WACC bringing together hundreds of Halton-area students for an evening of mentorship and career exploration.

By Gazette Staff

March 27th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

For more than two decades, Women as Career Coaches (WACC) has brought together youth and mentors for an evening of storytelling, guidance, and career exploration.

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, this signature event returns to the Burlington Convention Centre, featuring inspiring voices from the local community, including Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Judy Lung, an industry leader at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Golden Globes, and Shazia Akbar, founder of Okare AI.

WACC 2026 will once again connect students with women and gender-diverse professionals from across industries, including the arts, skilled trades, politics, AI and more, offering meaningful conversations, real-world insights, and powerful mentorship moments that help shape future career pathways.

Shazia Akbar will give insights into machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI). She has done very well in an industry that was male-dominated for a long time.

Judy Lung has established a reputation in the promotional side of the film industry, serving as a leader at the Toronto International Film Festival.

WACC is a long-standing community movement, one that builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and empowers young people to envision what’s possible. Through interactive networking, small-group discussions, and engaging spotlight speakers, attendees gain valuable perspectives from those who have navigated diverse and often non-linear career journeys.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will share insights from her leadership journey in public service, while Judy Lung will offer a unique perspective from her work with the Toronto International Film Festival, the Golden Globes and Canada’s creative industries, and Shazia Akbar will give insights into machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—demonstrating the many pathways to success available right here in the region and beyond. More speakers will soon be announced.

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Time: 5:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Location: Burlington Convention Centre, 1120 Burloak Drive, Burlington

Women as Career Coaches welcomes women, women-identifying, two-spirit, non-binary, and gender-fluid participants. Thanks to generous community support, the event remains free and accessible to youth attendees.