Amina Gerba, first Canadian senator of Cameroonian origin

[CamerExcellence] – The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced on July 29, 2021 that the new Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honorable Mary Simon, has appointed Ms. Amina Gerba as an independent senator on behalf of Quebec.

The six independent senators appointed are David Arnot for Saskatchewan, Michèle Audette for Quebec, Amina Gerba for Quebec, Clément Gignac for Quebec and Karen Sorensen for Alberta.

This historic decision makes Amina Gerba the first Canadian senator of Cameroonian origin.

Amina Gerba

Amina Gerba is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. Ambassador of Afro-optimism, she has acted as an economic link between Canada and Africa for many years.

Originally from Cameroon where she was born in 1961 in Bafia, Ms. Gerba worked for several Canadian companies from 1993 to 1995, focusing on market development in Africa.

In 1995, she created her own consulting group, Afrique Expansion Inc., to build bridges between Canada and Africa and promote business opportunities. She has since created and managed other companies, including Flash Beauté Inc. and Laboratoires Kariliss Inc., and the non-profit organization Forum Afrique Expansion.

Recognized for her multiple entrepreneurial initiatives and her dynamism in the business community in Quebec and Canada, Amina Gerba was appointed in 2018 as president of the Board of Directors of Entreprendre ici, an organization created by the Government of Quebec, with as main mission to offer tailor-made support and personalized services to entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diversity, in all regions of Quebec.

Founder and president of Laboratoires Kariliss and co-founder of KARIDERM, two companies specializing in the manufacture of natural care products based on shea butter and other value-added ingredients from the African continent, this Cameroonian of origin is also the initiator of Forum Afrique Expansion, the first and most important Canadian meeting platform for partnerships and business opportunities between Canada, Quebec and Africa.

While thanking, above all, the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau for this great mark of confidence, Amina Gerba dedicates this mandate to new Canadians as a symbol of hope for their harmonious integration into an open Canadian society reflecting a diverse world.

Recalling that after having made the choice to settle in Quebec and Canada 35 years ago, and after having spent more than 25 years in the field of entrepreneurship, she would like to thank her family, her permanent teams , her clients and business partners, who believed in her and supported her in her hard work for the economic rapprochement between Canada and Africa. “Thank you for having accompanied and supported me in all my entrepreneurial initiatives. It is thanks to you, in particular, that the Forum Afrique Expansion has become the most important platform for business meetings and Canada-Africa partnerships and that we have made fair trade raw materials accessible to Quebeckers and Canadians by Africa, such as shea butter, argan oil, black seed oil, through our product lines, made in Laval (KARIDERM and KARILISS), ”she told them.

About Forum Afrique Expansion

Organized in Montreal since 2003 to provide a space for business meetings and partnerships, the Forum Afrique Expansion brings together hundreds of high-level speakers and economic operators at each edition. The first Canadian business platform between Canada and Africa, it welcomes investors, business leaders, representatives and heads of government from around 20 African countries to one of the largest Canadian metropolises. , all of them, leading innovative projects.

Ms. Gerba is also a member of the board of directors of the Université du Québec à Montréal and of its executive committee, of the board of directors of ENSEMBLE for the respect of diversity, of the Canadian Council for Africa and of the African Business Roundtable.

Amina Gerba is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Old Montreal and a mentor for the Network of African Entrepreneurs and Professionals.

Ms. Gerba has received several awards and distinctions, including Chevalière de l’Ordre national du Québec in 2014, business personality at the Gala Dynastie and Entrepreneur of the Year from the Network of African Entrepreneurs and Professionals.

She was also ranked among the 25 women of influence in Quebec by Les Affaires newspaper.

Ms. Amina Gerba holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Quebec in Montreal.

The press release from the Canadian Prime Minister

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Canada’s new Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, appointed the following individuals as independent Senators to fill vacancies across Canada:

• David Arnot, for Saskatchewan
• Michèle Audette, for Québec
• Amina Gerba, for Québec
• Clément Gignac, for Québec
• Karen Sorensen, for Alberta

All new Senators were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, and chosen using the merit-based process open to all Canadians. This process ensures Senators are independent, reflect Canada’s diversity, and are able to tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

Quote

“I am pleased to welcome Parliament’s newest independent Senators. Their combined experience, perspectives, and dedication to serving Canadians will further strengthen the Senate and help shape our country’s future. I look forward to working with them, and all Senators, as we take steps toward our recovery and to building back a more resilient and inclusive Canada for everyone.”

Quick Facts

• The Senate is the Upper House in Canada’s parliamentary democracy. It unites a diverse group of accomplished Canadians in service of their country. Created to counterbalance representation by population in the House of Commons, the Senate has evolved from defending regional interests to creating space for the voices of historically underrepresented groups like Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, and women.
• With today’s announcement, there have been 60 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
• Under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints individuals to the Senate. By convention, Senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.
• In 2016, the selection process for Senators was opened to all Canadians. Candidate submissions are reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which provides recommendations to the Prime Minister.
• The Board is guided by public, transparent, non-partisan, and merit-based criteria to identify highly qualified candidates.
• Once appointed by the Governor General, new Senators join their peers to examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues, and represent regional, provincial, and minority interests – important functions in a modern democracy.

By #CamerExcellence. Source : PM Canada, Afrique Expansion