A Woman of Influence, of Inspiration, of Leadership and Integrity...
who forged new paths for others and herself.
Her
parents, Aba and Dilshad (Dilu) Mohamed are personal friends. Dilu, I
met through a business networking organization several years
ago...having maintained a special friendship to this day. So, it is
with great pride and pleasure, I introduce you to Farah, one of
their two daughters.
Awards:
Canadian Diversity Champion,
2012
Top
25 Most Influential Women in Canada, Women of Influence, 2012
Queen
Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2013
RBC
Top Canadian Immigrant of the Year, 2014
Early Years:
Of Indian heritage, Farah was born and raised in Uganda until 1972
when Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of 80,000 Asian Ugandans...giving
them 90 days to leave Uganda. She states, “Many people in our
community were initially optimistic...certain the tide would turn and
they could stay in their homes, raise their children and run their
businesses. Instead, horrific stories of cannibalism, murder and
rape motivated most to flee their homes, businesses and the life they
knew. Mine was one of the lucky families ~ thanks to the friendship
of two world leaders, my father, mother and sister sought refuge in
Canada...where my parents rebuilt our family lives.”
With
two little girls, Aba and Dilu first settled in St. Catharines where Farah's father obtained a job and her mother developed her 'haute
couture' fashion
design business. Later moving to Burlington, Farah and Amina attended
a local public school. When Farah graduated from Central High School,
she enrolled at Queen's University in Kingston, graduating with a
degree in Political Science; at Western University in London,
Ontario, she earned her Master's Degree in this specialized field.
My
'Sense of Community' Led to My Progress
From a very young age, my parents taught me the meaning of giving
back...
being part of a community; and the importance of education
as a way to ensure having choices in life.
Climbing
the Ladder to Success:
With
this education background, she became assistant to The Honourable
Paddy Torsney, Burlington's Member of Parliament in 1995.
For 10 years in Ottawa, she worked closely with some of Canada's most
senior politicians. She served as the Director of Communications for
The Honourable Anne McLellan in her role as Minister of Justice,
Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada.
Post politics, Farah served as Vice President, Public Affairs and
Community Engagement for VON Canada. At VON, she was successful in
building government and private sector partnerships, as well as
strengthening the brand of Canada's largest, national, non-profit,
charitable home and community-care organization.
Career
Highlights:
My
proudest achievement is the creation of G(irls)20...a
non-profit that works to put women at the center of economic
decision-making processes globally. Consistent with what my
childhood hardships taught me, the organization is built on three
things you cannot take away once acquired: education,
entrepreneurial spirit and experiences.
G(irls)20 places the voices of girls and women at the heart of what
is the most preeminent political platform to discuss economic issues.
It chooses strategic investments in individuals over charity. It
instills the belief that it is only with economic and political
prowess that communities are protected. It teaches that strong
communities lead to strong countries. G(irls)20 is also the driving
force behind Fathers
Empowering Daughters.
Farah now serves as CEO of G(irls)20
as it galvanizes the world's greatest resource...girls and women...
and cultivates a new generation of female leaders
through entrepreneurship and education.
Inaugural
President of The Belinda Stronach Founadtion (TBSF).
Under Farah's leadership TBSF created and launched the Foundation's
flagship programs. She also oversaw the Foundation's work in Liberia
with President Johnson Sirlear and a $1 M humanitarian relief effort
in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
From a very young
age, my parents taught me the meaning of giving back,
being part of a community. They didn't talk much about our
exodus, but I understand that life would have been very different if
we were not thrown out of our country. The combination of my
parents' gratitude to Canada, hard work and optimism was highly
influential in shaping me to become a social entrepreneur and a
political strategist.
International
Volunteer Endeavours:
Cherie Blair Mentor for Women in Business 2013, International
Election Observer, International Democratic Institute (2012 Egyptian
elections, Jordan, 2013), Co-anchor, the Clinton Global Initiative's
Network on 'Investing in Girls and Women', Advisor, Virgin Unite
Canada (Richard Branson's Foundation), 2011.
Domestic
Volunteer Endeavours:
Vice President, Board of Directors, Canadian Club of Toronto. Board
Member, The Harbour Front Centre and Hope Live. Appointed by the
Premier of Ontario to serve as a Board Member of the Ontario Trillium
Foundation and Ontario Science Centre (term served). Member of the
Brazilian Ball 2010 and Maharaja Ball 2010.
Just as my parents invested in me, I invested in others.
Just as volunteerism was part of my upbringing, I encourage the
recipients of our programs to help others. And just as the
entrepreneurial gene seems to be part of my DNA, I hope that the
young women involved in G(irls)20 will build socially conscious
enterprises.
I used to think I came by my progress because I was in the right place...at the right time...with my skills. I now know that it was the events of 42 years ago that shaped my path and led me to my progress.
I used to think I came by my progress because I was in the right place...at the right time...with my skills. I now know that it was the events of 42 years ago that shaped my path and led me to my progress.
The
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
encourages research, reflection and action in four areas important to
Canadians: human
rights and dignity...responsible citizenship...Canada's role in the
world...people and their natural environment. Working
through the four programs, the Foundation grants
doctoral scholarships...awards
fellowships to distinguished academics...appoints
mentors
and holds
public conferences.
Founded in 2001, The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an
independent and non-partisan Canadian charity. It is governed by an
independent and pan-Canadian Board Directors of up to 18 who oversee
the approximately $150M endowment and an annual operating budget of
$6M.
I am really proud to be joining this Board.
I have always felt that it was because of Pierre Elliott Trudeau
that our family was lucky to come to Canada...
and now I have the opportunity to contribute to his legacy.
Information compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...April 2, 2015
Comments appreciated...email to:
Postscript: Farah does more than 'talk the talk'; she also walks the walk ~ right up the 19,300 foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro...raising $21,000 for the Canadian Liver Foundation and the VON Canada Foundation.
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