BCW BOARD CHAIR

Environmental Scientist, ESG Leader & Founder of Ellie Bianca Beauty

Dr. Evelyne Nyairo is a strategic leader and innovator with over 20 years of global experience guiding complex projects across energy, infrastructure, and sustainable development. She advises on environmental and social governance, regulatory strategy, and risk management, supporting initiatives across Canada, the Middle East, and Africa. She is also the founder of the award-winning Canadian skincare brand Ellie Bianca, championing ethical sourcing, innovation, and women-led value chains.

Multidisciplinary Artist

Mary Adebayo is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist based in Calgary, Alberta. She was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, and moved to Canada at the age of 12. Growing up between two cultures greatly shaped how she sees the world and sparked her interest in art as a way to explore identity, culture, and belonging. From an early age, art became a tool for understanding memory, movement, and the different realities of race and social life.

Adebayo’s work explores themes of race, culture, and emotion through digitally created and printed artworks. Her practice looks at how identities are formed, labelled, and often misunderstood, especially within African and diasporic communities. Using both personal experiences and shared stories, she creates work that asks viewers to question fixed ideas and see identity as something fluid and evolving.

Bright, bold colour is a key part of Adebayo’s work. Colour is both a creative choice and a central concept in her practice. Inspired by the green and white of the Nigerian flag, her palette reflects peace, strength, wealth, and pride, while also pointing to new ideas of African identity and independence. Colour acts as a visual language in her work, helping to express emotion, memory, and cultural connection. Through playful lighting, colour theory, and digital tools, she creates vibrant compositions that mirror her belief that art—and life—should feel like an adventure.

Imagination plays a big role in Adebayo’s creative process. She enjoys the freedom that digital tools offer, allowing her to experiment, layer ideas, and build meaning in unexpected ways. By blending digital techniques with strong visual storytelling, her work feels both personal and contemporary.

Alongside her independent practice, Adebayo has been recognized for her involvement in cultural and community work. In 2014, she was a prize nominee and later received recognition as a graphic designer through her work with Adoniaa Collective and the Yoruba Youth Foundation Calgary (YYFC), a title she continues to use professionally. In 2023, she presented her first solo exhibition, Afrofuturism: Drifting into Wonderland, marking an important milestone in her artistic journey.

Today, Mary Adebayo continues to create work that celebrates culture, emotion, and bold visual expression. Her art invites curiosity, joy, and reflection, using colour and imagination to communicate stories that go beyond words.

Artist

Palak Dhorajiya is an artist driven by a deep passion for creating imaginative work. Growing up in India, she developed an early love for art, often making time alongside her full-time studies to attend workshops and classes. Over time, however, her academic pursuits took priority, leading her to relocate to Calgary, Canada, to pursue a career in interior design. In the process, her artistic journey was set aside—nearly lost altogether.

That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when newfound free time allowed Palak to reconnect with her passion. She began exploring a new medium, alcohol inks, and quickly rediscovered her creative voice. Encouraged by her mother’s words and inspired by her art tutor’s work, she made the decision to take her art seriously.

Self-taught and deeply dedicated, Palak soon uncovered a passion for teaching as well. She began offering art classes to others seeking guidance, fully embracing a path she had never imagined possible. While she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and a postgraduate certificate in Kitchen and Bath Design, her artistic abilities have been developed independently and intuitively.

Today, Palak creates custom pieces that tell meaningful stories—each one thoughtfully crafted to connect with her clients’ emotions.

Spoken Word Artist

Miss Teen Galaxy Canada

Alvanna Ali is a 17-year-old Canadian pageant titleholder, community volunteer, and student of Caribbean and East African heritage who was crowned Miss Teen Galaxy Canada 2026. She is known for her advocacy for diversity, education, and unity, with a focus on empowering youth. Alvanna is very active in her community, volunteering for a variety of causes and aiming to ameliorate society for future generations. She enjoys learning about diverse cultures and teaching her own, reading, travelling, and dancing. She is the founder of "Confidently Black," an initiative striving to instill a strong sense of confidence in the Black youth of Alberta. As a proud Catholic and curious learner, Alvanna aims to become an entrepreneurial, specialized surgeon and international politician.

Digital Artist & Illustrator

Dara Etuhoko is a self-taught digital artist whose work makes stylized illustrations. Often shifting between the clean linework of manga, character illustration and design, and painterly styles. Her Works often lean into cool-toned palettes and focus on expression to create emotional depth.

Visual Artist

Naida Ali is a bright and curious 10-year-old girl born in Calgary, Alberta. She comes from a rich multicultural home with roots in St. Lucia in the Caribbean and South Sudan in East Africa, and she is deeply connected to her heritage and culture.

Naida is trilingual, speaking English, French, and Creole, and she has a strong love for learning—especially Math and Science. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, drawing and expressing her creativity by making edits on social media, inspired by her passion for music and WWE. Her biggest role model is her big sister, Alvanna Ali, who inspires her to dream big, work hard, and believe in herself. With her determination and curiosity, Naida aspires to become a surgeon one day, using her skills and knowledge to help others and make a meaningful impact in the world.