Advancing Gender Lens Investing: Canada’s Domestic and International Priorities
CAFIID members are welcome to join our upcoming Gender Lens Investing Community of Practice meeting!
Thursday May 7, 2026 at 1pm EST on Zoom
This CAFIID member event will explore Canada’s evolving priorities in gender lens investing across both domestic and international contexts. The session will examine some of the government’s strategies, institutional programs, and initiatives that are shaping Canada’s leadership in this space. It will also create space for reflection on what is working, where gaps remain, and how measurement frameworks can better capture meaningful gender equality outcomes. As momentum grows to align financial systems with gender equality and inclusive economic growth, the discussion will highlight how Canadian actors are defining, implementing, and measuring gender lens investment approaches in practice.
Featuring:
Sally Dimachki, Manager, Social Finance Fund, Employment and Social Development Canada
Samantha Nicholl, Deputy Director, Innovative Finance Division, Global Affairs Canada
Sally Dimachki is an impact-driven strategist and community leader advancing equitable systems across social impact and business. She currently works on the Government of Canada’s $755 million Social Finance Fund, mobilizing public-private investment for mission-driven businesses and lead the development of a first-of-its-kind taxonomy for social equity and gender-lens investing. Previously, she managed the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Investment Readiness Program, supporting the growth of women-focused social enterprises, and advanced refugee integration and economic development initiatives in Canada with Refugee 613. A Syrian immigrant and passionate advocate for newcomer women’s leadership, Sally serves on the Board of the Syrian Canadian Foundation and has held governance roles, including Vice-Chair of Immigrant Women Services Ottawa and Chair of the Fora Network Steering Committee. She has also represented Canada globally as a Delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Samantha Nicholl is an international development practitioner with more than 12 years of government experience advancing inclusive public policy and ensuring development impact and results with an intersectional lens. She is currently the Deputy Director for Policy and Impact with the Innovative Finance for International Assistance Division at Global Affairs Canada, which oversees Canada’s International Assistance Innovation Program and innovative finance policy leadership. Samantha is passionate about gender lens investing and women’s economic empowerment both in Canada and abroad!
NOTE: This event is for current CAFIID members and invited guests. If you're interested in becoming a member, join here.