About co-authors

Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine, PC, CM, CBE
Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine, PC, CM, CBE
Co-Author

In 1993, Jean Augustine became the first Black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada. In 1988-1993, she was Chair of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority. She was an educator and school principal before entering federal politics. Among her accomplishments as an MP
was the introduction of a motion, passed unanimously, to have February proclaimed as Black History Month in Canada.

She holds a Master of Education degree and honorary doctorates from the University of Toronto, McGill University, York University, Guelph University, University of Windsor, Trent University and Ryerson University. She served as the National President for the Congress of
Black Women of Canada.

Amongst the hundreds of other earned Awards are the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the Kaye Livingstone Award, the Ontario Volunteer Award, the Special Recognition Award, UNIFOR Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award, the Toronto Lions Club Award, the University of the West Indies Award, 2020 MacLean’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Women’s Executive Network naming her one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women.

The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada, Chair of the National Liberal Women’s Caucus, Secretary of State and Minister for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker. From March 2007-2015, she served as the first Fairness Commissioner for the province of Ontario.

She has been honoured by many community organizations, appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire and was made a member of the Order of Canada for her distinguished career. Jean is an energetic advocate for social justice and has supported many social causes.

Today, her name is borne by The Jean Augustine Secondary School in the Peel District School Board in Brampton, Ontario, the Jean Augustine Girls’ Academy of the Toronto District School Board, The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment, Etobicoke, The Jean Augustine Park on Toronto’s Lakeshore Boulevard and the City of Vaughan has name the Jean Augustine Complex and the Jean Augustine District Park in her honour.

Dauna Jones-Simmonds, BA, CHRL, SHRMC
Dauna Jones-Simmonds, BA, CHRL, SHRMC
Co-Author

Dauna is the President of DEJS (Diversity) Consulting, where she has the opportunity to share her unique experience and facilitate the transfer of her accumulated knowledge through consulting and diversity training activities. Born in St. Kitts, she migrated to Canada almost forty years ago and has first-hand knowledge and experience about the roadblocks and challenges encountered by new Canadians. She has a broad-based education from Cornell University, New York, and Ryerson University, Toronto. She is an energetic, goal-driven individual with a proven track record of measurable achievements.

A customer-focused Human Resource Diversity Executive, Dauna has extensive experience in coaching and mentoring, recruiting, training, and creating and delivering strategic programs with the goal of integrating diversity into the workplace. Providing mentorship for young Black women and assisting them in advancing their careers is one of her passions. She has designed and facilitated many diversity workshops and has a unique blend of interpersonal skills and a positive focus. As a result, she has won numerous awards for her leadership style, results orientation, and diversity efforts. She has held managerial and executive positions in the banking industry and in not-for-profit organizations with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Dauna is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors for ACCES Employment, which focuses on assisting new Canadians who seek employment and past Board Member at SKETCH, an organization that supports youths at risk. She has been the only Black female member in the Rotary Club of Toronto.

Dr. Denise O’Neil Green
Dr. Denise O’Neil Green
Co-Author

Dr. Denise O’Neil Green is an Award winning, visionary and internationally recognized expert in equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), anti-racism, organizational change and transformational leadership with 30 years of experience. As a global thought leader, she has worked across
various sectors, including postsecondary education, government, business, and healthcare, as a keynote speaker, innovative strategist, educator and changemaker.

In March 2022, she launched Denise O’Neil Green Consulting, using her professional and lived experiences to empower EDI leaders and organizations to go beyond the performative and be truly authentic in their development and implementation of EDI strategies.

As Vice-President, she founded the Division of Equity and Community Inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University (2017-2022) and was the inaugural Assistant Vice President/Vice Provost, EDI at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) (formerly Ryerson) in 2012, the year she immigrated to Canada from the USA. Prior to TMU, Dr. Green served as the Associate Vice President, Institutional Diversity at Central Michigan University (CMU) for five years.

Dr. Green has co-authored The Case for Affirmative Action on Campus: Concepts of Equity, Considerations for Practice and has authored/co-authored over 90 journal articles, book chapters, reports, conference papers and lectures. She is also the Creator and Executive Editor of InstitutionalDiversityBlog.com, a comprehensive website that covers EDI topics to drive culture change. Since its inception in 2012, the blog has reached over 100 countries and has been listed as a leading reference source.

She has received numerous awards and honors, including: the inaugural 2022 Women Executive Network MLSE Equity Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Award; the 2022 Honorary Viola Desmond Award from TMU; and in 2021 named among the Top International 100 Inspirational Diversity and Inclusion Leaders by d&i leaders in the UK.

Dr. Green serves on the Board of Directors for Unity Health Toronto and is an Associate Professor, Graduate Faculty, Dept. Social Justice Education, OISE (Status-Only Professor) at the University of Toronto. Her scholarship focuses on race conscious policies in higher education, access, qualitative research methodologies and diverse populations.

She earned her PhD in higher education and public policy from the University of Michigan Masters from Princeton University; and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago. She’s been married 34 years to her husband, Matthew and has two adult children whom she is very proud of.