DEVELOPING WOMEN LEADERS
We are a non-denominational, registered charitable organization in Canada. Our purpose is to empower young women, primarily from the Global South, to become the next generation of leaders in their communities. We achieve our purpose by providing scholarships and ongoing personal support to ensure that every student succeeds at university and is equipped to become an outstanding leader.
The biggest gender inequality issues that we face today, such as legal discrimination, unfair social norms and attitudes, decision-making on sexual and reproductive issues and low levels of political participation, are better resolved in societies where women and men are equally educated.
We strongly believe that better education not only gets women out of the cycle of poverty and develops the next generation of women leaders, but also makes them more resilient in vulnerable situations such as economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
By working closely with our on-ground partner in the student’s country of origin and our university partners, we help these young women secure all the funding they require to pursue university programs at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional and PhD levels.
OUR PURPOSE
OUR MISSION
We aim to lift young women, their families and their communities out of the cycle of poverty by igniting a spark of hope. We believe that empowering young women, especially those from countries in turmoil, strengthens local communities and is key to creating long-term transformational change.
OUR VISION
Over the next 10 years, our goal is to support an additional 500 young women leaders to achieve university education, at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional and PhD levels. We’d love your support in making their dreams come true!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors provides governance, oversight and long-term strategic guidance. They bring different external experiences, from a wide variety of fields and with broad business and not-for-profit experience.
Cora Di Pietro is Vice President, Global Trade Consulting at Livingston International, pursuing strategic opportunities to grow the business with clients engaged in international trade, helping them minimize risk and achieve higher levels of regulatory compliance. Highly knowledgeable in all areas of valuation, tariff classification, free trade agreements, security regulations, marking rules, export controls and tax, Cora has played a key role in helping large companies around the world expand their business into international markets. Cora has had several success leadership positions since joined Livingston in 1997, including consulting director for Ontario and head of the eastern region in 2004, responsible for both consulting services and business development.
Prior to Livingston, Cora held progressively senior positions in the area of commodity tax with two major accounting firms.
Cora holds a B.A. from York University in Toronto and is an active member of numerous trade and industry associations while also frequently serving as a speaker and lecturer on global trade.
Meera is the Vice President, Business Process Services at Livingston International, where she is responsible for leading and advancing high-standard customized business outsourcing solutions. Her responsibilities include supplying services to the public and private sector to manage trade programs, contact centers and information and imaging needs.
She previously held leadership roles in Global Project and Portfolio Management and Corporate Development where she was responsible for strategic planning and overall project management for multi-year capital projects. Her experience includes automation opportunities, digital capabilities, regulatory impacts, product expansion, development of service offerings and evaluation of international opportunities. She is an influencer who works across all divisions of Livingston to maximize the company’s return on investments, including a focus on supporting women mentorship programs (formal and informal) and championing diversity and inclusion.
Meera has an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario as well as an HBA in Economics from the University of Toronto.
Shairoz comes with a 25 year progressive career in a variety of leadership roles across teaching/academic and community hospitals in both an adult and pediatric settings at St. Michael’s Hospital, Cancer Care Ontario, Hamilton Health Sciences and currently as Director, Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine at Halton Healthcare.
Having completed her Master’s in Healthcare Quality in 2016, Shairoz has embraced the opportunity to drive quality improvement and best practice across her program areas, and beyond. With a leadership track record, Shairoz has built strategic partnerships within and external to the organizations where she has worked. Shairoz also comes with a strong business and financial acumen. She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a CPA designation. This has helped the hospital manage budgets effectively, develop sound business cases and create value for money. She has held board positions as Chair of the Governance committee and previous to this as Chair of the Finance committee at the Bob Hemp Hospice in Hamilton. She has also contributed as a member on the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences board whose mission is to provide advocacy, support and service for Technologists in Radiation Sciences and Ultrasound.
Adela Mall is Senior Legal Counsel and Governance Officer in the Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat at Toronto Metropolitan University. Adela is responsible for the provision of professional support for the Board of Governors and committees of the Board of Governors. She also provides legal and strategic advice and support in the areas of litigation, internal audits, compliance, and enterprise risk management.
Prior to joining Toronto Metropolitan University, Adela spent five years at the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) as a Professional Development Lawyer, Manager of Professional Development and Policy Lawyer, and Associate Director of Professional Development and Policy Lawyer. Before the OBA, Adela was Acting Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyers Program at the Faculty of Law, the University of Toronto. Prior to that, she was Legal Counsel to the Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182 and Commission Counsel to the Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar. Adela also worked as a consultant with Human Rights Watch, and with the Human Rights Clinic and the Human Rights Institute at Columbia University. She started her legal career at Goodman and Carr LLP.
Adela received her Bachelor of Arts Honours (Political Studies) from Queen’s University (1993), her LL.B from the University of Ottawa (1998) and her LL.M (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar) from Columbia University (2002). She was admitted to the Bar in Ontario in 2000. Adela has her Certificate in Adult Learning and Development from OISE, the University of Toronto (2017) and her Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC.D) designation (2022). Adela is a member of the Council of Ontario Universities, the Canadian Association of University Solicitors, and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Ontario Chapter (Ontario Bar Association) Executive.
Anaar Dhanji is a dual qualified lawyer, admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales and called to the Ontario Bar. She is Assistant General Counsel at Capital One (Canada Branch), leading the Corporate Legal Team in matters related to product, marketing and third party contracting.
Previously, Anaar held progressive operational and business roles at BMO Financial Group. She was Director of Technology and Operations Communications, responsible for the Chief Technology and Operations Officer’s communication strategy. Prior to this, she was Director of Strategy Integration with the North American Retail Payments Group, Director of the Contract Negotiators and Advisory Group, and Senior Counsel, Technology and Operations Legal Group for 11 years where her practice focused on a broad range of technology, outsourcing and procurement contracting matters.
Prior to joining BMO Financial Group, Anaar was in-house counsel at General Motors. She previously practiced corporate/commercial law at the London UK offices of the US firm, Duane Morris LLP before moving to Canada.
Anaar serves as a Director on the Board of Health for All, Family Health Practitioners and is a Committee Member for the Women in Law Leadership. She was formerly Chair of the Aga Khan Council for Ontario’s Economic Planning Board, President and Treasurer of the Canadian Technology Law Association and Chair of the Ontario Legal Professionals Alliance.
Founder and CEO
Narmin Ismail has always been passionate about empowering youth with the skills, experience and aptitudes to become leaders.
In 2014, she decided to tackle the huge funding and accessibility gap at the university level for young women, especially in the Global South in areas of conflict and remote and under-served areas. So she established The Spark of Hope Foundation to provide university-level scholarships to young women with a mission to help develop the next generation of women leaders.
Narmin has a B.A. in Psychology from York University and an M.B.A. from Athabasca University, and is the recipient of multiple awards and honours, including the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.).
Doug has many years of senior business and financial management experience across a diverse range of industries and size of businesses. During his career, Doug has also worked as a consultant to several start-up companies. Currently, Doug is President & CEO at North American Fur Auctions Inc., a private company with operations in Europe, North America and Asia.
Tanneke is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP with a focus on natural resource project development in emerging markets. Tanneke is highly regarded for her expertise and experience in the mining industry where she is recognised as a leading legal advisor. Her extensive experience includes advising on all aspects of the development and financing of mining and other natural resource projects in emerging markets, with an emphasis on African markets.
Sajida Raza, from Chitral in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, completed her medical degree in November 2019. Chitral only has hospitals in very few places, so access to quality healthcare can be limited and it is often cut off from the rest of the world for months during winter.