Indira Naidoo-Harris is a trusted public leader, policy-maker, journalist, and human rights advocate. She is currently the Associate Vice-President of Diversity and Human Rights at the University of Guelph, and previously served as Ontario’s first ever Minister of the Status of Women, Minister of Early Learning and Childcare, Minister of Education, Associate Minister of Finance, Member of Provincial Parliament for Halton, and was an award-winning national journalist.
As the first official voice for women in the province, Naidoo-Harris headed the Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy and the Strategy for Gender-Based Violence. She also worked on Ontario’s first ever Dementia strategy, Ontario’s Renewed Early Years and Childcare Policy Framework and anti-human trafficking legislation. She has also led consultations across the province with community leaders, women’s and Indigenous groups on gender based violence and worked with business and government officials on pay equity and other issues.
Naidoo-Harris currently serves as an Advisory Board member for the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy, is on the Halton Healthcare Board of Directors and is an Honorary Member for the Canadian Ethnic Media. In the past, she has co-hosted the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial talks on the Status of Women, and was a Board member of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Reelworld Film Festival.
In 2019, Naidoo-Harris was recognized as one of Milton Ontario’s 100 years/100 Women Trailblazers and in 2022, she was named one of WXN’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 by the Women’s Executive Network. In January 2023, she travelled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to deliver a keynote address at a special gathering on Unlocking Balanced, Integrated Leadership for a Healthier World and spoke about the importance of gender equity in leadership. She was also awarded a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal for community impact.
Naidoo-Harris is considered an expert in education, equity, diversity, inclusion, women’s issues, immigration, and is a regular host, panelist, and keynote speaker. She has presented at numerous national webinars and conferences including the National FBS/CAUBO Provost’s Summit, Government Professionals of Canada’s Annual Corporate Governance Conference, Dreamer Day Fest 2023, Fort Erie Mayor’s Forum, Standing Committee on Science and Research, Ontario Legislature’s Women’s Forum and more.