02.18.2021 - By Empire Club of Canada
Over the past year, anti Black racism protests have elevated systemic issues that remain pervasive in society, serving as a catalyst for important discussions around racism and discrimination in Canada. These discussions have revealed a harsh reality: Black Canadians continue to be significantly underrepresented in leadership positions. This disparity is particularly pronounced in professional fields such as law, public affairs, politics and finance. In order to create lasting change to our society and institutions, a concerted effort is needed to identify and address barriers Black Canadians face in attaining leadership positions in the public and private sectors.
Despite countless obstacles and barriers, there are stories of success to celebrate and learn from. The Empire Club is pleased to host a panel discussion that will share the experiences of those who have secured leadership positions in their fields, lessons they have learned along the way and what today’s leaders can do to inspire and empower the next generation of diverse voices.
Panelists:
Zanana Akande, Interim Chair, Black Legal Action Centre
Al Ramsay, Associate Vice President, Sales and Strategy and Head LGBTQ2+ and Black Customer Segments, TD Bank
Charlene Theodore, President, Ontario Bar Association; Workplace Lawyer
Ray Williams, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Financial Markets at National Bank Financial
Moderator:
Asha Tomlinson, Award Winning Investigative Journalist, CBC News: Marketplace and CBC News contributor; Co creator, Co producer, and host, Being Black in Canada program and Face Racism series.