Sharifa Wright is a global inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism (IDEA) leader with over 20 years of experience in the education, government, and non-profit sectors in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Sharifa designs and implements organizational strategies that optimize the experiences of Black, Indigenous Latinx, Asian, multi-racial, disabled and LGBTQ2SIIA board members, executives, employees, learners, clients, customers, buyers, beneficiaries, donors, and community members. Currently, Sharifa is the inaugural Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive Engagement at Ontario Tech University; previously, she served as the Director for Alumni Diversity & Inclusion, at Williams College and Project Manager for UN Women Programs in the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica.

Sharifa’s enthusiasm for serving her community through board governance was sparked in high school when she was appointed as the student trustee for her Catholic school’s board and since then she has had the pleasure of serving on over a dozen education, non-profit and community service boards. She is currently a founding board member of the Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (QSIDE). Sharifa is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) who completed graduate coursework in Social and Political Thought at York University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Africana Studies, and Mathematics from Williams College. Sharifa lives in Whitby and enjoys exploring Ontario’s great parks and trails with her 2 year old, Siya. As someone living with and caring for family members living with chronic and disabling health conditions, Sharifa is deeply invested in using her skills and experience to support VHA’s vision of equitably delivering quality care with great heart.

Sharifa joined the VHA Board in 2022.