OUR MISSION

​Inspire girls across Canada to explore the opportunities in code.

Our vision is to change the face of computer science and pave the way for a technology industry that is diverse and inclusive of girls and underrepresented groups across Canada.

Hackergal is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.

We welcome the participation of girls, gender-diverse, non-binary, and two-spirit learners. We use an inclusive definition of “girls” and “women” and welcome the participation of all learners who identify as girls.

Though girls are interested in STEAM, significantly fewer of them expressed belief in their abilities compared to boys.

A recent study found that only 22% of girls name technology as a favourite subject in school. When asked how good they would be at a STEM job, far fewer girls (24%) thought they would be good at the role compared to boys (43%). The impacts of these early influences persist throughout a woman’s life, with far-reaching economic and societal consequences.

SOURCE: Women in STEM Careers, Where we are in 2023, Ranstad

%

of girls would consider tech jobs in the future.

THERE’S JUST ONE PROBLEM

Girls are Being Left Behind…

Long held societal beliefs about women’s roles, discrimination in the workplace and lack of opportunity discourages girls from pursuing computer science. In the past 30+ years, the percentage of women working in STEM has barely changed. In 1987, women represented 20% of the STEM workforce, today they still only represent, 23% in Canada.

SOURCE: McKinsey & Company

Women in STEM Fields

%

1987

%

2019

IT’S NOT TOO LATE

Hackergal is Changing this Bleak Landscape

After our hackathons:

%

of girls became more interested in computer science industry after participating in our Hackathons.

%

of girls really enjoyed our Hackathon!

Hackergal fosters girls and gender diverse learners’ natural curiosity for STEAM throughout the K-12 experience, and gives them a safe space to learn, explore and build their confidence.

​OUR WORK & VALUES

At Hackergal, we are guided by our values: equity, education, and community. These values are integrated into our programs, services, and approaches; they are truly the foundation of everything we do as an organization. 


icon2 About

EQUITY

We recognize, respect, and honour the strengths and perspectives of all individuals and are committed to fostering safe and inclusive learning environments

EQUITY in action at Hackergal:

  • Hackergal programs and events, such as our annual Hackathon, are inclusive of individuals with diverse gender identities, backgrounds, and learning needs
  • The Hackergal Hub increases access to coding education for those who are underrepresented in the technology field
  • Our Ambassador Program empowers a diverse cross-section of Canadian girls to become leaders and change-makers
icon1 About

EDUCATION

We are passionate about engaging our community through knowledge sharing, digital skills development, and continuous learning, as technology continues to transform our everyday lives.

EDUCATION in action at Hackergal:

  • We are committed to providing a wide range of learning opportunities to students across Canada, both online and in-person
  • We empower and inspire educators to make an impact through our workshops, curricula, and resources
  • Our Hackathon and Ambassador Programs provide non-judgemental spaces for students to learn new things, experiment, and grow their skills
icon3 About

COMMUNITY

We achieve sustainable change through collaboration with learners, educators, facilitators, parents and partners who share our mission. Together we are closing the gender gap and building a community that empowers every girl to see a future in technology.

COMMUNITY in action at Hackergal:

  • We host the largest Hackathon for girls across Canada, bringing together learners and educators from every corner of the country
  • Our Ambassador Program teaches girls how to be leaders in their own communities, giving them the tools and mentorship to create a grassroots movement
  • We strengthen our impact by partnering with community organizations, particularly those working with Black and Indigenous girls and gender-diverse learners across Canada 

Board of Directors

Jasmin Ganie-Hobbs

Jasmin Ganie-Hobbs

DIRECTOR TECH FINANCING, BDC - BOARD CHAIR

Rick Davidson

Rick Davidson

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RAVL

Sonia Couto

Sonia Couto

MANAGING DIRECTOR, KONVERGE DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

Lina Ismail

Lina Ismail

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, THE CATHERINE WHEEL

Marieta Narayan

Marieta Narayan

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, RETAIL SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Ruth Woolmer

Ruth Woolmer

FOUNDER, REW SERVICES

Our Team

Lucy Ho (she/her)

Lucy Ho (she/her)

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kumiko Imai (she/her)

Kumiko Imai (she/her)

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Rebecca Hazell (she/her)

Rebecca Hazell (she/her)

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Christelle Bsaibes (she/her)

Christelle Bsaibes (she/her)

HACKATHON PROGRAM MANAGER

Ruby Awan (she/her)

Ruby Awan (she/her)

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Mishal Islam (she/her)

Mishal Islam (she/her)

CURRICULUM MANAGER

Sarah Weaver (she/her)

Sarah Weaver (she/her)

FOUNDATIONS MANAGER

Laurel Maule (she/her)

Laurel Maule (she/her)

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Chloe Kirlew-Geddes (she/her)

Chloe Kirlew-Geddes (she/her)

OUTREACH SPECIALIST, BLACK YOUTH FOCUS

Maarya Zafar (she/her)

Maarya Zafar (she/her)

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Kim Nguyen (she/her)

Kim Nguyen (she/her)

AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LEAD

Lyle Hill (he/him)

Lyle Hill (he/him)

OUTREACH SPECIALIST, INDIGENOUS YOUTH FOCUS

Helen Chen (she/her)

Helen Chen (she/her)

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Veronique Poulin (she/her)

Veronique Poulin (she/her)

ASSOCIATE, FASKEN - SECRETARY

Irving Ho (he/him)

Irving Ho (he/him)

FINANCE MANAGER

Volunteers

Lee Rennick

Lee Rennick

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CIO COMMUNITIES, CIO

Anjalie Sharma

Anjalie Sharma

Founding Hackergal Ambassador

Emily Jarvis

Emily Jarvis

Curriculum Development Volunteer

ANNUAL REPORTS

Download PDF of Annual Report 2020 - 2021

Download PDF of  Ambassador Report

Download PDF of Annual Report 2020 - 2021

Download PDF of Hackathon Report 2024

Download PDF of Annual Report 2020 - 2021

Download PDF of Annual Report 2021-2022

Download PDF of Annual Report 2020 - 2021