JA Canada Launches Alumni Advantage Platform with Founding Partner Elevating Human Capabilities Fund
For 60 years, JA Canada has been shaping the next generation of leaders. Today, we are delighted to announce an investment in what comes next — engaging JA alumni throughout their careers and creating new opportunities to lead, learn, connect, and contribute.
JA is proud to welcome Zabeen Hirji through the Elevating Human Capabilities Fund (EHC Fund) as the Founding Partner of JA Canada’s Alumni Advantage Platform.
The Platform is JA Canada’s new national alumni engagement strategy, designed to strengthen lifelong connections, celebrate alumni achievement, accelerate careers and entrepreneurship, and inspire alumni to make social impact.
Now in her Purposeful Third Act, Zabeen Hirji’s current roles include Governor on the Board of JA Worldwide, Chancellor of Trent University, and Executive Advisor to business and public sector leaders. Following a distinguished career at a major Canadian bank, culminating as Chief Human Resources Officer, her cross-sector work focuses on helping organizations and communities strengthen leadership and workforces for an AI-enabled world.
“The future will be shaped by people who never stop leading, learning, and creating opportunities for others. JA Alumni Advantage is building an intergenerational alumni community to cultivate responsible leadership, advance careers and entrepreneurial ambitions, and create opportunities that ripple far beyond themselves. I’m excited to support this initiative, which reflects my belief that investing in people is one of the most powerful ways to unlock human potential and build inclusive prosperity in an AI-enabled world,” said Zabeen Hirji.
The Elevating Human Capabilities Fund’s multi-year investment will help build a vibrant national alumni community. It will expand opportunities for alumni to network, mentor, volunteer, advocate, continue learning, and contribute to JA’s mission.
“This founding commitment will support JA Canada’s ongoing efforts to connect and unlock the potential of alumni and fuel the engagement of a thriving community that will connect thousands of JA alumni as mentors, volunteers, advocates, and champions,” said Scott Hillier, CEO of JA Canada.
This milestone partnership, recently announced at the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, will mobilize JA alumni across Canada, enable the annual JA Alumni Achievers Celebration, and launch a new Learning and Leadership Series designed to support alumni across their career and entrepreneurial journeys.
By bringing together alumni across generations, the Platform reflects a shared belief that learning and leadership do not end when a JA program concludes. It will strengthen the human capabilities and relationships that matter most in an AI-enabled world while celebrating alumni achievement through a new national award and annual recognition experience.
The initiative also builds on the strength of JA’s global alumni network.
“Our alumni demonstrate that the impact of JA extends far beyond the classroom. With over 150 million alumni from more than 100 countries, JA has cultivated a global network of leaders who continue to shape business, government, and civil society,” said Asheesh Advani, Global CEO, JA Worldwide.
“We are deeply grateful to Zabeen Hirji, a member of the JA Worldwide Board of Governors, for this catalytic investment which will help JA Canada become an innovation lab and network leader in showing how connected alumni can mentor the next generation of leaders!” said Advani.
JA alumni are invited to join the JA Alumni Advantage Platform and become part of a growing, multi-generational community committed to lifelong learning, responsible leadership, and creating opportunities for others. Join Gather, the global JA alumni network, and explore a network full of opportunities.
Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the Platform through partnerships, programming, mentoring, or sponsorship are encouraged to connect with JA Canada to learn more contact Oli Maynard-Langedijk, Director, Business Development & Partnerships at omaynard@jacanada.org.
