Presidents' Message

Welcome to our spring issue. It’s been a busy time since our 25th anniversary gala late November. You can read about our 2026 events in this issue, both past and upcoming. In January, we also held our annual AGM and voted in our 2026 Board. Our sincere appreciation to outgoing Directors Jessica Horwitz, Alma Farias and Audrey Ross for their dedicated service.

Jessica brought structure and rigour to the Board in her role as VP Legal, Alma has been a long-standing Board member who has contributed to many of our initiatives, most notably supporting trade missions to Mexico. Audrey has served in several roles, most recently as Past President, and who did a fantastic job managing the backend of our website and supporting administration operations. We thank them wholeheartedly for their commitment to promoting international trade and advancing women in business. While they are stepping down as Directors, we are pleased that they will continue to support the organization as Strategic Advisors.

We are pleased to welcome two new Board Directors: Susana Vaz as VP Communications and Abigail Noronha as VP Sponsorship. Susana joins us from the City of Toronto and Abigail hails from Export Development Canada. They both have many strengths to add to their roles and we look forward to working with them.

2025 was an ambitious year for OWIT-Toronto, attracting a strong cadre of energetic student volunteers, sponsors and new community partners. With global trade in the headlines daily and with Canada’s goal to diversify our trade, this year is shaping up to be another eventful one. We will continue to keep our fingers on the pulse and bring you timely information and events to help you navigate this topsy-turvy landscape. Stick with us!

Cathy Williamson & Susan Baka, Co-Presidents

 Upcoming Events

Canadian Trade: On the Road to 2035

Join us on April 1 for a timely OWIT breakfast event exploring Canada’s future trade positioning in the decade to come. This event will feature a highly informed and accomplished panel who will bring their insights on trade opportunities beyond the US and advancing interprovincial trade, and will share valuable resources. Details and registration here.

Trade Corridors Webinar

Save the date of April 21 for a joint webinar with OWIT-Ottawa and OWIT-UK as part of a Trade Corridors series. Watch for details coming soon.

 Past Events

Starting the Year with Interprovincial Trade


Geneviève Gabanna-Leblanc & Jessica Horwitz

                 

OWIT-Toronto started off the new year with the January Annual General Meeting and an insightful fireside chat on interprovincial trade in Canada, hosted by Bennett Jones LLP.

AGM Updates

We are pleased to welcome two new Board members for 2026: Susana Vaz, VP Communications, and Abigail Noronha, VP Sponsorship. Susana is the Strategic Planning and Initiatives Senior Manager for Economic Development at the City of Toronto, while Abigail is the Technology & Media Relationship Manager at Export Development Canada. We would like to sincerely thank our previous Board members for their valued contributions to OWIT-Toronto.

Fireside Chat

Jessica Horwitz, Partner at Bennett Jones, led a conversation with Geneviève Gabanna-Leblanc, Economic Development Manager for the City of Vaughan and previously Director of Economic Affairs at the Québec Office in Toronto within Investissement Québec.

New Opportunities

In an era of uncertainty with the United States, the Canadian federal government has taken new steps to promote diversification and interprovincial trade, but policy, legal, and geographic barriers remain. While navigating this landscape can be challenging, now is the time for businesses to leverage these opportunities. Public procurement and retail are seeing a shift toward Buying Canadian, while manufacturing is regaining strategic priority. Other high-potential sectors include energy, mining, transportation, health sciences, and creative industries.

Expansion Plans

OWIT-Toronto Sponsors Youth for Canadian Trade Diversification Event


Connie Legaspi,  Adriana Meriam Elsabel, Chamilka Wijesinghe

OWIT-Toronto was pleased to sponsor Youth for Canadian Trade Diversification (YCTD)’s first event of 2026, Empowering Youth, Diversifying Trade. YCTD was founded by Julie Nguyen, Chair of Canada-ASEAN Initiatives at York University and Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council. This organization seeks to empower the next generation to shape Canada’s global trade future, connecting young professionals with expertise in foreign markets to Canadian businesses and stakeholders.

The session included two panels: the first on youth’s role in trade diversification featuring YCTD Youth Representatives moderator Connie Legaspi, The Philippines; Adriana Meriam Elsabel, Indonesia; and Chamilka Wijesinghe, VP, YCTD; and one on support for Canadian trade diversification, moderated by OWIT-Toronto Co-President and featuring Vanessa Donia, Trade Commissioner at the Ontario Regional Office of Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, Mauricio Ospina, International Market Consultant and Founder of the Canadian Hispanic Business Alliance, and Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade, Founding Partner at Invcap Corporation and President & CEO of Casa Foundation.

Canada’s evolving trade diversification strategy is looking towards emerging markets as key growth areas, leveraging trade agreements, sector-specific developments and geopolitical shifts to expand opportunities. With 15 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in force, Canada has built a strong framework to enhance market access and support businesses abroad. Diversification is increasingly viewed as not only an economic objective but also a strategic imperative to reduce overdependence on single markets and strengthen Canada’s long-term resilience and global positioning.

Since the members of YCTD know so much about other markets, understand the local cultures and have innovative ideas, they can make a great contribution to Canada’s goal of doubling non-US exports by 2035.

Here are some key takeaways from the panels:

• Trade is primarily about human connections.
• Canada should use the talents of YCTD at this critical time of building new global relationships and reinforcing existing ones.
• Latin America is a priority region in the global energy transition, with critical mineral reserves driving demand for infrastructure development and mining modernization alongside cybersecurity capabilities.
• Africa’s youthful demographics and increasing regulatory reforms position it as a high-growth market with expanding opportunities across energy, mining, agriculture, and technology, with deepening potential for strategic partnerships.
• The growing participation of women in leadership and entrepreneurship are reshaping regional trade dynamics, with partnership-based models key to scaling exports by women-led firms.
• Government-supported trade missions, embassy programs, and sector-specific delegations support businesses in reducing market entry risks and building relationships in new markets.

Trade Resources

One of the key barriers women entrepreneurs face in expanding internationally is access to clear, reliable information. Here are some useful resources:

• The TCS mandate
• How to qualify as a client
• Market information
  
• Trade events and training

Where We’ve Been

OWIT-Toronto at Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico


The Honourable Minister Dominic LeBlanc and OWIT- Toronto Chair of the Advisory Committee Alma Farias

                      
OWIT Monterrey President Elect Marcela Lopez, Alma Farias, & Rocha Betsabe Nieto, Secretary of Economy, State Government of Nuevo Leon                   

Canadian Chamber in Monterrey incoming president Jorge Arrambide, EDC Regional Director, GTA West Amesika Baëta, Alma Farias, & President Elect of OWIT Monterrey Marcela Lopez

OWIT-TO Strategic Advisor and Chair of the Advisory Committee Alma Farias participated in a reception in Monterrey in February to welcome the Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico, led by the Honourable Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Alma was invited to attend alongside Canadian delegates and members of the business community. The reception was opened and organized by the Canadian Consul General Annabelle Larouche and her team at the Consulate General of Canada in Monterrey, which created a welcoming platform for engagement between Canadian and Mexican stakeholders in one of Mexico’s most dynamic industrial and trade hubs.

The mission was one of the largest Canadian trade missions to Mexico in recent years, bringing together more than 240 Canadian organizations. In the days following the reception, hundreds of B2B meetings were organized between Canadian and Mexican companies to explore new partnerships and strengthen bilateral trade.

During the event, Alma connected with representatives from both countries and organizations advancing cross-border collaboration in the region.

New Mexico Chapter Forming

Alma Farias, along with OWIT-Toronto Co-President Susan Baka, met with the impending OWIT-Yucatan chapter in Merida, Mexico in February. Discussions centred around the best practices of chapter launches.

OWIT Canada Chapters Meet with CanCham Mexico

OWIT-Toronto and OWIT-Ottawa representatives participated in a private reception in Toronto in early March with Carla Bustillos, the Managing Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Mexico. Graciously hosted by Scotiabank, OWIT and other guests received a first-hand account of the very successful Canada Trade Mission to Mexico in February and brainstormed opportunities to explore and execute between Canada and Mexico.

Member News

Member Featured in CanCham Monterrey Webinar



Kelli Saunders, the President of Morai Logistics Inc. at Mode Transportation and a former OWIT-Toronto Woman Exporter of the Year, participated as a guest speaker in the virtual portion of a Women’s Forum in March, presented by CanCham Monterrey in Mexico, a partner of OWIT-Toronto. As someone who does a great deal of business with Mexico, Kelli’s talk on being a woman in business, including the challenges, opportunities, and rewards faced, was enthusiastically received by the audience from Monterrey’s business community. The purpose of the forum was to inspire, spark dialogue, and promote concrete actions that advance women’s participation and growth across sectors, highlighting their impact and contribution to society.

OWIT International News

International Women's Day Celebrated

Themed Give to Gain: How Women Are Disrupting and Redefining Global Trade, OWIT International’s International Women’s Day initiatives included a statement issued on March 8 and a webinar coming on March 25 featuring diverse sectors such as digital trade, goods, and services.

Meet Our Volunteers

Meet Shamim Farahmand, Legal Assistant, Mazi Law Professional Corporation: “I’ve been volunteering with OWIT for over a year, starting with the Ottawa chapter where I’ve supported the newsletter by gathering and contributing news content. More recently, I’ve also been involved with the Toronto chapter, assisting with events. I truly enjoy being part of the OWIT community and connecting with such inspiring professionals.”

Partner Update

March – May: The City of Toronto is offering a series of free webinars on the basics of trade diversification, providing businesses with practical insights on expanding into new markets, navigating tariffs and trade agreements, and accessing available government supports. Register here.

March 25: Negotiation that Builds panel hosted by The Sound of C.

March 26-27: 4th Annual CanWIN Global Summit hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

April 27: The Canada-Latin America Business Forum hosted by the Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Register here.

May 14: Toronto Board of Trade Annual Lunch 2026 hosted in partnership with the City of Toronto.

May 27: Spring Cocktails & Connections networking night during Toronto Tech Week hosted by the Toronto Board of Trade.

May 28: BCBC Business Excellence Awards Gala in Montreal hosted by the Belgian-Canadian Business Chamber.

Sponsorship/Partnership Opportunities
OWIT-Toronto welcomes companies and organizations that are committed to advancing women in global trade and fostering inclusive economic growth.

Sponsoring OWIT-Toronto is a meaningful way to:

• Elevate your brand within a dynamic  trade network 

• Connect and network with women leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals

• Demonstrate your commitment to equity, inclusion, and global opportunity

• Be part of a Canadian movement to support export beyond traditional markets
   

Interested in working with us? Let’s connect. 

Reach out to abigail.noronha@gmail.com to learn more about our sponsorship/partnership opportunities or with any questions.