“All it takes is one person for change to happen, so don’t wait on others and take action! ”

Naomie Bakana

TOP 30 UNDER 30 HONOUREE | 2026

About

PROFILE SNAPSHOT

AGE: 23

PRONOUNS: She/Her

HOMETOWN: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ORGANIZATIONS:

All Nations Full Gospel Church (ANFGC)
African Studies Expansion Taskforce
Calgary Student Alliance (CSA)
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA)
Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE)
Students’ Union, University of Calgary (SUUC)
University of Calgary Board of Governors

GLOBAL IMPACT FOCUS (SDGs)

I am most passionate about:

What specific issue(s) are you working to address, and what motivates you to do so?

Currently, I am working on addressing affordable and accessible means to education. As someone who grew up in a low-income household, I was always motivated to keep pushing ahead. Having experienced the issues of having nutritious food readily available, stressing over how I would afford my education, and overcoming imposter syndrome, keeps me moving forward. Although I went through these challenges, and still sometimes face them, I want to do what I can to ensure that those coming up behind me are well supported. I have been able to accomplish this through my advocacy with the Students’ Union and Canadian Alliance of Student Association. These roles have allowed me to directly address concerns with policy makers and government officials to ensure students are supported throughout their academic journeys.

Gender equality is another sustainable development goal that I hold dear to my heart. I was elected as the first Black woman to become Students’ Union President in 83 years. Additionally, this is the first time we have had an all-women executive team. Although it took a long time to get here, this shows progress in ensuring every voice around the table, regardless of background, is heard and represented. In addition to this, I have done a lot of mentorship for young women in my community at All Nations Full Gospel Church. With a primarily immigrant population, I have ensured that confidence is instilled in the upcoming generation.

What are the ways in which you curate connection?

I curate connection by ensuring I listen before I react. In decision making, my biggest goal is to hear different perspectives before taking action because I know I am not the most knowledgeable on every topic presented.

When it comes to my work on campus, I constantly engage with students, university staff, and government officials.

As someone who enjoys meeting new people, I enjoy hearing stories and understanding how I can fit in. As a leader, my biggest passion is understanding how I can use my voice to leverage the communities I am serving.

Listening to the stories of international students pushes me to find new ways to approach different situations. As someone who was privileged enough to attend University in the province I was raised in, I automatically understand that the socioeconomic barriers I experience are different than those of these students. A constant theme I have seen is the stigma associated with food security. Many students are afraid to access campus food banks or reach out for support because it is something that is constantly shamed in many cultures. Having this understanding motivates me to have a more active role in linking this to the basic human needs that everyone should have the right to access, not the privilege.

What role will connection play in your future work?

Connection is the foundation of developmental work. If individuals don’t feel they can relate to a cause, they automatically don’t have the passion to move it forward.

Something I see missing is pure, human connection. Generalizing situations, versus taking the time to understand individual stories make a huge difference. In my experience, people just want the opportunity to be seen and heard. Stripping them of this gives way to friction and unaddressed gaps. Sitting down with groups, hearing them out, and taking the time to understand and acknowledge where they are coming from is key!

Naomie speaking about the increased Campus Food Bank usage and need for more supports for students.

Naomie, the Director of Policy for the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, presenting policies surrounding Food Security and Access for Neurodiverse Students on a federal level.

Naomie speaking at the University of Calgary’s inaugural Black Graduation ceremony.

Meeting with the Honourable Myles McDougall and fellow student leaders regarding the recommendations from the “Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness.”