WBE Canada’s Supplier Innovation Days are full day in-person events designed to bring women-owned businesses, corporate and government organizations, partners and champions of supplier innovation together in cities across Canada. Join us to learn how to navigate today’s economic challenges, network with buyers and suppliers to find new opportunities and create common goals to expand economic prosperity within regions, provinces and across the country.
Who should join us:
Why attend:
And much more!
Dr. Georgette Zinaty - President, Women Business Enterprises (WBE) Canada
Dr. Georgette Zinaty is President of Women Business Enterprises (WBE) Canada, leading national efforts to connect certified women-owned businesses to procurement opportunities and drive supplier diversity. A recognized thought leader, Forbes contributor, and global keynote speaker, Dr. Zinaty is renowned for her expertise in business transformation, innovation, and the integration of AI and data-driven strategies. She has founded Women Helping Empower Women (WHEW!) and DGZ Capital, and serves as Senior Advisor to Nobellum and on the Board of Advisors for ELLA at York University. Honoured with numerous awards, Dr. Zinaty is committed to empowering women, fostering inclusive innovation, and advancing leadership. She also teaches at Western University and Rotman, shaping the next generation of business leaders.
Dr. Carla Parslow, Ph.D. – President, Parslow Heritage Consultancy Inc.
I am a Professional cultural resource manager who specializes in archaeology in Ontario. As a consultant, I have over 20 years of experience working on private and public sector development project and have always had an interest in the cultural heritage resource management industry in Canada. As the President of Parslow Heritage Consultancy Inc. (PHC Inc.), I am responsible for the for the technical review and quality assurance of all archaeological projects. Throughout my career, I managed both large and small offices of cultural heritage professionals and have mobilized both large (50+) and small (4+) teams of throughout the province of Ontario, Canada. In 2018, I formed Parslow Heritage Consultancy Inc, with a staff of one – me. Eight years later, I am managing a 100% Women Owned company that employs over 60 staff in Ontario!
I have a Ph.D. in Anthropology (University of Toronto 2006) and have taught courses on the interactions between environment and culture and ethics in commercial archaeology. My Ph.D. dissertation examined early evidence of social systems in the Near East (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel). When I am not helping to identify tricky artifacts, or assisting in determining archaeological site limits, or developing more business for the company, I enjoy working with the Canadian Cultural Resource Association, an association started to help CRM companies survive and thrive. I also spend much of my free time during the nicer months outdoors gardening, walking her dogs and barbequing.
Kristin Kathiravelu - Founder and Principal Consultant, Birchwood Consulting
I am a strategic consultant and healthcare leader who specializes in health system planning and program evaluation in Ontario. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Birchwood Consulting, I have over 15 years of experience working with public sector organizations across the province, with a particular passion for improving access to care for equity-deserving communities. I am responsible for leading all client engagements at Birchwood, from strategic and operational planning to business case development and research — working alongside primary care organizations, public health units, provincial associations, and Indigenous-focused organizations.
In 2021, I launched Birchwood Consulting as a sole practitioner. Today, I am proud to lead a WBE® and CAMSC® certified firm that brings together a talented team of analysts, consultants, and associate advisors to serve clients across Canada.
I hold an MBA in Health Industry Management from the Schulich School of Business, an M.Sc. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Western University, and an Honours B.Sc. in Neuroscience and Integrative Biology from the University of Toronto. I am also a Credentialed Evaluator, a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
When I'm not working with clients, I enjoy spending time with my family and giving back to the business community through organizations like WBE Canada.
Nikky Starrett - Founder and Creative Director, Pomp & Sass
I am the Founder and Creative Director of Pomp & Sass, a Canadian design company creating luxury Turkish towels that serve as wearable, usable souvenirs with a true sense of place. Since 2019, I have been developing original art that captures the soul of a location or brand and weaving it directly into pure Turkish cotton, producing exclusive merchandise that world travellers cherish, keep, and talk about.
Pomp & Sass serves clients across the hospitality and corporate sectors, from iconic properties like JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka and Ste. Anne's Spa, to major brands like CIBC and Trane, helping them turn a functional product into a lasting brand impression. Every custom towel is sustainably and ethically manufactured, because beautiful merchandise should never come at a cost to the planet or the people making it.
My background spans nearly two decades of entrepreneurship, grounded in a four-year degree in Illustration and a deep belief that great design builds relationships. I have also shared that belief in the classroom, teaching design to marketing and advertising students at Sheridan College. Pomp & Sass is proud to be a WBE Canada certified diverse supplier and queer-owned business.
Custom towels are as easy as a conversation, and that's exactly how I like to do business.
Elana Hazghia - Senior Business Advisor for International Expansion, BDC
Elana Hazghia is a Senior Business Advisor for International Expansion at BDC. Elana brings over 15 years of experience in helping Canadian businesses grow globally. She has worked in over 30 countries, with a focus on supporting businesses as they scale across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa and India. Elana has worked across sectors such as consumer goods, technology, healthcare, professional services, manufacturing and more, supporting founders in understanding the full scope of what is required for international expansion—from sales and marketing to regulatory and compliance risk management, importation, distribution and more. She has also worked on major initiatives with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and Global Affairs Canada, guiding their strategy on how to better serve Canadian business in their international expansion efforts.
At BDC, Elana is responsible for delivering advisory services to Canadian SMEs focused on international expansion, which includes trade diversification, distribution planning, market selection, market expansion strategy, partner identification, supplier diversification and more.
Elana holds a dual degree in International Affairs and Spanish and holds a professional certification in impact investment.
Natalia Smalyuk - Founder, NBAU (Not Business As Usual)
Natalia Smalyuk is an award-winning communications advisor, trainer, and Founder of NBAU (Not Business As Usual), a WBE Canada-certified communications consultancy. With a global outlook and 20 years of experience in strategic communication, crisis resilience, and stakeholder engagement, she believes there is no such thing as “business as usual”— only an evolving landscape of opportunity and risk.
Passionate about helping people and organizations fulfill their missions and achieve their goals, Natalia equips leaders with the tools they need to support growth, protect their reputation, and navigate complex challenges.
Based in Toronto, Canada, Natalia is known for her ability to uncover insights and create value by identifying the real issues and the real story behind them. She helps organizations build strong, authentic narratives and position themselves as thought leaders in their industries.
Robert Gauvreau - Founder and CEO, Gauvreau
Robert is the founder and CEO at Gauvreau | Accounting Tax Law Advisory, one of North America’s leading CPA firms working with entrepreneurs to help them achieve clarity in their business and personal finances, while eliminating unnecessary tax pain.
As a CEO, Robert has built a team of more than 200 professionals and an 8 figure business, and Gauvreau has been recognized as one of the fastest growing businesses in Canada for the last 6 years according to the Globe & Mail.
Robert is also a regular contributing expert in major business magazines such as Forbes, Entrepreneur and Business Insider.
As one of North America’s leading business finance experts and well sought after financial speakers on business finances, Robert has shared the stage with some of the world's most recognized speakers such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins, Kevin O’Leary, Keith Cunningham, Robert Herjavec, and many more.
Robert is the bestselling author of ‘The Wealthy Entrepreneur: The Formula for Making Money and Gaining Financial Clarity in Your Business’ and is on a mission to empower the world’s leading entrepreneurs with the financial confidence necessary to make informed strategic decisions in their business and their life, so that they can achieve financial freedom and change the world together.
