Farah Mohamed

A social entrepreneur, Farah Mohamed created the G(irls)20 Summit and now serves as its President & CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer). G(irls)20 cultivates future generations of female leaders through entrepreneurship and education. This Canadian based, globally active organization brings together one girl, aged 18-20, from each G20 country and one from Africa to work through the G20 Leader’s agenda with a focus on how to economically empower girls and women so they contribute to the growth of their communities & countries.

From 2008 to 2012, Farah was the Inaugural President of The Belinda Stronach Foundation (TBSF). Under Farah’s leadership, TBSF created and launched the Foundation’s flagship programs. She also oversaw the Foundation’s work in Liberia with President Johnson Sirleaf and a $1M humanitarian relief effort in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Farah also served as an advisor to Virgin Unite, Richard Branson’s foundation. She co-anchored The Clinton Global Initiative’s Network on Investing in Girls & Women in 2011. Farah has served as an International Election Observer with the Washington based National Democratic Institute (NDI), for the 2012 Egyptian elections and most recently in Jordan (2013). She writes a monthly feature for the Huffington Post and has been called to speak on many occasions including International Women’s Day (Canada), The Impact of Empowering Girls & Women in an Emerging Democracy (Sudan), Creating Safe Spaces for Girls (G8/G20 Meeting of Parliamentarians in France), the Empowerment of Girls (Scotland) and Financial Inclusion and Education (Russia).
Farah has been recognized for her work with the following: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal; Top 25 Most Influential Women in Canada by Women of Influence; Canadian Diversity Champion; and Top 12 Influencers (Fashion Magazine).

Prior to leading TBSF, Farah was the Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Engagement for VON Canada. At VON, she was successful in building government and private sector partnerships, as well as strengthening the brand of Canada’s largest, national, non-profit, charitable home and community-care organization. For 10 years, Farah worked closely with some of Canada’s most senior politicians. Farah began her political career in 1995 with The Honourable Paddy Torsney.

From 1999 to 2004, Farah served as the Director of Communications for The Honourable Anne McLellan in her role as Minister of Justice, Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada.

Farah is a Member of the Board for the Canadian Club of Toronto, The Harbour Front Centre, Ontario Science Centre and Hope Live. She was appointed by the Premier of Ontario to serve as Board Member for the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a term of four years and was a member of
the Executive Committee for the Brazilian Ball 2010 and Maharaja Ball 2010. She has served as a member of the Board of the Fred Victor Centre and as a mentor to new Canadians. In 2007, she took “active” participation to its extreme when she climbed 19,340 feet up Mount Kilimanjaro, raising $21,000 for charity. Farah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Queens University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in the field of Political Science.

Of Indian heritage, Farah was born in Uganda and was raised in Canada. She lives in Toronto.