The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) has launched a new national initiative to advance the representation of women in leadership roles in Canada’s emerging technology sectors.
Established with funding from the Government of Canada through Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada, the new Advancing Women’s Leadership program provides Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in high-growth sectors with resources to support and diversify their leadership teams.
Through Advancing Women’s Leadership, ICTC will equip 500 businesses in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec to grow their ability to recruit and retain women and non-binary individuals in leadership roles, with the goal of these businesses implementing new policies and practices that address barriers to women’s equality in the workplace.
SMEs play a crucial role in Canada’s digital economy, and diverse leadership is key to driving growth. However, women and marginalized genders are underrepresented in managerial, executive, and board roles across many sectors, limiting perspectives and potential for innovation. Businesses that prioritize building diverse leadership teams have been found to have greater adaptability, helping them to meet the demands of the changing business landscape and giving them an advantage over industry competitors.
ICTC’s new program builds on the success and momentum of ICTC’s Ambassador Program, Pathways to Success initiative, and Changing the Narrative program, which, combined, have worked with over 800 business leaders and over 50 partners across Canada to promote the advancement of women in leadership roles and co-design best practices, policy advice, and processes for the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in leadership positions.
An advisory committee for the new program has been established to provide strategic guidance, expert advice, and support. The committee consists of nine exceptional business leaders who are gender equality champions in their industries:
- Glorie Averbach, Co-Founder & Lead Business Coach, myCEO.ca
- Tricia Hollyer, Chief People Officer, MineSense Technologies
- Andrea Kraj, President, CORE Renewable Energy
- Marcia MacDonald, Principal, Strategic Research Development Consulting
- Tracy Meffen, SVP Alliance Programs, Head of RA and Operations, Genevant Sciences
- Rekha Narang, Director of Partner Technology – Americas Global Partner Solutions, Microsoft
- Colleen Nitta, Director of Marketing and Communications, Svante
- Jeanne Onokoko, President and Executive Director, La Chambre d’affaires des Femmes Entrepreneurs et d’Industry (CHAFEMI)
- Latchmi Raghunanan, Founder & CEO, Maman Biomedical
For more information about the Advancing Women’s Leadership program, including how to get involved, click here.
Funding for Advancing Women’s Leadership is provided by the Government of Canada through Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada.
