Canada urgently needs gender parity and more diversity on boards and in senior leadership: a fireside chat with Navdeep Bains

In an intimate Diversity Institute-hosted chat, Navdeep Bains says the case for increasing diversity and inclusion at organizations’ top levels—the focus of Canada’s 50 – 30 challenge—is compelling and a big deal for him personally. He shares some of his lived experiences behind launching the 50 – 30 Challenge in December 2020 as then-minister of innovation, science and industry. Speaking with Nancy Mitchell, program manager for Diversity Institute, he recalls walking into rooms of business and other senior leaders to discuss policy. “I would stand out like a sore thumb. I’d walk into these rooms, and again, the only person of colour in many instances, and mostly men. And I’m like, wow; this has got to change.”

Mitchell and Bains also discuss the successes of the 50 – 30 Challenge so far, and what is needed to make it a reality.