Expert Panel
PREM BENIMADHU is vice-president of organizational performance at the Conference Board of Canada. He is an expert in human resource management, compensation, leadership, training and development, and organizational effectiveness, and is overseeing a comprehensive research project for the Conference Board that will help Canadian companies and organizations break down the barriers to the advancement of visible minorities. The autumn 2003 issue of the Conference Board publication InsideEdge includes his article "Valuing diversity: From business necessity to business survival."
KAMAL DIB is a senior economist and policy chief with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Each year, he prepares the minister of labour's annual report analyzing the equity position of companies required by the federal equity act to report to the Canadian government. He is author of several books, most recently Warlords and Merchants: History of the Lebanese Political and Business Establishment.
NORMAN GULL is director of community services for the Cree Regional Authority, the Nemiscau, Que.-based administrative arm of the Grand Council of the Crees. He has taught at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada and is the chairman and president of Nabakatuk Forest Products Inc., a joint venture between Montreal-based Domtar Inc., and the Waswanipi Cree First Nation in Quebec's James Bay area.
EKUWA SMITH is a senior research associate and director of cultural diversity at the Canadian Council on Social Development, a non-profit that focuses on issues such as social inclusion, cultural diversity, poverty and employment. Her recent reports include "Ensuring cultural diversity and social cohesion for visible minorities in Canada" and "Does a rising tide lift all boats?" She has just completed a major study-"Nowhere to turn?"-on immigrant and visible-minority women who are victims of partner violence.
For more information, pick up the March 29th issue of Canadian Business or visit the Minority Report section on OMNITV.ca.
