Leadership Roundtable in Ottawa: September 27th-28th, 2023
The Leadership Roundtable was a two-day conference organized by Imagine Canada for non-profits across the nation and served as a platform for addressing the emerging challenges faced by charitable and non-profit organizations in an ever-changing political and economic landscape.
The event was sponsored by Pear Tree Canada and attended by politicians and stakeholders from various sectors to discuss pertinent issues and share insights. Honorable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development delivered the keynote address, and expressed her enthusiasm for supporting non-profit organizations through government funding. Mark Carney, former Governor of the Central Bank of Canada and England, Chair of Brookfield Asset Management, and Head of Transition Investing, provided insights into Canada’s economy, inflation, and interest rates, emphasizing the likelihood of ongoing trends.
Jennifer Nkem Majeed and Joseph Amaraegbeni attended the roundtable on behalf of Uzima Women Relief Group International. They attended the following workshops “Nonprofits Responding to Emerging Global Trends”, “Achieving Alignment – Facing Change, Influencing Change & Overcoming Resistance” and “Nonprofit Governance – Emergent and Innovative Practices”. They had ample opportunities to meet high profile guests and panellists and network with fellow attendees from nonprofit organizations from across the country.
Panellists David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, Tasha Kheririddin, Author/journalist at The National Post, Zain Veiji, Journalist and former Chief of Staff for Mayor Naheed Nenshi scrutinized the political landscape and its impact on non-profits at the panel discussion “Forecasting the Next 5 Years of Political Activity in Canada. At another panel discussion “Indigenous Sovereignty and Reconciliation in Nonprofit Work”, Sharon Hobenshield, Marc Maracle, and Gabrielle Fayant, shared the challenges faced by Indigenous communities, emphasizing the need for consistent support rather than sporadic year-end donations. The panel debate on “The Future of the Charitable Construct in Canada” featured experts who highlighted the disparities between non-profit worker wages and the cost of living. Attendees were encouraged to advocate for fair wages and government support to sustain non-profit activities effectively.
