Surrey Women in Business Awards
On April 12, the Surrey Board of Trade hosted the 15th Annual Surrey Women in Business Awards, presented by Prospera Credit Union. The event recognizes the hard work of Surrey’s businesswomen and their contributions to Surrey. Some of the best and brightest women of Surrey’s business community are celebrated and receive well-deserved recognition. The purpose of the event is to inspire, motivate and educate the audience.
2024 Keynote Speaker: Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is a celebrated mental health advocate and champion of gender equality, youth self-esteem, emotional literacy, and connecting with nature. She has been recognized with multiple UN awards for her humanitarian work and was also named the first National Volunteer for the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2022.
Grégoire Trudeau is a trained television, radio host, and interviewer. She began her career as a journalist in Quebec, hosting shows on wildlife, extreme sports, entertainment, and technology. This led her to interview several renowned individuals including Malala Yousafzai, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Liz Plank, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sheryl Crowe, Jean Reno, Brad Pitt, Adrienne Clarkson, Stephan Moccio, Serena Ryder, Dan Ackroyd, Justin Timberlake, Iman Bowie, Tessa Virtue, Marianne Williamson, and many more.
In 2018, Grégoire Trudeau received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the United Nations Association of New York. She is currently a Youth Leadership Global Ambassador for Plan International Canada, an organization she has collaborated with for many years, and which allowed her to meet young people from all walks of life to address inequality and emotional literacy. Grégoire Trudeau’s articles on these topics have been featured on Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Platform and the World Economic Forum’s official website. She has also been an official ambassador for Plan Canada’s “Because I am a Girl” initiative and the FitSpirit Foundation, as well as Parks Canada’s Honorary Guide for Families and Newcomers.
Throughout her professional and personal endeavours, Grégoire Trudeau has been fortunate to meet and converse with several renowned world leaders to bring change and more justice to the world, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Francis, King Abdullah II of Jordan, French President Emmanuel Macron, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and many more. She was invited to speak at Amal Alamuddin Clooney’s conference in Toronto, and to offer opening remarks for Michelle Obama’s and President Barack Obama’s respective visits to Montreal and Toronto.
In 2024, Grégoire Trudeau will publish her first book, Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other. It explores the questions that matter most for our individual and collective growth, drawing on Grégoire Trudeau’s personal journey as well as exclusive interviews with renowned experts to explore the science behind brain health and our unique emotional signatures. She invites people to join in and come Closer Together to ignite an emotional revolution for the sake of our own evolution.
Past keynote speakers include:
- Chantal Kreviazuk – 2023
- Jody Wilson-Raybould – 2022
- Yael Eisenstat – 2021
- Erin Brockovich – 2020
- Betsy Meyers – 2019
- Right Honourable Kim Campbell – 2018
- Margaret Trudeau – 2017
- Christine Day – 2016
- Right Honourable Justin Trudeau – 2015
- Marcella Szel – 2014
- Rebecca Legge – 2013
- Rose Keith – 2012
- Launi Skinner – 2011
- Kathleen Casprowitz – 2010
2024 Winners
Entrepreneur – Large Business
Mona Matta, Verka Food International Ltd.
Entrepreneur – Small Business
Katherine De Vita, Ocean Pointe Business Centre Ltd.
Professional
Anita Atwal, Anita Atwal Law
Not-for-Profit Leader
Mannu Sandhu, iSAFF – International South Asian Film Festival
Corporate Leader
Madhvi Ramnial, Powertech Labs Inc.
Emerging Leader
Trisha Dulku, United Way British Columbia
Social Trailblazer
Lauren Simpson, Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo
Nominations
Nominations are closed for 2024.
Award Categories
The Surrey Board of Trade reserves the right to move a nomination into another category. Previous winners of the award may not be nominated again for a period of 3 years.
Entrepreneur (small business)
Is an owner or significant shareholder of any business with up to 20 employees
Entrepreneur (large business)
Is an owner or significant shareholder of any business with 20 or more employees
Corporate Leader
Holds a senior/executive level position in a public or private-owned business.
Professional
The nominee has a professional designation, i.e. accountant, notary, lawyer, engineer.
Not-for-Profit Leader
Nominee holds a paid position as CEO, Executive Director or senior manager.
Emerging Leader
This award identifies future leaders known for their innovative, meaningful contributions to the improvement of their profession and the efficiency of their workplace. Nominees in this category may hold entry to mid-level management positions.
Social Trailblazer
A founder or leader of an organization, initiative, or project that makes a significant social, economic, or environmental impact by building progressive and sustainable solutions to a complex issue facing our local community.
Criteria
Work in Surrey
Leadership Skills
Proven business acumen
Community involvement
Include ONE reference letter
Must be either a Surrey based business or a member of the Surrey Board of Trade
Submission
Please submit your nomination to:
Rhona Doria
101-14439 104 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3R 1M1
rhona@businessinsurrey.com
T: 604.634.0344
F: 604.588.7549
Sponsors
Co-Presenting Sponsor
Speaker Sponsor
Award Sponsors
Entertainment Sponsor
Community Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Previous Winners
2023
Entrepreneur – Large Business
Lesley Jones, EconoWise Sunrooms & Patio Covers Ltd.
Entrepreneur – Small Business
Kamaljit Lehal, Lehal Law Corporation
Professional
Gurjit Kaur Tiwana, Invictus Law LLP
Not-for-Profit Leader
Amanda McNally, Peace Arch Hospice Society
Corporate Leadership
Lisa Skakun, Coast Capital Savings
Emerging Leader
Anamika Sangar, Surrey Schools – Community Schools Partnership
Social Trailblazer
Dr. Jennifer Marchbank, Surrey Pride Society, SFU, Youth 4 A Change
2022
Professional Category
Kathrin Matadeen, TD Bank
Emerging Leader Category
Rochelle Prasad, SPARK Foundation
Social Trailblazer Category
Florence Sufen Kao, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Vandna Joshi, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Corporate/Leadership Category
Alexandra Haukaas, PCB Freight Management Ltd.
Entrepreneur Category
Maria Santos-Greaves, Surrey Hearing Care
2021
Entrepreneur
Sandra Christian, Creative Kids Learning Centers
Professional
Dr. Ramen Saggu, Pacific ABA Academy
Not-for-Profit Leader
Devinder Chattha, Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society
Corporate Leadership
Marlyn Graziano, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Emerging Leader
Tara Coleman, Nana’s Kitchen and Hot Sauce Ltd.
Social Trailblazer
Nerissa Allen, Black Business Association of BC
2020
Entrepreneur (Small Business)
Jean Su, GenerationsE Software Solutions Inc.
Entrepreneur (Large Business)
Joy Mauro, Turnabout Luxury Resale
Professional
Emily Kearns, Ankenman Associates Architects Inc.
Not-for-Profit Leader
Azra Hussain, Surrey Hospital Foundation
Corporate Leadership|
Stephanie Howes, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Emerging Leader
Cherie Storms, Pacific Customs Brokers Ltd.
Social Trailblazer
Theresa Campbell, Safer Schools Together
2019
Entrepreneur Category
Santoshi Desai
Orange Oranges Technologies Ltd.
Professional Category
Rupinder Khunkhun
Grandview Law Group LLP
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Ninu Kang
MOSAIC
Corporate/Leadership Category
Alison Fuller
Venturis Capital Corporation
Social Trailblazer Category
Sonia Andhi Bilkhu
Shakti Society
2018
Entrepreneur Category
Yvonne Hogenes
Malary’s Fashion Network
Professional Category
Shalini Das
Symbiosis Pediatric Therapy Inc.
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Ingrid Kastens
Pacific Community Resources Society
Corporate/Leadership Category
Rowena Rizzotti
Lark Group
Social Trailblazer Category
Elly Morgan
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Indigenous Entrepreneur Category
Roxanne Charles
2017
Entrepreneur Category
Noel Asmar
Noel Asmar Group Inc.
Professional Category
Sonia Virk
Virk Viyas & Associate Lawyers
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Louise Tremblay
The Semiahmoo Foundation/Semiahmoo House Society
Corporate/Leadership Category
Dona Hurry
Mansonville Plastics Group of Companies
Social Trailblazer Category
Paola Ardiles
SFU/Bridge For Health
2016
Entrepreneur Category
Sara Hodson
LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic
Professional Category
Amanjit Lidder
MNP LLP
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Melanie Houlden
Surrey Libraries
Corporate/Leadership Category
Janice Comeau
LMS Reinforcing Steel Group
Social Trailblazer Category
MaryAnne Connor
NightShift Street Ministries Society
2015
Entrepreneur Category
Angela Herd
The Family Hope Clinic
Professional Category
Dr. Jane Fee
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Coreen Windbiel
Surrey Association for Community Living
Corporate/Leadership Category
Hanne Madsen
GroYourBiz
2014
Entrepreneur Category
Tracy Bell
La Belle Fleur Floral Boutique Ltd.
Professional Category
Mary Jane Wilson
Wilson Rasmussen LLP
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Neelam Sahota
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Corporate/Leadership Category
Kathy McGarrigle
Coast Capital Savings
2013
Entrepreneur Category
Jill Martyniuk
Romancing the Home
Professional Category
Christine Trischuk
Christine Trischuk Consultants
Corporate/Leadership Category
Peggy White
Guildford Town Centre
Innovator Category
Wendy Bollard
Peninsula Productions Society
Not-for-Profit Leader Category
Christiana Flessner
Canadian Wheelchair Foundation
2012
Entrepreneur Category
Kim Russell
Canadian Tourism College
Professional Category
Vivienne Wilke, CGA, MBA
City of Surrey
Leadership Category
Ellie King
Royal Canadian Theatre Company
Corporate Category
Amy Hennessy
FortisBC
Not-for-Profit Executive Category
Kathleen Kennedy Strath
Kinsmen Lodge
Community Achievement Award
Bonnie Burnside
2011
Entrepreneur Category
Lorraine Duclos
PDQ Post Group Inc.
Professional Category
Karen L. Baillie
Laurel Place
Corporate Category
Heather Bell
Nav Canada
Leadership Category
Jonquil Hallgate
Surrey Urban Mission
Not-for-Profit Category
Beth Barlow
Surrey Libraries
Community Achievement Award 2011
Karla Pearson
2010
Entrepreneur Category
Yvonne Hogenes
Malary’s Fashion Network
Professional Category
Joanne Curry
Simon Fraser University
Corporate Category
Susan Robinson
Irly Distributors Ltd.
