Startup Canada co-founder shares insights and best practices on women empowerment with leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation economies

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, September 15, 2015 | Victoria Lennox, CEO and Co-Founder of Startup Canada is in Manila, Philippines at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy 2015 Fora as a distinguished panelist at the Public Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy. Lennox is also one of 21 women featured in ICONOGRAPH: Women Icons of APEC, an exhibition on display throughout the fora that recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the domestic and global economic activities of an APEC economy through grassroots initiatives.

Lennox is one of Canada’s leading experts in entrepreneurship policy, education, ecosystems, program architecture, governance; and, in fuelling entrepreneurship movements and awareness campaigns. She will take the stage on Sept. 17 to discuss the conference theme: “Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive Growth”. She will specifically speak to how the millennial generation has and continues to reshape the economy and how young women leaders are leading these changes.

“Women, as key drivers of innovation, are leading world-wide changes in national culture, education, job creation, and workforce development, in part through social innovation,” said Lennox. “To increase momentum for progress, women must be championed as the next great leaders in business and politics, celebrated for their achievements, and elevated through an environment that encourages, expects and enables their success. I look forward to sharing best practices from Canada and bringing learnings from my peers to implement back home.

The APEC Women and the Economy Fora is a platform for women representatives of the APEC economies to reflect on achievements, identify current barriers, and support future aspirations of women across the 21 APEC economies. The fora runs Sept. 16-18 and 600-800 attendees are expected to attend from public and private sectors.

Lennox was nominated as the Canadian representative on the Young Women Leaders as Powerful Drivers of Change panel by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Canada. As a member of APEC, an intergovernmental forum between countries in the Asia Pacific Region and its trade partners, Canada’s interests are reflected in the decision making process on a variety of issues, from trade and investment facilitation to economic cooperation.

Earlier this week Startup Canada, the non-profit organization of which Lennox is CEO, demonstrated its commitment to improving opportunities and training for women in business by partnering with Dell Canada to launch the Women Entrepreneurship Fund. This fund invests in high-impact projects that encourage and support the development of women-led companies in Canada. Applications are now open at startupcan.ca/women-entrepreneurship-fund.

Press Contact:

Kathryn Forrest

Communications and Marketing Manager, Startup Canada

613-627-0787 x106

kathryn.forrest@startupcan.ca

About Startup Canada

Startup Canada is a grassroots network of entrepreneurs working together to build an environment for entrepreneurship in Canada. Through online platforms, grassroots Startup Communities and cross-sector initiatives, Startup Canada is advancing entrepreneurial momentum and a culture of entrepreneurship, as the voice of Canadian entrepreneurs. Learn more at startupcan.ca.

About Victoria Lennox

Victoria is the co-founder and CEO of Startup Canada, a grassroots network of entrepreneurs working together to build an environment for entrepreneurship in Canada. She is recognized by the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union as one of the foremost experts in entrepreneurship education; ecosystem and program architecture, governance, development and implementation; and, in fuelling entrepreneurship movements and awareness campaigns.

She is the first Canadian and one of the youngest recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. As a student at the University of Oxford, Victoria won the award for having pioneered a grassroots youth entrepreneurship movement in the UK called NACUE. Today NACUE is central to the UK’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting more than 55,000 higher education students and graduates across more than 100 institutions.

On the global stage, Victoria is a strong leader. As the catalyst for Startup Generation and host of Startup Nations, Victoria supports and mentors the development of youth enterprise organisations in more than 20 countries; provides advisory support to international organizations in the areas of entrepreneurship networks, education and policy development; and supports colleges and universities in enhancing their entrepreneurial activities. Countries around the world are also working to emulate Startup Canada”s methodologies and activities, viewing the organization, under Victoria”s leadership, as the best practice in fuelling entrepreneurship culture.