Olakunle Odanye

• Panelist

Ola is an Equity Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at NAIT with educational backgrounds in History & International Studies (BA), International Conflict Analysis (MA) and training in Indigenous Engagement and Collaboration. With over seven years of expertise in diversity and inclusion strategies, community engagement, and training development/delivery as an EDI and Development specialist, Ola seeks to make barriers visible, develop innovative strategies for change, as well as assist stakeholders build development capacity through respectful and collaborative approaches.

Since making Edmonton his home, he has been actively involved in community development across the City, including co-founding an amateur soccer team, Western Eagles FC, for racialized people and newcomers to Edmonton. The soccer team was created to foster community integration and connection through social and recreational activities.

Ola was recently selected to serve as part of NASA’s Astrophysics database of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Practitioners responsible for evaluating incoming funded science activities. He has been bringing his passion for creating equitable spaces, as well as his expertise in social policy, arts, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement in this capacity for the past year.