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QT Team and supporters: (left to right) Gabriela Coto Fernandez, Florence Chenel, Filip Velimirovic, Matt Kamhi, Darah Miah, Dae Courtney, Miquel Serrano, Eustacio Andy Saldaña, Naoufel Testaouni and Laura MacDonald
Canada’s technology industry is home to incredible innovation, exceptional leaders, and solutions that have enormous global impact potential. However, this sector falls behind almost all others in one critical area - diversity and inclusion. The impacts of this glaring gap are both seen and felt by many, particularly queer techies who rarely see themselves represented at work.
That’s where QueerTech and our annual event - the QT Qonference (QTQ) - come in. Recently wrapping up, the second annual QTQ was an unparalleled celebration of community, innovation, talent, and personal growth designed for entrepreneurs and business professionals in the tech industry who identify as part of, or allies to, the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
This event, and QueerTech’s programming since its formation in 2016, are a testament to what a small team can do when connected by a common purpose — a purpose that goes beyond each of us — a purpose that lives in our hearts. We exist to progress the economic and social goals of queer individuals in tech, to advocate for them and grow the 2SLGBTQ+ leadership pipeline and, finally, to create meaningful spaces to amplify and celebrate our community.
QT Qonference 2023 marked QueerTech’s biggest event yet - and the 2SLGBTQ+ tech community’s appetite for connection, growth and empowerment is only growing. The second annual event welcomed over 500 attendees for 78 sessions, delivered across two venues. 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 personal role within the ecosystem. QTQ 2023 revealed the inaugural “QT Studio” - a “lights, camera, action” studio initiative to document the professional and personal journeys of 20+ queer and ally leaders, present and future, across the technology sector.
(Left) Eustacio Andy Saldaña, Co-Founder and COO of QueerTech; (Right) Laura MacDonald, Controller at Coeuraj and MC for QTQ
QueerTech is endlessly proud of the community we have been able to create over the last eight years and are truly grateful for our role in convening so many talented, engaged professionals from across the country - all with the same collective purpose of queering Canada’s tech ecosystem. QTQ 2023 acted as the perfect illustration of the power of this community, with so many key players from across the technology landscape truly showing up as themselves, for each other.
Within Canada’s business space, there are many overlapping, complementary functions that contribute to a truly healthy and symbiotic ecosystem. Like a car, you won’t get far if only some of the parts are working together as they were intended to. Through QTQ and other programming, QueerTech is committed to bringing these voices - industry professionals, influential queer leaders, students, media, recruiters, funders, wellness experts, leading researchers, entrepreneurs, and tech-focused organizations big and small - together for purposeful, solutions-oriented dialogue.
A vital extension of this ecosystem, making QTQ 2023 possible, is our dedicated network of partners and sponsors: Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Ville de Montréal, Google Chrome, TouchTunes, National Bank of Canada, RBC, Accenture, Communications Security Establishment (CSE) | Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications (CST), Hydro Québec, KPMG, VIA Rail Canada, Mistplay, CGI, Moment Factory, Bell, INBO, Mazdak Coaching-Consulting, Unison Financial Solutions inc., WSP in Canada, Sun Life, Plank, and BC Public Service.
(Top left) Laura MacDonald, Controller at Coeuraj and MC for QTQ; (Bottom left) Naoufel Testaouni, Co-Founder and CEO of Queertech giving a welcome keynote; (Right) Joseph Gabereau, Solutions Analyst at Deloitte during the Land Acknowledgement
The first day of QTQ 2023 kicked off with our fabulous MC, Laura B. MacDonald, who welcomed Joseph Gabereau on stage for a thoughtful, context filled Land Acknowledgement - honouring and acknowledging the Indigenous peoples whose land we gathered on, both in-person and virtually, across the country. We are grateful for Joseph’s role in setting the tone for QTQ 2023 as a place of deep reflection, learning and self-growth.
QueerTech’s Co-Founder and CEO, Naoufel Testaouni, then welcomed attendees with a powerful keynote - providing thoughtful context to the event. “Look around the room - this is the power of our community. We are queering the tech ecosystem, together. Thank you - each and every one of you - for joining us, ” said Testaouni in his address.
Following a schedule overview by Co-Founder and COO, Eustacio Andy Saldaña, QTQ 2023’s first keynote kicked off in front of a packed house. The Online Harms in Canada and their impact on 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians keynote, presented by Sam Andrey, Managing Director of the Dais at TMU, chronicled the findings of the organization’s recent survey findings relating to new insights on Canadians’ experience with harmful online content, and the possible government policy options to increase online safety. Joined by Meagan Simpson, Manager of Communications at the Ontario Centre of Innovation, the conversation also covered the current and future state of social media and its impacts on the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Following a full day of content track sessions, attendees reconvened at the mainstage for closing remarks and reflections - an audience engagement session, moderated by change and leadership coach Mazdak Chinichian, where attendees had the opportunity to share their takeaways from the first day of QTQ 2023, and set their intentions for the next day. “Today helped me see I am not alone and remember I’m not the only queer person in the tech industry - it can feel that way at times, but not in this room. ” - QTQ 2023 reflection.
The first day of QTQ 2023 featured 25 unique content track sessions for attendees. This year’s content tracks included: Leadership, Technology, Mental Health/Wellness & Entrepreneurship.
Throughout both event days, Speed Networking and Connections were offered - enabling attendees to book 15- minute speed networking sessions, explore sponsor booths, or request meetings via the event’s mobile app.
A flagship session of QueerTech events, the first day of QTQ 2023 also featured multiple Ask & Offers sessions - an opportunity for attendees to get on the mainstage for 30 seconds each to share their questions or offers with the crowd. Some November 1st Ask & Offers included:
(Top) Attendees on stage during the Ask and Offer section; (Bottom) Attendees at the Day 1 cocktail
(Top picture, Bottom left picture and Bottom middle picture) Panellists David Cardon - COO of Morgan Stanley, Florencia Herra Vega - CEO & CTO of AlleyCorp Nord, Michael Acosta - CCO of VIA Rail Canada, and Lisa Gibson - Head of Strategy & Operations, Global Communications at Microsoft during the Executive Queer Leadership: Insights, Impact, and the Future of Business panel; (Right picture) Mazdak Chinichian during the Mindfulness Mornings with Mazdak segment
The second and final day of QTQ 2023 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 2023’s mainstage shifted to the opening panel Executive Queer Leadership: Insights, Impact, and the Future of Business. Led by a collection of esteemed queer executives from across the country, this session covered the topics of leadership and inclusive management practices, technical training, job access, business strategies, and decision-making processes. Panellists included: David Cardon - COO of Morgan Stanley, Florencia Herra Vega - CEO & CTO of AlleyCorp Nord, Michael Acosta - CCO of VIA Rail Canada, and Lisa Gibson - Head of Strategy & Operations, Global Communications at Microsoft.
“At my organization, it’s about finding subtle ways to make our ‘default’ mode queer - from Slack emojis to the language we use. We're shifting the social culture. ” - Florencia Herra Vega.
Next to the mainstage was the final highly anticipated keynote of QTQ 2023 - Empowering Change: The Queer Community’s Role in Harnessing Change for Environmental Progress. Moderated by OCI’s Meagan Simpson, this session welcomed renowned entrepreneur and environmental advocate Dax Dasilva, Founder of both Lightspeed Commerce Inc. and Age of Union Alliance. In front of an electric full house, the discussion explored themes of creative and tech-enabled conservation, cultural storytelling, DEI as a tool for meaningful climate action, and global collaboration.
(Left) Dax Dasilva, Founder of both Lightspeed Commerce Inc. and Age of Union Alliance, during QTQ Studio interview; (Right) Dax Dasilva during final keynote of QTQ 2023 - Empowering Change: The Queer Community’s Role in Harnessing Change for Environmental Progress, moderated by OCI’s Meagan Simpson
Following the day’s jam-packed content track sessions, attendees gathered around the mainstage to watch Queering the Tech Ecosystem: A live recording of the “The Business Gay” Podcast, hosted by Calan Breckon. For this session, Calan sat down with QueerTech's co-founders, Eustacio Andy Saldaña and Naoufel Testaouni to discuss the inception of QueerTech, the challenges and triumphs they have experienced along the way, and reflections on creating a thriving community at the intersections of 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy and technological innovation.
“I’ve been in tech for years, and I never thought I was someone who could create or even be involved in something like this. Being a part of a team who can bring this programming to the world… I feel so privileged to be a part of this. ” - Eustacio Andy Saldaña, Co-Founder and COO, QueerTech.
(Left to right) Eustacio Andy Saldaña, Co-Founder and COO of QueerTech, Naoufel Testaouni, Co-Founder and CEO of Queertech and Calan Breckon, Entrepreneur and SEO specialist, during a live recording of the “The Business Gay” Podcast titled Queering the Tech Ecosystem
Day two of QTQ 2023 featured 16 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 2023’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:
QTQ is essential as it empowers the queer community by providing representation, fostering innovation, eliminating biases, creating safe spaces, promoting economic empowerment, driving social impact, and inspiring future generations within the Canadian tech industry. - Rachel A.
QueerTech is a fantastic organization! It was a great joy attending their conference, where I met amazing people in our community. Very talented and experienced folks were both speaking and attending. I will definitely be attending again! - Salem J.
I've been volunteering for QueerTech almost from the beginning. What y'all create is magic, and it has been a delight to see y'all grow so much. - Hector O.
Here are some photos from another busy day of networking, connection and empowerment!
Attendees networking and connecting
What Attendees, Speakers & Organizers Are Saying on socials
(In Collaboration With) Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, City of Montreal, (Pride) National Bank of Canada, Google Chrome, RBC, TouchTunes (Ally) Accenture, Bell, CGI, CSE CST, Hydro Québec, KPMG, Mistplay, Moment Factory, Via Rail, (Qmunity) INBO, Mazdak Coaching, Plank, Sun Life Financial, Unison Financial Solutions, WSP, (Virtual Sponsor) BC Public Service, (Session Sponsor) Lighthouse Labs
If you attended QTQ 2023 and haven’t yet had the chance to complete our feedback survey, you can do that here.
To all 2023 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.
Join the waitlist to be notified when more information about QTQ2024 becomes available, and stay tuned to www.queertech.org for more details in the coming months. See you there, QT’s!