This article is part of a series of stories highlighting the recipients of Brock’s Alumni Brilliance Award, which was launched in celebration of the University’s 60th anniversary. To read other stories in the series, visit The Brock News.

From education to local economies, Brock graduates are leading the charge for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in communities across Canada and around the world.

Four of these exceptional graduates have been honoured with Alumni Brilliance Awards. Launched in honour of the University’s diamond anniversary, the award recognizes grads who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities over the past 60 years.

As the first Black president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), and the first Black president of any provincial teachers’ union in Canada, Karen Brown (BA ’91) is challenging inequities within Ontario’s education system.

Brown champions initiatives that elevate marginalized voices and promote gender equity in classrooms across the province. In 2022, Brown was the Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Graduate in 2022 and shared lessons from her journey at a Women in Leadership event last year.

On the other side of the world, Abeer Haddad (BA ’04, MBA ’06) is using her expertise in academic quality assurance to ensure students from diverse backgrounds have access to higher education in Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates.

As Project Manager for Talent Enablement with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Education and Knowledge, she oversees scholarship programs that equip students with tools for success and builds partnerships that remove systemic barriers in education.

Outside the classroom, Shauna Bookal (BSM ’05), is breaking gender, race and minority barriers faced by athletes at all levels of sports through her role as President and CEO of the Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network (ICSN).

In 2023, Bookal launched the Diversity in Sports Conference, Canada’s first national event dedicated to EDI in athletics. She was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024 for her work.

Jon Davey’s (BA ’05) work in the world of finance is reshaping how Indigenous communities engage with economic opportunities.

As Vice-President, CEO Support at Scotiabank and a proud member of the Lower Cayuga of the Six Nations of the Grand River, Davey works on banking solutions that foster long-term prosperity and help to ensure Indigenous businesses thrive. He shared lessons from his career as Brock’s 2024 Indigenous Leader speaker.

For more information on Brock’s Alumni Brilliance Award winners, celebrating 60 years of alumni achievements, visit the Alumni Relations website.