Mathieu Young is a queer Mauritian who is passionate about empowering marginalized communities, particularly queer immigrants of color, through dialogue, education, and activism. Mathieu is also a multidisciplinary artist, known for organizing events that celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community, with a particular focus on uplifting queer Asian and African immigrants. Mathieu’s career has been marked by a deep commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As President of the Board of Directors for Action positive VIH/sida, Mathieu was responsible for securing funding and ensuring the successful operation of the organization’s programs and services. Mathieu also served as Community Engagement Coordinator for FrancoQueer, where they organized workshops, support groups, and events, while leading training on gender identity, sexual orientation, and anti-racism. With extensive experience in project management, community outreach, and event planning, Mathieu brings a unique and valuable perspective to the sector.

Misha Goforth is a project manager and gender equity specialist with several years of experience in the international development and policy field. She holds a Master of International Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. In her professional and academic careers, Misha is devoted to integrating gender justice and intersectionality into public policy in the international development and environmental fields and has a keen interest in advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in these spaces. In 2019, she presented on “Gender and the Environment” at the International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology where she led a discussion on the integration of gender-equitable approaches to environmental research. For the past several years, she has worked as a gender advisor with the Government of Mongolia where she helped pass the first Gender-Responsive Policy for the extractive sector in Mongolia. With her passion for practical research, Misha has also advocated for the rights of refugees with Global Affairs Canada and is currently supporting a project on empowering racialized and newcomer youth with Empowerment Squared in Hamilton.