Keynote Speakers

Catherine McKenna is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Climate and Nature Solutions and Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. She serves as Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments and founded Women Leading on Climate, where she also hosts a podcast. McKenna advises global organizations including Temasek’s Global Sustainability Advisory Panel and Singapore’s International Advisory Panel on Carbon Credits, and holds academic roles at the London School of Economics and the University of Toronto. A frequent global speaker on climate action and women’s empowerment, she is the author of Run Like a Girl and has been recognized with honors including the Légion d’Honneur.

Dr. Indira Samarasekera, O.C., is a globally recognized metallurgical engineer and former President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Alberta (2005–2015). Known for her groundbreaking work in steel process engineering, she has received numerous honors, including appointment to the Order of Canada and election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Samarasekera serves on several major corporate boards and national advisory panels and is co-host of the podcast She’s Got Nerve, building on her co-authored book Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First.

Kory Wilson (Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla), BSc, JD, is Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and Chair of the BC First Nations Justice Council. With over 20 years of experience across post-secondary education, community development, and the legal profession, she is a leader in governance, education, and advancing Reconciliation. A sought-after speaker and strategist, Wilson is committed to truth-telling, inclusion, and driving systemic change through education, innovation, and courageous conversations that move Reconciliation into action.