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Canada’s tech sector is a hub of groundbreaking innovation, visionary leadership, and solutions with transformative global potential. Yet, it lags significantly behind most industries in one vital area: diversity and inclusion. This shortfall has profound impacts for queer tech professionals, who often face barriers to employment access, leadership advancement, and generally struggle to see themselves represented in their workplaces.
Enter QueerTech and its flagship event, the QT Qonference (QTQ). The recently concluded third annual QTQ was a remarkable celebration of community, creativity, talent, and personal empowerment. Designed for entrepreneurs and professionals in the tech space who identify as part of, or allies to, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, the event showcased the power of connection and collective action.
Since its founding in 2016, QueerTech has demonstrated how much impact a passionate team united by a shared mission can achieve. This mission transcends individual goals — it’s a cause rooted in the drive to advance the social and economic empowerment of queer individuals in tech, advocate for their visibility, grow the 2SLGBTQIA+ leadership pipeline, and cultivate spaces where the community can thrive and be celebrated.
QT Qonference 2024 marked QueerTech’s biggest event yet - and the 2SLGBTQIA+ tech community’s appetite for connection, growth and empowerment is only growing. The third annual event welcomed 625+ attendees and 95 speakers for 76 sessions, delivered across two fantastic days together. This year, sessions were divided into four specialized content tracks - technology, leadership, mental health & wellness, and entrepreneurship - to ensure each attendee received tailored, applicable support for their role and unique journey within the ecosystem.
QTQ 2024 also saw the return of the “QT Studio” - an on-site video production studio that enabled the documentation of 20+ stories and lessons from some of Canada’s most influential queer-in-tech or ally-in-tech leaders.
QueerTech takes immense pride in the vibrant community we’ve cultivated over the past eight years. We’re deeply honoured to play a role in uniting so many skilled and passionate professionals from coast to coast, all driven by a shared mission: Queering the Tech Ecosystem. QTQ 2024 perfectly captured the spirit of this movement, with key players across the tech landscape coming together authentically, for one another.
In Canada’s business ecosystem, success relies on collaboration across interconnected and complementary roles. Much like a well-functioning car, progress stalls when only a few parts operate as intended. Through QTQ and our ongoing programs, QueerTech works tirelessly to bring diverse voices to the table—industry experts, trailblazing queer leaders, media, students, recruiters, funders, wellness specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and organizations of all sizes. Together, we foster meaningful, solutions-driven conversations that drive change and innovation.
A vital extension of this ecosystem, making QTQ 2024 possible, is our dedicated network of partners and sponsors: RBC, Petal, Bell, EY, Google Chrome, Premier Health of America, Cohere, TD, Accenture, Capital One, CGI, CGLCC, Google, Loopio, Mistplay, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Sun Life, IE University, 558 Media, Butch Yoga, Chickadee Facilitation, Enhance Leadership, Haupt-Into-Shape, Jotto, Mazdak Coaching, and Ops Machine.
The first day of QTQ 2024 began with a warm welcome from QueerTech’s Co-Founders, Naoufel Testaouni and Andy Saldana. To begin their address, they provided a thoughtful, context rich Land Acknowledgement - bringing attention to the Indigenous Nations and communities we gathered on, both physically and virtually. Next, they helped attendees to set intentions for the event experience and provided an overview of this year’s QTQ theme: Queering Up: Expand Your Mindset to Be Future-Ready. Finally, the duo welcomed the incredible QTQ 2024 emcees to the stage - Clea Arrieta of Bright + Early & Paul Saiedi of Google DeepMind.
Following a fabulous welcome and event overview from our Emcees, QTQ 2024’s first keynote kicked off in front of a full audience. The Future Ready: Skills for a Transformative Tomorrow keynote with RBC’s Ian Kerins explored the rapidly evolving world where tech, society and culture intersect. Together, we learned about the critical steps we must all take to expand our mindsets and challenge conventional perspectives - ultimately shaping our future with intention, inclusivity and innovation.
Our next session, Resilience in Action: Overcoming Economic and Social Challenges, explored the complex factors that contribute to 2SLGBTQIA+ wellness and inclusion both within tech, and generally. Moderated by Angela Mullins, Editorial Director of Pink Triangle Press, this session brought together industry leaders from The 519, Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, and Deetken to explore everything from barriers and opportunities for the queer-in-tech community, the rise of hate speech globally, and the geopolitical dynamics impacting queer rights worldwide.
We then switched gears to the highly anticipated Building a Safe and Inclusive AI Future panel, which took a deep dive into the role of government, tech and users as we attempt to build an AI landscape that prioritizes equity, inclusivity and accountability. This session was moderated by Dean Daley of MobileSyrup and supported by the incredible expertise of: Jordan Zed of the Artificial Intelligence Secretariat, Privy Council Office, Blar Attard-Frost of the University of Toronto, Ella Snyder of Cohere, and Juliana Montoya of IBM.
Following a full day of content track breakout sessions, tailored clinics, network matchmaking, outdoor wellness activities and fun, attendees reconvened at the mainstage for the final keynote of Day 1: Powering Prosperity: The Future of Small Business and Tech in Canada with entrepreneurial trailblazers Bobbie Racette, Marlon Thompson, and Naoufel Testaouni.
To wrap up Day 1 QueerTech’s Co-Founders took the stage for a very special announcement. With the help of the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, QueerTech announced the official launch of our QT Founders program - a cohort-based accelerator designed to support and empower early-stage tech and tech-enabled queer entrepreneurs across the country!
The first day of QTQ 2023 featured 24 unique content track sessions for attendees. This year’s content tracks included: Leadership, Technology, Mental Health/Wellness & Entrepreneurship.
Throughout both days of QTQ 2024, attendees had the opportunity to network and connect with each other in a number of ways: speed networking, matchmaking and meeting requests based on event goals, casual connections in the Partner booth area, and more.
A flagship session at QueerTech events, both days of QTQ 2024 also featured multiple Ask & Offer sessions - an opportunity for attendees to grab the mainstage mic and share their questions, opportunities or requests with the audience. Some of this year’s Ask & Offers included:
We wrapped up Day 1 with the Partner Cocktail Reception - an opportunity for attendees to unwind, network, celebrate one another, and listen to live music from queer, Toronto-based artist Magenta.
The second and final day of QTQ 2024 began with the Mindful Mornings with Mazdak segment, a guided session with Mazdak Chinichian, who walked attendees through an exercise based in meditation, affirmations, visualization and gratitude.
Following the Land Acknowledgement and opening remarks, QTQ 2024’s mainstage shifted to the opening keynote Tech for Good: Harnessing Technology for Positive Social Impact. Led by a collection of esteemed leaders from various parts of the tech ecosystem, this session covered the topics of: defining tech for good in today’s interconnected world, strategies for inclusive leadership, empowerment via technology itself, the role of storytelling in advocating for tech solutions with social impact, and partnerships as an avenue for scaled impact. Moderated by Anis Heydari, Senior Business Reporter, CBC News, this session’s panelists included: Satu Elisa Schaeffer - Dean of Technology of College LaSalle, Alejandro Mayoral Banos - ED of Access Now, Lisa Gibson - President of Ignite Communications Inc., and Siri Agrell - CEO of BetaKit.
Next to the mainstage was From Idea to Exit: A Founder’s Journey to Success, a fireside chat between Calan Breckon, Co-Founder and COO of The Bow and Sean Ramsay, CEO of Nestabl. This session (and podcast episode hybrid - keep an eye out for Calan’s latest episodes here) dove into the journey of a seasoned founder - from initial concept through to an eventual exit - leaving attendees with valuable insights, practical advice and lessons learned.
We then transitioned to the session Cloud Revolution - Driving Innovation and Inclusivity, presented by Tech @ RBC. This session helped attendees delve into the power of Cloud technology, highlighting its role in fostering innovation and inclusivity in the tech industry. Panelists included: Aaron Clark - Director, Developer Advocacy at RBC, Gonzalo Vazquez - Director, Cloud at RBC, and Gopika Nair - Lead Digital Product Owner at RBC.
Following another busy day of learning and connection, attendees gathered around the mainstage for the second final sessions of QTQ 2024: Celebrating Future Leaders: QT Leaders Graduation. That’s right - the 2024 QT Qonference even featured a graduation! Our first ever QT Leaders program cohort took to the stage to claim their program certificates as the full house audience joined in celebrating the next generation of queer-in-tech leaders. This session also featured a panel of program participants, mentors and facilitators to discuss the barriers queer individuals face when attempting to access leadership opportunities, and how the QT Leaders program is paving the way for a more inclusive, innovative industry.
Wrapping up QTQ 2024, QueerTech’s Co-Founders took to the stage one final time to present Vision 2034 - an in-depth look into the bold vision for QueerTech’s future; a vision that sees the upskilling of 60,000 queer individuals looking to access tech, 5,000 queer professionals to advance into leadership roles, and the cultivation of 10,000 queer-in-tech entrepreneurs over the next 10 years.
Day two of QTQ 2024 featured 26 unique content track sessions for attendees.
Marking the end of this year’s QT Qonference, attendees listened to inspiring closing remarks, celebrated each other and the QueerTech team, and engaged in the final reflections segment of the event. Did they ever share the love! QTQ 2024’s final reflections session was a heartwarming example of the impact these events, and dedicated queer empowerment spaces, can have on those involved. Here are some final attendee comments:
"This is the BEST queer event in the country. Brilliant vibe, great panels and truly a community driven conference. This was my first QT event and I’ll definitely be back for more." - Vebs S.
"I just discovered QueerTech and I cannot believe how safe and welcomed I felt at QTQ. Best networking event ever. Thank you SO much for hosting, can’t wait for future events!!!" - Confidential Attendee
"I only have one word - fabulous! Thank you QueerTech from my whole nerdy professional queer heart." - Unknown Attendee
Here are some photos from another busy day of networking, connection and empowerment!
The Community & Media Partners that joined us at QTQ 2024!
If you attended QTQ 2024 and haven’t yet had the chance to complete our feedback survey, you can do that here.
To all 2024 attendees - thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us queer the tech ecosystem, together. This selfless, endlessly talented community is what mobilization looks like. We take pride in being able to grow this powerful community, break down barriers, foster meaningful connection, and push relentlessly for true queer empowerment across the country.
Here you will find the full QTQ 2024 visual recap in PDF format, available for download.
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QueerTech is on a mission to queer the Canadian tech ecosystem. Operating since 2016, QueerTech is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting workforce and economic development across Canada by fostering entrepreneurship and providing opportunities for the 2SLGBTQ+ community to access employment, professional development and meaningful connections in the technology industry. The organization is also a national leader in workplace inclusion advocacy and progressive 2SLGBTQ+ equity, diversity and inclusion policy facilitation.