2025 speakers

CEO, Bijan Food International 

Narges Allahyari is the dynamic CEO of Bijan Food, a global food brand rooted in Iran with strong export growth across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Under her leadership, Bijan has become synonymous with quality, authenticity, and innovation in the food industry.

Narges has spearheaded Bijan’s international expansion, bringing the brand to major supermarkets in Canada and beyond, while ensuring compliance with global food safety and quality standards. She is a strong advocate for an “ethical economy,” emphasizing social responsibility, sustainability, and human values in business. Narges has also strengthened Bijan’s brand identity with the slogan “Bijan = The Taste of Life,” positioning it as a premium food brand for families worldwide.

Believing that food is more than a commodity, Narges views it as a cultural bridge and a source of trust between producers and consumers. Her vision is to make Bijan a global ambassador of Persian flavors while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, sustainability, and innovation.

CEO, Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

Melanie Ratnam is the CEO of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), where she leads national efforts to transform Canada’s STEM landscape through equity-driven innovation. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Scarborough, she draws on her family’s migration story to mentor over a thousand students, inspiring them to see STEM as a path to justice and community change.

She holds a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of Toronto Scarborough, has been recognized by Women and Gender Equality Canada for her leadership, and represents SCWIST internationally, including at the United Nations. Inspired by her own journey, Melanie champions science as a force for innovation, equity, and community empowerment.

CEO, Myomar Molecular

Dr. Rafaela Andrade is the CEO and co-founder of Myomar Molecular. She has over 10 years’ experience studying cellular metabolism and molecular biology. She studied cancer cells metabolism during her PhD and completed several pre-clinical studies using therapeutic approaches to fight cancer. She transitioned into her post-doctorate fellowship and focused on muscle metabolism and muscle-related diseases. She discovered a novel role for proteins in muscle formation and degeneration. Then, she led the preclinical efforts to discover specific biomarkers to detect muscle atrophy in early stages. She moved into human studies and co-founded Myomar to create a solution for monitoring and management of muscle wasting.

Since then, she led Myomar’s team into extensive proof of concept and clinical endorsement of the biomarkers. During this time, she completed the Creative Destruction Lab program and was featured nationally, she raised private and non-dilutive funds, started multi-center collaborations for development and testing of the technology.

Recently, she received a prestigious national award as the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year by Mitacs.

CEO, MedReddie

Kara LeBlanc is the Founder and CEO of MedReddie, an iKnnovative AI-powered platform revolutionizing healthcare procurement. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare supply chain management, Kara founded MedReddie to address inefficiencies in the procurement process, enabling healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care.

Under her leadership, MedReddie has achieved significant milestones, including securing $782,000 in pre-seed funding and winning the $450,000 Elevate Women+ Pitch Prize in 2023. The company has also partnered with HealthPRO Canada to enhance procurement efficiency across the country.

Kara holds a Master of Science in International Supply Chain Management from the University of Salford, UK. She has been recognized for her leadership in advancing equity in STEM fields and is actively engaged in initiatives supporting women in technology.

Journalist | Columnist | Radio and Podcast Host | Moderator

Manjula Selvarajah is a seasoned journalist, national technology columnist for CBC Radio, and the host of the Solve for X podcast by MaRS Discovery District. With a background in engineering from Queen’s University, Manjula transitioned from a leadership role in a Toronto-based startup acquired by Oracle to a career in media, where she now covers innovation, startups, and the evolving tech landscape.

She is a sought-after moderator and emcee, having led sessions at prominent events such as Elevate, Collision, and MaRS Discovery District. Manjula is also the co-founder of Tamil Women Rising, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in the Tamil community, and serves on the boards of Scientists in School and Jumpstart Refugee Talent.

Known for her engaging and insightful moderation style, Manjula brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to discussions on technology, innovation, and community empowerment.

CEO, Protexxa

Claudette McGowan is CEO of Protexxa, a Canadian cybersecurity software and services company, and a veteran leader in digital transformation, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. 

She has held senior roles at BMO, TD Bank, Deloitte, and North York General Hospital, and co-led the launch of Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a women-focused angel fund. 

Claudette is also Founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, Chair of CILAR, and serves on multiple boards including SickKids Foundation. In recognition of her contributions, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2025.

Co-Founder, The Firehood

Danielle Graham is Co-Founder of The Firehood, an angel fund and network supporting women-led startups, and General Partner at Phoenix Fire, investing in early-stage ventures across tech, health, and climate sectors. 

She is also the founder of Fierce Founders, Canada’s first women-focused tech accelerator, and has held leadership roles at Sandpiper Ventures, Dream Maker Ventures, and Ontario Centres of Excellence. 

Danielle holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a passionate advocate for women in technology and inclusive entrepreneurship.