Kelowna Women in Business is excited to announce our Finalists for the 2025 RISE Awards.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these amazing members of our community! The RISE Awards Gala takes place on May 15th at the KF Centre for Excellence.
All are invited to share in this special event.
Woman of the Year Award - proudly presented by WeBC
Sinéad Scanlon
Paula Quinn
Aneet Brar
Kisona Richards
Sinéad Scanlon
Sinéad is an Audit Partner at BDO Canada LLP in Kelowna, where she has spent nearly two decades providing expert audit and accounting services to Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations, and municipalities. But her work extends far beyond the numbers. Sinéad is a passionate collaborator and a values-driven leader who brings heart and purpose into everything she does.
At BDO, Sinéad leads the national Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility team. Before stepping into that national role, she spent four years driving change through BDO’s Women’s Pillar, empowering women within the firm and creating space for future leaders to rise. She’s the kind of leader who doesn’t wait on the sidelines, she uses her voice to inspire others to find theirs.
Her commitment to community is just as impressive. For over a decade, she’s dedicated herself to the United Way, first as the Chair of the Okanagan chapter and now through its newly unified provincial body. She’s also lent her time and expertise to the Kelowna Fat Cat Children’s Festival, Okanagan College’s Business School Advisory Committee, and the CPA BC Investigation Committee.
Sinéad’s accolades reflect her impact. In 2020, she received the Early Achievement Award from the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, and the same year, she was honored with the Community Distinction Award from United Way.
In every space she enters, whether it’s a boardroom, a classroom, or a community meeting, Sinéad brings a deep sense of purpose. She is a connector, a change-maker, and above all, a champion for others.
Sinéad is a true leader and an inspiring force in our community.
Paula Quinn
Paula Quinn’s leadership, impact, and dedication have helped shape our business and non-profit landscape. Paula is the kind of leader who doesn’t just build organizations, she builds communities. Whether she’s leading a multi-million dollar project or mentoring the next generation of women in business, Paula leads with purpose and compassion.
As the Executive Director of the Okanagan Gymnastics Centre and the former Executive Director of the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence, Paula has proven herself to be a visionary. She was instrumental in the development of the $25 million Centre for Excellence, a world-class aviation history exhibition that now stands as a testament to innovation, preservation, and Paula’s remarkable ability to bring big ideas to life.
Beyond the walls of any single organization, Paula is a force in our business community. She served on the boards of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, WeBC, and the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, where she worked tirelessly to foster collaboration, economic growth, and opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Paula is also a fierce advocate for women in leadership. In industries where women have historically been underrepresented, like aviation and business development, she not only shows up, she leads. She mentors, she advocates, and she creates the conditions for other women to rise. Her work with WeBC, in particular, has empowered countless women to find their voice, their confidence, and their place in leadership.
Her professionalism and ability to unite people around a common goal have made her a role model for many. Whether she’s overseeing financial strategy, designing inclusive programming, or championing policy, Paula brings excellence to every endeavor.
Aneet Brar
Aneet Brar is the founder of Girlfriends Brow Bar, a thriving beauty brand built not just on exceptional service, but on values of inclusivity, connection, and community. What began as a single salon has grown into multiple successful locations, each one a space where women are celebrated, empowered, and supported.
Her leadership is rooted in lived experience. As an immigrant and a woman with no formal business background, Aneet faced real challenges, yet she refused to be defined by them. Instead, she used them as fuel to learn, grow, and lead. Today, she not only runs a successful company, she mentors and uplifts an all-women team, providing intensive training programs that turn employees into confident professionals and leaders.
Aneet’s impact goes far beyond her business. She is a passionate community advocate who gives back through charity drives, food programs, and volunteer efforts with organizations like the Rotary Club, the Food Bank of Canada, and the Hospice Society. She believes true success is measured by how much you lift others and she lives that every day.
She also uses her platform to amplify the voices of other women. Whether spotlighting local women-owned businesses, mentoring entrepreneurs, or sharing her story at workshops and events, Aneet is committed to showing women that they are capable, worthy, and never alone in their journey.
From humble beginnings to becoming a community leader and a beacon of empowerment, Aneet is a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles or privilege, it’s about courage, compassion, and making others feel seen and strong.
Kisona Richards
Kisona is more than a gifted hairstylist and business owner, she is a tireless community leader, a mentor, and an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her work, both professionally and personally, is grounded in her deep faith and commitment to making others feel seen, valued, and uplifted.
As Vice President of her church’s youth ministry and an active member of the Kelowna and Lake Country Youth Council, Kisona has made it her mission to empower the next generation. She creates safe, inclusive spaces for young people to grow, express themselves, and gain confidence, often serving as the mentor she once wished she had. Her impact extends beyond youth leadership. From one-on-one mentorship for young women of colour to community outreach initiatives, like delivering supplies to vulnerable populations during local wildfires, Kisona leads by example.
In her beauty business, Kisona creates more than just physical transformations. She fosters a sense of belonging and confidence for every client, especially those from underrepresented communities. Her clients often say they feel seen and empowered in her chair, and that is no accident. It’s the result of her unwavering dedication to treating every person with dignity and respect.
What makes Kisona exceptional is her belief that leadership is about listening, supporting, and showing up with love. Whether she’s providing tech help to a small business, mentoring youth, or simply offering a kind word to someone in need, she does it all with humility, grace, and a fierce belief in the value of every individual.
Change Maker Award - proudly presented by Crowe MacKay
Mohini Singh
Samantha Hogue
Anita Parker
Serina Penner
Mohini Singh
Mohini Singh is a four-term Kelowna City Councillor, a barrier-breaking trailblazer, and a deeply committed advocate for those whose voices too often go unheard. As the first person of visible minority background elected to Kelowna City Council, she has inspired generations to believe in the power of representation, and the strength that comes when diverse voices are brought to the table.
But Mohini’s impact reaches far beyond politics. For decades, she has worked to uplift the most vulnerable among us, from supporting women at the Kelowna Women’s Shelter, to raising funds for children with disabilities through the Starbright Children’s Development Centre, to founding the East Meets West Children’s Foundation, which provides critical resources to children both in Canada and around the world.
Her approach to leadership is both practical and deeply personal. Whether mentoring young women, welcoming newcomers to Kelowna, or organizing toy drives for Ukrainian refugee children, Mohini leads with empathy and unwavering purpose. She doesn’t just show up, she builds bridges, listens intently, and mobilizes others to make real, lasting change.
In every initiative, Mohini exemplifies the values of connection, inclusiveness, collaboration, community, and professionalism. She sees every individual as deserving of dignity, opportunity, and care; and she acts on that belief every single day.
Samantha Hogue
Samantha is the co-founder of Love Elevate Yoga, a wellness brand that is so much more than a place to move, it’s a space where people are invited to breathe, connect, and come home to themselves. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, Samantha has built a sanctuary of care and community, where every person feels truly seen and welcomed.
At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to connection, inclusiveness, and collaboration. Whether she’s leading a class, mentoring fellow teachers, or hosting retreats that bring people together in powerful ways, Samantha shows up with intention. She doesn’t just talk about community, she builds it.
Through donation-based classes, meaningful partnerships with other small businesses, and an unwavering focus on accessibility, Samantha lives her values daily. Her leadership is quiet but deeply impactful, marked by consistency, empathy, and a grounded energy that reminds others it’s okay to slow down and grow.
She’s a lululemon Yoga Ambassador and an active force in Kelowna’s wellness scene. Beyond the studio, Samantha leads strategic work in the fast-paced EdTech world, where she brings the same clarity, compassion, and collaborative spirit that define her teaching.
Samantha’s ability to create spaces that feel both strong and soft, supportive and spacious, is a true gift to our community. She reminds us that change doesn’t always need to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes, it begins with a breath, a kind word, or the courage to simply show up.
Anita Parker
Anita is the founder of Wisdom Wealth Well-being, a North American brand rooted in the belief that financial confidence and holistic well-being go hand in hand. Through her leadership, Anita has created a movement that is redefining success, especially for women, by aligning money, mindset, and meaning.
Her work is deeply values-driven. Anita leads with authenticity, compassion, and purpose. She creates trauma-informed, inclusive spaces where people can explore their relationship with wealth and self-worth, free from shame and full of possibility. Whether through coaching, events, or partnerships with local organizations like Dress for Success and the KGH Foundation, she is shifting narratives and building community from the ground up.
But Anita’s leadership extends far beyond her business. She is a mentor, speaker, and role model who leads with heart and walks her talk. She shares her journey with vulnerability and strength, helping others see that leadership is not about having all the answers, it’s about showing up, standing in your values, and lifting others as you rise.
Anita doesn’t just serve clients, she challenges outdated norms, builds bridges where there were once gaps, and uses her platform to amplify the voices and needs of others. Her work is bold, intentional, and impactful.
Serina Penner
Serina Penner leads with heart, cultivates community, and nurtures both people and the land in powerful, lasting ways. By day, Serina is an educator in SD23, where she teaches Leadership and Humanities at Glenrosa Middle School. In this role, she goes far beyond curriculum, she inspires action. Through initiatives like the Culture Corner, a student-led celebration of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Serina creates spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to lead. Her work with Leadership 9 students encourages compassion, courage, and a commitment to community. Whether it’s volunteering with the Kelowna Women’s Shelter or organizing mentorship programs, Serina ensures her students understand the impact of kindness and integrity in everyday life.
But Serina’s leadership doesn’t stop at the school gates. In the summer months, she trades the classroom for the fields of Jackalope Farms, a business grounded in food sovereignty, sustainability, and community collaboration. On her three-acre farm, she not only grows produce for local partners like Mission Hill, but also provides land to other women farmers who grow food for food banks and local initiatives. Her model supports both the planet and people, showing that business can, and should, be a force for good.
Serina is also an advocate for land-based learning, merging her passions for education and agriculture to promote hands-on, meaningful growth, both in students and in the soil. She’s run children’s gardening camps, partnered with nonprofits, and used every tool at her disposal to make sure people, especially women, have access to resources, learning, and belonging.
She is a role model who leads with authenticity and uplifts everyone around her.
Spirit Award - proudly presented by Pushor Mitchell Lawyers
Buffy Mills
Christine White-Davis-Kelly
Kisona Richards
Mehrsa Maali
Buffy Mills
Buffy is an Indigenous Benefits Consultant, an employee-owner at Acera Insurance, and a proud member of the Syilx Nation. She is a woman who does not just talk about values, she lives them. With over 30 years of experience working for and alongside Indigenous communities, Buffy brings a rare and powerful combination of integrity, humility, and courage to everything she does.
At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to connection, listening deeply to communities, honouring culture and Indigenous ways of knowing, and building meaningful relationships rooted in respect and reciprocity. Her approach is not to simply provide services, but to co-create solutions with the people she serves, ensuring that wellness, benefits, and policy reflect the realities and needs of Indigenous peoples.
Buffy uses her platform to advocate, shining a light on the lack of Indigenous representation in her industry and pushing for culturally inclusive, sustainable wellness strategies. She uplifts others at every opportunity, mentoring young Indigenous women and supporting their growth as leaders, changemakers, and visionaries. She understands that true leadership is not about recognition, it’s about responsibility. And Buffy takes that responsibility seriously, showing up with professionalism, cultural pride, and relentless integrity.
She has said that one of the greatest accomplishments in her life is being in a position to give back, and give back she does, not just in her work, but in the example she sets for what’s possible when leadership is rooted in service, tradition, and vision.
Buffy Mills is a connector, a builder, a trailblazer — and an unwavering advocate for Indigenous women, communities, and futures.
Christine White-Davis-Kelly
Christine is not only a dynamic entrepreneur and immigration consultant, she is a cultural architect, a connector, and a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. With over two decades of experience bridging business and community, she brings people together across sectors, geographies, and cultures to build shared understanding and sustainable economic growth.
As the founder and Executive Director of Mind STIRR Culturalpreneurship Development Society, Christine has created an inspiring platform that celebrates culture, amplifies diverse voices, and nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit of underrepresented communities. Through signature events like the Black Business Expo, Afro-Caribbean Festival, and the Black Excellence Gala, Christine is transforming how we see culture, not just as heritage, but as economic power, community glue, and a source of collective joy.
Her leadership is rooted in real action, from research presentations on Black contributions to B.C., to mentorship of youth entrepreneurs, to hosting marketplaces that provide real opportunities for marginalized businesses to grow and be seen. With grace and grit, she makes sure it shows up in boardrooms, classrooms, community events, and day-to-day business operations.
And somehow, between running a family-owned Caribbean import business, consulting on immigration, leading hospitality teams across the province, and creating art, Christine still finds time to pour into others. Whether she’s planning a Juneteenth celebration, mentoring the next generation, or championing inclusive policies, she embodies connection, collaboration, and professionalism with every step she takes.
Christine is a visionary — not just imagining a more inclusive future, but actively building it, one vibrant, community-centered initiative at a time.
Kisona Richards
Kisona is more than a gifted hairstylist and business owner, she is a tireless community leader, a mentor, and an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her work, both professionally and personally, is grounded in her deep faith and commitment to making others feel seen, valued, and uplifted.
As Vice President of her church’s youth ministry and an active member of the Kelowna and Lake Country Youth Council, Kisona has made it her mission to empower the next generation. She creates safe, inclusive spaces for young people to grow, express themselves, and gain confidence, often serving as the mentor she once wished she had. Her impact extends beyond youth leadership. From one-on-one mentorship for young women of colour to community outreach initiatives, like delivering supplies to vulnerable populations during local wildfires, Kisona leads by example.
In her beauty business, Kisona creates more than just physical transformations. She fosters a sense of belonging and confidence for every client, especially those from underrepresented communities. Her clients often say they feel seen and empowered in her chair, and that is no accident. It’s the result of her unwavering dedication to treating every person with dignity and respect.
What makes Kisona exceptional is her belief that leadership is about listening, supporting, and showing up with love. Whether she’s providing tech help to a small business, mentoring youth, or simply offering a kind word to someone in need, she does it all with humility, grace, and a fierce belief in the value of every individual.
Mehrsa Maali
Mehrsa is the founder of Artful Real Estate, but to call her just a real estate professional would be to miss the heart of her impact. She is an educator, a designer, a community builder, and above all, a compassionate leader who moves through the world with grace, purpose, and vision.
As an Iranian-Canadian woman, Mehrsa’s life and work are deeply grounded in connection, inclusiveness, and courage. She has led with vulnerability and strength, from volunteering with organizations like the YMCA, Vancouver Police, and Dress for Success, to organizing rallies and cultural exhibitions in support of gender equality and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Her art history lectures and public events spark conversation, deepen understanding, and amplify voices that are too often unheard.
In real estate, an industry known for competition, Mehrsa is a model of collaboration. She believes in the law of abundance, that when we work together, we all rise. Her co-listings, community events, and inclusive practices are rooted in generosity and a genuine love for the people she serves.
But her impact goes far beyond transactions. Mehrsa creates belonging. Whether she’s mentoring newcomer women, hosting multicultural gatherings, or simply helping someone feel seen, she leads by making space. Mehrsa’s leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion doesn’t rely on big speeches or titles. It shows up in her everyday acts of care: pronouncing someone’s name correctly, asking thoughtful questions, and believing in people before they believe in themselves.
She is a force of empathy, a champion of hope, and a reminder that quiet leadership can be deeply transformative. She doesn’t always speak the loudest in the room, but she always speaks with care, intention, and the kind of power that comes from truly living your values.
