Raised in rural Manitoba and based in Winnipeg, Chris is the CGLCC’s Business Development Manager for the Central Region (MB & ON). With over 15 years of experience in multiple businesses – from manufacturing to Northern retail to food delivery technology – Chris has experienced and contributed to change and growth in various industries.

Chris is focused on building relationships and creating value for organizations and communities. His spare time is devoted to his family, including two dogs who do whatever they want.

Pru is a Queer South Asian Business professional and an artist based in Toronto. She holds a MA in Painting and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, with a focus on intersectionality. Her work is inspired by the relationship between her identity, community and equity. Her vision as a creative professional is to work toward bringing together dispersed communities through meaningful engagement and persuasive dialogue.

Pru manages some of the core programs at CGLCC, including Supplier Diversity and OUT for Business. Previous to CGLCC, she worked at Pride at Work Canada, as the Business Development Coordinator and held positions at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and the Toronto International Film Festival.

Sonja Scharf is co-founder and Creative Director of Akasha Art Projects Inc., a leader in the fine art services industry. Founded in 2009, Akasha specializes in comprehensive art services including custom framing, fine art printing, art installation and art project management. Sonja’s visionary leadership propels the company’s creative direction, with its dedication to quality, craftsmanship, and innovation earning a strong reputation and a loyal client base in the residential, interior design, and hospitality markets. 

Tim Morton is the Founder and President of Prompta and Prompta AI, focused leveraging innovative AI-powered solutions for organizational growth. Renowned for driving business transformation globally, Tim is deeply committed to facilitating sustainable change, fostering capabilities, and guiding leaders through disruption. With a rich history of supporting over 35 organizations through diverse transitions, including M&A integrations totaling $32 billion, Tim emphasizes informed data insights and active client engagement throughout transformations, ensuring teams thrive during change.    

Marcos Mena Cruz is the founder of Oleos & Canvas, an online art gallery representing Cuban artists of diverse backgrounds. He has done curatorial work for companies such as Amazon, Pernod Ricard, and is currently gearing up for an exhibit with the city of Toronto to represent Cuban culture. The work he does is to contextualize and tell stories of a perspective from the Global South that has traditionally been overlooked by the Western world. The artists he represents are of a scope including members of the LGBTQ community, along with some of the most established and renown Cuban painters. 

Anneline Breetzke is a seasoned entrepreneur and the driving force behind Digital Seniority, where she has revolutionized digital marketing in the Senior Living & Care industry. With a career spanning over two decades, Anneline has spearheaded transformative projects, including the development of key health systems in South Africa and innovative digital solutions for global brands. Her expertise in strategic marketing and her commitment to excellence have made her a sought-after voice in both the business and digital landscapes.    

With over 5 years in the non-profit sector, Paige brings experience in fundraising and partnership management and a passion for advancing causes that focus on equity and sustainability. She has a BA from Queens and professional experience in communications, tech, and client relationship management.

Maria Solovieva is an Economist at TD Economics where she provides analysis on the Canadian macroeconomy. Her primary research focuses on consumer spending and her commentaries are frequently featured in financial media. She also forecasts Canadian Chartered Banks’ lending and deposit volumes and has developed an expert knowledge on financial intermediation.  Maria first joined TD Economics in 2014 when she became responsible for developing macroeconomic stress scenarios and researching a wide variety of risks to the bank’s financial stability. Maria holds a Master of Finance degree from Queen’s University and she is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder. 

Rachel is a Partner at EY, where she leads the EY Private Assurance practice in Canada. Her expertise lies in guiding entrepreneurial ventures and high-growth entities in various sectors, with an emphasis on the consumer and healthcare industries.  

Rachel also serves as the National Director for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Program in Canada, a program that is at the forefront of celebrating and elevating the nation’s most innovative entrepreneurs. The program is a prestigious platform that recognizes and honors the exceptional individuals who blend passion, resilience, integrity, and expertise to establish enterprises that tackle the most pressing challenges and contribute to a thriving working world. 

Driven by a commitment to nurture the Canadian entrepreneurial landscape, Rachel dedicates herself to honoring transformative leaders and fostering a culture of inclusive entrepreneurship. Her dedication not only acknowledges the achievements of trailblazing entrepreneurs but also inspires a collective pursuit of excellence and innovation within the community. 

Calan Breckon is the Co-Founder and COO of The Bow, a new free queer+ streaming platform coming soon. He’s also the host of “The Business Gay” podcast, talking all about business, marketing, and entrepreneurship with industry leaders and queer+ entrepreneurs which was just nominated for a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award for best LGBTQ+ Podcast. 

Ted is a principal lawyer at Zubas Flett Liberatore Law LLP and represents both employers and employees in all matters of employment law. Ted is committed to delivering collaborative legal solutions for his clients. He combines his passion for the law and problem solving with his education and experience to deliver results to clients with a workplace or human rights issue. Ted makes his client’s issue his to resolve. 

In the community, Ted volunteers his time to represent low-income clients through Pro Bono Ontario, provides pro bono counsel to Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce and is Board President of a Commercial Condominium Corporation. Outside of the firm and courtroom, Ted volunteers at the Toronto Central Skating Club and paddleboards on Lake Temagami. 

Chris Carder is a Serial Entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience in the Digital/Technology Sector and a sought-after Startup Advisor, Investor and Advisory Board Member; having built the largest email marketing services provider in Canada. 

 Chris currently serves as Executive Director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the Schulich School of Business, where he is also an award-winning Adjunct Professor. He is also special advisor to the President of York University on Entrepreneurship. 

  With Schulich, Chris supports a portfolio of more than 200 Student/Alumni companies and is also the Creator of ‘Together’ a flagship partnership with Startup India (Government of India) which has trained more than 1000 young social impact entrepreneurs in India in the past three years. 

   Chris is also known for his work in the public sector, having Co-Created ‘Digital Main Street’ alongside the City of Toronto (which eventually grew to a national program supporting many 1,000’s of small business in Canada). 

 He currently serves as a Venture Partner with Antler Canada; where he provides coaching and network support to our Founders. 

Nicole Davies (weya/she/they) is a mixed-ancestry Saulteaux-Métis (Red River, citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF)) and white Indigenous seed steward, educator, and researcher with a passion for cultural revitalization. She is the Executive Director of Sovereign Seeds, a national Indigenous-led organization dedicated to strengthening Indigenous food sovereignty through cultural education, entrepreneurship programming, and leadership amplification and advocacy with concentrated support for Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ learners and leaders. Nicole carries experience in Indigenous land-led learning, agricultural climate resiliency, and gender justice and is a doctoral student in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia. 

Jade Pichette (they/them) is an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA!) professional based in Tkarón:to/Toronto. Currently, Jade serves as the Director of Programs at Pride at Work Canada, where they work with over 250 large employers across Canada around gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation inclusion. Previously, Jade served as the Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at the ArQuives, the Education Programs Coordinator at Kind Space, and an independent inclusion consultant. They were one of the authors of Transitioning Employers: A survey of policies and practices for trans inclusive workplaces and are the cohost of the Uncovering Belonging Podcast. In their spare time they can be found geeking out over queer, trans, and Norse histories, disability justice, interfaith advocacy, firekeeping, and spending time with their chosen family. 

Curran (he/him) is an experienced leader in the community service sector and a seasoned 2SLGBTQ+ activist. With 15 years of experience in community-driven organizations, stakeholder relations, issues management, program and community development, and advocacy, Curran centres the power of community-based action in his work. Having begun his career in the cooperative housing and community health sectors, he is committed to improving the social and health outcomes of communities who have been marginalized through advocacy and building economic opportunity. 

Currently serving as the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications at the 519, he has held a variety of frontline and leadership roles since he joined the organization in 2016. He is responsible for the 519’s organizational communications, stakeholder and government relations, government and large foundation grants, and works with staff across the organization and external partners to coordinate The 519’s advocacy work. 

Curran has worked on and led a number of advocacy campaigns and is active on issues affecting 2SLGBTQ+ communities as well as neighbourhoods in Toronto’s Downtown East. 

Curran has a BSW from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master’s in Labour Studies from McMaster University. 

Iona Sky (they/them/she/her) is an Indo-Canadian social worker, consultant and educator who has been recognized globally for their insights and innovative leadership. Renowned for their experience, expertise and empathy in organizational and system-change work, Iona always begins the work with a rare combination of humility and confidence to get the job done.  They regularly work in consultation with public and private sector organizations. Iona currently educates the next generation of leaders at the University of Waterloo. To learn more about Iona & I Sky Consulting, please visit www.iskyconsulting.com.