Mercedes-Benz Canada announces the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Award winners

• First established in 2018, the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Award recognizes professional women (30-45) who are seen as high-potential contributors and who have achieved successive leadership positions.
• The 16 winners will be recognized at the Women's Executive Network's (WXN) 19th annual Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Virtual Awards Gala on November 25, 2021.
• The Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards celebrate high-achieving female leaders in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Mercedes-Benz Canada is pleased to once again announce an exceptional cohort of Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Award winners, as part of the Women's Executive Network's (WXN) 19th annual Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Virtual Awards. First launched in 2018, the award honours the professional achievements of outstanding women (30-45) who are seen to be high-potential contributors in their respective fields and who have been promoted to successive leadership positions.

"As a company, Mercedes-Benz prioritizes women's career advancement," says Eva Wiese, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada. "This year, we are proud to celebrate another remarkable group of high-achieving professionals who are driving change in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Their commitment to collaboration and inclusivity allows them to achieve their goals, while laying the groundwork for future success for their organizations as well as the next generation of change makers."

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Award recipients are:

• Regional Chief Kluane Adamek, Assembly of First Nations, Yukon Region
• Dr. Tracie Afifi, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
• Onome Ako, Chief Executive Director, Action Against Hunger, Canada; Executive Director, Amref Health Africa in Canada
• Andreea Amariei, Associate Vice President, Wealth Governance and Control, TD Bank Group, TD Wealth
• Lena Azzou, Chief of Staff, Metrolinx
• Lindsay Barber, Director, Product Management & Product Knowledge, Masco Canada Limited; President, Believe Army
• Dr. Suzanne Kearns, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo; Founding Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics
• Dr. Carol Liao, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Business Law, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
• Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Executive Director, Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA)
• Chelsie McKnight, Director, Channel Strategy & Programs, TELUS Small Business, TELUS
• Dr. Melanie Morris, Pediatric Surgeon and Pediatric Urologist, Winnipeg Children's Hospital; Associate Professor, University of Manitoba
• Sadaf Parvaiz, Global Enterprise Inclusion and Diversity Leader, GHD
• Véronique Proulx, Vice-Présidente, Principale Marketing & Communications, Opérations Québec - MEC Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Canada (MEC) / Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)
• Kashmera Self, AVP Strategy & Emerging Solutions Delivery, Interac Corp.
• Sara Son Hing, VP, Retail Delivery Model & Advisor Role Strategy, RBC
• Clarice Ward, Project Manager, Specialty Contracts Division, Melloul-Blamey Construction; Board Director, Skills Ontario and WinSETT - Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades & Technology

She's Mercedes is a global platform that connects, inspires, and empowers professional women, helping them to achieve their goals. In Canada, the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Award is just one initiative that brings together and puts the spotlight on these high-achievers. Over the years, the award has served as an opportunity for trailblazing women to network, have important conversations, and generate new ideas.

"Mercedes-Benz is proud to be partnering with WXN to recognize women whose accomplishments are matched only by their potential," says Wiese. "Since the very beginning, the company has been shaped by women's contributions—starting with Bertha Benz, whose ground breaking journey in the Bens Patent Motor Car laid the foundation for the automotive industry in 1888. We understand the importance of nurturing strong female voices and are looking forward to celebrating our winners this year and seeing where their journeys take them in the years to come."

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About Mercedes-Benz Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and service of Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG passenger vehicles and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,050 people in 17 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of seven Mercedes-Benz own retail operations and 52 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 35,396 vehicles in 2020. This positioned Mercedes-Benz as the top luxury manufacturer in Canada for the seventh consecutive year.

For more information, please contact:

Zakary Paget                  (647) 267-5932              zakary.paget@mercedes-benz.ca

Further information from Mercedes-Benz Canada is available at media.mercedes-benz.ca.