Valeria Iannitti
Biography:
For over two decades, VALERIA (VAL) IANNITTI has been a passionate advocate for social justice, equitable education, and human rights, both in Canada and internationally. Her career began at the Pan-African level, championing disability rights, which included her involvement in the historic UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She then went on to lead significant education and international development initiatives across Africa and the Middle East.
Val brought her expertise to Actua in 2017, taking the helm of its Development Team. Under her dynamic leadership, Actua has secured tens of millions of dollars, enabling the organization to inspire over half a million young people annually through STEM. A testament to her commitment to equity, the majority of these youth are girls and young women, Indigenous youth, Black youth, and those from rural and Arctic communities. In her role, Val cultivates crucial corporate partnerships that infuse Actua's programs with vital industry insights. This collaboration has sparked the development of innovative program areas like Cyber Safety/Security, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Agriculture, all designed to equip youth to become skilled, diverse leaders in Canada's innovation economy.
Val holds a diverse academic background, with bachelor's degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Ottawa, a BA in Political Science from Carleton University, an MA in Political Science from UBC, and an MBA from Strathclyde University. She is particularly passionate about the ethics, politics, and philosophy of science and technology.
Outside of her impactful work, Val is a proud mom to two energetic kids. She starts her mornings in her home gym, spends winters (unsuccessfully!) trying to master snowboarding, and enjoys road biking along Ottawa's beautiful pathways in the summer.
Activities:
Disinformation Roundtable