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.
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.
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
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
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
DIRECTOR TECH FINANCING, BDC - BOARD CHAIR
Rick Davidson
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RAVL
Sonia Couto
MANAGING DIRECTOR, KONVERGE DIGITAL SOLUTIONS
Lina Ismail
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, THE CATHERINE WHEEL
Marieta Narayan
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, RETAIL SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
Ruth Woolmer
FOUNDER, REW SERVICES
Our Team
Lucy Ho (she/her)
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kumiko Imai (she/her)
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Rebecca Hazell (she/her)
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Christelle Bsaibes (she/her)
HACKATHON PROGRAM MANAGER
Ruby Awan (she/her)
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Mishal Islam (she/her)
CURRICULUM MANAGER
Sarah Weaver (she/her)
FOUNDATIONS MANAGER
Laurel Maule (she/her)
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Chloe Kirlew-Geddes (she/her)
OUTREACH SPECIALIST, BLACK YOUTH FOCUS
Maarya Zafar (she/her)
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Kim Nguyen (she/her)
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LEAD
Lyle Hill (he/him)
OUTREACH SPECIALIST, INDIGENOUS YOUTH FOCUS
Helen Chen (she/her)
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Veronique Poulin (she/her)
ASSOCIATE, FASKEN - SECRETARY
Irving Ho (he/him)
FINANCE MANAGER
Volunteers
Lee Rennick
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CIO COMMUNITIES, CIO
Anjalie Sharma
Founding Hackergal Ambassador
Emily Jarvis
Curriculum Development Volunteer
ANNUAL REPORTS
Download PDF of Ambassador Report
Download PDF of Hackathon Report 2024
Download PDF of Annual Report 2021-2022
Download PDF of Annual Report 2020 – 2021