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MUSLIMS ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE

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Award Finalists

Woman of the Year

Dahabo Ahmed-Omer

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BLACKNORTH INITIATIVE
Farah Nasser

JOURNALIST, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND BOARD MEMBER, CANADIAN JOURNALISM FOUNDATION
Yasmeen Khan

FOUNDER, THE INTENTIONAL CURRENCY · CO-FOUNDER, MALI INVEST
Zena Chaudhry

FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SAKEENAH CANADA AND SAKEENAH US
Fatima Laher

DEPUTY CHAIR, DELOITTE CANADA & CHILE

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Entrepreneur of the Year

Flordeliza Dayrit

CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, MILO PRODUCTIONS INC.
Robleh Jama

FOUNDER, TOMORROW · CO-CREATOR OF THE SHOP APP
Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf

FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MANZIL
Danish Yusuf

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, ZENSURANCE
Salman Ebrahim

FOUNDER, LUCID CORP

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Professional Excellence Award

Justice Faisal Mirza

ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE, CENTRAL WEST REGION
Farah Khan

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PATIENT CARE SERVICES, TRILLIUM HEALTH PARTNERS
Nadia Malik

AEROSPACE AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION EXECUTIVE, BOMBARDIER
Rizwan Khalfan

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND VICE CHAIR, STRATEGIC GROWTH, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS, TD BANK GROUP
Zahid Fazal

MANAGING PARTNER, ASSURANCE, EY CANADA
Zahid Salman

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GREENSHIELD

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Trailblazer in Science, Research & Technology

Dr. Aadil Ali

VICE PRESIDENT, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAFEROX TECHNOLOGIES
Dr. Baseer Khan

OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND FOUNDER, CLARITY EYE INSTITUTE
Dr. Jibran Khokhar

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR, WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Maha Othman

PROFESSOR, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY · CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST IN HEMOSTASIS
Dr. Ali Ghorbani

PROFESSOR & TIER 1 CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN CYBERSECURITY; FOUNDING DIRECTOR, CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR CYBERSECURITY

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Artist of the Year

Chef Moeen Abuzaid

CHEF, ARBEQUINA · TORONTO
Farkhunda Muhtaj

CAPTAIN, AFGHANISTAN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM · SOCIAL ACTIVIST
Rubaba Mohammadi

PAINTER · FOUNDER, RUBABA ART AND CULTURAL CENTER
Sabreen El Awad

FILMMAKER, POET AND CULTURAL ORGANIZER · FOUNDER, FRAMES OF SUDAN
Tazeen Qayyum

MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST · CO-FOUNDER, ART ADDRESS

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Awards

The objective of MAX Awards is to recognize Muslims who have demonstrated significant achievement, leadership, and commitment to serving their community.

MSF awards well-rounded High school and University students who are eager to make an impact, learn and create. Winners are students who have contributed to their communities and Canada at large, achieved above-average marks and are recognized by their peers, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. MSF is a registered charitable entity, and donors are eligible for a Charitable Tax Receipt.

Mentors

MAX Mentors is a professional mentorship program that connects near-career students with early career mentors and early career professionals with mid-career mentors to catalyze excellence amongst the Canadian Muslim community and help a new generation break glass ceilings.

Business

MAX Business LAB aims to facilitate and encourage the development & success of high performing Muslim decision makers in Business across three core principles:
i. L – Leadership
ii. A – Advisory
iii. B – Professional Training

Women in Leadership

MAX Women In Leadership is a program with a mission to celebrate, inspire and cultivate leadership excellence in Canadian-Muslim women. The program focuses on Recognition, Leadership, and Network & Partnerships, thereby connecting and mobilizing Muslim women across Canada to institute a strong and sustainable network.

MAX Gala

The Annual MAX Gala is an incredible night of celebration that offers a rare glimpse into the skills, talents and cultural strengths of a dynamic community of patriotic Canadian Muslims, whose continued efforts help build a strong workforce, energize the economy, and expand our combined cultural horizons. It represents the culmination of efforts of hundreds of volunteers across a plethora of teams at MAX.

Dahabo Ahmed-Omer

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BLACKNORTH INITIATIVE

Dahabo Ahmed-Omer is an award-winning Canadian executive, nationally recognized community leader, and advocate for equity, governance, and systemic change. She serves as Chief Executive Officer of the BlackNorth Initiative, one of Canada’s leading CEO-led movements dedicated to dismantling anti-Black systemic racism through measurable, business-driven commitments.

As the organization’s inaugural Executive Director and now Chief Executive Officer, Dahabo has helped build and scale BlackNorth Initiative into one of Canada’s most influential corporate accountability platforms. Under her leadership, the organization has engaged leading Canadian corporations representing more than $1 trillion in combined market value and advanced national initiatives focused on leadership representation, workforce development, procurement, community investment, entrepreneurship, education, mentorship, homeownership, and economic mobility.

Dahabo is a trusted advisor to boards, governments, and institutions, with deep expertise in governance, public policy, performance measurement, stakeholder engagement, employment equity, and anti-racism. Prior to joining BlackNorth Initiative, she held progressively senior roles in the federal public service, where she advanced employment equity, diversity, anti-racism, policy development, and organizational transformation initiatives across government.

Her leadership is rooted in a longstanding commitment to community advocacy and institutional accountability. She was a founding member of the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, which advocated for justice and accountability following the death of Abdirahman Abdi, and has contributed to national and local efforts focused on anti-Black racism, policing, education, public policy, and community empowerment.

Her leadership and impact have earned numerous national and international honours, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, The Globe and Mail’s inaugural Business Changemakers Award, recognition as one of the Top Global 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent, Bay Street Bull’s recognition as one of Canada’s Most Influential Women Leaders, the Canada150 Community Builder Award, and the National Council of Canadian Muslims Spotlight 150 Community Award.

Beyond her executive leadership, Dahabo has served as Chair of the Federation of Black Canadians, a Board Member of Ottawa Community Housing, an Advisory Board Member of Willow, and currently serves on the Development Committee of the Royal Ontario Museum.

Farah Nasser

JOURNALIST, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND BOARD MEMBER, CANADIAN JOURNALISM FOUNDATION

Farah Nasser is an award-winning journalist, keynote speaker, and changemaker whose life’s work rests on a single conviction: that the hardest moments can be turned into impact and meaningful change.

For 25 years, Farah was one of Canada’s most trusted voices in news. An Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and national anchor, she sat across from the world’s most powerful figures from prime ministers to industry titans, holding power to account while helping audiences understand what makes people listen, trust, and act.

Then, at the height of that career, she made the courageous decision to step away from the profession she had built from the ground up. At a time when public trust in media was under immense strain, including around coverage of Israel and Palestine, she felt the gap between institutional constraints and her own values becoming impossible to ignore. She continues to champion truth and excellence in journalism as a board member of the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

Today, Farah is one of Canada’s leading voices on the intersection of humanity, leadership and technology. A two-time TEDx speaker, she travels the world helping leaders understand the empathy, trust and moral courage that artificial intelligence will never replace. Farah has moderated high-profile conversations with figures including AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, guest lectured at Harvard University on influence and authentic leadership, and was recently called upon to moderate a high-level debate for the United Nations on the future of the institution.

Farah is a dedicated catalyst for systemic change. She is the co-founder of the Elevate Forum Toronto, a network of forward-thinking leaders and executives committed to creating sustainable, large-scale impact. Her passion is elevating human rights for women and girls, reflected in her role as an Ambassador for Plan International Canada.

A defining hallmark of Farah’s leadership is her extraordinary ability to transform complex challenges into meaningful, real-world results. After sharing a candid video about her own breast cancer diagnosis, hundreds of women booked mammograms that may have saved lives. When an AI chatbot exposed her own children to sexually explicit content, Farah refused to stay quiet: her commentary on AI safety for kids reached millions of people and helped spark a movement that shaped Canadian policy to protect children online.

From the anchor desk to the front lines of advocacy, Farah Nasser meets every challenge the same way — with honesty, courage, humility and an unshakeable belief in using her platform in service of others.

Yasmeen Khan

FOUNDER, THE INTENTIONAL CURRENCY · CO-FOUNDER, MALI INVEST

Yasmeen Khan is the Founder and CEO of The Intentional Currency, one of the leading financial literacy platforms dedicated to Muslim women, and Co-Founder of Mali Invest, a financial literacy app designed to help Muslim women build wealth with confidence and clarity.

With a background in banking and finance, Yasmeen has helped thousands of women navigate budgeting, investing, homeownership, and long-term wealth building while staying aligned with their faith and values. Her work focuses on making financial literacy accessible, practical, and empowering for Muslim women around the world.

After overcoming significant personal and financial challenges herself — including inheriting debt at a young age and later rebuilding as a single mother of three — Yasmeen has become a leading voice in Muslim women’s financial education. Through her programs, content, speaking engagements, and community initiatives, she is helping shape a future where more Muslim women have the knowledge, confidence, and resources to make informed financial decisions.

Today, her work reaches women in more than 80 countries and has inspired thousands to view wealth not simply as personal success, but as a tool for service, leadership, and lasting impact within their families and communities.

Zena Chaudhry

FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SAKEENAH CANADA AND SAKEENAH US

Zena Chaudhry is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sakeenah Canada and Sakeenah US, organizations dedicated to supporting women, children, and families through shelter services, advocacy, education, and community-based programming. Holding a Master of Laws degree, Zena has spent more than a decade championing gender equity, social justice, and community empowerment, creating innovative initiatives that address critical gaps in support services for vulnerable populations. Under her leadership, Sakeenah has grown into a nationally recognized organization that has transformed the lives of tens of thousands across Canada and beyond.

A respected advocate, mentor, and changemaker, Zena is widely recognized for her commitment to building safer, more inclusive communities and for empowering women to achieve their full potential. Her contributions have earned numerous accolades, including recognition from the Canadian Council of Muslim Women’s Women Who Inspire Awards. Through her vision, compassion, and unwavering dedication to service, Zena continues to inspire positive change and exemplify excellence in community leadership.

Fatima Laher

DEPUTY CHAIR, DELOITTE CANADA & CHILE

Fatima Laher’s career began in a place that offered her very little and asked a great deal of her. She grew up in South Africa under apartheid, educated in a segregated school system until a scholarship took her to St. Andrew’s School for Girls, where she was one of five students of colour in an all-white school. After completing her degrees, she joined Deloitte in Johannesburg in 1989 — the beginning of a career that would span 39 years, three countries, and three tax jurisdictions.

She is currently the Deputy Chair of Deloitte Canada & Chile, the most senior governance officer below the Chair of a firm with revenues exceeding $4 billion and more than 17,000 professionals. In that role she chaired the Governance and Succession Committee, leading CEO and Chair performance evaluation and succession planning, and co-chaired the Finance, Investment and Capital Committee. Along the way she led Deloitte Canada’s national tax strategy, was appointed globally to lead tax innovation across member firms, and built a national cross-border tax and executive compensation practice. She was named a Top 10 Female Tax Partner in Canada for six consecutive years and a Top 10 Inspirational Partner for seven.

Titles, though, are the least interesting thing about her.

What has defined Fatima’s leadership is a conviction rooted in her own experience: that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. “I know what it feels like to be underestimated and overlooked,” she has said. “I also know what it feels like to be seen for my potential.” Her answer has been to spend decades opening doors for others: mentoring and sponsoring women and racialized professionals, insisting that organizations look inward at the talent already in front of them, and pressing for diversity to be treated as a strategic imperative rather than a gesture. She has been candid about the pressure of representation, and equally candid that the remedy is simple: more voices at the table.

That commitment continues in her community work. She has served on the boards of the IDRF (International Development and Relief Fund), the National Ballet of Canada, and the Loran Scholars Foundation. She holds the ICD.D designation from Rotman, a Corporate Directors Certificate from Harvard Business School, and a Master’s in Taxation, and is a published author, guest lecturer, and international speaker.

Her own summary of a life’s work is characteristically brief: “Success is not about competition, it is about contribution. We measure our success not by what we achieve for ourselves, but by how we contribute to the success of others.”

Flordeliza Dayrit

CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, MILO PRODUCTIONS INC.

Flordeliza Dayrit is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Milo Productions Inc., an award-winning content studio creating globally marketable children’s entertainment that celebrates diverse cultures and underrepresented stories.

A visionary entrepreneur, Flordeliza has spent more than 20 years building media ventures that combine commercial success with social impact. Under her leadership, Milo Productions has developed internationally distributed content reaching audiences across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She co-wrote and directed Time Hoppers: The Silk Road, a 3D animated feature released in more than 1,600 theatres worldwide, achieving Top 10 Global Box Office status before continuing its success on streaming platforms.

Driven by a mission to create world-class family entertainment, Flordeliza has produced over 50 television series, created the YouTube hit Hurray for Baba Ali with more than 30 million views, and continues to develop globally scalable intellectual property that educates, entertains, and inspires the next generation. She is a Netflix Diversity of Voices Fellow, a Banff SPARKS Upcoming Women in Media recipient, and has been recognized in The Muslim 500 as one of the world’s most influential Muslims.

Robleh Jama

FOUNDER, TOMORROW · CO-CREATOR OF THE SHOP APP

Robleh Jama is a founder, investor, and community builder based in Toronto. His career started with a simple decision: when the iPhone launched, instead of just downloading apps, he started making them. That led to Tiny Hearts, an award-winning mobile product studio whose apps reached millions of people around the world and earned recognition from Wired, The New York Times, and a feature in an Apple commercial. Shopify acquired the company in 2016, and Robleh went on to serve as Director of Product, where he co-created the Shop app, a platform now used by more than 100 million people worldwide.

Today he’s building again. Robleh runs Tomorrow, an AI product studio building video tools on a simple belief: as AI floods the world with generated content, real human presence becomes the most valuable thing you can offer.

Just as important as what he builds is who he builds with. Robleh runs Build Future, one of Canada’s top AI communities, bringing together founders and builders across the country. Through United Builders, his micro-grant program, he practices what he calls belief capital: betting early on young builders, before anyone else does. He believes great ideas can come from anywhere, and his work is proof that betting on yourself compounds.

Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf

FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MANZIL

Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf is the Founder and CEO of Manzil, North America’s leading Islamic finance company. Manzil offers a comprehensive suite of Shariah-compliant financial products including mortgages, investments, wealth management, and real estate services across Canada and the United States, with over $250 million in assets under management.

Dr. Sawwaf founded Manzil in 2017 after identifying a critical gap in the Canadian market for ethical, faith-aligned home financing. Under his leadership, Manzil has grown into a pioneering force in Islamic finance in North America, developing platforms that serve Muslim Canadians and Americans who have long been underserved by conventional financial institutions.

A tireless advocate for policy reform, Dr. Sawwaf has been at the forefront of halal mortgage legislation in Canada, playing a central role in the Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 halal mortgage consultation and delivering remarks at Queen’s Park in support of expanded access to Murabaha and Musharaka financing structures for Ontario’s Muslim community.

He is also a prominent figure in Canadian trade and diplomacy. As former Chair of the Canada-Arab Business Council, one of Canada’s longest-standing bilateral trade organizations with over 40 years of history, he has cultivated deep relationships with ambassadors, ministers, and senior government officials across Canada and the Arab world.

Dr. Sawwaf holds a Doctorate in Islamic Finance from Henley Business School, an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and an MSc in Corporate Governance.

Danish Yusuf

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, ZENSURANCE

Danish Yusuf is the CEO and co-founder of Zensurance, Canada’s leading insurtech for small business coverage. Since founding the company in Toronto in 2016, Danish has grown Zensurance into a team of over 350 people serving small businesses nationwide through a network of more than 50 insurance carriers.

Before Zensurance, Danish led digital insurance strategy work at McKinsey & Company, advising insurers globally, and earlier built software as an architect and developer at IBM Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Salman Ebrahim

FOUNDER, LUCID CORP

Salman Ebrahim is the founder of Lucid Corp and a visionary leader committed to transforming the future of sustainable packaging. With more than two decades of cross-industry experience, he has built his career around challenging convention, driving innovation, and demonstrating that environmental responsibility and commercial success can go hand in hand.

Under Salman’s leadership, Lucid has become a recognized North American leader in custom PET food packaging, delivering high-performance, 100% recyclable solutions that help global brands reduce waste without compromising quality or performance. His forward-thinking approach has positioned the company at the forefront of the transition, where packaging is designed not only for today’s needs but for tomorrow’s world.

Driven by a deep commitment to integrity, innovation, and long-term impact, Salman is leading more than a company — he is advancing a vision for an industry where sustainable packaging is the standard, not the exception. Through bold thinking, advancing technology, strategic partnerships, and a relentless focus on continuous improvement, he is helping redefine what is possible for plastics while creating lasting value for customers, communities, and the planet.

Justice Faisal Mirza

ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE, CENTRAL WEST REGION

Justice Faisal Mirza serves at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Central West Region. Prior to being appointed to the judiciary, he practiced trial and appellate litigation for twenty years in the areas of criminal, constitutional and regulatory law. He frequently argued leading cases at the Ontario Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.

He also served as a member of the National Security Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), which provides the Government of Canada with independent accountability of national security and intelligence activities.

He is an Adjunct Professor at both the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, co-teaching Sentencing, and at Osgoode Hall, co-teaching Advanced Criminal Law. He is also an Instructor in National Security and the Law at the University of Toronto Political Science Department. He is the author of Criminal Jury Charge Practice and several articles about criminal procedure and sentencing.

He is a co-founder of the Sentencing and Parole Project, which addresses anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system. He was a Director of The Advocates’ Society, which partnered with the Court of Appeal to establish the Advocacy Skills Training Series for members of diversity associations. He served as Past President of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association and co-founded the Muslim Legal Support Centre, and contributes to education initiatives with the South Asian Bar Association, Criminal Lawyers Association, and Lincoln Alexander School of Law.

He was granted the Ontario Bar Association Award in Criminal Law, was consistently recognized by Best Lawyers magazine as one of Canada’s leading appellate lawyers, and was granted the Diversity Award by the South Asian Bar Association. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto (B.A. and M.A.) and Osgoode Hall (LL.B.).

Farah Khan

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PATIENT CARE SERVICES, TRILLIUM HEALTH PARTNERS

Farah Khan is a registered nurse by training and is the first hijab-wearing Executive Member and Senior Vice President in Patient Care Services at Trillium Health Partners, Canada’s largest academic community hospital. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and has held many progressive leadership roles in clinical operations, regional planning, and administration.

A passionate champion of quality and person-centered care, she has an extensive track record of achieving results and developing high performing teams. Farah is a local and provincial award winner for many of the accomplishments she has led, including the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario’s President’s Award for Leadership in Clinical Nursing Practice, and Mayor Crombie’s City of Mississauga CIVIC Award for her work in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farah was the first hijab-wearing member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Nurses Association in 2023. She is also Chair of the Quality Committee of the Board for the Meighen Health Centre, a long-term care facility in Toronto, and a Board member of the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario.

Farah is an Adjunct Lecturer with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto, serving as a preceptor and mentor to numerous leaders and Advanced Practice Nurses, and was named by the Faculty as a 2024 Arbor Award recipient in recognition of her outstanding volunteer service to the University. In 2025, Farah was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing, considered the highest honour for nurse leaders in Canada, in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the profession of nursing and for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care.

Nadia Malik

AEROSPACE AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION EXECUTIVE, BOMBARDIER

Nadia Malik is a recognized aerospace and business transformation executive with more than 20 years of leadership at Bombardier, where she has driven strategic growth, operational excellence, and enterprise transformation. Known for combining deep operational expertise with a forward-looking vision for digital innovation, AI, customer experience, and supplier transformation, she has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the industry’s most significant aircraft programs.

Her accomplishments span the full aircraft lifecycle, from the definition, launch, and early design engineering phases of the record-setting Global 7500 to the certification and entry-into-service of the first Challenger 350, Challenger 650, and Global 6500 aircraft, as well as providing in-service propulsion support for the Challenger and Global fleets. She has also led complex manufacturing, quality, and supply chain transformations, including the transfer of parts and assembly operations to Mexico and the successful integration of Bombardier’s wing manufacturing and quality operations in Red Oak, Texas. In addition, Nadia has spearheaded business transformation initiatives that generated more than $400 million in enterprise value.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Nadia is a passionate advocate for community impact. She co-founded Conquer COVID-19, helping mobilize one of Canada’s largest community-led pandemic relief efforts, and serves on numerous boards and advisory councils, including Make-A-Wish Canada and the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation.

Nadia believes people achieve their greatest potential when they can bring their authentic selves to work. She is committed to fostering cultures that inspire belonging, innovation, and high performance.

Rizwan Khalfan

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND VICE CHAIR, STRATEGIC GROWTH, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS, TD BANK GROUP

Rizwan Khalfan stands at the forefront of innovation as Executive Vice President and Vice Chair, Strategic Growth, Innovation & Partnerships at TD Bank Group. In this enterprise-wide role, he advances TD’s strategic growth agenda by strengthening innovation, deepening strategic partnerships, and connecting capabilities across the Bank to accelerate business transformation and create long-term value for clients, colleagues and shareholders.

Prior to his current role, Rizwan served as Executive Vice President, Canadian Personal Banking Digital, where he led Canadian Personal Banking’s digital strategy across customer journeys, platforms and capabilities. Under his leadership, TD delivered integrated digital experiences that contributed to the Bank’s #1 ranking in Mobile Banking Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power. Earlier, as Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Payments Officer, he led TD’s enterprise digital, innovation and payments strategy, including advancing the Bank’s AI capabilities through the acquisition of Layer 6 and strengthening partnerships across the fintech ecosystem.

Over nearly 25 years at TD, Rizwan has built a reputation for translating emerging technologies into business outcomes by connecting technology, strategy and execution. His holistic approach and forward-thinking mindset have earned him great respect as a leader in the North American community.

Beyond TD, Rizwan serves on the boards of Flybits and Electric Mind, and formerly served on the Board of Akoya and Elevate, Canada’s largest technology and innovation conference. His involvement with the Council for Inclusive Leadership Against Racism (CILAR) exemplifies his dedication to creating equitable spaces in technology and beyond, and his presidency at the Jaffari Community Centre reflects his influence in one of the region’s largest cultural community hubs.

Prior to his current executive roles, Rizwan held senior technology leadership positions across TD, including Chief Information Officer for several business segments. Before joining TD, he held senior technology leadership roles at Citigroup, where he led operations and technology across Europe.

Zahid Fazal

MANAGING PARTNER, ASSURANCE, EY CANADA

Zahid Fazal is EY Canada’s Managing Partner for Assurance services and a member of both EY’s Canadian Executive Committee and EY’s Global Assurance Executive Committee. He has led many multinational accounts, working closely with teams in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, South Africa, India and Asia Pacific countries, and has coordinated numerous tax, advisory and transaction services globally.

He brings over 29 years of audit experience with a proven track record for leading complex public and private clients with global operations, serving clients in the mining, aerospace, shipping, manufacturing, mobility, and technology sectors. He has extensive experience with clients reporting under IFRS, US GAAP and ASPE, auditing internal controls over financial reporting, and assisting in Canadian and US public offerings and regulatory reporting requirements with the TSX, ASX and SEC.

Zahid previously led EY’s Canadian Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility industry team, which includes Transportation, Aerospace and Defence, Industrial Products, Chemical Products, and Mobility sub-sectors, and was the leader for the mining and commodity industry for Eastern Canada from 2010 to 2018. He also led EY Canada’s digital and data analytics strategy, transforming the assurance practice through the use of technology and advising clients on the automation of their processes.

An advisor to the C-suite and to boards, Zahid regularly shares trends and provides ongoing advice on transformation, sustainability, emerging technologies, governance, enterprise risk management, and long-term value creation.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and is an FCPA, CA (Canada) and CPA (Illinois).

Zahid Salman

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GREENSHIELD

Zahid Salman joined GreenShield as President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2018 and has led its transformation into Canada’s first “payer-provider” — a health care and insurance organization that integrates coverage and care to deliver a differentiated value proposition to its clients.

Uniquely structured as a non-profit, GreenShield reinvests 15 to 20 per cent of its pre-tax earnings and leverages its capabilities to improve health outcomes for communities often underserved by traditional health and benefits systems, all in service of its social mission of Better Health for All. Under Zahid’s leadership, GreenShield has grown more than 2.5 times and now serves eight million Canadians.

Zahid has over 30 years of experience, including executive positions at various international firms. His position at GreenShield, for which he has been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired CEOs, reflects a leadership approach that integrates strong business and financial performance with measurable social impact. He is an actuary who has earned Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) designations. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and has obtained his ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Zahid currently serves on various boards within the GreenShield group of companies, is a member of the Business Council of Canada, and sits on Catalyst Canada’s Advisory Board. He has also served in leadership roles on several not-for-profit boards, including the Alzheimer’s Society of York Region, the York Region Children’s Aid Society, and the Saint Elizabeth Healthcare Foundation.

Dr. Aadil Ali

VICE PRESIDENT, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAFEROX TECHNOLOGIES

Dr. Aadil Ali’s work has transformed the field of organ preservation through the development and global adoption of 10°C preservation. He completed his PhD at the University of Toronto within the world-renowned Toronto Lung Transplant Program, where the team challenged decades of reliance on traditional ice storage and established the scientific foundation for 10°C organ preservation.

During his doctoral training, Dr. Ali demonstrated that preserving donor organs at 10°C optimally balances metabolic suppression with maintenance of cellular function, enabling substantially longer preservation times while reducing preservation-related injury. Historically, donor lungs preserved on ice were generally limited to 6–8 hours of preservation. Through a series of pioneering preclinical and clinical studies, Dr. Ali established the evidence demonstrating that 10°C preservation can safely extend this window beyond 24 hours. His research helped make overnight transplantation largely avoidable, enabled organs to be recovered from greater geographic distances, and introduced a more semi-elective approach to transplantation. As first author, he published landmark studies in Science Translational Medicine, NEJM Evidence, and The Lancet eBioMedicine.

Dr. Ali played a leading role in the development and clinical translation of the X°Port Lung Preservation System, the first FDA-cleared medical device designed to enable 10°C lung preservation. As Vice President of Clinical Development at Traferox Technologies, he has helped guide the technology from laboratory discovery to regulatory approval and widespread clinical adoption. Today, the technology is used as a standard of care in numerous high-volume lung transplant programs.

In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Ali was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Healthcare list and the Canada Life Sciences Top 20 Under 40 list. Beyond advancing organ preservation technology, he has contributed to national guidelines in organ donation and transplantation, authored multiple book chapters on organ preservation, and received numerous national and international distinctions.

Dr. Baseer Khan

OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND FOUNDER, CLARITY EYE INSTITUTE

Dr. Baseer Khan is a Canadian ophthalmologist, surgeon-scientist, and entrepreneur whose career sits at the intersection of clinical excellence, medical innovation, and community service.

After graduating as the top surgical resident in the University of Toronto’s ophthalmology program, Dr. Khan completed a fellowship in Glaucoma and Complex Anterior Segment Surgery before sub-specializing in complex anterior segment reconstruction and glaucoma surgery. He currently serves as Regional Chief of Ophthalmology for York Region, Site Chief at Southlake Regional Hospital, and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto.

In 2009, Dr. Khan founded Clarity Eye Institute from a single office in Scarborough. Today, Clarity is the largest ophthalmic group in Ontario — 10 locations across the GTA, over 40 eye care professionals, and a platform that has redefined how Canadians access surgical eye care. Along the way, he pioneered Ontario’s private ophthalmology market, launched the Lumea laser vision brand, built a proprietary ERP/EMR system, and has been instrumental in introducing several first-in-Canada ophthalmic technologies.

A globally recognized key opinion leader, Dr. Khan consults for Bausch + Lomb, Zeiss, and RxSight, has served as Principal Investigator on multiple clinical trials, and is an invited author in several major ophthalmic textbooks including Yanoff & Duker Ophthalmology and The Glaucoma Book. He has designed surgical instruments bearing his name — the Khan Dissector and Khan Crescent Blade — used by ophthalmologists internationally. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Stroma Medical and Ceyeber.

His commitment to service extends far beyond the clinic. Beginning with surgical missions to Vietnam with Surgical Eye Expeditions International, Dr. Khan has sustained a global humanitarian vision practice spanning nearly 20 years. He now serves as Lead Ophthalmologist for IMANA’s ophthalmology program, through which he has established eye camps in Jordan and Lebanon, restoring and preserving sight for underserved communities.

A lifelong learner, he completed the Kellogg Physician CEO Program, co-founded the SMART Program at Schulich School of Business, and became the first physician in Ontario to earn a Master of Finance from Queen’s University. He was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal by the Premier’s office for outstanding contributions to the province. Dr. Khan is a husband and father of four sons.

Dr. Jibran Khokhar

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR, WESTERN UNIVERSITY

Dr. Jibran Khokhar is an internationally recognized neuroscientist and Associate Professor at Western University whose research is transforming our understanding of addiction and mental health. As Canada Research Chair in Translational Neuropsychopharmacology, he leads innovative research that bridges fundamental neuroscience with real-world solutions for substance use disorders. He also serves as Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction Institute Advisory Board, helping shape Canada’s national research priorities in brain and mental health.

Dr. Khokhar’s contributions have earned national and international recognition, including the Ontario Early Researcher Award, the International Cannabinoid Research Society William A. Devane Early Career Investigator Award, the College on Problems of Drug Dependence Joseph Cochin Young Investigator Award, and the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology Young Investigator Award. He has published more than 90 peer-reviewed scientific papers in leading journals, including Nature Neuroscience, Molecular Psychiatry, and Neuropsychopharmacology, and has secured nearly $12 million in competitive research funding.

A strong advocate for equitable science, Dr. Khokhar develops open-source neuroscience technologies that make advanced research tools accessible to laboratories around the world, particularly in low-resource settings. This work has been recognized with innovation awards from the Society for Social Neuroscience and the Research Society on Alcohol.

Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Khokhar is committed to mentorship, public engagement, and community service. He is a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute, and contributes to education, leadership, and community outreach as a khateeb and speaker in London and Southern Ontario.

Dr. Maha Othman

PROFESSOR, QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY · CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST IN HEMOSTASIS

Internationally recognized for advancing the diagnosis and management of bleeding and clotting disorders, Dr. Maha Othman has built a distinguished career spanning scientific innovation, clinical care, education, and global leadership. Through pioneering research, laboratory innovation, and mentorship, she has improved patient care while inspiring the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals.

A Professor at Queen’s University and Professor in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at St. Lawrence College, Dr. Othman combines clinical expertise with scientific leadership to advance laboratory diagnostics and improve the care of patients with thrombosis and bleeding disorders. She leads internationally recognized research spanning rare bleeding and platelet disorders, cancer-associated thrombosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, pregnancy-associated coagulopathies, and precision diagnostics, with more than 140 peer-reviewed publications influencing research, clinical practice, and patient care worldwide.

A respected international leader, Dr. Othman serves as Chair of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Scientific and Standardization Committee on Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and previously chaired the ISTH Women’s Health Committee. She is also a Director of the International Society for Laboratory Hematology and Co-Lead of Basic and Translational Research for CanVECTOR. She is Editor-in-Chief of Current Opinion in Hematology and Senior Editor of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis.

An award-winning researcher, educator, and mentor, Dr. Othman has received numerous national and international honours, including the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Award of Excellence, the Eberhard F. Mammen Article Award, and the Jessenius Distinguished Lectureship Award. Over more than two decades, she has mentored students, trainees, and early-career investigators across Canada and internationally while championing the advancement of women in science.

Beyond academia, Dr. Othman mentors internationally trained healthcare professionals entering the Canadian workforce and serves on the Board of Directors of Kingston Community Health Centres. Having built her career across Egypt, the United Kingdom, and Canada, she brings a global perspective to science, education, and healthcare.

Dr. Ali Ghorbani

PROFESSOR & TIER 1 CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN CYBERSECURITY; FOUNDING DIRECTOR, CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR CYBERSECURITY

Dr. Ghorbani has dedicated the past 44 years to serving in various academic roles. He is a Professor of Computer Science, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity, a co-founder and former scientific director of the National Cybersecurity Consortium, and the founding director of the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, which he established in 2016. Between 2008 and 2017, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of New Brunswick.

Dr. Ghorbani has co-invented four awarded patents and filed one more, and has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles during his career. He has supervised more than 250 research associates, postdoctoral fellows, and students. His book, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems: Concepts and Techniques, was published by Springer in October 2010. He has developed several technologies adopted by high-tech companies and co-founded three startups — Sentrant Security, EyesOver Technologies, and Cydarien Security — in 2013, 2015, and 2019. His contributions to the success of Q1 Labs Inc. and its QRadar technology have been featured in the book Unicorn in the Woods by Gordon Pitts (2020).

Dr. Ghorbani co-founded the UNB–NRC Cybersecurity Collaboration Consortium, the National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC), and the Privacy, Security, Trust (PST) Network and its annual international conference. He served as co-Editor-in-Chief of Computational Intelligence: An International Journal (2007–2017), was a vice-president of CACS/AIC, and sat on both the CIPS PSAC and the NSERC Safety and Security Committee. He currently serves on Statistics Canada’s Advisory Council on Ethics and Modernization of Microdata Access and on the Advisory Board of the Canadian Police College.

In 2017, Dr. Ghorbani received the Startup Canada Senior Entrepreneur Award. He was later recognized as one of the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2019 by Canadian Immigrant magazine. In 2022, he was profiled in Mark Bulgutch’s Forty Brilliant Canadians and Their Vision for the Nation, and in 2023 he was featured in Pioneers on the Information Highway: A History of Information Technology at UNB 1958–2008. In 2024 and 2025, he received Lifetime Achievement Awards from CAIAC and the Canadian Computer Science Association (CS-CAN/INFO-CAN), respectively.

Chef Moeen Abuzaid

CHEF, ARBEQUINA · TORONTO

Considered a pioneer of elevated Arabic cuisine, Chef Moeen Abuzaid always imagined bringing his craft to the global stage. Taking a leap of faith, with only a few words of English, he moved from Amman, Jordan to New York City in 2009 in pursuit of his dreams.

“I became a chef by accident. It’s true. I grew up in Jabal Al Taj, Jordan, just a short drive from Al-Wehdat refugee camp, where my mother, from al-Lydd, and my father, from Yaffa, lived as refugees.”

Moeen discovered his passion for the culinary arts and ingredients at a very young age, beginning his journey at eighteen years old working in some of the most renowned hotels in Jordan. In 2009, his desire to be known for elevated Arabic cuisine brought him to New York City. Amid the city’s vibrant food scene, Moeen worked alongside some of the globe’s most illustrious chefs, expanding his palate and discovering new ingredients. This melting pot of culinary innovation became his playground, where he started infusing diverse flavours into traditional Arabic favourites.

Over more than a decade, he collaborated with world-renowned chefs, each partnership adding a new layer to his culinary repertoire. His relentless pursuit of excellence led to the conceptualization and successful launch of his NYC pop-up, “The Broken English,” which quickly became a sensation.

Chef Moeen’s path brought him to Toronto in 2019, where he continued to create and collaborate globally. Today you will find him in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood, at Arbequina Restaurant, taking guests on a gastronomic journey through his homeland where each dish tells a story of tradition, innovation, and rich cultural heritage — a local, sustainable, zero-waste, and zero-proof culinary adventure.

Farkhunda Muhtaj

CAPTAIN, AFGHANISTAN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM · SOCIAL ACTIVIST

Farkhunda Muhtaj is a professional soccer player and social activist, serving as Captain of the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and competing for Calgary WILD FC in the Northern Super League.

In 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power, she led the evacuation of more than 300 Afghans, including the Afghanistan Youth National Team. Her pivotal role in this effort was featured in We Are Ayenda, a Cannes Lions Grand Prix-winning documentary presented by WhatsApp, as well as AYENDA, a documentary presented by MSNBC and executive produced by Rashida Jones and Trevor Noah.

The daughter of former Afghan refugees, Farkhunda immigrated to Canada at the age of two. Her lived experience inspired her to co-found Scarborough Simbas, a non-profit organization that uses sport to support the settlement journey of refugees and newcomers to Canada. She is an ambassador for Right To Play Canada and a supporter of UNHCR Canada, and serves on the Canadian Child Rights in Sport Advisory Committee, Canada Soccer’s Women’s Development Advisory Committee, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto Sport, Physical Activity, Health & Wellness Program Advisory Body.

Farkhunda holds two degrees from York University: a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Education in Science and Physical Education. During her time there, she captained the women’s soccer team and earned recognition as a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, OUA First Team All-Star, and OUA Gold Medalist.

Bridging sport, education, and humanitarianism, Farkhunda is driven by a commitment to advancing gender equity and social justice. A sought-after global speaker, she addresses global active citizenship, the transformational power of sport, leadership in times of crisis, and women’s and refugee rights.

Rubaba Mohammadi

PAINTER · FOUNDER, RUBABA ART AND CULTURAL CENTER

Born in 2000 in the Malistan district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Rubaba Mohammadi entered the world with a congenital disability that left her unable to use her hands and feet. Despite her physical limitations, she would go on to become one of Afghanistan’s most inspiring and celebrated artists — widely known today as “the Mother of Painting in Afghanistan.”

In 2003, Rubaba’s family relocated to Kabul, seeking better access to medical care. Her mother, Masuma Rahimi, tirelessly carried her daughter on her shoulders each day to the Red Cross Hospital for treatment. After five years of effort and no improvement, doctors gradually lost hope. At the age of eight, Rubaba became homebound, unable to attend school or explore the outside world.

While her younger sisters went to school, Rubaba remained alone at home, drawn to their schoolbooks and art supplies. One day, filled with curiosity and determination, she decided to try drawing herself. After failing to use her toes, she held a pencil between her teeth and drew her very first straight line. That moment marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. With the help of her sisters, Rubaba taught herself to read and write, and began teaching herself to draw, discovering a powerful voice through her artwork.

Rubaba’s life took a transformative turn in 2014, when a television network featured her story after discovering her artwork on Facebook. From 2014 to 2024, Rubaba created hundreds of paintings and held numerous exhibitions, nationally and internationally. Her work has been showcased at embassies in Kabul, Kabul University, the Presidential Palace, and in cities such as Herat, Bamyan, Mersin, and Abu Dhabi. She has received multiple awards, medals, and honours.

In 2019, Rubaba established the Rubaba Art and Cultural Center, a space dedicated to teaching art to others, particularly those with disabilities. Tragically, later that year, the centre was destroyed in a grenade attack by unknown assailants. Forced to flee Afghanistan for her safety, Rubaba spent two difficult years in exile before returning home.

In early 2024, Rubaba immigrated to Canada, where she once again picked up her brushes and began creating art. Today, she continues her mission — not only as a painter, but as a symbol of courage, perseverance, and the transformative power of creativity.

Sabreen El Awad

FILMMAKER, POET AND CULTURAL ORGANIZER · FOUNDER, FRAMES OF SUDAN

Sabreen El Awad is a Sudanese Canadian filmmaker, poet, and cultural organizer currently residing in Canada. Her journey as an immigrant has deeply influenced her creative practice, as she navigates the complexities of heritage and domesticity. Her work in cinema and verse delves into memory, exile, and spiritual identity, capturing the steadfast endurance of communities in transition.

Through intimate performances at communal and artistic gatherings, her poetry reflects on the nuances of displacement and restoration. In her directorial debut, First Muslims in Canada, she documented the neglected histories and cultural legacies of the nation’s pioneering Muslim populations. Currently, she is developing Ahmed, a narrative project that furthers her dedication to exploring authentic human narratives grounded in personal truth.

Beyond her individual artistry, Sabreen founded Frames of Sudan, where she acts as Creative Director for this community-led effort to champion Sudanese film through curated exhibitions and professional collaborations. Whether engaging in visual media or public discourse, her practice is anchored in the conviction that collective storytelling can protect our heritage, disrupt conventional media tropes, and build transformative cross-cultural bridges.

Tazeen Qayyum

MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST · CO-FOUNDER, ART ADDRESS

Tazeen Qayyum is a Pakistani-Canadian multidisciplinary artist trained in the unique art form of miniature painting rooted in South Asian and Persian traditions. She continues to explore new materials and processes through various mediums, including drawing, installation, sculpture, video, and performance. Her work addresses complex issues of belonging, identity, and displacement within a socio-political context, emphasizing empathy and compassion as a counterforce to aggression and conflict.

Qayyum’s artwork has been exhibited globally at prestigious galleries, museums, international art biennials and festivals, including the Karachi Biennial 2017, the Bangkok Art Biennial 2022, the Edinburgh International Festival 2025 and the Hong Kong International Festivals 2026. In 2013, she was commissioned to create site-responsive work at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Her works are part of esteemed collections such as the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada; the Art Mill Museum in Qatar; the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa; the TD Canada Trust Permanent Collection in Toronto; the Welt Museum in Vienna; the Doris McCarthy Gallery at the University of Toronto; the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pengzhou, China; the National Gallery of Amman in Jordan; and the National Art Gallery in Nepal.

In addition to her artistic practice, Qayyum co-founded Art Address, an interactive space dedicated to fostering artistic discourse, community building, and mentoring young, emerging, and newcomer artists in the Greater Toronto Area. She has served on the Board of Directors for Oakville Galleries and on the Advisory Board of the Blackwood Gallery at the University of Toronto, as well as the Arts Council at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.

Qayyum earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1996. She currently lives and works in Oakville, Canada.

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