Vice-President, People Equity and Inclusion, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Yabome Gilpin-Jackson (she/her) is a proud African-Canadian who was born in Germany, grew up in Sierra Leone, and completed her studies in Canada and the USA. She has called Canada home since 1999 when she arrived as a refugee and immigrant, sponsored by her Canadian-born siblings and community members, to continue her higher education as a result of the Sierra Leonan civil war.
Dr. Gilpin-Jackson is Simon Fraser University’s first Vice-President, People, Equity & Inclusion and Founder/Principal Consultant at SLD Consulting. She is a scholar-practitioner in the interdisciplinary Human/Organization Development field, bringing background and experience in Organization Development, social change consulting, executive & Board coaching, facilitation and subject matter expertise in social change and justice work related to systemic equity, diversity and belonging. She has a doctorate in Human and Organization Systems, is a Certified Executive Coach and holds her Institute for Corporate Directors’ Designation. She has served in Executive Leadership roles within the British Columbia Public Sector, in healthcare and a Crown corporation.
Yabome is community-engaged and has served on a variety of non-profit Boards including Chair of her international professional association, the Organization Development Network. She is currently a Simon Fraser University Beedie School of Business Advisory Board member and Associate Faculty member. Among other awards, she has been named International African Woman of the Year by UK-based Women4AFrica, was the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Organization Development Professional award from US-based Organization Development Network and the recipient of several Canadian awards including the prestigious Harry Jerome Professional Excellence Award for Black-Canadian achievements, 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women,100 Black Women to Watch and a YWCA Woman of Distinction nominee.
Her inspiring talk at TEDxSFU is about how to get past disconnection to social change. Her publications include, Transformation After Trauma, The Power of Resonance, co-editor for the 2022 Palgrave Handbook of Learning for Transformation, the We Will Lead Africa book series and short story collections about global African experiences: Identities, Ancestries, Destinies. When asked about her work in the world, Yabome describes it as “developing our human capacity to be, think and do things differently and better.” If you ask what she is best known for, she will tell you, her wicked laugh!
