Find speakers by:
Request more info

The Hon. Maryam Monsef

Founder and CEO, ONWARD

Maryam Monsef Headshot
Speaker Reel
The
Maryam Monsef Headshot
Speaker Reel

From 2015-2021, The Honourable Maryam Monsef served as Canada’s Minister for Democratic Institutions, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister of International Development, and Minister of Rural Economic Development. She also established Canada’s first full department for Women and Gender Equality. Today, as the founder and CEO of ONWARD, Monsef continues to advance her vision for a world where women and their families are thriving. She is a globally recognized feminist, leader, and changemaker who equips audiences with effective DEI strategies while sharing hard-earned lessons on leadership and resilience.

For two consecutive years, Monsef was recognized by Apolitical, as well as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and Malala, as one of the “Top 20 Global Influencers on Gender Equality”. After leaving politics, she founded ONWARD to build a community that empowers, connects, and supports women. It also acts as a resource for professional women feeling stuck at a difficult point in their lives.

An Afghan Canadian, Monsef came to Canada as a refugee. In 2015, she was elected as a Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha and joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet. She was tasked with driving social and economic justice files for the Government of Canada, both at home and abroad. Under her stewardship, Canada was recognized as a world leader in sexual and reproductive health and rights, for its investments in domestic and international grassroots women’s organizations, and for its intersectional response to COVID-19.

Monsef currently chairs the Women United Campaign with the United Way Peterborough and District, is involved with the Trent University community, and works closely with Afghan women human rights defenders and other high-impact teams locally, nationally, and globally. Throughout her political career, Monsef has spoken at several high-profile events, including The World Economic Forum, the G7, the G20, and in front of the UN.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

Need assistance?

Client reviews

  • Maryam was AMAZING!! Her authenticity and openness was inspiring and her format worked really well for virtual. I had chills when she was speaking. It hit so close to home with attendees when Maryam spoke about immigrating here and how some of the hardest parts of her journey occurred once she arrived in Canada. I could have listened to Maryam for hours.

You might also like

Related speakers.