Dr. Zainul Virgi

ZAINUL VIRGI, PhD, PMP PROJECT MANAGER | SENIOR CONSULTANT | GLOBAL LEADER IN EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING | ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION- |-| Oshawa, Ontario | Zainul Virgi | LinkedIn PROFILE Dr. Zainul Virgi is a global transformative leader with over 15 years of experience in leveraging gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) and equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) principles to drive organizational innovation, enhance talent retention, and maximize intellectual and creative capital. With a proven track record of embedding these principles into policy development, strategic planning, and workforce initiatives, she has created inclusive environments that foster diverse knowledge, ideas, and perspectives, leading to sustainable, high-impact solutions that align with organizational goals and address equity challenges. Zainul’s leadership excels in driving systemic change through collaboration, working with crossfunctional teams and diverse stakeholders to achieve measurable outcomes. She has successfully led organizational change efforts, enabling organizations to thrive in dynamic, evolving environments. Through her strategic influence, she empowers organizations to cultivate cultures where all individuals feel respected, valued, and engaged—ultimately enhancing creativity, decision-making, and overall performance. Beyond her expertise in EDIB, Zainul has applied her leadership in diverse sectors, including healthcare, education, and international development. Her experience spans policy development, program evaluation, and organizational transformation, demonstrating her agility in driving change across industries. Whether improving recruitment and retention, fostering innovation, or shaping forward-thinking strategies, Zainul’s approach is focused on creating lasting, inclusive impact. Security Clearance: Secret WORK EXPERIENCE Department of National Defence – Ottawa, ON Senior Special Advisor and Expert, GBA+, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging 2023 – Present Strategic leader advancing GBA+ and EDIB within the Department of National Defence by embedding equity frameworks across organizational culture, leadership, systems, and policies. Spearheaded initiatives that align institutional mandates with equity goals, foster psychological safety, and integrate diverse knowledge systems into governance and operations. Key Deliverables • Developed equity-focused policies that increased inclusion, trust, and innovation within diverse, cross-functional teams. Developed plan to ensure enterprise-level culture change initiatives by integrating EDIB into strategic planning, decision-making, and service delivery. Dr. Zainul Virgi 1|Page • Delivered executive and staff training to strengthen capacity and ensure equity frameworks were embedded into day-to-day operations. • Designed inclusive leadership and planning approaches that improved team performance, engagement, and psychological safety. Impact: Aligned defence mandates with measurable equity outcomes. Enhanced institutional readiness to adapt to diverse perspectives, advancing a culture of innovation, belonging, and resilience. Become Your Destiny Enterprise – Oshawa, ON Principal, EDIB Strategy & Leadership 2023 – Present Provided EDIB expertise to government, healthcare, education, civil society, and international sectors. Designed and executed organizational strategies that dismantle systemic barriers, foster belonging, and enhance performance. Key Deliverables • Led the integration of EDIB frameworks across policy, planning, and practice for measurable impact. • Created inclusive governance and decision-making models grounded in lived experience and diverse perspectives. • Advised on systems change and policy development to improve equity in access, opportunity, and representation. • Supported leaders and organizations in building long-term equity capacity through consultation, training, and co-design. Impact: Catalyzed sustainable systems transformation and inclusive leadership practices. Strengthened institutional ability to lead with equity and respond to complex challenges with creativity, fairness, and accountability. Goss Gilroy Inc. – Toronto, ON Principal, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 2021 – 2022 Supported EDI initiatives across sectors including government, mental health, labour mobility, and health professional integration. Focused on dismantling systemic barriers, shifting power dynamics, and advancing inclusive, evidence-based policy and practice. Key Deliverables • Advised institutions on equity strategies that improved access to services, opportunities, and representation for historically marginalized communities. • Facilitated cross-sector collaboration to co-create inclusive approaches tailored to local contexts and lived experience. • Integrated equity into HR, policy, and regulatory frameworks, fostering long-term systems transformation. • Elevated discourse on privilege and racial equity to challenge embedded organizational power structures. Impact: Improved equity outcomes for equity-deserving groups including international workers and Indigenous communities. Strengthened sector capacity to deliver on inclusion goals. Dr. Zainul Virgi 2|Page Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) – Ottawa, Ontario Project Manager / Project Monitor, Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program 2021 – 2022 Managed a national feasibility study assessing how aggregate data from regulatory bodies could enhance understanding of the credential recognition process for skilled newcomers to Canada. Key Deliverables • Developed a comprehensive data collection and stakeholder engagement strategy. • Identified key barriers within the FCR system using trend analysis and initial data gathering. • Assessed long-term feasibility of data acquisition, including privacy and resource considerations. • Delivered policy recommendations to inform future ESDC strategies aimed at improving newcomer labour market integration. Impact: Laid groundwork for data-driven reforms to improve employment outcomes for internationally trained professionals. Global Affairs Canada – Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) – Ottawa, Ontario Project Manager, GBA+ of CanExport Program 2021 – 2022 Supported an intersectional GBA+ and EDI baseline assessment of the $33M+ CanExport funding program, which supports Canadian SMEs, innovators, and associations in international trade. The analysis spanned the program lifecycle—from design to evaluation—to assess equity in access and impact. Key Deliverables • GBA+ Framework: Developed a GBA+ framework capturing gender, race, age, disability, and regional equity across program components. • Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged diverse stakeholders, including beneficiaries and delivery teams, to inform inclusive program design. • Disaggregated Data: Analyzed disaggregated data to identify systemic barriers, service gaps, and differential outcomes. • Strategic Communication Plan: Delivered recommendations and a strategic communications plan to inform future inclusive trade policy. Impact: Strengthened equitable access to CanExport funds and increased internal capacity to embed GBA+ into trade programs and monitoring systems. City of Pickering – Pickering, Ontario EDI Advisor, Strategy Development & Monitoring 2021 – 2022 Advised the City of Pickering and its Public Library in developing a citywide Diversity and Inclusion Strategy aligned with organizational priorities and community needs. Dr. Zainul Virgi 3|Page Key Deliverables • Base Line Review: Supported a baseline review of workforce, community, and public service demographics. • Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged employees, community members, and marginalized groups to co-develop D&I priorities. • Inclusive Communication: Created inclusive communication guidelines and community-centered initiatives to build belonging. Impact: Delivered a citywide D&I strategy with measurable goals, aligning leadership, services, and community outreach with inclusive practices and long-term equity objectives. A2Z Strategic Consulting – Montreal, Quebec Project Manager and Monitor – Governance and Policy Development September 2018 – August 2021 Led the design of a culturally responsive governance framework for two key educational institutions serving the Ahkwesãhsne Mohawk community. Grounded in principles of selfdetermination, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), the project ensured governance structures were reflective of Indigenous values and equipped for sustainable leadership. Key Deliverables • Governance Architecture: Defined mission-aligned roles, responsibilities, and core values; developed policy frameworks to guide transparent, accountable decision-making. • Cultural Integration: Embedded Indigenous knowledge systems, language, and cultural preservation in all aspects of governance and planning. • Stakeholder Engagement: Designed and led inclusive engagement strategies to ensure community participation and alignment with long-term educational aspirations. • Strategic Planning & Risk Management: Developed logic models, planning tools, and risk mitigation strategies to support resilience and long-term institutional health. • Equity-Centered Policy: Applied an intersectional EDI lens to all governance and policy work, influencing strategic priorities and leadership development programs. • Data-Driven Change: Introduced Indigenous data governance practices and EDI metrics to evaluate progress in leadership, education access, and quality of life outcomes. Impact: Developed governance policies that were swiftly adopted by senior leadership and embedded into institutional strategic plans, signaling a clear commitment to systemic equity. Strengthened organizational capacity for long-term EDIB sustainability by leading mentoring initiatives, executive leadership development, and tailored board training. Dr. Zainul Virgi 4|Page Ministry of Health, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) – Ottawa, Ontario Achieving Health Equity for Canadians 2030 Project Manager | Lead Consultant October 2019 – February 2020 Led a national foresight initiative to explore the future of chronic disease prevention and health equity in Canada by 2030. The project emphasized systems-level change, cross-sector collaboration, and the prioritization of marginalized voices in strategic health planning. Key Deliverables • Foresight Framework: Created a methodology to guide scenario development and long-term strategic planning rooted in equity. • Scenarios & Analysis: Developed equity-focused futures scenarios assessing the impact of socio-economic, technological, and cultural shifts on health disparities. • Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged a broad coalition of voices—from community members to public health leaders—using participatory and inclusive methodologies. • Equity Impact Evaluation: Conducted analyses of how systemic structures (laws, budgets, policies) perpetuate or mitigate inequities. • Policy Mapping: Identified transformative interventions and innovations with the potential to advance health equity across diverse communities. Impact: Provided strategic insight to executive leadership by identifying structural and cultural barriers to equity within public health systems. Advocated for the inclusion of historically marginalized knowledge systems in health policy development, influencing more culturally responsive and effective interventions. Championed cross-sectoral partnerships as vital to tackling complex health inequities, fostering collaborative solutions across government, community, and academic sectors. Positioned equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as a foundational pillar in shaping future-focused, population-level health strategies. Seneca College – Toronto, Ontario Professor – Honors Bachelor of Child Development, School of Early Childhood Education 2017 – 2018 Taught upper-year courses in Transformational Leadership and Global Development, challenging students to think critically about the policies and structures that shape global and local realities. Emphasized the application of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) principles through a feminist and intersectional lens, enabling students to recognize systemic barriers and envision their own agency in shaping a more just and inclusive world. Key Deliverables • Innovative Curriculum Delivery: Designed and facilitated curriculum that integrated EDIB principles with critical theory and policy analysis, preparing students to lead with integrity and empathy in diverse professional settings. • Inclusive Pedagogy: Fostered an inclusive classroom culture where all forms of knowledge were valued, especially those grounded in lived experience and marginalized perspectives. Dr. Zainul Virgi 5|Page • Critical Data Literacy: Introduced students to the importance of disaggregated data, representation, and decision-making power in shaping outcomes across sectors. • Leadership Development: Supported students in identifying their leadership values and understanding how to navigate and disrupt oppressive systems in service of collective well-being and social transformation. • Global Engagement: Encouraged students to engage with global equity challenges, enabling a broadened worldview grounded in human rights, sustainability, and inclusive development. Impact: Empowered a new generation of early childhood professionals and child development advocates to incorporate EDIB values into their practice and champion systemic change in their communities and workplaces. Ag-Connectors - Amsterdam, Netherlands Senior Advisor, Gender and Development – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 2016 – 2019 Supported initiatives to identify and dismantle systemic barriers faced by girls and women in agriculture, trade, and commerce. Focused on quality-of-life indicators—such as access to health, education, law, and economic resources—as foundational elements for achieving equity. Emphasized voice, power, and access as core levers of transformation. Key Deliverables • Research Framework: Developed a robust framework to study gender dynamics in agriculture and commerce, with a focus on intersectionality, disaggregated data, and policy gaps. • Policy Monitoring: Analyzed existing sectoral policies through an EDIB lens, identifying opportunities to advance gender equity and inclusive economic development. • Stakeholder Engagement: Supported inclusive consultations with farmers, artisans, NGOs, and community leaders to integrate diverse perspectives and knowledge systems. • Capacity Building: Designed and delivered gender-sensitive leadership and entrepreneurship training programs tailored for women and marginalized communities. • Cultural Dialogue Facilitation: Facilitated culturally grounded community dialogues to address gender norms and structural discrimination. • Resource Mapping & Access: Mapped local resources and developed strategies to increase market access for women-led initiatives and marginalized producers. • Performance & Progress Frameworks: Introduced gender equity metrics and evaluation tools to measure long-term impact in participation, income, and decisionmaking roles. Impact: Influenced international policy conversations on gender equity in agriculture and commerce, while equipping stakeholders with the frameworks, tools, and strategies to sustain inclusive development outcomes. Dr. Zainul Virgi 6|Page UNESCO, Mozambique - Maputo, Mozambique Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Senior Leadership 2011 – 2012 Led a UNESCO initiative focused on identifying technical and systemic barriers experienced by female entrepreneurs in Mozambique as they sought to establish, sustain, and scale small- to medium-sized enterprises. The work prioritized inclusive economic development, rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles tailored to the Mozambican context. Key Deliverables • Cross-Sector Collaboration: Worked with thought leaders across public, private, and community sectors to uncover root causes preventing equity in health, education, training, cultural tourism, and financial services. • Inclusive Strategic Planning: Advanced the inclusion of historically marginalized groups in strategic planning processes, ensuring their voices shaped program priorities and outcomes. • Governance and Policy Design: Developed governance frameworks and internal processes that enabled equitable access, opportunity, and representation across sectors. Impact: Institutionalized mechanisms that enabled more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and policy spaces, paving the way for equitable economic participation by women and marginalized communities. Independent Consultant – Various NGOs – Maputo, Mozambique Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Senior Leadership 2007 – 2015 Served as a senior advisor to grassroots NGOs, supporting their efforts to access funding and align internal policies and strategies with EDI principles. The consultancy focused on enhancing organizational resilience through inclusive leadership and evidence-informed equity strategies. Key Deliverables • Barrier Removal & Organizational Change: Facilitated high-level dialogues between NGO leadership and funders to identify and remove structural and policy-related barriers to equity and stakeholder inclusion. • Strategic EDI Integration: Provided tailored guidance on embedding EDI principles into recruitment, service design, governance, and strategic decision-making processes. • Data Governance: Led the design of equitable data collection, analysis, and reporting systems, ensuring communities’ needs and experiences informed funding priorities and service delivery. • Policy Analysis & Risk Mitigation: Delivered comprehensive impact assessments of existing diversity and inclusion policies, equipping organizations with actionable insights and risk/benefit scenarios. Dr. Zainul Virgi 7|Page • Capacity Building & Retention: Strengthened organizational capacity by enhancing recruitment and retention policies for underrepresented groups and promoting inclusive workplace cultures. Impact: Supported grassroots NGOs in achieving more equitable access to funding and decision-making spaces, while influencing broader sector conversations on power, agency, and inclusive development practices at both national and international levels. United Way of Peel Region – Mississauga, Ontario Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Strategic Change Advisor 2004 – 2006 Led a strategic review of funding streams, applying an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) framework to improve accessibility and effectiveness of grants for diverse organizations supported by United Way of Peel Region. The work aimed to better serve marginalized communities through inclusive and impactful philanthropy. Key Deliverables • Strategic Guidance to Leadership: Provided executive leadership with expert advice on aligning funding strategies with equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, ensuring a more inclusive approach to grant distribution. • Data-Driven Decision Making: Highlighted the importance of EDI data collection and reporting, which led to the development of more targeted funding streams, ensuring marginalized communities received adequate support. • Equity-Based Funding Model: Designed and implemented a philanthropic funding model grounded in equity, leveraging data and insights from underrepresented groups to enhance the likelihood of sustainable social change. • Leadership Advocacy: Influenced senior leadership to initiate the removal of systemic barriers and practices that hindered the inclusion of diverse voices in program planning, policy, and service delivery. • Cross-Sector Collaboration: Worked closely with thought leaders from various sectors (public, private, and community) to identify and address root issues preventing equitable access to resources and opportunities. Impact: Developed an inclusive funding model that directly addressed the needs of marginalized communities, fostering social change through equitable philanthropic practices. Region of Peel, Ontario Works - Mississauga, Ontario Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Strategic Change Advisor 2003 Led a project focused on reviewing policies for fund distribution, with a particular emphasis on assessing barriers to accessing Ontario Works for new Canadians, visible minorities, and refugees. The goal was to dismantle systemic barriers and create pathways to better employment opportunities for these communities. Key Deliverables • Barriers to Access: Introduced 20 actionable recommendations aimed at addressing the specific barriers faced by vulnerable Ontario Works clients, all of which were adopted by the Region of Peel’s Chief Administrative Officer. • Leadership Influence: Played a key role in influencing senior leadership to remove organizational practices that impeded the inclusion of diverse voices and experiences in policy development and service delivery. Dr. Zainul Virgi 8|Page • Best Practice Approach: Applied best practices in EDI by involving Ontario Works clients in the policy development process, ensuring that their needs and insights shaped sustainable and impactful solutions. • Improved Policy Inclusion: Enhanced the inclusion of underrepresented groups in policy planning, ensuring that diverse community organizations and advocates were integrated into decision-making processes. Impact: Improved access to services for marginalized groups, enabling many clients to transition off Ontario Works into higher-paying, sustainable employment through improved policies and support structures. Region of Peel, Social Services - Mississauga, Ontario Community Development - Strategic Change Advisor 2002 Focused on identifying the needs and services required for vulnerable communities living along Highway 10 in the Region of Peel. The project aimed to assess systemic barriers and ensure that services effectively addressed the unique needs of these communities. Key Deliverables • Community-Centered Approach: Applied best practices in community development by engaging diverse stakeholders, ensuring the development of relevant, inclusive solutions to address local challenges. • Systemic Barriers Identification: Led focus groups and key informant interviews with community members to better understand barriers related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, resulting in valuable insights for service improvement. • Service Optimization: Worked with local organizations to ensure that service offerings were aligned with the unique needs of vulnerable groups, leading to more effective program delivery and outcomes. Impact: Developed and implemented strategies to improve services for vulnerable communities, leading to enhanced social supports and greater access to necessary resources. Department of Canadian Heritage – Toronto, Ontario Community Development - Strategic Change Advisor, Federal Government 2001 Led a project to develop an innovative funding model aimed at benefiting younger communities while fostering collaboration with more established ones. The project sought to ensure that each community played a distinct role within the framework, allowing them to address specific needs while working together in a shared space. Key Deliverables • Equity-Based Funding Model: Developed and implemented an equity-based philanthropic funding model, proactively engaging leaders from underrepresented communities to ensure that marginalized voices were included in decision-making processes. This approach contributed to the achievement of sustainable social change. • Partnership Building: Established strong partnerships with government, non-profit, and community-based organizations to raise awareness about diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges and raise funds for initiatives that addressed these issues, leading to more inclusive programs. • Root Cause Identification: Worked closely with community leaders to identify systemic barriers preventing communities from achieving equity, diversity, and inclusion in service and program delivery. This collaborative effort ensured that strategies were effectively targeted and had lasting impact. Dr. Zainul Virgi 9|Page Impact: Successfully created a framework for inclusive, collaborative community development that promoted mutual understanding and action on key equity issues, fostering long-term social change. Aga Khan Development Network – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Innovation and Education – Senior Officer- Spearheaded a cultural shift within the organization from a teacher-centric to a student-centric approach in strategic planning, training, and development. The initiative resulted in forwardthinking strategic plans, enhanced training programs, and a better-equipped workforce with clear success factors, recruitment, and performance assessments. Key Deliverables • Equity and Inclusion Leadership: Provided executive leadership and strategic guidance on equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly in the educational sector, focusing on data collection, reporting, and creating inclusive environments for students and staff alike. • Influencing Organizational Change: Successfully influenced senior leadership, including the Board of Trustees, to initiate the removal of barriers and practices that hindered the inclusion of diverse voices and stakeholder agency in organizational policies, programs, and services. • Building Synergies Across Non-Profits: Fostered alliances with various non-profit organizations, creating a more cohesive approach to addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion in education, strengthening collective efforts for broader impact. • Root Cause Analysis: Worked closely with leaders in the public, private, and community sectors to identify the root causes preventing equitable access to education, ensuring that strategies were designed to address these issues effectively. • Best Practice Integration: Adopted best practices in equity, inclusion, and diversity by incorporating perspectives from all stakeholder groups, resulting in more sustainable and impactful solutions related to educational access and opportunity. • Improved Recruitment and Retention: Developed strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and inclusion within the educational sector, ensuring that underrepresented groups had equitable access to opportunities. • Global Contributions: Contributed to national and international conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing insights based on research, strategic development, decision-making, policy development, and representation. Impact: Advanced educational reforms that fostered a more inclusive and equitable learning environment, contributing to significant improvements in recruitment, retention, and overall educational access for marginalized communities. EDUCATION ❖ PhD Faculty of Education, Department of Integrated Studies in Education Specialty- Leadership. Research Focus: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Gender and Development. Field research conducted in Mozambique. McGill University, Montreal, QC Research recommended for a National Award ❖ Project Management Professional (PMP) | Project Management Institute Dr. Zainul Virgi 10 | P a g e VALUE ADD SKILLS AND EXPERTISE ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ Strategic Leadership Change Management Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Expert Global Thought Leader Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration Innovation and Creativity Data-Driven Decision Making Project Management Public Sector and Government Policy Knowledge Training and Education Dr. Zainul Virgi 11 | P a g e