Meena Waseem is a Pakistani-Canadian and Muslim advocate for accessible education from Kitchener, Ontario.[1] In February 2019, she was named one of thirty-five Loran Scholars nationwide.[2] In April 2019, she was named Kitchener-Waterloo Woman of the Year in the Young Adult category, making her the youngest recipient of the award.[3]
Waseem attended Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, Ontario[4] where she was student council president.[5] She is a Bachelor of Commerce student at Queen's University.[6]
Waseem is known for co-organizing Stolen By Smith, a campaign calling for improved diversity, equity, and inclusion at Queen's and the Smith School of Business at Queen's.[7] She has criticized business schools for lacking inclusive policies[8] and curriculums that teach equity-centred leadership.[9] She is also outspoken about the minimization of equity-deserving students' experiences in business schools.[10] Stolen By Smith led to the creation of similar calls to action at business schools across Canada.[11]
In March 2022, Waseem also organized Ramadan dining hall supports[12] for Muslim students observing Ramadan at Queen's.[13]
In response to employers' concerns about the Great Resignation, Waseem was outspoken about the importance of workplace flexibility for Gen Z employees.[14]
Waseem was part of a team that created Waterloo Region's first youth wellbeing data collection project.[15]
She is a Young Director in Cohort 5 of the FORA: Network for Change Girls on Boards program.[16]
Waseem serves on the Board of Directors of the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston.[17]
