Introducing Sheema Khan

Self 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.