Taskforce Members
CANADIAN CENTER FOR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
Cathy Cowan, Communications Director, CCFWE
Chair, CCFWE National Task Force for Economic Justice, Finance Sector Committee
As a successful woman entrepreneur and communications expert, Cathy believes passionately in the importance of helping women realize their potential. She began her communications career rising through the ranks at nonprofits and international PR agencies. As founder and President of public relations firm Cowan & Company Communications for more than 15 years, Cathy led integrated communications programs for many of Canada’s top brands, organizations and nonprofits. Now working as a trusted independent consultant, Cathy’s results-focused communications programs have been recognized with numerous awards for innovation and excellence in marketing communications, events, media relations, publications, social media and social responsibility. Cathy earned an MBA from the University of Leicester Management Centre in England and BA in Political Science from Western University.
Niha Shahzad M.A., MPP
Niha Shazad has had a wide-ranging journey, collecting professional expertise in order to make a meaningful impact on the community through policy. She works as an Analyst at Natural Resources Canada in the federal government, analyzing Canada’s energy and environmental issues, while being inclusive of impacts on women, vulnerable peoples and Indigenous communities. Niha has a Master’s degree in English from Queen’s University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Munk School at the University of Toronto. Prior to completing her MPP, Niha spent over four years in marketing and communications for companies like Alterna Savings, TENA’s long term care services, and was a Communications Manager at CertClean, a certification company for clean beauty.
She has also worked at the Behavioural Insights Unit in the Government of Ontario, Niha analyzed the way that behavioural biases impact people’s everyday lives, and how the government can design human-centred and inclusive programs. She continues to cultivate these innovative principles in her federal government role and is determined to use these techniques to create compassionate policies and programs for women and vulnerable communities. She has previously been the Director for the Policy Innovation Initiative at the University of Toronto, managing a team of graduate Analysts, and partnering with government organizations, academic institutions and non-profits to deliver innovative research papers and workshops.
She brings to CCWE the ability to reframe difficult issues, and increase awareness through wide-ranging communications campaigns designed to bring attention to desperate health, environmental and economic struggles.
Michelle Jay is employed as Program Coordinator at the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Her responsibilities include the Council’s annual Purple Ribbon Campaign Against Violence Against Women, which engages a wide spectrum of individuals, community agencies, schools and various levels of government in violence prevention. Organizing the ACSW’s annual International Women’s Day celebration and call to global action is also part of her responsibilities. The Advisory Council works collaboratively with many allies to address gender inequality challenges in PEI.
Over the past 20 years, Michelle has gained a broad range of experience coordinating projects and events within PEI, regionally and nationally. Past commitments have focused on poverty elimination, access to healthy food, housing, employment, and working with newcomers to Canada. She has volunteered with refugees in Guatemala and Mexico, and has long been committed to feminism and the equality of women and gender diverse people.
Janet Dean, MBA, MEd
As a human dynamics workplace consultant for over 20 years, Janet understands the importance of strong female role modelling and mentorship and credits two strong women for helping shape her professional choices. She is committed to paying this forward through her work to influence sustainable societal change. Janet’s educational and experiential background in applied human and organizational behaviour has rounded out her interest in gender-based issues and actioning. Janet is currently with the Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories working on policy, programming and research around gendered issues in the North. Janet is also an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation IBIZ Certified Counsellor and a PMP.
Janet can be reached at janet@nwtwomen.ca
Grace is a Domestic Violence Family Lawyer at Calgary Legal Guidance, and is passionate about women’s empowerment. Though she is a recent call to the Alberta Bar, Grace has practiced in the areas of criminal law, tenancy law, and human rights law. While obtaining her law degree at the University of Calgary, she became a founding member of the Black Law Students Association – U of C chapter, was an active member of the Calgary Women Studying Law Association, and was involved in various Pro Bono projects including those centred around housing rights, prisoners’ rights, and gender discrimination. Grace is committed to using an intersectional approach to all her work, and to advocating for clients in a way that centres their experience and their autonomy.
As the executive director of Sagesse, an organization committed to breaking the cycle of violence for individuals, organizations and communities, Andrea Silverstone works tirelessly to address domestic and sexual violence across Alberta.
Andrea is a Registered Social Worker and Mediator with a background in Judaic/Talmudic Law, having attended Lindenbaum College in Jerusalem and York University in Toronto. She has combined this education background with a desire to stop violence before it begins to create program models and structural policy that elevates untold experiences of domestic violence. Her work has made large impacts in Alberta including implementing a primary prevention initiative to address domestic and sexual violence across Alberta and playing an instrumental role in supporting the Alberta Government to bring the Domestic Violence Disclosure Act to Alberta.
Jen Lawrence, MBA is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach®, CDC Divorce Transition and Recovery Coach™, Certified Divorce Specialist, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professional. She draws on 30 years of experience in corporate training, investment banking, and management consulting. She’s the author of The Designed Divorce: How to Preserve Your Wealth and Peace of Mind in Divorce and Engage the Fox: A Business Fable About Thinking Critically and Motivating Your Team. In her private divorce coaching practice, she helps women facing high net worth, potentially high conflict divorce navigate power imbalances or elements of coercive control. Based in Oakville, she works with clients across Canada and the US.
Sadie Goddard-Durant is an Adjunct Professor and Post-Doctoral Fellow with Professor Andrea Doucet in the Department of Sociology at Brock University. She develops programs and policies grounded in research she does with Black women in Canada and the Caribbean about how they are navigating gendered and racialized daily structures and systems, and what support they need for their wellbeing. In her research-practice, Sadie utilizes qualitative research methodologies informed by Black feminist, trauma, and decolonial frameworks, and provides training for persons in these methodologies. Her current work is shaped by her decade long experience providing psychotherapy in domestic violence shelters, crisis centers and the criminal justice system in North America and the Caribbean to women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence.
Ray Eskritt is an award-winning activist, fighting against poverty and gender-based violence for the past 20 years. She was an invited speaker in 2019 at the North American Basic Income Congress in New York, giving a lecture on use of Social Media to influence social movements. She is currently the Executive Director of St. Matthew’s Harmony House, Ottawa’s only second stage domestic violence shelter, and spends much of her time advocating for a Basic Income and changes to fiscal and social policies that harm low-income families.
She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Winnipeg in 2009. She later returned to the University of Winnipeg to obtain her diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management in 2012. In 2020, Eskritt graduated from Carleton University with her Masters in Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership.
Naomi Sayers is a lawyer and Indigenous feminist, called to the Ontario (2018) and Alberta (2020) bars with nearly a decade of consultation experience. Her law practice focuses primarily on public law, which includes human rights law, education law, administrative law and providing legal advice to other professionals especially on conflict of interest matters. She frequently receives client inquiries and referrals from across Canada and has clients located throughout the province of Ontario. She is presently building her practice in Alberta but is based in Ontario. She operates a primarily digital practice that helps keep pricing competitive while remaining above the technology curve.
Naomi is proud to bring nearly a decade of consulting work to her clients and their files. She has previously provided consultation services to federal, provincial, and regional (municipal) governments. Some of her clients include other non-profit organizations engaging in advocacy work, Native Youth Sexual Health Network, Amnesty International’s International Governing Body and the federal government’s Status of Women, to name a few. Clients generally come to Naomi during times of crises and appreciate her calm demeanor and ability to narrow complex matters down into manageable issues. Naomi is most proud of her to date in providing consulting services to a British Columbia non-profit organization who provides services to the most vulnerable and marginalized women in society, homeless, criminalized and substance users in British Columbia. Naomi is frequently invited by the media to comment on pressing issues and issues of national importance or public interest, ranging regulatory work to human rights commentary.
Laurie Campbell is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top experts in personal finance and as a tireless advocate for consumer awareness and protection. Industry, government, and the news media frequently seek her expertise and laud her commitment to programs and initiatives that are bringing significant positive change to Canada’s financial education landscape. Meanwhile, her contemporaries know her as an innovator leading efforts to develop state-of-the art training tools and outreach programs that continue to set industry benchmarks. In addition, she is esteemed for a professional bearing that combines “a down-to-earth pragmatism with a warm communication style,” according to Canada’s newspaper of record, the Globe and Mail
Laurie Campbell was past CEO of Credit Canada Debt Solutions for over 14 years, the country’s first and most successful not-for-profit credit counselling agency. Since its inception more than 50 years ago, the agency has helped more than two million families and individuals overcome crippling debt and improve their personal money management skills for long-term peace of mind. Under Ms. Campbell’s leadership, the agency also achieved a stellar record championing the cause of financial literacy amongst Canadians at large.
Ms. Campbell is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with a BA major in psychology (and a minor in business). Her studies were well suited to the area of work she has focused on highlighting both business and social challenges.
Ms. Campbell has been very active as a leader in wide scale, ground breaking financial literacy initiatives. Foremost among them is Credit Education Week Canada (CEWC), which launched as an annual national event in 2006 after gaining the generous support of many private/public sector partners. Ms. Campbell’s brainchild also served as inspiration for Canada’s annual Financial Literacy Month, now officially recognized by the Government of Canada. CEWC has hosted hundreds of sponsored activities nationally and int he hub of Toronto.
Further achievements in nation-wide financial education stem from Ms. Campbell’s close association with the Government of Canada. Over a period of seven years, she joined other business leaders for important work administered by the federal Ministry of Finance. Her input as a member of the Federal Financial Literacy Task Force (completed 2011) helped to usher in the Office of Canada’s first Financial Literacy Leader, Jane Rooney, under the aegis of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. Meanwhile, her contributions as a member of the Steering Committee on Financial Literacy (completed 2016) helped to set the framework for Canada’s first national strategy for financial education – including a sweeping new plan called Count Me In, Canada – highlighting more than 50 programs sponsored by the federal government. In terms of consumer advocacy, Ms. Campbell continues to serve as a general advisor to government at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
Ms. Campbell also acted as a member of the FinPay, Finance Canada Payment Consultative Committee (completed 2015). She has lobbied hard for regulatory reforms to help consumers, Including changes to rules governing credit card companies and payday lenders. Additional affiliations include past membership on boards and task forces encompassing: the Financial Literacy Action Group; the National Initiative for Care of the Elderly; the Hydro One Service Champions Advisory Committee; Past President the Credit Association of Toronto; and Habitat for Humanity. The awards Ms. Campbell has received for excellence in her field are many. To name a few: the George Penfold Award for Excellence, the OACCS Award for Contributions to the Development Of Credit Counselling in Ontario, recognition by the Honourable Prime Minister Trudeau for her work on the Financial Literacy Steering Committee, recognition by the Honourable Jim Flaherty for her work on the Federal Financial Literacy Task Force and the CCST President’s Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Li Zhang, is Principal, Corporate Citizenship at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. She manages CPA Canada’s financial literacy program and has been involved since its inception in 2010.
Through CPA Canada’s financial literacy program, Li has overseen the development of 54 unique session topics for 10 audiences, 7 publications, consumer resources and hosts two annual national conferences on financial literacy. She has trained thousands of CPA volunteers across Canada to deliver these programs in their local communities. This program has won 15 international awards as CPA Canada continues to be Canada’s leading financial literacy partner.
Li holds an International Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours, a Master of Business Administration, and is a Project Management Professional. She is an avid scuba diver and a published author. She has lived on three but has visited all seven continents, speaks three languages and has travelled to over 40 countries.
Annick Kwetcheu Gamo is a financial education specialist, financial coach and founder of the non-profit organization Code F., Santé financière pour tous!. Annick is also the founder of Code F. Financial Technologies Inc, a social impact fintech startup.
Annick holds a Master’s degree in Management from Grenoble School of Management (France) and an MBA in International Management from Laval University (Quebec, Canada). She recently completed a Master’s degree in Intelligence and Transformation at Laval University which allowed her to work on the development of a digital platform to improve citizens’ financial health.
In addition, Annick holds certifications from Loma Quebec (Associate Life Management Institute – ALMI) and the Canadian Securities Institute (Investment Funds in Canada; Canadian Securities
Course – CSC). Annick has over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, first in the management of individual and group savings plans, then in wealth and investment management, and now in financial education and coaching.
In addition to her professional experiences, Annick has more than 17 years of social and associative involvement. This involvement has earned her awards and recognitions such as: the role of spokesperson for Black History Month in Quebec City (February 2020); the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada (2020); Le Soleil-Radio-Canada Personality Award (February 2020); and a nomination as finalist for the Femmes d’affaires du Réseau de femmes d’affaires du Québec Award (2020)
To contact Annick Kwetcheu Gamo
Mobile: 418 808 2667
Email: annick@codef.ca
Caitlin Siostrom is a financial services regulatory lawyer (Australian-qualified) and risk and compliance professional. She has extensive experience working in the regulatory regimes of Australia, Europe and Canada, at banks, regulatory bodies and consulting firms. Caitlin is passionate about gender equality and is delighted to be part of CCFWE’s work towards financial equality through the National Taskforce for Women’s Economic Justice.
Outside of the CCFWE, Caitlin is the Chief Privacy Officer for a major Canadian bank and volunteers with non-profit organisations including Times Change Women’s Employment Service, where she sits on the board of directors, and Greenpeace Australia Pacific, where she is a member of the General Assembly.
Millie comes from a unique blend of industry and non-profit experience in providing financial access to low-income Canadians through 15 years of employment with a local credit union and in the current role as Manager of Asset Building Programs at SEED Winnipeg.
As part of the credit union system, Millie worked in various management roles for seven retail branches, process improvement, community financial access programs, and supported the credit union through audit and risk procedures, a four-way credit union merge, banking system conversion and established a student-run credit union for a Winnipeg inner-city high school.
At present, Millie coordinates the delivery of financial empowerment programs through over 100 community agencies by providing on-site services, service provider training, and mentorship. Program interventions include financial literacy and access to banking.
Millie is passionate about serving unbanked/underbanked individuals, strengthening relationships within the community, and supporting financial empowerment for all to build a sustainable future.
Stacy is the CEO for Credit Counselling Canada, a national association and accrediting body for the non-profit credit counselling industry in Canada. She has a master’s degree in Family Ecology, is a professional Coach and a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. Stacy is a passionate and dynamic speaker and facilitator and has over 20 years experience in program development, adult education, and leadership. She has presented at various conferences in Canada and the US and has served on various expert panels. She has a monthly article in Canadian Living, and is called to speak to local, regional, and national media on personal money management. Stacy has co-written two money workbooks and has developed personal finance curriculum for various workshops and webinars. Stacy has served on various committees and taskforces including the National Taskforce for Women’s Economic Justice, Consumer Practices Liaison Committee, Debt Advisory Committee for Consumer Protection BC, and the Advisory Committee for the Vancouver Rent Bank.
Thijiba is the Staff Lawyer at Luke’s Place. She has over a decade of experience working on gender-based violence prevention, trauma informed legal services and racial justice. At Luke’s Place, Thijiba creates legal resources and training for women, family court support workers and lawyers across the province. Before joining Luke’s Place, Thijiba was a private practice lawyer practicing all aspects of estates law, including estate litigation and guardianships as well as family law. She has worked extensively with individuals who have experienced gender-based violence and regularly appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice. Prior to completing her J.D. at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Thijiba completed her Masters of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
