2024 Gala Co-Chairs

Ray Williams

A seasoned financial services executive with more than 35 years of experience specializing in global capital markets, Mr. Williams is a former Vice-Chairman of Financial Markets at National Bank Financial where he was responsible for facilitating engagements with strategic accounts, and worked to promote the bank’s One Mission, people-first approach. He also represented the bank in several sustainable finance forums, transition initiatives, and was a key contributor to the bank’s affordable housing commitments.

In 2020 Mr. Williams co-founded the Black Opportunity Fund, the largest fund in Canada created to address anti-black racism through social and economic empowerment. He works closely with the organization today as the current Chair.

Passionate about inspiring change and community engagement, particularly in advancing workplace diversity and inclusion efforts, Mr. Williams is a long-time mentor, and serves on a variety of organization leadership boards, including 100Strong Foundation. He is also an executive-in-residence at the Rotman School of Management, in Toronto, and is on the board of the George Brown College Foundation, as well as Toronto Global and the Institute for Research & Public Policy (IRPP). Mr. Williams is the past and a founding president of the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP), a member-based resource organization for the advancement of Black and minority professionals in the Canadian financial services industry.

Nicole Stewart Kamanga

Nicole Stewart Kamanga is a lawyer and dedicated Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Board Member with a background representing children and youth involved in the child welfare system. Nicole practiced family law and mediation for over 15 years. She also served as a panel lawyer with the Office of the Children's Lawyer where she represented children involved in the child welfare system to ensure that their voices were heard.

Before entering the practice of law, Nicole worked as a Children's Advocate in a women’s shelter. She currently works in the public sector.

Nicole has been a Board member with CAFC since 2020. She has served on the Scholarship Committee and currently represents the Board on CAFC’s Equity & Inclusion Community Council. Nicole is honoured to serve as Co-Chair of this year’s Gala!