Venture for Canada Welcomes Laura McGee and Leah Nguyen to Its Board of Directors

Rebecca Scott Updated: August 29, 2024

Venture for Canada (VFC) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Laura McGee, founder and CEO of Diversio and Leah Nguyen, Chief Investment Officer at InBC Investment Corp. Their invaluable expertise and innovative leadership will strengthen the board’s mission to drive economic growth and empower the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs.

“We could not be more delighted that Laura and Leah have agreed to join the Venture for Canada Board of Directors. With their unique backgrounds they both bring new perspectives to the table and the work that we do in supporting Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Laura and Leah, along with the stellar Board members we currently have, will undoubtedly enhance our collective efforts in driving economic growth across the nation,” said Parm Gill, Board Chair of Venture for Canada.

“Laura and Leah are powerhouse leaders with a history of achieving outstanding results. Their passion for innovation and commitment to excellence will be instrumental in advancing Venture for Canada’s mission to new heights,” added Scott Stirrett, Founder & CEO of Venture for Canada.

The current roster of the Venture for Canada Board of Directors is now:

Laura McGee

Laura is the founder and CEO of Diversio, a tech startup that uses AI to help organizations become more inclusive. Diversio works with clients in 30 countries around the world, and has been featured at global events like the G20 and Davos. Prior to Diversio, Laura was a consultant at McKinsey & Company with a focus on economic growth.

She was named a Top 25 Women of Influence in 2017 and currently serves as Co-Chair of Canada’s Expert Panel on Women Entrepreneurs. Board positions include ArcTern Ventures, Global Citizen, University of Waterloo, and Ted Rogers School of Management, and she is a David Rockefeller Fellow with the Trilateral Commission.

Leah Nguyen

Leah is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at InBC Investment Corp., a $500 million strategic investment fund with a triple bottom line mandate to value people, planet, and profit. InBC invests in growing companies and venture funds to generate financial returns alongside measurable economic, social, and environmental impacts to benefit the people of B.C.

Prior to her current role, Leah was Investment Director for the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, where she helped launch one of the world’s largest corporate impact funds with $100 million to invest in change-making solutions. Leah was previously a management consultant with Accenture and a project manager at Lululemon Athletica.

Leah has experience building high-performing, mission-driven teams that leverage technology and innovation to drive sustainable, inclusive solutions and deliver remarkable human outcomes. Leah is active in the start-up and investor ecosystem, dedicates time to mentoring entrepreneurs and aspiring VCs, and is passionate about supporting individuals of diverse backgrounds while giving back to her local communities.

Leah has a business degree from Simon Fraser University and has participated on numerous private sector and community boards.

About Venture for Canada

Venture for Canada is a national charity that fosters entrepreneurial skills and mindsets in young Canadians. Our vision is a Canada where young people can equitably realize their entrepreneurial potential to build the most prosperous place in the world. We recruit, train, and support young people to work for innovative Canadian small businesses and startups. Through our programs, participants develop the network, knowledge, and entrepreneurial skills to have more impactful careers.

Venture for Canada Media Contact

Jennie Wedd

Manager, Marketing & Partnerships Team

jennie@ventureforcanada.ca