Panelists included Jane Wanyama, CEO of Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu, Marleen Temmerman, Director of Women’s Health at Aga Khan University, Barbara Grantham, Chair of the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation, and Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of Vancity Credit Union.
Three major themes emerged during the discussion, moderated by Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute and an award-winning journalist and commentator.
The panelists unanimously drew inspiration from their mentors to serve others, improve living conditions and make a difference. Temmerman said despite delivering over 18,000 babies in her career, it is the 72 women who died in childbirth she remembers most.
Vrooman, who also serves as a board member of the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, discussed some of the issues holding women back in developing countries.
“We know the benefits of access to quality education and healthcare for women,” she said, “but the real work is to further enhance economic empowerment.”
Vrooman explained that a billion women worldwide do not have the ability to open a bank account simply because of their gender. She discussed how the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) was the first bank to lend to women without requiring a male to co-sign for the loan.
“Women who are educated and healthy can enter a bank without their father, brother, or husband to get a business loan or open a bank account,” said Vrooman. “This is incredibly significant.”
Wanyama discussed challenges at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, including a significant “brain drain.” She hopes that training leaders to manage the people and programs will encourage more to stay in Africa and work locally.
All of the panelists emphasized the role of mentorship in enabling younger women to develop skills, access expertise and grow their networks.
Soraiya Lalani, a fourth-year life sciences student at UBC, said her biggest takeaway is to take advantage of mentorship opportunities to learn from women in senior leadership roles. “Hearing from these dynamic women, I feel inspired and motivated to use my education and passion for helping the developing world,” said Lalani.
“I am even more focused on figuring out how best to make a meaningful contribution to the AKDN.”
Concluding the thought-provoking discussion, Khalil Shariff, CEO of Aga Khan Canada, urged the audience to reflect on ways in which they could be heroes to the many countries that need them. He added that much work remains to be done but when we lift others around us, the summit can be reached more quickly.
“Much of the work of the AKDN is in building strong institutions,” said Shariff. “With leaders such as these women, they are making a significant difference.”
Questions, comments, article suggestions? Contact Canada My Community Editor: [email protected]
