Cook For Inclusion

With over 20 years of professional experience in the social impact sector, Danisha has delivered successful outcomes in service delivery, public relations, communications, volunteer recruitment, and fund development. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and works at United Way of Calgary and Area as the Manager of Engagement and Affinity Groups. 

She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Imagine Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, The Nonprofit Chamber, and the Friends of the University of Alberta Botanic Garden. She also cohosts a “Motherhood and Mental Health” group in Calgary for fundraisers who are caregivers in the sector. 

Some of her past community engagement roles include being the Chair of the Social Wellbeing Advisory Committee for the City of Calgary, Senator of the University of Alberta, Co-Chair for Women United for United Way of Alberta Capital Region, and Board Member for United Way Centraide Canada. 

Danisha has been recognized for her contributions to the community by the United Way of Alberta Capital Region’s George Letki Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Future of Good as a Young Impact Leader, the Government of Alberta Stars of Alberta Award, the University of Alberta Alumni Award, Edify Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40, Edmontonians’ Magazine’s Sizzling 20 under 30, and Correctional Services of Canada. 

Danisha’s most important role is Chief Mom Officer and reports to two little ones, her 5-year-old fierce daughter and 2-year-old feminist son.

Njideka Harris-Eze is a Senior Planner, Tax and Estate Planning with Richardson Wealth Ltd., bringing a unique blend of financial expertise and people skills. With designations like CFP, FMA, CIM, and FCSI, she tackles complex financial issues with actionable solutions. Njideka’s career spans banking, financial planning, and IT, and she’s passionate about promoting financial empowerment, especially for marginalized communities. She’s a community leader, serving on boards like Calgary Catholic Immigrant Society, and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. In her free time, she enjoys family, travel, and reading.

Dennis Agbegha currently works as Director, the Prairies at RBCx based in Calgary, Alberta. In his role, he leads this regional team across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, supporting RBCx clients, while building strategic client relationships to drive growth. He stewards RBCx in market, fostering strong relationships within the ecosystem, and provide insights and guidance to companies and internal banking partners.

Dennis joins RBCx most recently from BDC where he held several roles including Regional Manager, Inclusive Entrepreneurship – Prairies, Regional Manager, Partnerships – Prairies. Prior to BDC, Dennis was with ATB Financial in Calgary and also worked as a Geoscientist for ExxonMobil and Shell based in Nigeria.

As a community builder and connector, Dennis seats on various boards and enjoys volunteering for different organizations and being part of his community.

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Mining from the University of Jos, Nigeria as well as a Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience from Imperial College London, UK.

Dennis embodies a vibrant and magnetic energy that draws people in. His colorful glasses are more than just an accessory; they symbolize his approach to life and business—bold and unapologetic. As a business leader, he prioritizes empathy and connection, believing that success is built on relationships. Dennis inspires those around him to be authentic and to lead with their hearts, creating an environment where innovation thrives.

Throughout her career, Jamilah has held important leadership positions at several Calgary-based non-profits. Currently, Jamilah is the Executive Director of the Lionheart Foundation. Prior to her role at Lionheart, Jamilah was the first Executive Director at the Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network (CFAN) as well as the first Community Impact Manager at the United Way of Calgary and Area. In 2017-2020 Jamilah served as Public Member on Bow Valley College’s Board of Governors. In these roles, Jamilah has gained a wealth of experience in organizational strategy and leadership, community engagement, systems, and structural change. 

Personally, Jamilah was born in Guyana, South America and immigrated to Canada in 1989. She is married and the mom of two boys, aged 6 and 8and enjoy outdoor time with her family. 

Carolee Israel Turner has over thirty years of experience working from a frontline to managerial and leadership positions within the non- profit sector. For the last twenty years, her primary focus has been on working in collaborative positions, facilitating case management and shared strategies between justice, health, children services and community agencies in the areas of risk management, domestic and sexual violence, and high- risk youth intervention. Her specialities are in first responder strategic development, authentic partnership relations, and operationalizing community development initiatives. Carolee is a member of the Canadian Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and the American Psychological Association and sits on the Bow Valley College Child and Youth Care Advisory Committee and Corrections Canada Citizen Advisory Committee. She is also an International Coaching Federation Certification candidate. Carolee is currently the Regional Partnership Coordinator in the Real Me Program at the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary.

Adedoyin Omotara is a Beauty Entrepreneur, Women’s empowerment advocate, Speaker, Life Coach , Business Coach and the leader of the unmask your beauty movement.

Her passion to live a fuller and more expressive life made her leave her successful Corporate Engineering career to become an Entrepreneur.

Seeking the spiritually creative fulfilment missing in her successful corporate career, She determined to resolve the concern that beauty today, far from being that poetic ‘joy forever’ is unfortunately a source of insecurity, shame and stress for countless women. Her inspirational teaching events promote beauty, inside and out, to an audience of women at all stages of life.

She believes in investing in the dream of girls and in the strength of women.

• https://www.unmaskyourbeauty.ca/the-book
• https://adoniaa.com
• https://adedoyinomotara.com
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcvnYnsLpFyk55d38MvRNjQ
• https://sheleadsafrica.org/adedoyin-omotara/
• https://www.pressreader.com/canada/dreamer-2-creator-business-magazine/20210601/281500754172071
• https://www.diversitymag.ca/you-might-not-know-of-adedoyin-omotara-but-you-might-have-used-her-products/
• https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/mobile/video?clipId=1995492
• https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/awakened-project-helping-women-realize-their-small-business-dreams-1.5109646
• https://www.amazon.com/Adedoyin-Omotara/e/B08M9GZZBB%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
• http://www.bloomingladies.com/adedoyin-omotara/
• https://www.inhercircle.ca/blog
• https://www.dreamer2creatormag.ca/product-page/issue-9-print

Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes is a proud Nehiyaw Esquao (Cree Woman), a member of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan, Treaty Six, and Métis. Her ceremonially gifted Cree name translates to “Healing Woman Who Walks Far”, and she has resided in Calgary, Treaty 7, Alberta, since 1993. Cheryle earned a BA in Communications and a BA in Canadian “Native” Studies from the University of Calgary, and a Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations from Grant MacEwan University, Edmonton.  Cheryle received the rank of Corporal in the Canadian Air Force, receiving an honourable discharge after five years’ service.

Cheryle has been an Indigenous activist within Calgary and area for the past two decades, speaking, marching, singing and drumming for women, MMIWG2S/Sisters in Spirit/Justice for Jackie Crazybull, Indigenous Justice, championing the environment and equality, and speaking up for those who cannot.  Cheryle retired as Administrative Coordinator at the Native Centre at the University of Calgary; she was former Leader of the Green Party of Alberta (2018-2019) and a KAIROS Blanket Exercise Facilitator (2017-2020). She received an IAAW Esquao Award for Justice and Human Rights in May 2023. Recognized as a Traditional Knowledge Keeper, Cree Elder and Pipe Carrier, Cheryle provides service sharing Indigenous protocol, Territorial Acknowledgements, Medicine Wheel Teachings, Indigenous cultural teachings and stories, prayers and ceremony (upon request). She is a member of the Storytellers of Canada and Storytelling Alberta as an Indigenous storyteller and performer. Cheryle is mother of two and “Kokum” (grandmother) to five beautiful grandchildren.