Senator Omidvar is a Director at the Century Initiative, a Councillor on the World Refugee and Migration Council, a Founding Committee Member of Lifeline Afghanistan and and Chair Emerita for the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.

Previously at Ryerson University, Senator Omidvar was a Distinguished Visiting Professor and founded the Global Diversity Exchange, a think-and-do tank on diversity, migration and inclusion. Prior to her appointments at Ryerson, Senator Omidvar was the President of Maytree, where she played a lead role in local, national and international efforts to promote the integration of immigrants.

The co-author of the bestseller, Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership From Java to Jurassic Park, her research on digital adoption, innovation, and equity, diversity and inclusion has helped shape policy and practice. As an ecosystem partner with Canada’s 50 – 30 Challenge, the Diversity Institute develops tools for SMEs to promote inclusive work environments and reduce barriers for equity-deserving groups. Her work has been widely recognized: She was named one of 100 alumni who shaped the century by the University of Toronto and has received two Harry Jerome Awards, a Women of Influence Award and a WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women award.

Before joining CivicAction, Leslie was Chief Planning Officer at Metrolinx, the regional transportation public agency and Chief Development Officer with Infrastructure Ontario, the provincial agency responsible for the development of commercial solutions.

Leslie is a tri-sector athlete with experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors as well as experienced as a planner, architect, and community activator. For over twelve years she led the strategic urban planning, public policy and land development of a multibillion dollar, multi-modal transit expansion programme. Prior to Metrolinx, Leslie was a key author of the Province of Ontario’s first ever growth management plan. She also has had a long career engagement with the revitalization of the Toronto Waterfront, first with the Waterfront Trust public agency and later with the Office of the Mayor, for the City of Toronto.

In 2021 Leslie was federally appointed to the board of the tri-partite crown agency, Waterfront Toronto responsible for the revitalizing Toronto’s waterfront. Leslie also holds various leadership roles with the global organization, the Urban Land Institute as a Trustee and as a member of the Curtis Infrastructure Initiative’s Global Advisory Board.

Leslie is currently a Board Director at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, where she Chairs the Quality Committee and she previously served on the Boards of Women’s College Hospital (2017–23)and the YMCA GTA (2008–17)

A recognized leader, Leslie was named a 2023 Canadian Immigrant Top 25 Awardee, one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2017 by WXN, Spacing Toronto’s Transit Changemaker in 2016 and Canada’s Women’s Infrastructure Network’s 2015 Outstanding Leader.

In 2011, Leslie was awarded a Leadership Fellowship from the International Women’s Forum, which inspired her to create shebuildscities.org, where Leslie uses her voice and platform to amplify and celebrate other women city builders.

Leslie holds a graduate degree in Planning, and undergraduate degrees in Architecture and Environmental Studies all from the University of Waterloo.

She has provided dynamic presentations, training and consulting services to clients from a wide range of industries in the business, public and non-profit sectors.

Anne-Marie has a master’s degree in public administration (MPA), a BA in Sociology and a senior HR Professional certification with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is also a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (Tool).

Anne-Marie is a wife and mother of two, as well as an avid community leader, supporting civic participation, mentoring and leadership development especially among immigrants, visible minorities, women and youth. In 2013, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee award for her community service. Anne-Marie is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), a Crown Corporation dedicated to working towards the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination. She was a member of the City of Calgary’s Anti-Racism Action Committee from October 2020 to October 2023.