Olumide (Mide) Akerewusi

Mide is Founder and CEO of AgentsC Inc., an international company delivering philanthropy solutions to the non-profit and private sector. Mide has extensive experience of working with major philanthropists, corporations, and grant-making foundations as well as charities and NGOs in Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK, and the USA.

As a British born African living in Canada, Mide’s perspectives are uniquely diverse and frequently thought provoking. He is an advocate for equity philanthropy, implementing unique philanthropic opportunities to the social determinants of health, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and social impact investments.

 Mide obtained a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Business Studies and Sociology from the University of Surrey, and an M.Sc. (Econ) in the Political Economy of Asia and Africa from SOAS, University of London. He is a Certified Social Responsibility Practitioner (CSR-P) and qualified in Dialogue Education (CDEP). 

With more than 25 years’ experience as a philanthropy expert, Mide has also founded and chaired the Black Fundraisers Network - a voluntary organization supporting fundraisers to learn about philanthropy within Europe’s African and Caribbean diaspora.  He is a former Board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Toronto Chapter, and currently serves on the Board of 100 Strong.

Prior to establishing AgentsC, Mide served as Director of Leadership Philanthropy at Pathways to Education Canada, where he launched and successfully completed the organisation’s $185 million Graduation Nation Campaign. Before Pathways, Mide served as Chief Development Officer at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. He has also led major gift fundraising teams and campaigns at Scope UK, The British Red Cross, and The Children’s Society in England and Wales.

Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC

Nneka Allen identifies as a Black woman and Momma, descended from those who traversed the Underground Railroad. Her African ancestors endured the Transatlantic Slave Trade, building North America through free and forced labour. This legacy connects her to the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, specifically the Cherokee and Lumbee tribes.

As a lover of justice, Nneka has inspired philanthropy as a Fundraising Executive in the charitable sector for over 25 years. She is the founder of the Black Canadian Fundraisers' Collective, a community that nurtures the well-being of Canadian Black fundraisers and supports the fundraising capacity of B3 organizations. She is a celebrated author and co-editor of a bi-national book that showcases the personal stories of 15 Black leaders in the charitable sector, titled Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love. During the 2022/23 academic year, Nneka took on the role of one of the inaugural Scholars-in-Residence for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of British Columbia.

Nneka is a relationship builder, stone-catcher, freedom fighter, storyteller, and leadership coach. At the helm of The Empathy Agency Inc., she passionately guides clients towards finding hope, purpose, and justice in their relationship with themselves, others, and the Earth. Her mission centres on nurturing wholeness and honouring humanity by harnessing the power of empathy.

https://www.theempathyagency.ca/
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