The Board of Directors of the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) has appointed a new president to drive national growth and supply chain innovation. Effective February 18, 2026, Dr. Georgette Zinaty, a globally recognized expert in leadership, innovation, and diversity, will take the helm of the organization.
The timing is right too, given the crucial juncture the Canadian economy finds itself at. Dr. Zinaty will lead the organization through a bold new strategic phase that seeks to bridge the gap between women-owned businesses and the high-value supply chains of major corporations and government entities.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Georgette Zinaty as our new President,” said Celso Afonseca, Chair of the WBE Canada Board of Directors. “Dr. Zinaty is a purpose-driven, strategic leader whose visionary leadership and deep commitment to advancing women-owned businesses, driving innovation, and strengthening inclusion will guide the organization into its next chapter. Together with our team and partners, she will champion our WBE community while strengthening partnerships and delivering meaningful value to our corporate members, fostering collaboration, connection, and sustainable growth across Canada.”
Further to holding a Doctorate in Business (DBA), a joint program with the Rotman School of Business and the Henley School of Business, Dr. Zinaty brings two decades of executive leadership in academia, technology, and consultancy, which will accelerate WBE Canada’s mission of building a strong, inclusive Canadian ecosystem. Her research focused on the future of leadership and the importance of diversity in organizational performance, complementary to her Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, a Master of Science from the Henley School of Business, and a certificate in Leading Strategic Change within Organizations from Harvard University.
Prior to undertaking this role, Dr. Zinaty served as the Chief of Staff at Myant Corporation, a leader in textile computing and advanced material science, was Executive Vice President at Corporate Class Inc., and had over 20 years in senior leadership at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Zinaty is the recipient of the CILAR Aspiring Innovator of the Year Award, the Community Leader Award by Immigrant at Large Canada, and the Remarkable Citizen Award, and was named an Immigrant Woman of Inspiration by the publication Canadian Immigrant. As the founder of WHEW! (Women Helping Empower Women), she has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to capacity building and grassroots action. She is also a regular contributor to Forbes and is a two-time TEDx speaker.
“I am honoured to join WBE Canada and am deeply inspired by the mission to connect women-owned businesses with the public and private sectors,” said Dr. Zinaty. “Supplier diversity is more than a strategic imperative; it is a vital asset for any organization looking to mitigate risk and drive innovation in today’s volatile global market. I am eager to work with our purpose-driven team and Board of Directors to take WBE Canada to the next level, ensuring that women-owned and led firms are not only part of the conversation but are central to Canada’s economic stability and growth.”
Under Dr. Zinaty’s leadership, WBE Canada will focus on three core strategic areas: innovation in supply chain, technological empowerment, community and ecosystem building. Efforts will be made to move beyond traditional metrics to better integrate inclusion and innovation into core business strategies, to help WBEs leverage AI and digital transformation to scale their operations and successfully bid on major procurement contracts, and to strengthen the bridge between WBEs and buyers through networking, matchmaking, and national events.
