UPLIFT WOMEN'S BUSINESS SUMMIT

Robin Farrell is an award-winning broadcaster with over 20 years of morning showexperience. She currently hosts “Mornings with Robin & PJ” with Paul Johnson - aregional morning show for the Rogers Radio Country brand at 5 stations across Ontario- and is based out of Country 106.7 in Kitchener. She previously worked as a morningshow host for 19 years in Victoria and Vancouver.Robin was a recipient of the "Morning Show of the Year" award at the Canadian Musicand Broadcast Industry Awards in 2013, and was a nominee for the Vancouver IslandTop 20 Under 40 Business and Community Achievement Awards in 2013. Robin rodethe 2010 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock as a media riderraising money for pediatric cancer research, and was a nominee for the 2016 NationalPhilanthrophy Awards in Victoria for Co-Founding and Co-Chairing the Cycle of HopeSociety - a 5 year fundraising project that raised awareness and inspired hope infamilies living with ALS.Robin holds an Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Education from Lakehead University inThunder Bay, and a Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from theUniversity of Ottawa.Throughout her career and educational achievements Robin has championed andhosted several conferences for women and girls. She additionally brings to the table astrong stage presence in stand-up comedy and motivational speaking at bothcommunity and Women’s Expos. Robin hosts the Rogers Women of the Year awards inKitchener/Waterloo and previously hosted the International Women’s Day lunch inVictoria in support of Bridges for Women for several years. Believing that all women andgirls deserve a safe space, she now sits on the Board of Directors for the Women’sCrisis Services of Waterloo Region.Robin is the proud mama of Otis the Predicting Wonderdog. She loves surprises,adventures in the great outdoors, throwing weights around in the gym, and doing whatshe does everyday – bringing JOY to the people, and trying to take over the world.

Jamie Kern Lima is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker and Founder of IT Cosmetics, a company she started in her living room, and leaned on her faith and calling while enduring hundreds of rejections, to eventually grow it to the largest luxury makeup brand in the country. She sold the company to L’Oréal in a billion-dollar deal and became the first female CEO of a brand in its 100+ year history. Her love of her customers and remarkable authenticity and belief eventually landed her on the Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women list. She recently partnered with Oprah to teach the 2022 Life You Want Class, and is the author of the book Believe IT: How to Go From Underestimated to Unstoppable, an instant New York Times bestseller, USA Today bestseller, #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, #1 Amazon bestseller, #1 Publisher’s Weekly bestseller and #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller. She’s a mother of two and an active investor, speaker, and thought leader who is passionate about inspiring and elevating women. She’s also an active philanthropist who has funded leadership training in over 100 prisons and shelters in the US in 2022 and has donated over $40 million in product and funds to help women face the effects of cancer with confidence. She donates 100% of her author proceeds for Believe IT to Feeding America and Together Rising, amounting to more than 3 million meals donated so far. Learn more at JamieKernLima.com

Introducing Meghan Milkowski, the dynamic force driving Dow Jones' print operations since October 2017. Prepare for a thrilling journey into the world of news and business information as we delve into Meghan's captivating story.

Dow Jones, a global powerhouse in content delivery, has been revolutionizing the way consumers and organizations access information for over 130 years. Through print, digital, mobile, and live events, they have established an unrivaled reputation for excellence in news gathering on a global scale.

As the Senior Vice President & General Manager of Print Operations, Meghan Milkowski is a true master of transformation, unleashing strategic solutions and unlocking unprecedented sales opportunities for the Dow Jones print group, which includes prestigious publications like the Wall Street Journal and Barron's. With an unwavering passion for innovation, Meghan crafts and executes visionary strategies that catapult revenue, slash costs, and eliminate waste, cementing her position as a true industry trailblazer.

Meghan's journey in publishing began at Life Magazine, where she fearlessly tackled the intricacies of pasteboard markup for prepress, setting the stage for her meteoric rise. Progressing to Time, she quickly ascended through the ranks, honing her skills in production, operations, and eventually seizing leadership roles in imaging and business management.

Her indomitable spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence have garnered her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Luminaire Award and the esteemed Gamma Epsilon Tau Gold Key Awards. These distinguished honors celebrate Meghan as a beacon of positive influence, excellence, and unwavering dedication to the graphic communications industry.

But Meghan's zeal extends far beyond the boardroom. As a fierce competitor, she fearlessly tackles the grueling challenges of triathlons, securing multiple spots for worlds and nationals and leaving her competitors in awe. But it's not just about personal triumphs—Meghan uses these races as a platform to raise funds for important causes, such as the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and mental health organizations. Her tenacity and compassion make her a true champion in every sense of the word.

Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to be inspired as we warmly welcome Meghan Milkowski to the stage. Her story is one that will leave you breathless, driven, and eager to conquer your own ambitions.

Carol Anne Hilton, MBA is the CEO and founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Center of Indigenomics. Carol Anne is a dynamic Indigenous national and international business leader, author, speaker, director and senior adviser with an international Masters Degree in Business Management (MBA) from the University of Hertfordshire, England. Carol Anne is of Nuu chah nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island.   

Carol Anne is an award winning, best selling author of ‘Indigenomics- Taking A Seat at the Economic Table’ and is currently authoring a second book. 

Carol Anne currently serves as a Director on the McGill University Institute for the Study of Canada, MITACS Research, Earth Charter International, Innovate BC, and the Telus Indigenous Advisory Council.  Carol Anne previously served as a senior advisor on the Canadian Economic Growth Council. on the BC Emerging Economy Taskforce, the BC Digital Supercluster and the BC Indigenous Business and Investment Council. 

Carol Anne’s work has been most recently recognized with the Mastercard Game Changer Indigenous Entrepreneur Award in 2022 in North America, the inaugural Nation Builder Award from the National Angel Capital Organization in 2022, the BC Achievement Foundation’s Award of Distinction in Indigenous Business as well as the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’s  national Award of Excellence in Aboriginal Relations.

As the head of Minerva BC, Tina leads a team of talented individuals who are passionate about empowering women's leadership. Her journey with Minerva began in 2001 while she was working as an employment counsellor at Training Innovations, a prominent BC career development company that specializes in online and in-person career solutions. Tina discovered Minerva's Women Helping Women Work program, which provided mentorship and connections to successful female leaders, and began referring her clients to the program. Over the course of 15 years, Tina developed expertise in leadership, adult learning, career development, HR, and communications before joining Minerva BC as the Programs Director in 2016. She assumed the position of CEO in October 2017. Tina holds a BA in International Relations from UBC and an MA in Communications from Royal Roads University. She has lived and worked in various countries such as Germany, Costa Rica, Guyana, and Taiwan. Tina is known for her strengths in empathic thinking, quick learning, and seeing the big picture.

Shauna Harper is the CEO of WeBC, a not-for-profit organization that supports women to start, lead and grow their own businesses in all areas of BC. 

Shauna is an impact-driven leader, community champion, speaker, mentor, and connector in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She is a nationally-recognized advocate for women entrepreneurs, gender equity, and a champion for increased access to services, training, support, and funding. Her strengths include marketing & communications strategy, participatory and collaborative facilitation, business development, community engagement, team building, as well as the development of strategic partnerships and programs.

Prior to coming to WeBC, Shauna was an entrepreneur for 22 years. She owned a manufacturing company that created and sold inspirational glass stone magnets globally, and a marketing and communications company that helped small businesses and not-for-profit organizations by offering marketing strategies, project management, team support, and marketing training.

Shauna has been recognized for her leadership and impact. She was named a Woman of Influence by BC Business Magazine; and Business Person of the Year and Top 40 Under 40 by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. She was on the BC Premier’s Women’s Economic Council as an advisor from 2014-2017, and an advisor on the Government of Canada’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy in 2019.

A successful entrepreneur and community economic development leader, Julie is an innovative thinker and can see pieces of a puzzle fitting together to grow opportunities through partnership. As a key community connector, her leadership is sought out for initiatives and projects around the island.

Julie has worked internationally in the hospitality industry and has held management roles in the non-profit, manufacturing and hospitality sectors. Her most recent position was the Executive Director of the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce where served for more than four years Her contributions there have provided entrepreneurs and community organizations to grow their capacity, through guiding successful funding, skills training and investment opportunities. She has also been a studio-based artist and teacher, with a retail gallery and workshop both in Victoria and on Gabriola Island. She has established herself as a successful entrepreneur, having built three businesses as owner/operator, which have all had further success.

 In 2015, Julie transitioned to working for non-profit organizations with a focus on economic development, which combined her management and entrepreneurial experience with her passion for contributing positive impacts to her community. Julie has always been an active member in the communities she has lived in and has been a volunteer and board member for numerous organizations over the past 20 years

In April 2023, Chris was appointed National Director & Program Lead, The Scotiabank Women Initiative, Canadian Banking. In her new role Chris will work with her team and colleagues to help support the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses to pursue their best professional and financial futures by providing unbiased access to capital, tailored solutions, bespoke specialized education and holistic advisory services and mentorship.

Chris has been a proud Scotiabanker for over 30 years, having had a diverse and varied career across Canadian Banking, International Operations and most recently Small Business, where she has held the National Director, Small Business Distribution role for the past 5 years. 

In her most recent role, Chris has been a key partner and advocate of The Scotiabank Women Initiative, supporting awareness and growth of women-owned and women-led businesses. Chris is also an active ally in the community being a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF), a Board Member for the Centre of Entrepreneurship, Conestoga College, and a member of the Retail Performance Allyship Committee. 

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.  She has also completed her Personal Financial Planning (PFP) designation and has an MBA from Dalhousie University. Chris and her husband Steve enjoy hiking, golf and traveling in their spare time.   

Rachael is on a mission to make politics and government more accessible to women in Canada. She is a lawyer, university lecturer, former television and radio personality and long-time political strategist, which makes her uniquely positioned to educate and inspire Canadian women to become more politically involved.  

Rachael holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Victoria and is a lawyer with a Masters of Law (LL.M.) from Osgoode Hall law school in Toronto. She spent years on Parliament Hill in various policy roles for Members of Parliament, Ministers and Senators. Rachael has led political organizations and worked as a campaign strategist on campaigns at all levels of government across Canada.

Rachael also has extensive broadcast experience, having worked as a full-time television contributor for a national Canadian news network. Her radio experience includes Newstalk 1010 in Toronto and CBC in Vancouver.

As one of the most influential social voices in the body confidence space, Sarah brings people together by sharing honestly about her journey of divorce, self-worth, living beyond your body, and love. Her vulnerability resonates with followers globally inspiring them towards radical acceptance in their own life.

As one of the most influential social voices in the body confidence space, Sarah brings people together by sharing honestly about her journey of divorce, self-worth, living beyond your body, and love. Her vulnerability resonates with followers globally inspiring them towards radical acceptance in their own life.

Jen Murtagh has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and non-profit settings, and her career has been guided by heart-centred leadership. She has been recognized as an award-winning C-Suite leader committed to her values. Jen has successfully led national campaigns focused on anti-bullying, vulnerable youth, and gender equity through her work with various women's organizations, raising millions of dollars.

As an ICF accredited leadership coach, Jen supports women to live + lead bravely through her 1:1 coaching, workshops, speaking and signature Brave Leadership for Women group coaching program. In 2021, Jen co-founded Maturn – Canada’s first maternity leave program and is on a mission to turn the motherhood penalty into the motherhood opportunity. Working with individuals and organizations, Maturn helps build inclusive and equitable organizational cultures by supporting mothers throughout the maternity leave lifecycle and through their transition back to work. 

Jen is a Business in Vancouver ‘Forty Under 40’ Award Winner and Greater Vancouver Board of Trade ‘Women of Promise’. As a community champion, she has volunteered thousands of hours for countless charities and in 2017 fulfilled a lifelong dream by travelling to Africa to lead mentoring + goal-setting workshops with her favourite non-profit One Girl Can. Jen is a mother and stepmother to four children and resides in Steveston, BC. 

As the Editor in Chief of Canada’s fastest growing digital publication for news and entertainment, Darcy Matheson oversees daily editorial content in seven North American markets – everything from federal politics and breaking news to food and sports and fashion. 

Before moving over to digital publishing, Darcy was a journalist and broadcaster for CTV News for more than a decade, and launched a weekly consumer news program on the Business News Network. She is the mom of two small boys and pet parent to an extremely naughty terrier.

Follow her on LinkedIn 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcy-matheson-1655855a/

Pasima is the Executive Director and Founder of the Black Women Business Network (BWBN) a professional network organization dedicated to empowering Black women in Canada. The BWBN's mission is to connect, inspire, engage, equip, and advocate for Black women, enabling them to achieve equality, economic advancement, and leadership roles within their communities. In addition to her role at BWBN, Pasima is the co-founder, and CEO of Solid Rock Group (SRG), an international management consulting and professional services firm working with governments, organizations, and private entities in North America and Africa.

 

Pasima's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship is evident through her involvement in various organizations. She serves as a board member for the  Centre For Digital Media,  is a Council Member for entrepreneurship@UBC

and serves as a Coach for alumni UBC leveraging her experience and expertise to mentor and guide UBC alumni.

 

Before establishing SRG and BWBN, Pasima gained significant experience in the field of Information Technology. For 17 years, she worked as an IT professional, Project Manager, and Leader at Chevron Oil and Gas Corporation. During her tenure, she successfully led and managed global, multimillion-dollar technology projects involving diverse, multicultural teams in various locations such as the USA, England, France, and Angola.

 

Pasima Sule's extensive background and expertise make her a highly influential and respected figure within the business, technology, and community empowerment sectors. Her dedication to fostering the success and advancement of Black women, combined with her leadership and entrepreneurial endeavors, showcases her as an inspiring role model and catalyst for positive change.

Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Ashley graduated from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., with a BA in English, a BEd, and an MEd. She taught school for a decade before co-founding Smash + Tess with her mother in 2016.
The idea for Smash + Tess rose out of a Ashley's recognition for an unfilled niche in fashion—a void in the loungewear market. Deciding to fill that void with affordable, stylish, comfortable loungewear, she attended the summer fashion program at Conde Nast in London, UK. Bootstrapping her idea to life,
S+T has grown from two employees to a team of 40+. As CEO, Ashley oversees everything from designing to financial planning to dreaming up fun
and creative marketing campaigns. Under her direction, S+T has grown exponentially in revenue and transnationally in market share and public notoriety. It has grown famous for its celebrity collaborations with the likes of Hilary Duff, Paula Abdul, Jillian Harris, and Sarah Nicole Landry aka The Birds Papaya, and is best known for leading the Romper Revolution- a movement that was born out of clothing that celebrates femininity, strength, style, and comfort in women of all shapes and sizes. Ashley is also committed to giving back. S+T has spearheaded several charitable endeavors, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support organizations like Matriarch Movement, Mamas For Mamas, Marsha P. Johnson Institute and more.
In 2020, Ashley was named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, which recognizes the most outstanding leaders in the country. She also led Smash + Tess through exponential growth, landing the company on The Globe and Mail's Top Growth Companies for the past three years in a row. Ashley is a published author and her children's book, Frankie and the Magical Romper, can be purchased at Chapters Indigo. She is also a celebrated presenter, touring North America to speak on topics including building a successful brand, e-commerce and D2C sales, authentic collaborations, and social media strategy.

As CEO of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Paulina leads a national organization that educates, mentors and connects women entrepreneurs to be wildly successful. Previously she was the Regional Director for Western Canada at Futurpreneur Canada, where she supported hundreds of young entrepreneurs in launching their businesses. A champion of gender equality, Paulina is the author of bestselling Canada 150 Women: conversations with champions, leaders and luminaries; and was the co-founder and president of Young Women in Business.
Believing in empowerment for the next generation, Paulina was a Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Simon Fraser University, and has advised the Government of Canada on Canada’s $800M Youth Employment strategy.
Paulina is the Chair of the Board of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC, and serves on the Board of Directors for YWCA Metro Vancouver and the Government of British Columbia’s Small Business Roundtable. She has been recognized in the community by being awarded as a Globe & Mail Changemaker 2022, Business in Vancouver’s Top Forty under 40 2020, BCBusiness 2019 Most Influential Women in Finance Award, the Vancouver Board of Trade’s inaugural Wendy McDonald Award, The International Alliance for Women Top 100 Award in Washington DC, the KPMG National Leadership Award, and the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards.

Paulina gained her business expertise working at KPMG obtaining the CPA, CA designation.

Areas of expertise:
• Supporting distribution of investment strategies and solutions
• Developing customized asset management programs

Karla is Managing Director and Head of Asset Management Distribution (AMD) for SEI Investments Canada Company. She is responsible for guiding our vision and business strategy for the AMD business in Canada, supporting the distribution of SEI’s investment strategies and solutions and developing customized asset management programs.

With more than 27 years of industry experience, Karla joined SEI in 2006. She previously served as Director of Business Development for AMD and was responsible for managing sales and driving deeper engagement for our strategic partnerships in Canada. Prior to joining SEI, Karla was a Regional Sales Associate with AIM Trimark in Vancouver and began her career at BMO Nesbitt Burns in 1995.
Karla has completed the Canadian Securities Course, Conduct and Practices Handbook, Professional Financial Planning course, the Manitoba Life Insurance and Accident & Sickness course, and holds her Responsible Investment Specialist (RIS) credential.

Important information
Information provided by SEI Investments Canada Company, the investment fund manager and portfolio manager of the SEI Funds in Canada and wholly owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company. Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal.

Pasima is the Executive Director and Founder of the Black Women Business Network (BWBN) a professional network organization dedicated to empowering Black women in Canada. The BWBN's mission is to connect, inspire, engage, equip, and advocate for Black women, enabling them to achieve equality, economic advancement, and leadership roles within their communities. In addition to her role at BWBN, Pasima is the co-founder, and CEO of Solid Rock Group (SRG), an international management consulting and professional services firm working with governments, organizations, and private entities in North America and Africa.

 

Pasima's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship is evident through her involvement in various organizations. She serves as a board member for the  Centre For Digital Media,  is a Council Member for entrepreneurship@UBC

and serves as a Coach for alumni UBC leveraging her experience and expertise to mentor and guide UBC alumni.

 

Before establishing SRG and BWBN, Pasima gained significant experience in the field of Information Technology. For 17 years, she worked as an IT professional, Project Manager, and Leader at Chevron Oil and Gas Corporation. During her tenure, she successfully led and managed global, multimillion-dollar technology projects involving diverse, multicultural teams in various locations such as the USA, England, France, and Angola.

 

Pasima Sule's extensive background and expertise make her a highly influential and respected figure within the business, technology, and community empowerment sectors. Her dedication to fostering the success and advancement of Black women, combined with her leadership and entrepreneurial endeavors, showcases her as an inspiring role model and catalyst for positive change.

Stephanie Sang, CEO of Granted Consulting is known as a 'Grant Angel' across Canada. Since 2011, Granted has supported thousands of clients and generated more than $75 million in grant funding at a success rate of 92%. Stephanie has been invited to speak at numerous industry associations and at various business events across the country to educate entrepreneurs about grants in Canada. She is also CEO of Masked for Work, co-host of a podcast, Serenity Now for Entrepreneurs, board member of BC Food and Beverage, and an investor with the Women's Equity Lab and Coralus.

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesang/ 

Zaida is a Business Advisor with MNP’s Assurance and Accounting team in Duncan. Zaida takes a proactive approach to helping her clients grow and improve their business. She is a part of her clients’ teams throughout the year, communicating with them on a regular basis, and is always available to advise, to ensure they make the right decisions for their business at the right time.

Zaida specializes in helping companies in the food and beverage and real estate and construction industries.

Zaida earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in accounting from Vancouver Island University in 2010. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

Missy MacKintosh: Redefining Beauty with Clean Innovation and Empowerment

Missy MacKintosh is an internationally acclaimed professional makeup artist, renowned for her transformative work that has graced the pages of prestigious publications such as Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, and Daily Mail. With a passion for Disney-inspired creations, she has masterfully brought Disney's iconic villains to life through her artistic vision.

With a solid foundation in her craft, Missy graduated from the esteemed Blanche McDonald Center and Make Up For Ever Academy in Paris, amassing an impressive 16 years of experience in the industry. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with numerous international publications and campaigns, while also honing her skills in cosmetic retailing with renowned brands like Make Up For Ever and Nars. 

Known for her boundless creativity and unwavering pursuit of perfection, Missy continually challenges herself to push the boundaries of conventional makeup techniques. In recent years, she embarked on a new path by exploring the realm of natural cosmetics. Falling in love with their integrity and values, she discovered a void in the market—the lack of natural products that met her professional standards. Determined to bridge this gap, Missy took matters into her own hands.

Drawing upon her expertise and extensive knowledge of cosmetics, Missy devoted considerable time and effort to develop a revolutionary line that elevated the technology and performance of clean cosmetics. Thus, MisMacK Clean Cosmetics was born—a groundbreaking brand tailored for both consumers and professional artists. Maintaining her cherished values of cleanliness, ethical sourcing, environmental consciousness, Canadian production, cruelty-free practices, vegan formulations, and sustainability, Missy collaborated closely with 2 talented Female Canadian Chemist to bring her vision to life.

Behind each product lies the same thought process and perfectionism that Missy brings to her art. However, her passion for makeup extends beyond application and delves into education. She derives immense satisfaction from empowering individuals, helping them grasp the fundamentals, and encouraging them to utilize makeup on their own terms. A mantra she proudly lives by is, "Makeup does not define you; it's merely a tool of empowerment."

Every aspect of MisMacK reflects Missy's meticulous sourcing and thoughtful design, originating from her humble basement in Canoe, BC. However, Missy's ambitions knew no bounds. Even in the face of pandemic-induced challenges, she fearlessly confronted the limitations and expanded her reach by opening two thriving store fronts in British Columbia—in Salmon Arm and Victoria. The authentic and passionate atmosphere of these locations embodies the essence of her brand, capturing the hearts of customers since its inception. And now, with the recent addition of a third store in downtown Kelowna, Missy's influence extends even further.

Missy's mission is to empower individuals through clean, innovative beauty solutions. She believes in lifting each other up, fostering authenticity, and providing education to make beauty approachable for all. By revolutionizing the industry with MisMacK's clean technology and pushing the boundaries of innovation, she inspires confidence, celebrates individuality, and redefines the beauty industry