour market outcomes is not just a social justice issue; it is crucial for Canada’s economic growth and societal well-being. A multi-pronged approach involving policy change, employer engagement, and targeted support programs is essential to break down these barriers. Joining us in this panel subject matter experts on labour market research, policies and services to discuss how we can improve labour market outcomes for newcomer women.

Dr. Anna Triandafyllidou (Panel Chair)

Dr. Anna Triandafyllidou holds the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also the Scientific Director of a $98.4 mln multi-University and multi-partner Program entitled Bridging Divides funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Prior to joining TMU in 2019, she held a Robert Schuman Chair at the European University Institute, in Florence, Italy. She is Editor of the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies. In 2021, the University of Liège awarded Triandafyllidou a doctorate honoris causa in recognition of her contribution to migration scholarship. She has published widely on migration governance and migrant integration.

Dr. Lorna Read

Dr. Lorna Read is Managing Director of LEAP. She brings more than 25 years of experience as a transformational social impact and non-profit leader to her role. Lorna is stewarding LEAP into its second decade as it fulfills its bold vision to vastly expand its impact and reach more Canadians. A long-time champion for social change led by communities and their leaders, Lorna is committed to scaling effective models and teams that are closest to the complex issues communities face around the world. She has a deep passion for engaging diverse stakeholders in a way that can multiply and leverage expertise and resources towards a collective goal that in term increases social impact.

Dr. Marshia Akbar

Dr. Marshia Akbar is the Research Lead on Labour Migration with the CERC Migration and Integration program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also serving as the Director the CERC-BMO Newcomer Labour Force Integration Lab, which conducts action-oriented research to help companies effectively hire skilled immigrants by bridging research and practice. Her research areas include gender and migration, labour market integration, migrant identity and intersectionality, policies and governance, and research methods. Marshia’s current research, focusing on international students’ transition to the labour market and integration challenges, has received the Insight Development Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Chantelle Vernon

Chantelle Vernon is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) at Southlake Regional Health Centre. She personifies Southlake's vision through her leadership driving strategic DEIA initiatives across the hospital, which foster a more inclusive and equitable workplace culture for staff, ultimately leading to the provision of higher quality care and more positive experiences for patients. As a result of her extensive, cross-sectoral experience with diverse communities, Chantelle brings a deep understanding of the barriers faced by historically marginalized communities.

Ayesha Bhikha

Ayesha Bhikha is a program management professional with 24+ years of progressive experience in the Canadian and international not-for-profit and corporate sectors. Ayesha specializes in project, accreditation, internal audit, and human resources management. Her educational qualifications extend to finance and accounting, project management, human resources management, psychology, as well as a Master of Education in Educational Leadership. Ayesha firmly believes that working in the not-for-profit sector is her true calling in life. As the Director of Career & Women’s Services at Achēv, she provides strategic leadership and direction to a diverse portfolio of programs designed to support and empower newcomers, women, and other equity-deserving individuals and groups. Ayesha also serves as a Board of Director at Career Professionals of Canada, the national association for career practitioners.

Fireside Chat - Beyond the Welcome, Being intentional about advancing economic well being for newcomer women

While Canada’s commitment to welcoming newcomers is commendable, the real challenge lies in ensuring newcomer women can achieve economic independence and thrive in their new environment. To move beyond the welcome and to achieve economic well-being for newcomer women, intentional, coordinated efforts across policy, skills development, workplaces, and community services are needed. Joining us for this fireside chat are advocates for women's rights and immigrant issues, who will discuss how we can go beyond mere welcomes and work towards achieving the economic wellbeing and advancement of newcomer women.

Sara Asalya (Fireside Chat Moderator)

Mitzie Hunter

Mitzie Hunter is a dynamic leader and President/CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, with 30 years of experience across the nonprofit, private, and government sectors. She made history as Ontario’s first Black Minister of Education and has also served as Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development and Associate Minister of Finance. A passionate advocate for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals, Mitzie is recognized for her expertise in women’s leadership, inclusive economies, and sustainable community development. She is a founding member of the Prosperity Project and has held various leadership roles, including CEO of CivicAction and Chief Administrative Officer of Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

The Honourable Ratna Omidvar

Ratna Omidvar is an internationally recognized voice on migration, diversity and inclusion. She came to Canada from Iran in 1981 and her own experiences of displacement, integration and citizen engagement have been the foundation of her work. In April 2016, Ms. Omidvar was appointed to the Senate of Canada as an independent senator representing Ontario. Senator Omidvar is the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and served as Deputy Chair of the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector. She previously served in leadership roles for the Independent Senators Group as Scroll Manager and Liaison. Senator Omidvar is currently the Vice-President of the Canada-Germany Interparliamentary Group.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam

Kristyn Wong-Tam is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto Centre, representing downtown Toronto and serving as the Official Opposition Critic for 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, small business, and the attorney general. Prior to her election as an MPP, Kristyn was a Toronto City Councillor for 12 years and an accomplished entrepreneur and arts advocate. She co-founded Asian Canadians for Equal Marriage and served as president of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter, where she successfully lobbied for a head tax apology. Kristyn’s career is dedicated to investing in Toronto's diverse communities through social planning, affordable housing, economic development, and community art initiatives.

Together, we can create impactful pathways to inclusion and empower immigrant women in our communities.