Dr. Wraychel Gilmore, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
Building on 25+ years in executive, consulting, civil society leadership and government roles, Wraychel completed her Ph.D. at a breakneck speed while working full-time, finishing in three and a half years. And she solidified her professional identity as a social justice renegade.
“When I started at the University of Toronto during the pandemic, we were told that our doctoral program cohort was the most eclectic and dynamic group of social justice renegades on the entire campus. As professions from the field, we were all focused on changing systems and calling out injustice. I knew in that moment that I had found the space to evolve my advocacy efforts.”
Wraychel has worked internationally alongside colleagues from the African and European continents, and the Caribbean, advocating politically and building strengths in policy development and programming.
"I knew in that moment that I had found the space to evolve my advocacy efforts"
"I knew in that moment that I had found the space to evolve my advocacy efforts"
Her work establishing a legislated child and youth advocate office included oversight of government services including sexual and physical assault responses from social services, exposing systemic racism and sexism within education, child protection and family violence issues, death investigations and complex mental health access for tens of thousands of children and youth.
Wraychel co-created the first paid cooperative education program for Indigenous youth in Canada. She served as an expert witness in the Senate of Canada advocating for a National Commissioner, being the only adult to bring youth delegates into the proceedings.
My career accelerated quickly from frontline work and I found myself an Executive Director at the age 30 with 6,000 youth in program, 2,000 volunteers in high-risk programming, and a $5 million-dollar annual budget. I established my core values of humility, curiosity, and humanity.”
Wraychel’s career spans multi-decade relationships across public and private sectors, with extensive governance experience having trained 120+ board presidents.
Wraychel is a current Director for Defence For Children International, appointed as the Canadian Observer for the European Region. She is a member of the SSHRC-funded International & Canadian Child Rights Partnership.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Wraychel’s original research on youth political consultation includes the participation of Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, Senators Stan Kutcher and Marilou McPhedran, the staff of the Prime Minister's Youth Council, Order of Canada Recipient Irwin Elman, and civil society leaders from across Canada.
Wraychel is a sought-after international speaker (hyperlink to Keynotes page). Her advocacy approaches have been recognized nationally including features on CBC’s Peter Mansbridge podcast, The Bridge, and the Ellected political podcast.
My own personal commitment to Reconciliation is working towards the realization of Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action 6 and 66: The repeal of Section 43 of the Criminal Code which still allows for corporal punishment of children by teachers, parents, and authority figures; and the necessity of multi-year funding for community-based Indigenous children and youth service providers.”