The 2026 cohort of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference brings together 250 leaders from across the country. Taken together, they form a microcosm of Canada – reflecting our geography, sectors, perspectives, and the many ways leadership shows up in communities.
Participants come from every province and territory, with strong representation from both major urban centres and smaller communities. This national reach ensures that conversations are grounded not only in policy or theory, but in the lived realities of people and places across the country.
The cohort also spans a wide range of sectors. Leaders from business, labour, government, non-profits, education, and the cultural sector are all represented. No single perspective dominates. Instead, the strength of the group comes from its diversity, bringing together people who approach challenges from different angles, and who do not often have the opportunity to learn alongside one another.
The issues shaping Canada today do not sit within one sector alone. They require collaboration across systems, and a willingness to understand how decisions in one space affect outcomes in another.
Participants reflect a wide spectrum of leadership experiences. Some are early in their leadership journeys, while others bring decades of experience in their fields. Many hold senior roles, while others are emerging voices shaping change in their communities. Together, they represent different pathways into leadership, formal and informal, institutional and community-based.
Across the cohort, there is a shared understanding that leadership today is grounded in service, shaped by complexity, and strengthened through collaboration.
- “To me, leadership is about service, courage, and lifting others. It means showing up with integrity, creating space for others to thrive, and building pathways for collective impact.” ~ Adebola Adefioye – 2026 GGCLC participant
- “Leadership today requires systems thinking, courage, and a long-term view of Canada’s role in the world. I look forward to working with like-minded people contributing to conversations that move beyond incremental change toward inclusive, future-ready solutions.” ~ Abby (Avishag) David – 2026 GGCLC participant
- “Leadership, to me, is the quiet work of clearing paths for others while tending to the soil that sustains us all. It’s about creating conditions where people can thrive, removing barriers that shouldn’t exist, and nurturing the ecosystems that allow communities to flourish across generations.” ~ Brenda Okorogba – 2026 GGCLC participant
As explored in the conference theme, Leading Canada’s Sustainable Prosperity, and under the leadership of Monique F. Leroux, 2026 GGCLC Chair, this cohort will spend the coming weeks stepping outside their usual environments to learn from one another and from communities across the country.
What brings them together is a shared willingness to listen, to engage across differences, and to consider how their leadership connects to a broader national context. This year’s cohort reflects the diversity, complexity, and potential of the country itself.
➡️ Meet the 2026 participants and explore their profiles.
