Karen Carrington(Host)

An entrepreneur for more than 25 years, Senator Amina Gerba was appointed Independent Senator for Quebec (Rigaud) in July 2021, by the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau.

Originally from Cameroon, she worked for several Canadian companies from 1993 to 1995, focusing on market development in Africa. In 1995, she created her own consulting group, Afrique Expansion Inc., to build bridges between Canada and Africa and to promote business opportunities.

The Honourable Amina Gerba is the founder of the non-profit organization, Forum Afrique Expansion, which has become the most important Canadian meeting platform for business partnerships between African and Canadian decision makers. For more than a quarter of a century, the Honourable Amina Gerba has focused her professional life in promoting economic, commercial and entrepreneurial rapprochement between Canada and Africa. She has travelled to many African countries, organized and participated in several conferences with the same message: the African continent needs Canada and Canada needs Africa.From February 2018 until her appointment as an independent senator to the Parliament of Canada in July 2021, Ms. Gerba was the chair of the board of directors of Entreprendre ici, an organization set up as part of the Governmental Action Plan for Entrepreneurship 2017-2022 in Quebec to support entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diversity in the province. A very socially committed woman, She has served on several boards of directors of public and private organizations, including those of the Université du Québec à Montréal and its executive committee.

Since February 25, 2022, She has been co-chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, which promotes exchanges between African and Canadian parliamentarians, in order to better understand bilateral and multilateral issues.

These multiple entrepreneurial initiatives and social implications have earned her several awards and distinctions, including Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2014, business personality at the Gala
Dynastie and entrepreneur of the year from the Network of African Entrepreneurs and Professionals. A member of the International Women's Forum, Ms. Gerba was ranked among the 25 women of influence in Quebec by the newspaper Les Affaires.

Aline Nizigama is the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canada. Aline is a dynamic, multilingual leader with extensive professional experience working with equity-deserving groups. Her career has instilled in her an in depth understanding of issues affecting francophone and multilingual communities, as well as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities; how these complex issues intersect to produce varying degrees of inequities in the Canadian and global contexts; and how to address such challenges.Aline's background includes management and policy advisor roles in the Ontario public sector, specializing in women's services, affordable housing, feminist solidarity, and intersectionality. She holds a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Toronto and an Honours BA in Health Policy from York University. She also has an executive certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Yale University.

With four years at YWCA Canada's National Office, Aline has in-depth knowledge of the YWCA movement. She also chaired the Board of Directors of Margaret's Housing and Community Support Services, worked with Haguruka Association of Women from Burundi, and contributed to various organizations, including the Canadian Women's Foundation, Munk School, and the Couchiching Institute for Public Affairs.Aline's achievements include her induction into the 2016 Wall of Role Models at the Black Canadian Awards, celebrating Black Canadian community builders and high achievers.

Charmaine Williams is currently serving as Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity for the province of Ontario.

In 2018, Charmaine Williams became the first black woman elected to Brampton City Council. As MPP, she will focus her efforts on making our streets safer, ensuring that families have access to the social and recreational services that they need and want, and advocating for an integrated transportation plan in the region.

Charmaine’s beliefs, values and courage to advocate for people are shaped by her professional and personal experiences. Prior to entering politics, Williams had a 19-year career as a certified Multi-Systemic Therapist, Behavioural Consultant and Counsellor. She has been a voice on behalf of families and children of all ages coping with domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, neglect, trauma and other personal challenges. Charmaine has also worked with several therapeutic programs and organizations like Associated Youth Services of Peel, Youth Substance Abuse Program, Peel Children’s Center and the Reach Out Center for Kids in Peel and the Halton Region.

Dr. Jean Augustine made history as the first Black Woman elected to Canada’s Parliament and served from 1993-2006. Her tenure included distinguished service as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women; Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Her legislative successes include the historic Black History Month Motion; and the ground-breaking Famous Five Motion, which authorized the first and still the only statues on Parliament Hill depicting women - - other than Queen Elizabeth. 

From 2007 to 2015, she served as Ontario’s first-ever Fairness Commissioner.In 2008, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora was launched at York University to help advance education, equity and inclusiveness. Also in her name are a Girls' Leadership Academy in Scarborough; a Centre for Young Women's Empowerment and a municipal park in Etobicoke; a Secondary School in Brampton, and a multi-purpose complex and district park in Vaughan.

A member of the Order of Canada, Order of Ontario and Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Jean Augustine holds honourary doctorates from the universities of McGill, Toronto, York, Windsor, Guelph, Trent and Ryerson; is a senior fellow at Centennial and Massey College; and supports scholarships at George Brown, Centennial and Humber College.

MORE INFO:   https://jeanaugustinecentre.ca/ 

Karen Carrington is an Award-Winning Tal k Show Host, Author, Mental Health Advocate, Certified Life Coach, and Recipient of the 2020 By Blacks Best Canadian Social Media Influencer Award and proud Nominee of the 2022 and 2025 RBC Women of Influence Award.

Featured on CTV News and EverTal k T.V in Hollywood, she inspires audiences by sharing her journey of overcoming adversity with candid  humour, vulnerability, and  authenticity.

Her Amazon best-selling book A Fresh Start allows readers to reflect on their life purpose despite their fears and has been read by thousands as far as the Caribbean, Africa, Japan, Sweden, and France.

Karen Carrington's life mission is to leave the planet a better place than she found it, ensuring everyone felt loved.