Judges

Yaw Antwi-Adjei 

Co-owner, 1949 Barber Shop
St. John’s, NL 

Yaw Antwi-Adjei is a family-loving person, enterprising, goal-oriented, hardworking, and genuinely respectful person with deep ties to his community. His priorities in life are his family and his passion to radiate kindness and positivity in his community. This is evident in the charitable activities in which he participates.  

Yaw believes that cultivating a progressive society is crucial to creating a more diverse workforce that can transform the Atlantic Canadian economy. He is passionate about adventure and appreciates the full spectrum of life, striving for a more culturally diverse landscape in Atlantic Canada. 

On diversity: “Every society that embraces diversity, thrives in many aspects. This phenomenon exposes people to new ideas, cultural cohesiveness, sense of community and tolerance. These are attributes of a progressive society. The value that diversity has on the economy (especially in the Atlantic region) is immensely positive.” 

 

Doctor Haruna Isah 

Faculty Member, Project Team Lead, and Talent Development Manager
Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, NB 

 

Dr. Haruna Isah is currently a Faculty Member, Project Team Lead, and Talent Development Manager at the Canadian

Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). He is a recipient of several research, academic, and international scholarships. Dr. Isah currently teaches Digital Forensics, leads industry projects, and is a member of the Institute’s Master of Applied Cybersecurity (MACsec) and Research-Intensive Cyber Knowledge Studies (RICKS) curriculum development and delivery committees. His current research interests include big data and machine learning analytics for cybersecurity, social engineering, ethical hacking, information security, threat intelligence, digital forensics, and natural language processing.  

On diversity: “Studies have shown that a more diverse and inclusive workforce attracts innovation and creativity. This is why diversity and inclusiveness are the core principles of the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity and what made us a national and global leader in cybersecurity innovation and talent development. A more diverse workforce that values and respects the unique contributions of everyone will undoubtedly bring a greater variety of experiences to the table when finding solutions to complex problems. This is a competitive advantage in business performance capable of transforming the economy and reputation of the Atlantic Canada region.” 

 

Brian MacIsaac 

VP Commercial Banking Atlantic Canada, TD 
Halifax, NS 

Brian MacIssac was born and raised in Nova Scotia and has more than 16 years of banking experience; 15 of those years in Commercial Banking. He joined TD in 2007, in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and eventually made his way to Ontario, progressively advancing through various Commercial Banking roles.

Brian returned to Atlantic Canada where he spent 4 years as Manager Commercial Services before becoming the District Vice-President of New Brunswick and PEI. Brian is known for his ability to establish great business relationships, work collaboratively, inspire teams and get results. He is a visionary and strategic leader who has a constant focus on developing his people. 

On diversity: “Diverse talent gives businesses an edge as it can offer unique viewpoints and various perspectives, which can help to develop new products or find better ways to engage with customers.” 

 

Lynda Stewart 

Local Development Manager, Atlantic Sobeys
Bible Hill, NS 

Lynda Stewart is a Nova Scotian who currently resides in Bible Hill, NS with her husband and two sons.  With a background in agricultural pest management and soil science, in 2011, she started working at Sobeys in Produce Quality Assurance. 

Throughout her years working in Produce Quality Assurance, Lynda has held various positions such as buyer and Assistant Category Manager. In 2017, she joined the Field Merchandising team to work with small Atlantic suppliers to be retail ready and sell their products in Sobeys and Foodland stores across Atlantic Canada. She is passionate about helping small to medium sized businesses in the Atlantic Canadian workforce. 

On diversity: A more diverse workforce in Atlantic Canada will better meet the needs of our more diverse population and bring with it new ideas and innovation for our economy.”