Wessam Ayad is currently a program manager at the Diversity Institute working on the Pathways to Employment for Newcomers and Underrepresented Groups portfolio. She also continues to be part of the leadership team at KEYS Newcomers and Employment Services focusing on equity, diversity and inclusion and employers’ engagement initiatives. For almost 9 years, Wessam has supported several diverse populations including BIPOC communities, people with disabilities/disabled People, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, racialized women and many more and advocated for more inclusion practices in the Canadian workplaces and communities. Hundreds of employers, member organizations and service providers have applauded her skills and experience in designing, implementing and leading innovative equity, diversity and inclusion/EDI solutions in the workplace and beyond. Wessam has recently been nominated for the Ban Righ Foundation Inspiring Women Leadership Award for 2021-2022 as well as The Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award 2022 for her recognized and remarkable EDI work in the Kingston community