2026 Lead-HER-Ship Summit

The Lead-HER-Ship Summit 2026 is the second edition of Ubora Women’s Initiative’s flagship leadership and diplomacy program, a transformative, one-day event designed to empower African, Black, and Caribbean young women (ages 15–25) across Canada to lead with excellence in global diplomacy, advocacy, and international relations. We will host the 2026 Lead-HER-Ship summit in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as we do notice that there are less opportunities for Black youth in western Canada and we hope to expand to more provinces as the summit continues.

Building on the extraordinary success of the 2025 inaugural Lead-HER-Ship Summit, which was one of only 20 youth initiatives funded under the Power of Youth program,  this year’s summit will expand its reach and deepen its impact.
The 2025 event took place in Edmonton, AB and brought together 40 young Black women, 18 distinguished speakers, and featured Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, as well as a written address from the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez. It was so impactful it was featured on CBC Edmonton and local radio, marking a milestone moment for Black women’s representation in leadership spaces.

The 2026 Lead-HER-Ship Summit will continue this legacy, providing participants with interactive workshops, leadership simulations, mentorship circles, and networking opportunities.
Through an immersive, action-oriented agenda, participants will gain:

• Practical leadership development tools.

• Insights from trailblazing Black women in diplomacy, policy, Science, law and advocacy.

• Access to mentors and a professional support network.

• A deepened understanding of global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Event Highlights:

• Opening Keynote: “Diplomacy in Our Image” stories of resilience and representation in international relations
  
  

• Leadership Simulation: A hands-on “Policy-in-Action” exercise where participants draft and negotiate on a real global issue
  
  

• Mentorship Circles: Small-group mentorship sessions with professionals in global affairs
  
  

• Spotlight Panel: “Nonlinear Journeys to Leadership” featuring emerging leaders across diverse sectors
  
  

• Closing Plenary: “The Future We’re Leading”  reflections, commitments, and celebration
  
  

This initiative directly supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by equipping Black women with the confidence, knowledge, and network to excel in global governance.

The Lead-HER-Ship Summit 2026 will empower 80-100 young Black women and girls through leadership training, mentorship, and exposure to high-level role models in diplomacy, governance, and global advocacy.

Black women remain severely underrepresented in diplomatic and decision-making spaces. According to Statistics Canada, Black Canadians with a university degree have a lower employment rate (86.1%) compared to non-visible minorities (91.1%), and 30.6% of Black female youth (ages 15–24) were unemployed as of early 2021.

This summit tackles these systemic inequities head-on by:

• Providing accessible, high-quality leadership education

• Creating direct mentorship pathways

• Building representation pipelines in fields historically lacking diversity
  
  

The ripple effect is immense. By equipping participants with leadership and advocacy tools, the summit fosters a generation of Black women who lead policy conversations, champion equity, and inspire community transformation.

Additionally, the program advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by promoting lifelong learning (SDG 4), women’s leadership (SDG 5), and economic empowerment (SDG 8).

Post-summit, participants continue to engage through UWI’s mentorship network, creating sustained community impact and a self-renewing ecosystem of empowered leaders.

This summit will directly benefit African, Black, and Caribbean young women in Alberta, aged 15-25, who are passionate about global leadership, public service, and advocacy.
Participants will include:

• University students studying international relations, political science, or public policy

• Emerging professionals in diplomacy, government, or non-profit sectors

Each participant will gain:

• Leadership and diplomacy training

• Access to mentorship circles with established professionals

• Hands-on policy simulation experience

• Certificates of participation recognizing their achievement

The broader community also benefits, as participants return to their schools, workplaces, and advocacy spaces equipped to lead initiatives, mentor peers, and advocate for inclusive leadership.