Meet the Next Level Advisory Committee
We’re launching Next Level — G(irls)20’s response to this urgent disruption caused by COVID-19. Through this pilot program, we will provide young women and non-binary youth from the retail and hospitality sectors in Canada with leadership and social entrepreneurship training along with supportive coaching to navigate the changing economy on their own terms.
Meet the Advisors who are helping to shape this program. Throughout the pilot, the Advisory Committee will provide advice and direction on recruitment, curriculum, program design and evaluation, by bringing a diverse range of perspectives from community development to entrepreneurship.
Scroll down to read the Advisory Committee members’ biographies.
Uswah Ahsan - Executive Director, Ally Squared
Uswah Ahsan (She/Her) is a youth mobilizer who spends her time making sure that spaces are safe, enjoyable, and meaningful for marginalized groups. Following her TEDx talk in 2018, Uswah founded Ally Squared to make sure that allyship is active, impact-focused, and responsive to the communities that it is practiced for. Using her experiences as a Pakistani Muslim immigrant, Uswah eagerly facilities conversations that connect communities together to act in solidarity with one another. During the pandemic, Uswah has been working at Refugee 613 to make sure that all newcomers have access to critical health information in their languages. Uswah is a lover of food (restaurant-hunting, recipe development, a good tub of ice cream), dogs (especially her Australian Shepherd Rio), and plants (20 and counting).
IG: @Ally2Squared
Twitter: @UswahxAhsan
Elle AyoubZadeh - Founder, CEO & Creative Director of Zvelle
Elle AyoubZadeh is the Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Zvelle, a challenger fashion brand with a mission to revolutionize the way women's stories are portrayed through fashion.
IG: @IamZvelle
Facebook: Zvelle
Twitter: @Elleazadeh
LinkedIn: Elle Ayoubzadeh, Zvelle
Brianna Brown - Co-Founder, Decade Impact
Brianna Brown is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Decade Impact, a strategy consulting firm for businesses determined to leave the world a better place. Brianna is a strategist, innovator, and change maker. She has worked with over 100 small businesses through the B Corp framework, and is an expert in supporting small businesses to respond to this decade’s most wicked challenges, through the UN SDGs, Theory of Change, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. Her endless energy, attention to detail, and strategic insight will change your opinion of what’s possible, and give you the confidence to make it all happen (whatever “it” is). A skilled navigator between the visionary and the pragmatic, she is in her element when creating tailored roadmaps to a bolder, brighter future. Brianna is also active in her community, nurturing the ecosystem of individuals and businesses invested in bold change. She currently acts as the Director of Programs at Leading Change Canada, and is active in the program design and facilitation of Brands for Better Foundation.
IG: @bribribrun, @decadeimpact
LinkedIn: Brianna Brown, Decade Impact
Hibaq Gelle - Policy Strategist & Community Champion
Hibaq Gelle is an award-winning tri-sectoral leader in the areas of community development, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
Hibaq is passionate about equity and inclusion and is committed to improving outcomes for the most marginalized. She has a decade of experience working with various levels of government, the non-profit sector and private industry to advance equitable policies and community investments.
For her contributions to city building, Hibaq was awarded the CivicAction Emerging Leader Award, YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, Community Benefit Champion Award, and the Canadian Urban Leadership Award.
In her free time, she spends it investing in the next generation of young leaders. When she’s not at work or volunteering, you will find Hibaq enjoying her love of reading or discussing the next big system shift!
Twitter: @HibaqG
LinkedIn: Hibaq G
Sarah Mariani - Senior Project Associate, MaRS Discovery District
Sarah Mariani is an emerging voice in inclusive innovation. She leads digital transformation projects at North America’s largest urban innovation hub, is an Executive at Young Diplomats of Canada and a Girls on Boards program participant currently seated at the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Through the Munk School of Global Affairs, Sarah has published research on youth entrepreneurship, public-sector digitalization and the global governance of artificial intelligence. She is a passionate leader and mentor within her community and actively works to bring diverse, young voices to decision-making tables around the world.
IG: @Sarahdmariani
LinkedIn: Sarah Mariani
Chanèle McFarlane - Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Do Well Dress Well
Chanèle McFarlane is a Certified Career Strategist and TEDx Speaker. As the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Do Well Dress Well, she creates content and learning experiences to help people launch, pivot and accelerate their career. Known for her approachable and practical advice on personal branding and career strategy, her expert commentary has been featured in media outlets such as Fast Company, The Globe & Mail, ELLE Canada, FLARE Magazine and more. She is also an on-air career expert with appearances on Breakfast Television, The Morning Show (Global News) and CHCH Morning Live.
Chanèle passionately serves as an advisor for several organizations including Accelerate Her Future, Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity and Humber College. Chanèle is also an accomplished communications professional specializing in recruitment marketing and thought leadership. She has been recognized as PR in Canada’s Top 30 Under 30, Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada and Top 25 Women of Influence.
IG: @Chanelemcfarlane
Twitter: @chanelemcf
LinkedIn: Chanele McFarlane
Jace Meyer - Executive Director, Indigenous Innovation Institute
Jace Meyer is a nomadic Métis mom currently playing, living, and working on the Lekwungen speaking territory of the Songhees and Esquilmalt Nations. Jace is the Executive Director of the Indigenous Innovation Institute, a community space for self determination that envisions wide-reaching influence of Indigenous wisdom on the development and use of technology across society that builds on the 4 year history of the First Nations Technology Council’s mandate from the 203 BC First Nations to ensure all Indigenous innovators can access upskilling and reskilling opportunities that will ensure technology enables social and economic wellbeing in cultural perpetuity. Jace’s expertise in the co-creation of culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and place-based STEM and entrepreneurship education spans public, non-profit, and industry contexts reaching more than 1.25 million learners across Turtle Island. As a fierce advocate for Indigenous entrepreneurs, Jace spoke to 70,000 people around the globe in order to co-create the conditions necessary for Indigenous entrepreneurs to thrive. In 2019 Jace was recognized as a BMW World Responsible Leader.
IG: @JaceActually
Twitter: @JaceActually
Crystal Witter - CEO, Shero Anti-Trafficking League
Crystal Witter is a faith-driven Jamaican national. She is passionate about youth development and women empowerment. She is a transformational leader with over 10 years of experience fostering consensus and capacity. Crystal recently graduated as Valedictorian from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Most recently, Crystal completed the role of Chair of Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA) Board of directors developing policies for the organization's strategic planning. Beyond leadership, Crystal is an entrepreneur with businesses in the beauty and, health and wellness industry. She is the C.E.O of Ilash Icon Hfx and Co-founder of Chrystal Treasure Herbarium. Ilash Icon Hfx is a small business offering professional eyelash extension treatments. The concept of Chrystal Treasure Herbarium was born out of the pandemic. Chrystal Treasure Herbarium offers a plethora of “Traditional medicines” -herbal products and remedies used to promote holistic health. In March of 2021 Crystal established an NGO dubbed “Shero Anti-Trafficking League”. Shero Anti-trafficking League aims to prevent human sex trafficking, while restoring and empowering survivors, breaking the chains of exploitation. At 24 years old, Crystal lends her voice daily to projects that effectuate positive change in her community.
IG: @Crystal_witter
Facebook: Crystal C. Witter
LinkedIn: Crystal Witter