Meet the 17th annual Viola Desmond Awards recipients

Honouring Black leadership is one powerful response to anti-Black racism, and a reminder that resistance has long shaped Canada’s social fabric.

Taking place during Black History Month, the Viola Desmond Awards pay tribute to the spirit of resistance and the historical struggle for equality in Canada.

In 1946, Desmond, a Black Nova Scotian entrepreneur, challenged racial segregation when she refused to sit in a movie theatre balcony reserved for Black patrons. 

She was arrested for sitting in the “whites-only” section, sparking a legal battle that would later become a cornerstone of Canada’s civil rights movement.

Though her case initially drew little attention outside of Nova Scotia, Desmond’s defiance now stands as a national symbol of resistance. 

Her story serves to remind us of the importance of recovering Black Canadian history from the margins and honouring it as an important part of our collective story.

Dr. Trudy McFarlane, associate dean, Black flourishing in medicine and health care at the TMU School of Medicine, is the Viola Desmond Faculty/Administrator Award recipient.

McFarlane is a family physician, GP psychotherapist and clinical professor at TMU’s School of Medicine. 

A leader in health equity and medical education, she has helped shape admissions pathways, curriculum and learner supports that advance Black representation, belonging and excellence in medicine. 

McFarlane is deeply committed to uplifting Black communities through community engaged programs and partnerships to address health disparities and national mentorship, supporting Black youth, university students, medical learners and trainees. 

Her leadership is guided by Ubuntu, the belief that humanity is bound with the conviction that when systems see people fully and holistically, they create conditions for flourishing. This is reflective of Viola Desmond’s legacy of dismantling structural barriers while building pathways for future generations.

McFarlane is also an assistant clinical professor and co-medical lead with Peel Public Health’s Black, African, Caribbean Communities Action-Planning and Strategy Committees. 

She also serves as a representative of the Black Physicians of Canada, as a co-chair/founder of the Black Physicians of Nova Scotia and a member of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario.

Nicole Austin, Black-led programs coordinator at the Urban Farm, is the Viola Desmond Staff Award recipient.

Austin is a graduate of TMU’s Food and Nutrition Program and the Black-led programs coordinator at the TMU Urban Farm, where she founded the Harvest Collective and Learning Circle, Black Food Sovereignty Initiatives. 

A dedicated food justice advocate, she advances community health and food sovereignty through culturally rooted urban farming, education and collaboration. 

Her work centres restorative justice, environmental stewardship and knowledge-sharing, with a focus on growing culturally significant and medicinal plants of the African diaspora. Through community engagement and workshops on Black food history, food and climate justice and food literacy, Austin works to challenge systemic inequities in food systems while fostering healing, belonging and Black leadership, while expanding access to nutritious, culturally affirming food.

Zoë Walwyn, Federal Court of Canada judicial law clerk, is the Viola Desmond Alumni Award recipient. She is a 2024 graduate of TMU’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law.

Walwyn’s impact spans research, service and mentorship. She currently serves as a judicial law clerk at the Federal Court of Canada, where she works across areas including immigration and refugee law, prison law and human rights law. 

Walwyn has demonstrated a sustained commitment to equity and anti-racism through her advocacy, including co-founding the law school’s Pardon Clinic, which helps to remove barriers for individuals seeking criminal record suspensions. She also served as equity, diversity and inclusion officer for LASL’s Black Law Students’ Association and led anti-Black racism initiatives in educational settings. 

Along with her ongoing mentorship of BIPOC law students, Walwyn’s achievements reflect a deep commitment to justice, compassion and community. She continues her commitment to pursuing a legal career grounded in social justice, equity, and compassionate advocacy.

Feben Bogale

Bogale is a TMU Biology graduate with a strong record of leadership across academic and professional student organizations. She served as president of the Biology Course Union and vice-president of Professional Development for the Association of Undergraduate Women in Science, leading high-impact initiatives, industry partnerships and mentorship programs. 

Bogale is the recipient of two Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards, Best Leadership in a Student Group Award and Excellent Social Award, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive leadership, community engagement and advancing professional development in STEM.

Jada Johnson-Mills

Johnson-Mills is a third-year student in TMU’s Midwifery Education Program. She maintains a strong commitment to reproductive justice and Black maternal health, drawing on extensive clinical experience in primary and complex care settings to support safe, respectful and equitable care for diverse families.

Johnson-Mills is passionate about community-centred midwifery, health equity and advancing culturally responsive care within Ontario’s health care system. She plans to practise as a certified midwife and continue advocating for improved outcomes and trust in maternityCare.

Zintiat Kolly

Kolly is a graduate of TMU’s Social Work program. She currently works as a student success program manager at the Pinball Clemons Foundation, supporting over 120 students through financial aid, mentorship and advocacy. Kolly served as vice-chair on the board of Future Black Female, where she helped advance access to education and leadership opportunities for Black girls. Kolly is a dedicated volunteer, most recently supporting efforts in Indonesia with Islamic Relief Canada. 

Passionate about community impact, mental health, equity and immigration advocacy, who is committed to using her voice and lived experience to advance justice and opportunities for marginalized communities.

Naomi Wokocha

Naomi Wokocha is completing a double major in English and philosophy, with a minor in criminology. During her time at TMU, she has pursued a range of academic and professional roles, including serving as vice-president of the TMU Pre-Medical Society and working as a research assistant with the philosophy and history departments. She is particularly interested in public policy, clinical ethics and qualitative research. Her academic and research experience has led to a competitive clinical ethics internship with William Osler Health System, a summer research assistantship with the Government of Ontario, and her current role as a research assistant and lead project facilitator with the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP).

“It is an honour for the Ted Rogers School of Management to partner with OVPECI in the presentation of the Viola Desmond Awards,” said Cynthia Holmes, dean of the Ted Rogers School of Management. “We are very pleased to recognize these three outstanding business leaders and know they will inspire and motivate future generations of leaders.”

Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)

Deborah Flint has led transformation and modernization in the aviation industry while driving organizational growth and embedding equity and inclusion at the core of her leadership. She leads strategy and operations for Canada's largest international gateway, driving its work to modernize airport services and enhance global connectivity. 

She has guided major expansion projects, advanced workforce development and strengthened diverse vendor partnerships. Before joining Toronto Pearson, she held senior roles in aviation management and infrastructure development.

A dedicated mentor and supporter of the TMU community, Flint engages with Ted Rogers School students, sharing her expertise and creating meaningful opportunities for emerging leaders. Her commitment to inclusive leadership reflects her belief that investing in people builds stronger organizations.

Luz Longsworth, senior corporate director at Sandals Resorts

Luz Longsworth has made a significant global impact in education and leadership. She previously served as principal and pro vice-chancellor of The University of the West Indies Open Campus and Global Affairs, where she led digital transformation and leadership development initiatives across the Caribbean.

She currently serves as senior corporate director at Sandals Resorts International, leading Sandals Corporate University and shaping training and professional development for more than 20,000 team members across nine countries. She has spearheaded experiential learning initiatives, including co-op placements and executive education programs through the Sandals Corporate University’s partnership with the Ted Rogers School of Management.

Through her strategic leadership, Longsworth ensures learners gain meaningful exposure to international business environments while developing practical skills in hospitality, tourism and business. An active mentor and community leader, she supports emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds and serves on the advisory board of the P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy.

Claudette McGowan, CEO, Protexxa

Claudette McGowan is a transformative leader in the technology sector, driving growth through human-centred cybersecurity solutions. Her career spans senior leadership roles at Deloitte, BMO and TD Bank, and the founding of Protexxa, where she has advanced accessible technologies to address complex security challenges with lasting impact.

A committed mentor and community leader, McGowan founded the Black Arts & Innovation Expo, co-founded Phoenix Fire and The Firehood, and is vice-chair of MaRS Discovery District and chair of CILAR, Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing Respect (CILAR), a group of senior business leaders committed to creating platforms that break down systemic barriers within the innovation economy. Through these initiatives, she has helped invest millions in women and Black entrepreneurs and actively mentors TMU students, supporting the next generation of leaders. In June 2025, Claudette was appointed to the Order of Canada for her global leadership in cybersecurity, advocacy for women, and the promotion of digital human rights.