Evolving DEI: Practical Strategies for Boards

June 9, 2025

As DEI initiatives face increasing pushback and legal challenges, boards must navigate shifting expectations while maintaining inclusive leadership. In this session we will discuss the evolving DEI landscape from global and Canadian perspectives
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Our Fireside Chat Features:


Erin Davis

Founder & Chief Strategist, Erin Davis Co.
Board Member, Explore Edmonton & Pride Centre of Edmonton


Chelsey Quirk

CEO, Indigenous Tourism Alberta
Former Board Member, Elevate Aviation & Aksis


Laura McGee

Founder & CEO, Diversio
Former Board Member, ArcTern Ventures & Global Citizen

Moderated by:


Angela Fong

Board Director, Export Development Canada, Edmonton International Airport, University of Alberta Innovation Fund, Gateway Mechanical, Inline Group Inc & Bee-Clean Corp.

With generous support of the Government of Alberta, we are thrilled to host another Board Ready Women Edmonton session.

Please join us for our next Board Ready Women Edmonton event on June 9th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm (MT). We will be hosting this session in person and virtually. In-person registration starts at 4:00 pm, with the panel starting at 4:30 pm, followed by cocktails and networking. Virtual networking rooms will also be available after the panel discussion.

Please note that in-person attendance is limited, so we encourage you to register early to secure your spot.

As DEI initiatives face increasing pushback and legal challenges, boards must navigate shifting expectations while maintaining inclusive leadership. In this session we will discuss the evolving DEI landscape from global and Canadian perspectives and how to keep moving toward meaningful, measurable impact.

Hear it from— Erin Davis, Laura McGee, and Chelsey Quirk—moderated by Angela Fong as they discuss practical strategies to address legal, reputational, and stakeholder concerns while continuing to advance inclusion.

BRW Network Members/Associates:

 Free

Non-members:

In-person $50/person

Virtual $30/person

(All ticket sales are final and cannot be refunded or exchanged)

 

To sign-up for Board Ready Women Network membership: 

https://boardreadywomen.com/sign-up-for-board-ready-women/

Should you have any questions, please direct them to boardreadywomen@gmail.com.

Register Here


Speakers' Bios:

Erin Davis


Founder & Chief Strategist, Erin Davis Co.


Board Member, Explore Edmonton & Pride Centre of Edmonton

Erin Davis (she/her) is an award-winning leader in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and an experienced governance professional, helping boards and executive teams embed inclusion into decision-making, leadership pipelines, and organizational strategy. As the Founder and Lead Inclusion Strategist at Erin Davis Co., she partners with leadership teams to future-proof their organizations by aligning inclusive practices with governance excellence.

Erin currently serves as Chair of the Governance and HR Committee at Explore Edmonton and sits on the Board of Directors for the Pride Centre of Edmonton. Erin’s past board and advisory experience includes governance roles with McMan Youth, Family and Community Services, Ballet Edmonton, the Edmonton Business Diversity Network (EBDN), Women in APEGA, and the 1000 Women Advisory Committee for NorQuest College.

Her broader leadership has been recognized globally, including speaking at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Erin also hosts Unapologetic with Erin Davis, a podcast exploring bold conversations and quiet truths about leadership, inclusion, and the future of work. She resides in Edmonton, Treaty 6 Territory, Region 4 of the Métis Nation of Alberta, with her husband and two children.

 

Chelsey Quirk


CEO, Indigenous Tourism Alberta


Former Board Member, Elevate Aviation & Aksis

Chelsey is a proud Métis woman with roots from the Sinclair and Swain Families in the Red River Valley. She is dedicated to advocating for Indigenous rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She recently accepted the role as Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Tourism Alberta with a vision to build on existing momentum and elevate Indigenous Tourism. Growing up in the tourism industry, Chelsey understands the immense economic and cultural impact that tourism has and the importance of fostering collaborative relationships to bring that impact to the forefront.

Prior to ITA, Chelsey worked at Edmonton Airports, where she led the creation of an Indigenous Interpretive and Retail Centre, fostering meaningful relationships and economic growth. She is recognized as a subject matter expert in social impact and economic reconciliation within the aviation industry.

Chelsey also served on the Elevate Aviation Board of Directors, supporting women and underrepresented groups in aviation careers. Additionally, she completed a board term with Aksis – Edmonton’s Indigenous Professionals Association. Chelsey was also named one of Edify Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for her dedication to creating change and space for Indigenous peoples.

In her personal time, Chelsey enjoys cheering on her favourite sports teams, losing balls on the golf course and spending time with her family and animals on an acreage south of Edmonton.

 

Laura McGee


Founder & CEO, Diversio


Former Board Member, ArcTern Ventures & Global Citizen

Laura McGee is the founder and CEO of Diversio, a Toronto-based technology company that uses AI to enhance organizational culture. She holds degrees from Western University and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Before founding Diversio in 2018, Laura worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. She serves on several boards, including ArcTern Ventures and Global Citizen, and is a David Rockefeller Fellow with the Trilateral Commission.

Diversio’s innovative platform uses AI and data analytics to enhance workplace well-being and support employee mental health. Diversio has been distinguished as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025, building upon its previous accolades, which include being a finalist in the World Changing Ideas in AI and Data for both 2021 and 2022, as well as a recipient of the 2020 World Summit Award.

 

 

Moderator: Angela Fong


FBoard Director, Export Development Canada, Edmonton International Airport, University of Alberta Innovation Fund, Gateway Mechanical, Inline Group Inc & Bee-Clean Corp.

Angela is an independent Corporate Director, Business Advisor and retired Chief Corporate Officer at Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). Angela currently serves on the boards of Export Development Canada, the Edmonton International Airport, University of Alberta Innovation Fund, Gateway Mechanical (Advisory Board Chair), Inline Group Inc and Bee-Clean Corporate. 

Angela is a Senior Strategy Advisor (consulting) to Investor Leadership Network (ILN). ILN was launched at the 2018 G7 and is a CEO-led group of institutional investors, asset owners and asset managers representing over 10 trillion dollars of assets under management. 

Following a distinguished 25-year career as an executive in a variety of industries, Angela retired as the Chief Corporate Officer with Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) in 2023. AIMCo is one of Canada’s largest institutional investment managers with $160 billion of assets under management. Angela’s executive oversight has included Corporate Strategy & Planning, Corporate Communications & Stakeholder Relations, Government Relations, Corporate & Board Governance, Corporate Human Resources, Business Technology, Acquisition Due Diligence and Integration, Enterprise Risk Management and Enterprise Program Delivery and Business Services. 

Prior to joining AIMCo, Angela held executive level positions within a variety of industries including engineering and geomatics, insurance adjusting and airport management.