Prepare Her Cohort: Fall 2024
Aditi Loveridge (she/her)
Aditi Loveridge is the Founder and CEO of the registered charity, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre. She is also the creator of the Microdose™ method, an evidence-based approach to grief processing that focuses on small, intentional steps for healing. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Seeds of Growth, Grief Education Inc., a Grief & Loss Coach Certification program, and serves as Board Co-Chair of Skipping Stones Foundation, a registered charity empowering trans and gender-diverse youth and adults.
As an expert in the field, Aditi has been asked to speak on countless podcasts, and radio and television spots and has advocated for systemic and social change at the government level.
Aditi’s fierce dedication to intersectional restorative social justice and equality for all has made her a trailblazer within the bereavement community. In 2023 Aditi was given the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her outstanding service.
Aditi was also recognized as a finalist for the RBC Women Entrepreneur Social Change–National Impact Award, celebrating her as an exceptional leader of a registered charity, dedicated to her unique brand of social change, at a national level.
Anita Hofer (she/her)
Anita has been privileged to serve the community as a leader in the not-for-profit sector for over ten years, holding a variety of roles in communications and development at leading organizations. In more recent years, her work has also extended into government relations.
Anita has been active in politics as a volunteer and admits to watching debates with a big bowl of popcorn. She values friends, family, meaningful work, a well-written speech and a hand-written card. She loves new restaurants, live music, and sunny days on a bike, in a kayak, or on a mountain.
Chloe Mahon (she/her)
With over 20 years of experience in business, Chloe is a communications and organizational change management professional known for her strategic vision, optimism, and curiosity. Driven by a commitment to connect people and build bridges, Chloe promotes open dialogue and inclusive engagement — qualities ideally suited for municipal leadership.
Throughout her career, Chloe has focused on empowering individuals and fostering collaboration, knowing that trust, transparency, and adaptability are essential for creating lasting change. Her curiosity fuels her approach to challenges, encouraging diverse perspectives, deep conversation and innovative solutions to best serve the community.
As a positive, resilient, and strategic leader, Chloe is dedicated to supporting her community’s growth and fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and connected future.
Courtney Graham (she/her)
Courtney Graham grew up in rural Saskatchewan and is the first university graduate from her family, receiving both her Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science and her Master of Arts in Digital Humanities from the University of Alberta. She is the current Governance Manager at the University of Alberta Students' Union.
Courtney is passionate about advocacy for students and helps support student leader development through targeted leadership programming and relationship building. She is particularly invested in promoting sustainability, walkable cities, affordable housing and building vibrant communities.
Courtney is an involved volunteer in the Edmonton community, dividing her time between such causes and events as the Edmonton Fringe Festival, the Edmonton Food Bank and her local community association.
Outside of work and volunteering, she keeps busy by participating in sports leagues, cheering on the Oilers, skiing, chatting with friends and reading in cafes.
Dinara Mamutova (she/her)
Dinara is passionate about empowering newcomers and helping them navigate employment opportunities in Canada. With a background in career development and extensive experience supporting immigrant communities, she is committed to creating positive outcomes through tailored support programs. Dinara values the importance of community engagement and strives to give back by helping others achieve success. She is also dedicated to furthering gender equality and sees the potential of programs like Ask Her to foster women’s leadership in politics and beyond.
Echo (they/them/he/him)
Echo Keizer (They/Him) is a mixed Inuit transmasculine person from Edmonton, Alberta. In their spare time, you can often find them exploring local markets or at the bouldering gym solving the newest problem. Their passions are many, ranging from a variety of biology topics in their academic pursuits to social advocacy to illustration. Currently sitting on the WAVE committee and chairing the executive board with the QTHC, Echo finds joy in volunteering and helping to amplify the voices of those who often go unheard. With the current lack of queer and trans people in politics, Echo seeks to enact tangible change for the queer community by getting more involved in the political sphere so other queer people can see themselves better represented in government.
Funke Olokude (she/her)
Funke has over fifteen years of extensive work experience in the social service industry working with diverse populations and sectors in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta where she has continuously promoted equity in policy and practice that have led to transformational relationships between individuals and within systems. Funke is passionate about multiple forms of engaging with knowledge which has seen her be part of numerous Community-Based Research projects.
In 2020, Funke was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for her continued work in influencing policy and practice across various sectors in Alberta. Funke's contribution in the teaching and education space has also earned her a Jaye Fredrickson Award for Teaching Excellence 2021 & 2022 Nomination. For her leadership, she received a 2022 Woman of Inspiration Nomination, a National Black Coalition of Canada (NBCC) Professional Excellence Award and the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.
She is the CEO & Principal Consultant at Hexagon Wellness Solutions and the President of the Nigerian Canadian Association of Edmonton. Funke also serves on the board of the Bredin Centre for Career Advancement.
Jenny Smith (she/her)
Jenny Mae felt a deep longing for community in the early days of the pandemic and after setting out to virtually connect with her closest neighbours, she quickly discovered that it just wasn't enough. Now in her second term, she is the passionate President of the Braeside Community Association (BCA), leading alongside an incredible team of board members and breathing vibrancy back into the community. She holds a big vision for what's possible in her beautiful community. In 2024 she graciously, and tearfully, accepted the Lloyd Sadd Community Hero Award. This moment solidified that she was doing exactly what she was meant to do.
After 14 years in the human relations field, Jenny Mae decided to take a sabbatical of sorts, to begin an entrepreneurship journey while caring for her parents who had both just transitioned to care homes in different cities. This time in her life catalyzed her place as a woman, as she began living beyond the confines of her role as Daughter, Mother, and corporate employee. She began healing her own heart and challenging the narrative of the family relationships she had endured growing up.
Jenny Mae travels often and always with intention, seeking inspiration and life-giving medicine. She recently travelled (twice!) to Yorkshire in the UK to foster reconnection with her ancestral roots. She is passionate about living in relationship with the land, in community and with respect and regard for those who came before us.
Her mid-life has been her awakening and the threshold turning point for her growth, impact & expansion. She is a listener, a writer, a storyteller and a truth-teller. She connects with women through love, and is fiercely committed to creating spaces that catalyze the truth, foster community, and deepen relationships. The launch of her podcast (Somebody Else's Dream) is right around the corner and her intimate shame-shifting space, Catharsis, will be launched in late November.
Kayla Taylor (she/her)
Kayla Taylor's journey into politics began with campaign work last year, which led to her current role as a political staffer for two Alberta MLAs. She has aspirations to become a campaign manager before ultimately running as a candidate herself in the future. Kayla is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Mount Royal University, majoring in history and minoring in Indigenous studies and political science. She also holds a diploma in Business Administration with a focus on accounting. Kayla is deeply passionate about fostering inclusive communities, with a particular focus on advocating for unhoused individuals.
Outside of her studies and political work, Kayla enjoys spending time with friends—many of whom don't yet share her enthusiasm for politics. She often encourages them to engage in conversations that help them better understand how politics impacts their lives, in a supportive and accessible way. One of her goals is to make politics more reachable for the general public, helping people see how governance and policy directly affect their day-to-day lives. When she's not with friends or studying, Kayla can often be found volunteering and contributing to her community.
Kristine Wilkinson (she/her)
As a dedicated staff officer at the Alberta Teachers’ Association in communications, Kristine brings over 25 years of experience in education to her role. She’s a proud advocate for teachers, committed to representing their voices and interests. Outside of work, she’s a married mom of boys who loves spending time with her family. One of her favorite activities is walking her dog through Fort Saskatchewan’s beautiful river valley. She is 100% an extrovert with a very loud personality, and if you know her, you know it!
Madina Kanayeva (she/they)
Madina Kanayeva (she/they) is a graduate of Mount Royal University with a major in Policy Studies and a minor in Political Science. During her academic career, Madina served as Vice-President External for the Students' Association of Mount Royal University, for which she was awarded the Dr. Yusuf Umar Scholarship for political engagement. During her term, Madina also served as the Chair of the Federal Policy Committee for the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and as the voting member for the Council of Alberta University Students. Upon graduating, Madina worked in various non-profit organizations in Calgary before becoming the Manager of Membership and Fund Development at Calgary Pride. In 2018, Madina established her arts-based non-profit called Safehouse Society for Innovation and Creativity, which focuses on community wealth building in Alberta. Currently, Madina works for the Department of National Defence as a Policy Officer in the Personnel Policy Analyst Recruitment Program.
Michelle Walther (she/her)
Michelle Walther works at the Okotoks Public Library doing programming for children. Her favourite thing about Okotoks is its community spirit, especially its willingness to come together to lend a helping hand. She also appreciates the places to play and pursue passions that it offers.
She is passionate about ensuring safety and affordable living within her community.
Michelle is a proud parent, accomplished speed walker (she competed in the World Masters!), and #1 fan of her cat, Steve.
Pratiksha Gurung (she/her)
Pratiksha Gurung is a Project Manager at The City of Calgary, where she plays a key role in implementing the City’s new housing strategy. With extensive experience across all levels of government, her work spans diverse issues, including community safety, affordable housing, and health research. Throughout her career, Pratiksha has been committed to fostering collaborative partnerships and leading initiatives rooted in evidence-based research and inclusive policy frameworks.
Pratiksha's immigrant background informs her passion for building vibrant, sustainable communities. She has mobilized regional projects focused on textile sustainability and developing leadership opportunities for newcomer professionals through her work with the Global Shapers Edmonton and the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC). Pratiksha also recently served on the Board of Directors for the Terra Centre, a non-profit organization that provides wrap-around support for teen parents and young families. Her latest passion project is launching Everest Living – a Calgary-based small business offering curated Himalayan rituals for the mind, body, and soul.
Stella Igweamaka (she/her)
Originally from Nigeria, Stella Igweamaka is an award-winning social researcher, writer, and changemaker. Stella is passionate about leveraging research and storytelling to drive meaningful change and was recently highlighted in CBC News for her work with Black Canadian Women in Action (BCW) on the Adultification Bias of Black Girls in Canada. Stella earned her MBA from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and in 2022, collaborated with Pitch Better and the Canadian Women's Foundation on the first national survey for Black women entrepreneurs in Canada shedding light on the funding disparities they encounter. Additionally, Stella has partnered with Sisters in Sync for their pioneering study on Reframing Approaches to Justice for Black Women & Girls in Canada, aiming to highlight the insights from this important research. Most recently, Stella was appointed as a member of the Women's Advisory Voice of Edmonton (WAVE), where she is championing women's involvement in civic responsibilities and municipal government among other strategic goals. In April 2024, Stella was recognized as a Young Impact Leader by Future of Good for her dedication to amplifying marginalized voices and championing meaningful change.
LinkedIn: Stella Igweamaka
Tania Ymbi (she/her)
Tania Ymbi is an Edmonton-based project coordinator with over 10 years of experience in youth and community engagement. She holds a Diploma in Legal Administrative Assistance and a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies from Concordia University in Montreal. Currently working on a youth gang prevention project, Tania is also an avid painter and enjoys reality TV and documentaries. With a growing interest in law, she is excited to be part of the 2024 AskHer cohort as she continues to shape her career.
Ugochi Okoli (she/her)
With over five years of experience in communications, Ugochi Okoli is an experienced Communications Professional with major interest in writing, politics, leadership, and project management. Ugochi excels in crafting compelling narratives and executing strategic communication plans that drive engagement and foster organizational growth. She strives for excellence and innovation in every project she undertakes. Ugochi is also a Creative Writer and has published both poetry and non-fiction pieces in literary magazines. One of her works, ‘To The Broken Ones’ was nominated for the Sundress Best of Net Prize. Her essay has also been published in Narratives on Women’s Issues Vol 2: Women Power by the International Human Rights Festival. She is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Creative Writing with Humber College and is also a 2024 Ujima Leadership Fellow with the African Center. Ugochi hopes to have a positive impact in her community through community engagement and volunteering. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing and reading.
Ziyana Kotadia (she/her/they/them)
Ziyana Kotadia is a Calgarian anti-violence and gender justice advocate. As the Strategic Communications & Public Relations Specialist at Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, Ziyana applies social justice theories and principles to drive knowledge mobilization projects focused on research findings, policy recommendations, legislative reforms, and practice changes to prevent gender-based violence.
Armed with an MPhil in Multi-Disciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge, Ziyana was recognized as one of Alberta's 2024 Top 30 Under 30 and a 2023 Rising Star National Finalist with the Women Empowerment Awards. She has served in several leadership roles across not-for-profits, including as the inaugural Chair of the Safe Campus Coalition, Vice-President University Affairs for Western University’s students’ union, and co-author of the “Our Campus, Our Safety” violence-prevention national action plan representing 1.2M+ students across Canada.
Ziyana is currently an advisor to Senator Marilou McPhedran via the Canadian Council of Young Feminists, sits on the Boards of Directors for Plan International Canada and Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre, and recently represented Canadian youth as an official delegate with Young Diplomats of Canada to the 2024 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.