WEOC Board

Shauna is an impact-driven leader, community champion, speaker, mentor, and connector in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

She is a nationally-recognized advocate for women entrepreneurs, gender equity, and a champion for increased access to services, training, support, and funding. Her strengths include marketing & communications strategy, participatory and collaborative facilitation, business development, community engagement, team building, as well as the development of strategic partnerships and programs.

Prior to coming to WeBC, Shauna was an entrepreneur for 22 years. She owned a manufacturing company that created and sold inspirational glass stone magnets globally, and a marketing and communications company that helped small businesses and not-for-profit organizations by offering marketing strategies, project management, team support, and marketing training.

In 2015, Shauna was the co-facilitator of the regional Catalyst for Growth dialogues that actively explored how to support economic growth through women and create a greater impact by growing the number of women in senior leadership roles, trades, emerging sectors, and as entrepreneurs. She was also a facilitator for portions of the BC Economic Forum (2015) and the We for She Conference (2016).

Shauna has been recognized for her leadership and impact. She was named a Woman of Influence by BC Business Magazine; and Business Person of the Year and Top 40 Under 40 by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. She was on the BC Premier’s Women’s Economic Council as an advisor from 2014-2017, and an advisor on the Government of Canada’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy in 2019.

Shauna’s vision for WeBC is to continue to build on the incredible success and momentum of the team, while exploring the possibilities in the next phase of collaboration, sustainability, and impact.

As the Chief Executive Officer of WESK, Miriam has a strong passion and commitment to enabling Saskatchewan to flourish. Equipped with a growth-focused mindset and diverse experience across multiple sectors, she is well-positioned to lead WESK’s team towards achieving their mission of closing the gender entrepreneurship gap.

If you ask Miriam what she is most excited about regarding the future of WESK, she will share how inspiring it is to be part of an organization driving for and seeing progressive change. She recognizes the demands and challenges women entrepreneurs face every day. She is inspired to strategically address gaps and barriers and identify opportunities to foster a strong community of women entrepreneurs. She believes that supporting women is integral to building a strong Saskatchewan.

During her recent tenure at the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Miriam was fundamental in securing the bid for the upcoming Grey Cup, launching the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, and developing many successful programs addressing opportunities around the fan experience. Her work leading the Marketing and Community Relations portfolio connected the Riders with fans across the province through community programs such as Cameco Touchdown for Dreams to the game-day fan experience at Mosaic Stadium. Miriam’s community-minded leadership approach will continue to grow and develop the impact WESK makes across Saskatchewan.

Miriam has a strong penchant for giving back. She is currently the Co-Chair of Communications for the Grey Cup Volunteer Host Organizing Committee, successfully seeing the process in its entirety from bid to execution. She also held the Vice-Chair Sponsorship position for the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games.

When Miriam isn’t around the WESK offices, you will most likely find her in the comfort of her home being a short-order cook for her family or in an ice rink around Regina, watching her three children, Eli, Eden, and Emerson, play the sport they all love, hockey.

PARO was founded in 1995, with Rosalind Lockyer at the helm, with goals to create a program to help women realize entrepreneurial success on their terms. PARO began as a women’s community loan fund; today, as a multi-faceted women-centred business development program, it is known “as the largest and strongest women’s peer lending network in North America” and supports 150+ Circles across Ontario.

The essence and the originality of PARO demonstrate how Rosalind involves the members of the organization. A true grassroots organization, members are elected to the board of directors annually, and collectively work with Rosalind, as primary innovators and decision-makers for the organization. Under her leadership, PARO has received significant recognition for its contribution to women entrepreneurs. In 2002, PARO received the Soroptimist of Americas Eastern Canada Award for Advancing the Status of Women, and in 2004, the Chamber of Commerce Award for Business Excellence-Not- For- Profit. In 2014, PARO received the Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Education Category. This award recognizes PARO and Rosalind as “one of seven best–run service agencies in the country… .ranked in ten key performance areas including management and governance, use of staff and volunteers, innovation, program costs and outcome monitoring.” Quoting the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) on Ethical Leadership, “Effective approaches to instilling ethics and integrity . . . are key elements to ensuring sound corporate governance and management control.”

Seven years at university earned Rosalind a Psychology Degree and certified teaching credentials. However, it was the 20 years of working as a teacher, entrepreneur, community developer that left Rosalind blatantly aware of systemic women’s issues, and provided the skills, experience, passion, and determination to work for positive change and gender equality locally, provincially, and nationally. For these efforts, Rosalind received the prestigious Influential Women of Northern Ontario Award-Public Sector 2005 from Northern Ontario Business, recognizing her leadership in building PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise into the dynamic women’s enterprise organization that it is today. More recently, Rosalind was called “one of the most remarkable social entrepreneurs in the world” by the Office of Social Enterprise, MEDEI, Ontario government, and received the International Award for “Women of the Decade in Community Leadership”, from the Women’s Economic Forum 2018 in New Delhi, India.

Before joining AWE, Michelle spent 19 years in Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo. Most recently she spent 5+ years  as the Executive Director of the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA). In this role, she championed Indigenous business growth and competitiveness, working alongside some of Canada’s top leaders and emerging entrepreneurs. Her career also includes more than a decade at Keyano College in progressive leadership roles, including marketing & communications, athletics and advancement.

A passionate sport enthusiast Michelle has led major multi-sport events, most notably as the General Manager of the 2018 Wood Buffalo Alberta Winter Games, and as Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations for the 2023 Wood Buffalo Arctic Winter Games.

A lifelong learner, Michelle recently completed her Executive MBA at the University of Alberta, further strengthening her strategic leadership and business acumen. Additionally she holds a Master’s degree in Human Kinetics, Sport Management from the University of Windsor, a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University, and is a certified PROSCI Change Management Practitioner.

Originally from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Michelle and her family now call St. Albert home, where she continues her work empowering entrepreneurs and building inclusive economic ecosystems.

Chief Executive Officer of the Réseau des Femmes d’affaires du Québec (RFAQ) for the past 15 years, Ruth Vachon is a key figure in women’s entrepreneurship in Quebec and Canada. Visionary and committed, she works tirelessly to create business opportunities, strengthen women’s economic presence and promote their access to national and international markets.
Under her leadership, the RFAQ has become a true engine of growth for women entrepreneurs, multiplying strategic initiatives, alliances with major corporations and structuring projects such as Maïa, an innovative networking platform that is transforming the women’s business landscape. Her mission: to promote the talent, expertise and impact of women in today’s and tomorrow’s economy.
An influential speaker and leader, Ruth Vachon passionately shares her experience and vision of bold, inclusive entrepreneurship.

Carolyn is a passionate advocate for women entrepreneurs and throughout her 20-year career, she has empowered hundreds of entrepreneurs at various stages of growth and development. She has been an active mentor and community builder in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and for over 15 years she worked in the financial services industry specializing small business and commercial lending.

Carolyn joined the Newfoundland & Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) in 2021 as the Director of Programming & Evaluation and has successfully launched a range of innovative programs and services while securing new projects to advance the organization’s mission and vision.

Carolyn is currently the CEO of NLOWE and in this role, she has a vision to build upon the legacy of the organization to ensure the NLOWE remains a catalyst for growth, inclusivity and prosperity and continues to nurture a community of resilient and innovative women entrepreneurs and leaders.