Black leaders featured at campus event to celebrate Black History Month
Dr. Ako Ufodike, Alberta's deputy minister trade, immigration and multiculturalism, was the evening's keynote speaker.
To recognize the end of Black History Month, Mount Royal hosted a dinner in Ross Glen Hall on Feb. 27 featuring members of government and Black professionals in leadership positions across various industries. The purpose of the evening, co-ordinated by the BIPOC Support Network, SAMRU and the Calgary Black Chambers, was to highlight the developmental journey for Black people as they strive to attain senior executive roles in Canada. Panelists spoke on prevalent barriers in organizations and offered suggestions informed by their lived experiences on how to intentionally attract and retain Black employees, including senior leaders and those seeking direction on how to one day hold executive positions.
(L-R) Assistant Professor Marva Ferguson, PhD, moderated the first panel with Kene Ilochonwu, bencher, Law Society of Alberta; Chi iliya-Ndule, corporate commercial lawyer, Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP; Dennis Lee Banks, senior vice-president, operations services, Suncor; and Samuel Adeyemi, vice-president business, banking at BMO Financial Group.
Dr. Ako Ufodike, deputy minister trade, immigration and multiculturalism, shared remarks as the keynote speaker followed by two panel sessions including Dennis Lee Banks, senior vice-president, operations services, Suncor; Samuel Adeyemi, vice-president business, banking at BMO Financial Group; Kene Ilochonwu, bencher, Law Society of Alberta; Chi iliya-Ndule, corporate commercial lawyer, Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP; Charles Osuji, CEO, managing partner, Osuji & Smith Lawyers; and Charles Odame-Ankrah, research lead, Global Analyzer Systems Ltd.
Also in attendance was Jyoti Gondek, mayor of Calgary.
(L-R) Charles Odame-Ankrah, research lead, Global Analyzer Systems Ltd. and Charles Osuji, CEO, managing partner, Osuji & Smith Lawyers.
“A core value of MRU is to celebrate people, culture and ideas through a safe and inclusive campus,” said Tim Rahilly, PhD, president and vice-chancellor at MRU, who shared remarks to start the evening. “An event like this, with incredible leaders making themselves available to the MRU community, serves as an inspiration to our students who are tomorrow’s faculty, staff and senior leaders.”
Special thanks to associate professor of international business Dr. Jacqueline Musabende, PhD, founder of The National EDI Action Tracking and Reporting System (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), for organizing the event.