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OWIT-Toronto Newsletter - WINTER 2025Presidents' Message
We were thrilled to have members and non-members join us early this month at McCarthy Tétrault’s beautiful event space to mark our 25th anniversary. Over the past 25 years, OWIT-Toronto has supported countless women through guidance, resources, mentorship, and international networking opportunities. We look forward to continuing this great work with all of you! The trade landscape will continue to be monitored as it remains both dynamic and complex. Geopolitical tensions and shifting trade alliances are reshaping market access and investment decisions, creating a domino effect for those in the trade space who must constantly adapt while seeking new opportunities. A pivotal moment next year will be the CUSMA review; our chapter hosted an event about it this fall and we also collaborated with OWIT Ottawa on a joint submission to the government. As we move into 2026, we are excited to share that we have two Board roles available - VP Sponsorship and VP Communications. If you are interested in being involved in the important work we do at OWIT-Toronto, and joining our fantastic Board, please reach out to us for more information. We would like to take a moment to thank our dedicated OWIT-Toronto Board Members and our hard-working volunteers whose commitment and contributions have truly made this year very special. And special thanks as well to our sponsors and partners, whose support allows us to augment what we can offer members. We look forward to continuing to share new information with you through our website and the exciting events we have in the works. Stay tuned for more details! Cathy Williamson & Susan Baka Past EventsOWIT-Toronto's 25th Anniversary Celebration a Milestone Event
Martha Harrison, McCarthy Tétrault Amanda de Vogel, Scotiabank Susan Baka, OWIT-Toronto, & Stephen de Boer
Jennifer Cooke, EDC Cathy Williamson, OWIT-Toronto Anita Agrawal, Jewels4Ever, and Sue Rauth, Audrey Ross, OWIT-Toronto By Jeanne Brownewell OWIT-Toronto celebrated its 25th Anniversary in November, hosted at McCarthy Tétrault, with an insightful fireside chat featuring Stephen de Boer, who most recently served as Deputy Minister and Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister (2023–2025). Previously, he was Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Assistant Deputy Minister of International Affairs at Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Canada’s Ambassador to Poland and Belarus. Mr. de Boer reflected on Canada’s position as a longtime leader of women in international trade at the WTO through the endorsement of the Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment. With this declaration, Canada demonstrated to member countries the economic benefits of incorporating women into the global trade environment. Trade Diversification While the US will likely remain Canada’s top trading partner due to geographic ties, de Boer highlighted how there is a world of opportunity for Canadian businesses to pursue. Recent engagement with the Indo-Pacific, UAE, and Latin America is opening additional pathways for growth. In Europe, businesses can take advantage of the existing Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Drawing on his experiences as Ambassador to Poland, de Boer highlighted eastern Europe as a particularly untapped market and added that women-owned businesses are uniquely well-positioned to strengthen Canada’s presence in the services trade. Mr. de Boer also highlighted that the Trade Commissioner Service is a valuable resource for exporters, offering trade missions, market intelligence research, and in-country connections. Challenges Remain, But the Future Is Bright
During the ongoing public negotiations, the US business community has been making a case for the renewal of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Continuing to work with US partners is essential for securing a North American trade agreement that works for all. Amid the uncertainties in the US, other countries in Europe and Asia continue to abide by the rules-based trading system, providing some stability for Canadian businesses. Yet there is still more to be done. Organizations like OWIT remain key advocates for the meaningful inclusion of women in trade agreements, helping to ensure women can fully participate in and benefit from international trade, de Boer said. Looking towards the future, de Boer’s advice to women interested in careers in this field is simple: “Do it!” Canada has a significant number of women in trade leadership roles today, which offers strong networks and momentum for the next generation. The event included a lunch, networking, and a special award presentation recognizing the achievements of an OWIT-Toronto founder, Susan Baka. A big shout-out to our Co-VPs of Events, Susan Langdon and Lilian Marins, and to MC Audrey Ross, Cathy Williamson, Susan Baka, Alma Farias and the volunteers for all their work in organizing and executing the event. Special thanks as well to our sponsors - Scotiabank, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Export Development Canada, Jewels 4 Ever, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), and the Government of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service. Recognizing One of Our Own
At the celebration of OWIT–Toronto Chapter’s 25th Anniversary, we were proud to recognize and honour one of our founding members, Susan Baka, who has remained an unwavering advocate, mentor, and highly respected leader in the trade community. Susan, Co-President and VP International of the Toronto Chapter, and Co-VP of Chapter Development for OWIT International, was presented with the Excellence in Global Trade Award. This award is defined as: a woman who has achieved outstanding success in international trade. She demonstrates excellence in expanding markets, fostering global partnerships, and driving export growth. Through her leadership, innovation, and commitment, she serves as a role model for others pursuing success in global commerce. We were also fortunate to hear heartfelt remarks from three women who have worked closely with Susan over the years. A special thank you to Anita Agrawal, Amesika Baeta, and Sue Rauth for sharing their reflections and highlighting Susan’s exceptional contributions to women in trade over the past 25 years. Congratulations, Susan! Where We’ve BeenOWIT-Toronto members represented our organization throughout the fall at a wide range of events across the trade and business community. October – British Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Trade Event on Clearing the Path to International Trade October – City of Toronto Small Business Forum Contributed By Susana Vaz OWIT-Toronto member Susana Vaz and the City of Toronto’s Economic Development team hosted the Small Business Forum, welcoming small business owners and entrepreneurs. This year’s theme, Small Business, Big World, with its focus on international trade, truly hit the mark. Many Toronto entrepreneurs are already exporting or exploring new markets, reinforcing the importance of the City’s work through TradeTO in helping businesses grow globally. From dynamic mainstage discussions to a vibrant trade floor with 50+ exhibitors, and a speed mentoring zone buzzing with eager entrepreneurs — the excitement was contagious! With hundreds of attendees, the event was a true celebration of Toronto’s small business community — learning, connecting, and building the future together. October – Empire Club Event on the Canada-Michigan Relationship
OWIT-Toronto’ s Susan Baka with Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer OWIT-Toronto attended an Empire Club event featuring Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, who addressed the Canada-Michigan relationship. It was a refreshing and well-received talk from a US politician about the significance of this $90+ billion trading relationship and her commitment to continuing it, about how the vast majority of Americans view Canada as an ally and friend, about reinforcing the values of decency, respect and kindness, and about being thrilled to visit Canada in front of an appreciative crowd. The media’s Steve Paikin engaged her in energetic conversation on her political experiences. October – Toronto Global Forum Members of Youth for Canadian Trade Diversification with OWIT-Toronto board members
OWIT-Toronto board members Megane Visette, Lilian Marins and Susan Baka and attended this year’s Toronto Global Forum, which provided insights on the global economy and trade landscape from many senior business and political leaders. Key messages included the need for governments to adapt to evolving economic and geopolitical change, and for Canada to balance close U.S. ties with broader diversification and reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Speakers also highlighted the rising notion of “Advantage North America,” the accelerating role of AI in productivity, and the surge in energy demand driven by the growth of data centres, advanced manufacturing, and EVs. October – Desjardins Small Business Week Celebration attended by OWIT VP Partnerships Megane Visette. November - Ontario Economic Summit
With Meagan Trush of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub OWIT-Toronto was invited to the 2025 Ontario Economic Summit, which this year featured the thought-provoking theme of Leadership Across Borders. Political leaders, prominent bankers, and business executives all weighed in with insights on issues of the day, from Canada’s response to trade tensions with the US, to the transformative potential of AI. They had plenty to say about Canada’s move from reliance on one market to diversifying to other markets, about investments in AI, infrastructure, defence and critical minerals, and about the importance of Indigenous participation in the latter. Despite all the challenges of a rapidly changing global landscape, a definite consensus emerged that with challenges come opportunities. November - IE Canada Conference in Ottawa
Jessica Horwitz, OWIT’s VP Legal and a partner at Bennett Jones, moderated a panel of lawyers at the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters (I.E. Canada) Annual Fall Summit in Ottawa discussing Legal & Compliance updates relevant to international trade law in 2025. She also attended I.E. Canada's first "Hill Day" in which delegates from the association attended meetings with Parliamentarians to discuss issues of importance to the importing and exporting community. November - Belgian Canadian Business Chamber's Afterwork Event
December - City of Toronto CPTPP Event
The City of Toronto hosted a dynamic event, Diversifying Trade Through CPTPP, to showcase the unique opportunities for exporters in the emerging Asia-Pacific market. Taking place at the Scarborough Civic Centre, the event included exhibits offering resources and programs, including an OWIT booth, complemented by sessions featuring regional experts. Read the highlights below: CPTPP Overview Eric Liang, Deputy Chief Negotiator at Global Affairs Canada, explained how the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is the evolution of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after U.S. withdrawal. This comprehensive agreement covers virtually all aspects of trade and provides Canadian businesses with preferential access to seven Indo-Pacific markets plus three in Latin America, with more countries planning to join in the future. Liang highlighted how the covered markets are very diverse and may serve different needs:
The CPTPP provides reliability for businesses seeking to expand beyond the US market, allowing them to be viewed as dependable partners. In addition, the Government of Canada continues to support clients through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Export Development Canada (EDC), and the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS). Fireside Chat
Christine Nakamaura, VP of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC), emphasized the importance of relationships in doing business anywhere, but especially in the Indo-Pacific region, where creating a level of comfort is key. As the number of women exporting to Asian markets remains low due to added complexities, APFC offers women-only trade missions that incorporate cultural training. Nakamura believes that Asian countries look up to Canada as a leader in gender economic empowerment. Canadian SMEs in sectors such as health tech, clean tech, and energy security, which have not previously considered Asia, are increasingly looking towards the region. Gary Comerford, President of CMC Global, noted that while trade agreements can remove barriers, real success in Asia depends on companies actively entering the market and building strong relationships. He underscored the importance of patience, humility, and clearly communicating how the business meets partners’ needs and delivers value. As Asia is home to many of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Comerford suggested that the time to engage is now. Panel Discussion
Stephen Ip, Senior International Markets Consultant for Japan and Korea at the Ontario Public Service (OPS), discussed how the Ontario government delivers trade programs at no cost and partially-funded trade missions. With 15 Trade and Investment Offices (TIOs) around the world, Ontario provides on-the-ground market intelligence and connections for exporters. The trade programs branch concentrates on four priority sectors - advanced manufacturing (including defence), life sciences, clean tech, and ICT. Furthermore, SMEs can take advantage of the Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF), which has allocated $50 million in funding, or the business advisory services located in cities across Ontario. George Reid, Partner at Bennet Jones LLP, explained how law firms can help companies determine if their goods will qualify for preferential treatment and assist with obtaining inspection certificates or export permits if needed. This information doesn’t have to be expensive - attending networking events is a good start. Reid added that businesses should create contingency plans in case of future tariff increases, but the risk of this happening is low in CPTPP countries. Dave Archer, Founder of The Export Coach, advises businesses to assess which capabilities they can manage in-house and which may require external expertise to grow their trade presence, and to build their networks accordingly. Julie Nguyen, Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, observed that there is room to expand exports from Canada to Vietnam, citing EDC’s new office in Ho Chi Minh City and the city’s Friendship Agreement with Toronto. Nguyen highlighted that as ASEAN becomes more competitive, it is increasingly important to know the market well. She sees particular promise in sectors where Canada has strong expertise, including security, AI, digital transformation, clean tech, and infrastructure. December - Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce Holiday Event
Trade ResourcesThe deadline to apply for the second cohort of the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) is January 12, 2026. The TAP provides SMEs with targeted support to enter foreign markets and boost their export diversification. Advocacy
By Georgina Wainwright-Kemdirim, VP Policy, OWIT-Ottawa OWIT-Canada, which is OWIT-Ottawa and OWIT-Toronto jointly, delivered a submission to Global Affairs Canada on the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on November 3, 2025, as part of the stakeholder outreach process. Read more here. Member NewsOWIT Toronto Member Takes Key Role in Canada’s Mexico Major Trade Mission Congratulations to OWIT Toronto member Gloria Garcia, CEO of Global BMT, and her team for being selected to lead the B2B meeting program for Canadian IT companies during the February trade mission to Mexico. OWIT Toronto is proud to recognize the critical contribution that our members make through their leadership and professional excellence—directly supporting the growth of Canadian exports and strengthening international business relationships.
The Team Canada trade mission to Mexico, taking place from February 15 to 20, is expected to be one of the largest ever deployed to a foreign country, according to Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico, Cameron MacKay. The mission will focus on key sectors including agriculture, advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, clean energy, and the creative industries. Delegates will participate in activities and meetings across Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara—the country’s three largest economic hubs. Meet Our Volunteers
We provide volunteer opportunities to students and young women interested in global trade. Here they share why they volunteer and how they benefit: Chamilka Wijesinghe: As an OWIT-Toronto volunteer, I’ve contributed by drafting e-blasts, social media posts, business cards, and event flyers, as well as supporting event volunteering and photography. I’m passionate about OWIT’s mission of empowering women in international trade, and I truly enjoy being part of a community that drives meaningful connections, global collaboration, and professional growth. Kim Nguyen: I recently had the pleasure of volunteering at OWIT’s 25th Anniversary event, supporting the team with setup, guest check-in, and on-site coordination. It was a truly meaningful experience; not only did I learn from the event itself, but I also had the opportunity to connect with inspiring OWIT members, exchange stories and spark real connections, and feel the strength of this community firsthand. What appeals to me most about volunteering with OWIT is the chance to contribute in a meaningful way while being surrounded by remarkable women who continue to motivate, support, and empower one another. Shilpa Rodrigues: As a volunteer at OWIT, I have mostly helped out with the registration desk at the events, handing out badges, checking the attendee list and just helping with any general question at the location. I like to volunteer as it gives me the opportunity to meet and assist women in international trade as I am very interested in this field and at the same time to attend various informative sessions hosted by OWIT with esteemed speakers from the industry. Aditi Chaturvedi: As an OWIT Toronto member and volunteer since 2022, I have had the privilege of supporting key initiatives such as the OWIT 25th Anniversary Celebration, the Year-End Trade Update & AGM at Bennett Jones, and the Geopolitical Landscape of CUSMA session. My work has included event coordination, guest support, preparing meeting minutes and PowerPoint presentations, and communications support. Volunteering with OWIT has been deeply impactful for me—it has expanded my understanding of global trade, strengthened my professional confidence, and connected me with an inspiring community of women who are shaping the international business landscape. OWIT International NewsNew OWIT Chapter Launching in Mexico
OWIT–Toronto is pleased to share the exciting news that a new OWIT chapter is being established in the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. The chapter’s executive board has been confirmed, marking a significant step in expanding OWIT’s global network and strengthening the community of women leaders in international trade. The new chapter is scheduled to formalize its incorporation in January 2026, reflecting the commitment, vision, and expertise of a dedicated group of businesswomen focused on advancing international commerce in southern Mexico. OWIT–Toronto was particularly proud to share its best practices with the founders of this new chapter and invites members, partners, and supporters to follow the chapter’s progress as it prepares for its official inauguration. |
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