Nneka Allen is a Black woman, a Momma and a daughter of the Underground Railroad. She descends from African survivors of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. Through the centuries-long unparalleled forced free labour of Africans in the United States, her ancestors helped build North America. And in the process developed a historic relationship with the First Peoples of Turtle Island and as a result, the Cherokee and the Lumbee are her relations.

Today, Nneka is a relationship builder, a stone-catcher, a freedom fighter, a leadership coach and a storyteller. As a lover of justice, Nneka has inspired philanthropy as a Fundraising Executive in the charitable sector for almost 25 years. As the Principal and Founder of The Empathy Agency Inc., she helps leaders and their teams deliver more fairly on their missions by coaching them to explore the impact identity has on culture and equity outcomes.

Born and raised in Brazil, Camila comes from a very mixed family including Black, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Native Indian. She understood from a very young age that race relations, identity and gender roles were central not only to her family but to herself and that skin color in Brazil dictates your role, future and existence within society.

Spending over twenty-five years working in the non-profit sector managing a variety of fundraising portfolios, Nicole is a former Director of Fund Development for a Canadian international development organization (INGO). In 2014, Nicole founded Boundless Philanthropy a fundraising consultancy providing a range of fund development services, including interim senior leadership, strategy development and leadership development. 

Mide is Founder and CEO of AgentsC Inc., an international company delivering philanthropy solutions to the non-profit and private sector. Mide has extensive experience of working with major philanthropists, corporations, and grant-making foundations as well as charities and NGOs in Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK, and the USA.

Naimah Bilal is a Washington DC native, nonprofit leader, and fundraising executive.  Drawing inspiration from her prior career as an orchestral violinist and symphonic programming executive, Naimah has spearheaded wide-ranging fund and artistic development efforts for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Waldorf School, and the University of Cincinnati where she currently serves as Director of Foundation Board Relations. I this hybrid role she manages a spectrum of enterprise governance efforts and manages a major gift portfolio.

Birgit Smith Burton is the executive director for Foundation Relations at Georgia Tech. She is a respected leader in the fundraising profession and a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity. Birgit has authored articles and co-authored books including The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America. Recently, she received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s 2020 Opportunity and Inclusion Award.

Christal M. Cherry is a nationally recognized nonprofit executive and professionally trained fundraiser. With over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she has supported higher education institutions, human services organizations, and faith-based missions. Now as

As a queer, Black woman and an immigrant, Nicole’s career path has often been a reflection of her own quest for liberation. Nicole has more than 25 years of experience as an advocate, trainer/facilitator, and social justice leader and champion in the direct service, advocacy and philanthropic sectors. Whether the focus of her work was reproductive health and rights, women’s economic empowerment, LGBTQ+, or the field of education, equality, intersectionality, equity, inclusion, and justice has always been central to her work.

Sherrie James is a fundraising executive with more than 18 years proven success in development, marketing, project management and event management. She has worked within various sectors including health and social services. She is currently the Director, Philanthropy at Luminato Festival  Toronto. She serves on the board of Generation Chosen, an organization committed to helping the youth of our communities who are being denied equitable opportunities to succeed in life.

Fatou Jammeh is a passionate human rights advocate and fund development professional. Currently she is a Development Officer for Doctors without Borders (MSF) Canada and a Fundraising Consultant at Africans Rising. Fatou has worked in various fundraising capacities for organizations including UNICEF Canada, The MATCH Fund, and the Women’s Legal Aid Centre. She is personally committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all spaces and is on a trek to change the face of philanthropy.

From childhood, Muthoni fell in love with nonprofits working alongside her parents, who valued the power of giving back to the communities they lived in. Her parents instilled in her that our lives become meaningful through the impact we make on others, more so than living and working just for ourselves.

Heba Mahmoud is a mission-driven professional, committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, and equitable professional sector that welcomes and engages underrepresented communities. She has spent the last fourteen years working with membership associations.

Niambi Martin-John is a social change champion, community developer, advocate and empowering partner who has dedicated her career to increasing capacity for marginalized, racialized and at risk communities.

Kishshana Palmer is a national speaker, trainer, and coach with a 18 year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. She’s a supernova on any stage and platforms due to her charismatic and candid delivery. It doesn’t matter if she’s speaking about philanthropy, living your most authentic life, or diversity, the energy she brings to the stage is always entertaining and edifying.

Marva Wisdom is a leading voice in Canada on empowering social change and is a committed social justice advocate. She is among the most respected and sought facilitator, moderator and speaker on equity, inclusivity. Marva’s skills, talent and experience have contributed to significant projects, including as outreach director for the frequently referenced Black Experience (Research) Project (Environics Institute), Lead Advisor for the City of Guelph’s Award Winning Community Plan and Director of Musagetes Foundation’s ArtsEverywhere Festival.