Board

Dominique is a fluently bilingual facilitator, consultant, speaker, and coach with over 28 years of experience in leadership coaching. She is the Founder of Obsidian Leadership Development Centre (OLDC), which provides a confidential and supportive space for Black and racialized leaders in Canada. Dominique specializes in helping organizations and individuals navigate change and thrive despite adversity. Her professional journey includes leading high-level consultations across the country on change adaptation, workplace well-being, anti-racism and inclusion, housing insecurity, and gender-based violence. Dominique is known for her ability to foster genuine conversations that build trust and empower leaders and teams to address productivity and wellness issues. In addition to her professional endeavors, she is also a sculptor with work featured in notable locations such as Gatineau City Hall and Parc Toussaint L'Ouverture in Montreal.

Omovigho is a dedicated non-profit program coordinator currently managing multiple programs that support urban Indigenous peoples at the National Association of Friendship Centres. With over 6 years of experience as a liaison officer, Omovigho excels at building professional relationships across diverse sectors to create new business opportunities. Passionate about developing programs and policies that empower members of equity-seeking groups, Omovigho is committed to fostering inclusive and supportive environments. Her previous roles include serving as a Job Developer at the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre and as an Associate Partner/Operations Manager at Cherub Law Office in Nigeria. Omovigho holds a Master of Laws in International Law from the University of Hull, with a focus on human rights, and a Bachelor of Laws from Delta State University, Nigeria. Her extensive skills in human rights, project management, and legal writing, combined with her commitment to equity and inclusion, make her a valuable asset in her field.

Emile is a seasoned consultant and co-founder of Awan & Associates, specializing in customized consulting services that help clients navigate complex organizational changes and drive business transformation. With over 20 years of experience, he has built a reputation for delivering exceptional results in strategy, business and service transformation, operations and process improvement, design and innovation, program management, change management, large ERP implementations, and project delivery. Emile has collaborated with senior executives, board members, and frontline staff across various organizations, including Public Services and Procurement Canada, The Bank of Canada, the Department of National Defense, NAV CANADA, The Library of Parliament, the Royal Canadian Mint, and Export Development Canada. Known for his focus on relationships, innovation, and agility, he excels in coaching leaders and enabling significant business transformation.

Ogonna is a strategic and transformational leader in cloud consulting, renowned for developing robust cloud adoption strategies and driving innovation. With over 8 years of experience as a project/engagement manager, cloud advisory consultant, solutions architect, and team lead, Ogonna demonstrates unparalleled expertise in delivering excellence at every stage. They excel in engaging with C-Level executives to shape enterprise strategies, utilizing a unique blend of technical prowess and business acumen to articulate the cloud's value proposition. Ogonna is adept at navigating complex enterprise challenges, leveraging deep industry knowledge and a keen understanding of ecosystem dynamics to successfully influence and guide clients towards transformative outcomes.

Lisa is the Founder and CEO of Light Your Leadership Inc. and the international bestselling author of Light A Fire In Their Hearts: The Truth About Leadership. With over 25 years of experience in Leadership, Human Resources, and Organizational Development, she is a trusted advisor, coach, and trainer for thousands of leaders and employees across various sectors. Lisa helps high-performing managers and executives shift their mindset to become leaders people love to work with, fostering inclusive and engaging workplaces. Her expertise includes practical leadership training through her Light Your Leadership Program, focusing on compassion, courage, competence, and igniting passion and purpose in leaders. Fluently trilingual in English, French, and Italian, Lisa is dedicated to advancing compassionate, courageous, and competent leadership globally.

Irene is the Founder and CEO of BoXia, a social enterprise specializing in marketing and promoting local, regional, and national organizations, as well as developing educational tools about Canadian heritage and culture. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Irene studied International Studies, Modern Languages, and Business Administration, and completed an international exchange at the National University of Singapore. She is a polyglot fluent in English, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. Irene is passionate about civic engagement and community involvement, actively working with visible minority groups and the Franco-Ontarian community and advocating against racism and systemic discrimination. Her extensive experience includes roles as a recruiter, consultant, and Partner Business Development Manager in the IT industry. Irene's commitment to supporting immigrants and international students is evident through her leadership roles at the University of Ottawa. She has also been involved with various organizations, including AIESEC and the 2021 Citizens’ Assembly for Democratic Expression. Recognized as a leader, she was awarded the "Reconnaissances des femmes et jeunes filles leaders d’Orléans 2024."