Meet Interim Executive Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH)
Diversity Institute Appoints Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia
The Diversity Institute at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, M.A., B.A. as Senior Director, Innovation, Digital Transformation & Global Affairs and Interim Executive Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH).
In this role, Ulrike will provide senior leadership in support of the Diversity Institute’s work on inclusive innovation, with a focus on small and medium enterprises and digital transformation. Her portfolio will focus on building partnerships, supporting knowledge mobilization, and strengthening connections between research, policy, industry, and practice, particularly in areas related to technology adoption, scale-up growth, and skills development.
Ulrike will also serve as Interim Executive Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), supporting the Hub’s national mandate to support the growth of women entrepreneurship through coordination, partnership development, and knowledge dissemination. In addition, Ulrike will contribute to work with the Future Skills Centre (FSC), supporting applied research, partnerships, and initiatives related to skills development and workforce transitions.
A multilingual executive with more than 25 years of experience across the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors, Ulrike brings extensive experience working across jurisdictions and innovation ecosystems. Originally from Germany, her career spans six countries and five continents, with a strong record of building cross-sector and cross-border collaboration in technology, economic development, and public policy.
Prior to joining the Diversity Institute, Ulrike served as Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology and Innovation at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, where she led federal policy files on artificial intelligence, cyber security, telecommunications, quantum, online safety, digital transformation, and privacy and data protection. She established and led national advisory bodies including the Cyber Security Council, the Future of Artificial Intelligence Council, and the Digital Economy Committee, engaging close to 200 organizations from across Canada’s business community. She also founded the Chamber’s Health Innovation Committee and biomanufacturing and life sciences portfolio and later added responsibility for the Privacy and Digital Trade Council.
Previously, Ulrike was President and CEO of Digital Nova Scotia, where she supported the growth of the province’s technology sector through collaboration with government, industry, and post-secondary institutions. Her work included initiatives related to digital skills, workforce development, and talent attraction, as well as engagement with national and international partners. She has also worked with the Internet Society on digital policy and governance issues.
Ulrike has held senior leadership roles in multinational technology companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups in Canada and internationally, including Intel, Compaq/HP, and McAfee. She has served on boards and advisory councils related to skills development, higher education, and the digital economy, and currently contributes to national initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, workforce development, and science, technology, and innovation policy.
The Diversity Institute is pleased to welcome Ulrike and looks forward to her contributions in strengthening partnerships, supporting knowledge mobilization, and advancing work at the intersection of technology, skills, and inclusive economic development.
Ulrike is currently connecting with partners across Canada and globally to discuss opportunities. Please feel free to connect with her at ubahrgedalia@torontomu.ca.
