Introducing Sheema Khan

,

Sheema_KhanSelf proclaimed ‘Canadian hockey mom’ Sheema Khan emigrated from India to Montreal at three years of age. Sheema enjoyed immersing herself in Quebecois culture and cheering for the Montreal Canadiens.

She earned her Masters in Physics and a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from Harvard University. She also completed post-doctoral research at MIT and McGill. She is trilingual in English, French and Urdu.

Sheema took on the science field as a research and development scientist and as an inventor of various drug delivery technologies. She is currently a patent agent for Shapiro Cohen LLP, an Ottawa-based intellectual property firm offering legal counsel.

Since 2002, Sheema has also offered commentary and insight into culture and religion in the Canadian landscape as a monthly columnist for the Globe and Mail. In 2009, a compilation of her columns was published in the book Of Hockey and Hijab: Reflections of a Canadian Muslim Woman.

In 2012, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to Canada. In 2013, the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation celebrated Sheema’s columns on the intersection of culture, gender and religion in the contemporary landscapes. As the foundation’s keynote speaker, she challenged all Canadians to adopt inclusive practices.

Though she’s hung up her hockey skates, Sheema is often found on a soccer field both as a participant and as a coach.

Interested in Sheem’s take on our 2016 theme “Breaking Barriers”? Apply here by February 29th to be one of 250 audience members at our March 31st TEDxKanata event.

/by

Introducing Alex Munter

,
 

Alex Munter has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) since 2011, but hes been an activist for public policy issues since elected as a municipal councillor at 23 years old.
 
Before joining CHEO Alex led Ottawa and Ontario to stronger public, mental and childrens health programs. As a city and regional councillor in Ottawa Alex played an integral role in the citys 2001 smoke-free regulations while working on other public health initiatives. He later worked at Youth Services Bureau, one of the provinces largest youth mental health agencies, as the executive director. He led the organization in its innovative clinic for street-youth.
 
He went on to the Champlain Local Health Integration Network as Chief Executive Officer and worked to improve networks and programs that help the elderly stay independent while having proper healthcare.
 
Alexs leadership and public health experience have helped him invigorate CHEO as he spearheads the hospital to a new future and vision after completing its most in-depth strategic review.
 
Alex is a Certified Health Executive from the Canadian College of Health leaders and taught at the University of Ottawa and Concordia University. The Ottawa and greater Canadian community recognize the importance of Alexs work. Hes received awards from various organizations including United Way/Centreaide Ottawa and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In 2012 Alex was the recipient of the Ontario Francophonie Award and the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal.
 
Keep up with Alex at @AlexMunterCHEO or visit cheo.on.ca.
 
Interested in Alex’s take on our 2016 theme “Breaking Barriers”? Apply here by February 29th to be one of 250 audience members at our March 31st TEDxKanata event.
/by

Introducing Bruce Linton

,
 
Bruce Linton plays double duty as CEO of telecommunications software company Martello Technologies and CEO and co-founder of Canopy Growth, a medical marijuana provider. 
 
Under Bruce’s helm, Martello was named Ottawa’s Fastest Growing Company 2015 after achieving three-year revenue growth of over 600 per cent. While headquartered in Ottawa, Martello has staff in Canada, the United States and France. Martello is partnered with Ottawa-based Mitel Networks, providing software-as-a-service (SaaS) that manages the performance of Mitel solutions.

Founded in Ontario and cultivated on Canadian soil, Canopy Growth owns and operates three sites, including Tweed Marijuana, which sits on 1 Hershey Drive in Smiths Falls, Ontario – previously known as the first Hershey factory outside of Pennsylvania. Licensed under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, Canopy has reached a $300 million market cap since its creation a few years ago.

A businessman leading two different companies, Bruce has a diverse history in Canadian business and the local hi-tech community. He started his career with Newbridge Networks Corporation before accepting positions as General Manager and Re-Founder of Computerland.ca and President and Co-Founder of webHancer Corp.

Bruce’s work has impacted worldwide markets as he’s engaged with the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank. Among many countries, his work has focused on India, Peru and Columbia. Bruce was an establishing team member of CrossKeys Systems Corporation, leading the team as well as Clearford successfully into the Chinese Market.

He’s received international acclaim for his work, and in 2009 Clearford received an award from the Canadian-Chinese Business Council.

 
Learn more about Bruces successful corporations at martellotech.com and tweed.com.
 
Interested in Bruces take on our 2016 theme “Breaking Barriers”? Apply here by February 29th to be one of 250 audience members at our March 31st TEDxKanata event.
/by