Meenu Sikand is a well-known community builder and a transformative leader in the areas of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA).  She brings with her a true passion to create accessible, inclusive and welcoming communities, where all community members can live, work, play, practice faith and participate in their chosen endeavors. She brings over thirty years’ experience of executing various management roles within corporate, government, non-profit and academic sectors.  

Meenu was the inaugural Executive lead for equity, diversity and inclusion at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital where she advanced the hospital’s efforts in EDI and Accessibility across multiple dimensions including team culture and wellness, program design and delivery, policy, health equity, data collection, employment, research, teaching and learning, community engagement and anti-stigma initiatives. As part of the Senior Management Team of the HB, her role was integral in advancing the hospital’s strategy including its commitments to lead and model social change and be a model employer of people with disabilities. Meenu was also appointed as the inaugural co-chair of the IDEA Task Force, which was part of the Hospital’s action plan to address systemic racism within and outside of the hospital. Under her leadership, the Holland Boorview became the first and only hospital in Canada to receive the Gold Certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation and the best employer of Diversity. Prior to joining the Hospital, Meenu was employed at the Region of Peel as its Inaugural Accessibility Planning lead for fifteen years responsible to implement the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) Act requirements and supporting its Accessibility Advisory Committee.  

Meenu is founder of the Accessibility for All, a non-profit organization that works to identify, address and meet the needs of marginalized communities. Her many volunteer roles underscore her commitment to diversity and disability. She has been appointed a member on the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council by the Minister of Seniors and Accessibility. Meenu has served on the executive board of the Independent Living Canada and the Center for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). Currently she serves as a board director for Amar Karma, Health and Wellness Awareness Network. Leadership committee of the Disability without Poverty and one of the founding members of the Race and Disability Canada (RAD), Living with Dignity, United Way GTA, Canadian Women’s Foundation, and Women, Peace and Security Network of Canada among others.

Meenu is an award-winning disability rights advocate, an educator and a sought-after speaker. She has travelled the world speaking on a wide variety of disability topics including mental health, cultural competencies, parenting, social exclusion, accommodation and race. Meenu was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion has awarded her the Senior Executive of the Year. Meenu is an avid traveler, reader and lives in the Greater Toronto Area with his family and dog Archer.