Beyond the business case for diversity

Michael Bach is the founder and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) – a national charitable organization focused on the broad spectrum of diversity within Canada’s workplaces.

Prior to taking on this role he was the National Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for KPMG Canada, a role he created and held for 7 years.

Further, Michael completed a 2 and ½ year secondment as the inaugural Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for KPMG International.

Adil Dhalla is the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Innovation. He was recently named a BALLE Fellow, awarded to local economy leaders who are creating the new economy and was the first Muslim to ever receive the honour. In addition to his role at CSI, he Chairs the Board for the award-winning social enterprise the StopGap Foundation, and also co-founded Camp Reset, the acclaimed summer camp for adults that exists at the intersection of play and wellness. Previous to CSI, Adil worked as a community volunteer for the Obama campaign, helped introduce micro lending technology to rural Tanzanian farmers, and became a pioneer in the mobile video space when he launched My City Lives, a local video platform that had a presence in 250 cities worldwide.

Jennifer Lynn is CEO of Diversity Advantage International, specializing in evidence-based business, talent and workplace solutions. A diversity-inclusion specialist, communications strategist and certified executive & leadership coach, helping leaders establish a culture rooted in Inclusion - Innovation - Impact is the hallmark of her decades of diversity and equity work. She is the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Ontario Volunteer Service Award and the United Way of Canada Chair's Award. DAI's award-winning B.O.L.D. program is a catalyst to accelerate achievement of a new paradigm of leadership diversity in the senior-most positions in all sectors.

With over 20 years of experience, working at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Leigh specializes in assurance services for the insurance and banking industries. Leigh has a broad range of expertise in providing audit and advisory services to the financial service industry.

Passionate about diversity and inclusion, Leigh assumed the role of Chief Inclusion Officer in 2015. In this capacity, she oversees the firm’s vision to foster a fair and inclusive environment that embraces different ideas, perspectives and experiences, and where everyone can develop to their full potential without barriers. Leigh believes that successfully making a difference to the firm’s people, clients and communities relies on leveraging the richness of the diverse talents that we as individuals bring. She is an advocate of PwC’s Women in Leadership program and an active mentor and role model within the firm.

Engaged in her community, Leigh served as a Director for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for 6 years—using her financial expertise in her role as the Board Treasurer and to support and advise the management of the charity. Most recently, she joined the Granite Club Board of Directors. Leigh will bring her financial expertise and board and NPO experience to this board. She is a past Chair to the Advisory Board for PwC’s Charitable Foundation, during which time she guided the management of the Foundation team and the strategic plans, and monitored and evaluated the Foundation’s conduct, directions and results in accordance with the corporate objectives.