2020 Speakers
Ron Chhinzer
As a 14 year veteran of the Toronto Police Service, Constable Ron Chhinzer has hosted 31 Gang Prevention Town Halls in the City of Toronto's gang impacted neighbourhoods that have included gang members, ex-gang members, families who have lost children to gang violence, victims, and survivors of human trafficking, to name a few. Outside of policing, Ron Chhinzer has been actively volunteering in the not-for-profit and charitable world for over 20 years in various roles including; Coach, Board Member, Director, Committee Member, Chair, and representative.
Dr. Sarah Chapman
Sarah Chapman is the Director of Deloitte’s Sustainability and Social Impact advisory practice, and leads the National Corporate Responsibility team. With extensive experience across the US and the Asia-Pacific region, Sarah specializes in building innovative purpose-driven social impact strategies and programs that create shared economic and societal value. Sarah has a PhD in Corporate Responsibility, Social Impact, and Shared Value. She is on the Board of Volunteer Canada, co-chairs the Canadian Council on Volunteering, and chairs the Toronto Impact 2030 Council. Sarah's talk will challenge our thinking and action on the shifts needed so the world can avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
Tameika Gentles
Since losing 90 pounds, 14 years ago, Tameika Gentles has devoted her time to helping others activate the inner strength and fulfillment she has found on her health journey. The Canadian-born certified personal trainer turned international wellness entrepreneur is the Co-Founder of The Whole Experience – a platform dedicated to helping women create a sustainable healthy lifestyle while building community. Tameika will bring a global, multi-dimensional, and widely relatable perspective to reviving the notions of health around us by focusing on the journey instead of the result.
Mary-Anne Bédard
Mary-Anne Bédard has spent her career in public service, advocating for universal and affordable childcare, increased services for children with special needs, and most recently, leading the City of Toronto’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division. As Toronto faces an unprecedented demanded for emergency shelters and services for the precariously housed, Mary-Anne and her team have implemented innovative and strategic responses to address the city’s most vulnerable populations and worked hard to challenge public perceptions of homelessness.
Michael Moon
Michael Moon is an internationally acclaimed composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his award winning healing music. Michael’s healing journey with autism and health issues has infused his music. He has also studied with many shamans, healers and musicians from around the world, exploring the mystical and healing dimensions of music. His past 5 albums have all won awards, including most recently, Music of the Year at the International COVR, new age music awards. Michael's talk will push you to broaden your perspective.
Karen MacNeill
Karen is performance psychologist, lead Mental Performance Consultant for the Canadian Olympic Committee for the last Olympic Winter Games and upcoming Summer Olympics. and the co-founder of Headversity, a mental wellness tech company, which offers preventative and personalized mobile resilience training to help people get ahead of adversity. As a former Canadian team athlete, and with two decades of experience working with Olympians and leaders developing their mental fitness and building resilience, Karen will have you believing that training the mind is for more than Olympians and the elite.
Faizan Rehmatullah
Faizan is an aerospace engineer, a photographer, and an explorer, developing rovers for robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars. Faizan is designing the Mobility System of the Sample Fetch Rover which is part of the Mars Sample Return Mission; the most daring, challenging and advanced robotic mission aimed at bringing Mars to Earth. When he is not building space robots, he is out with his camera snapping landscape pictures.
Tareq Hadhad
Tareq Hadhad is the founder and CEO of Peace By Chocolate. He came to Canada as a Syrian refugee in 2015, and in four short years has re-established his family’s chocolate company, gained Canadian citizenship, and spread a message of peace and resilience to thousands of people around the world. As an award-winning entrepreneur, Tareq uses his business and his voice to promote peace-building initiatives across Canada and the world. In his talk, Tareq will inspire you to find the strength to rise above adversity, have hope for a better tomorrow, and find ways to spread peace in your own life.
Terrence Ho
Terrence Ho is a son, brother and caregiver. He has held roles in the public, private and non-profit sectors, where he’s learned to advocate tirelessly for the greater good as a strategist, facilitator, and community builder. One of his biggest influences is his younger brother who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Caring for his brother for almost 30 years has helped Terrence appreciate the unique needs of patients and caregivers. Terrence has been inspired by these life experiences to become a change agent and advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and mental health. When he's not advocating for others and caregiving, you’ll find him enjoying a podcast or jumping on his trampoline!
Arnav Shah
Arnav Shah is a grade 8 student attending Northlea Elementary & Middle school, as well as an innovator in The Knowledge Society (TKS), a human accelerator program. His goal is to eradicate extreme poverty through leveraging exponential technologies. He will take us through an unexpected journey of achieving our potential.
Natasha Walji
Natasha Walji is a Director at Google leading the Tech, Telecom & Public sector business. She has been at Google for 10 years, and previously was a McKinsey consultant and a software developer. Natasha has actively served the community for ~20 years in the areas of disaster relief, poverty alleviation, public health and also founded an NGO for children with disabilities. She serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House Canada. Natasha holds a BSc. in Computer Science (UVic), an MBA (Yale) and an MSt. in Sustainability Leadership (Cambridge). Natasha was recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2016.
