Developing the next generation of women leaders

Meera is the Vice President, Enterprise Technology Strategy at Livingston International, where she plays a critical role in shaping and executing an enterprise-wide technology strategy that aligns with long-term business objectives. She is responsible for driving transformative technology initiatives across the company (leveraging emerging technologies), enhancing business intelligence and analytics capabilities, building strategic partnerships, and managing project investment and management.

She previously held leadership roles in Operations, Global Project and Portfolio Management and Corporate Development where responsibilities included driving operational excellence, strategic planning and overall project management for multi-year capital projects. 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 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 brings 25 years of progressive leadership experience in a variety of roles across teaching/academic and community hospitals in both adult and pediatric settings at St. Michael’s Hospital, Cancer Care Ontario, Hamilton Health Sciences and most recently as Director, Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine at Halton Healthcare.

Having completed her master’s degree 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 Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a CPA designation. Her financial and governance experience has helped the organizations she serves manage budgets effectively, develop sound business cases and create value for money. She has held board positions as Chair of the Governance committee and before that 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 Executive Director, Legal and Governance and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Governors in the Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat at Toronto Metropolitan University. Adela leads the provision of professional support for the Board of Governors and committees of the Board and advises on governance matters. She also leads aspects of the legal and compliance function including facilitating the external auditor’s assessment of claims and litigation matters, legislative/regulatory compliance, legal practice management, and the law student program.

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.