Women, Wine & Wisdom

The Ottawa Board of Trade and Ottawa Business Journal are excited to host the first Women, Wine, & Wisdom of 2023 at the beautiful Brookstreet Hotel. Enjoy a gourmet dinner, share real stories and be inspired by powerful women. Confirmed panelists include Jenna Sudds, MP for Kanata-Carleton, Solange Tuyishime, President and CEO of Elevate International, and Priya Bhaloo, COO of TAG HR. 

The pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women and highlighted the systemic ways in which our businesses, our communities, our families, our governments and our social networks are designed to place undue burden on women. It is in these places that women are most needed if we are to create an inclusive and sustainable world. Post pandemic our trajectory to equality has not just stalled but declined. Progress is being eroded. Bold moves are required. 

This year's theme Being Bold will celebrate women who have demonstrated a willingness to be bold. Join us for an evening designed to connect women and create candid conversations, share your stories about leadership and life so that we may inspire others to CARRY ON AND BE BOLD. For ourselves, our daughters and our world. 

Priya Bhaloo is a dynamic and passionate businesswoman born and raised in Ottawa. She is COO of TAG HR, Ottawa’s leading professional services supplier to the Federal Government and private sectors. Helping clients build strong and successful teams that ensure top results, TAG HR specializes in Information Technology and Professional Consulting. TAG HR’s critical success factors have always been: nurturing and cultivating relationships with its clients. Their corporate mantra is that customer services exceeds all else.  

Priya also serves as an executive board member of the Ottawa Board of Trade, and is the President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services (ACSESS). In addition, Priya is an advisory committee member to Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Temporary Help Advisory Committee helping change the way the federal government does business. She is also part of the National Association of Canadian Consulting Businesses.  

In her free time, (what’s that?) Priya can be found listening to audiobooks and podcasts, spending time with her family and friends. Priya continues to call Ottawa home, along with her husband, two children and two dogs! 


Solange Tuyishime, President and CEO of Elevate International
Solange Tuyishime Keita currently serves as the President and CEO of Elevate International. She is the Co-Founder of Naylah’s Legacy and a UNICEF Canada Ambassador.

On a mission to make the world better, as an international speaker, Solange inspires leaders to achieve a humanity first, gender equity approach at all leadership tables.  This work is in parallel and complimentary to her leadership role as the President & CEO of Elevate International, where she has dedicated her life to elevating women and girls through the advancement of women’s leadership and economic empowerment. 

In her role as UNICEF Canada Ambassador, Solange has served as spokesperson for National UNICEF Day in Canada, and has been actively advocating for children’s rights to a quality education and access to clean water, including serving as keynote speaker at several of UNICEF’s Canada Galas. Solange has visited UNICEF’s Early Childhood programs in Jamaica and has also travelled to see UNICEF-funded education programs in Haiti.


Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade

Sueling Ching is the President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade. She is a community builder dedicated to innovating and advocating for business. Her connection to the Ottawa business community began in 2016 as she assumed the role of CEO at the West Ottawa Board of Trade, where she played a critical role in the consolidation of three local chambers of commerce to create a unified, influential voice for businesses in Ottawa.

Sueling has spent over twenty years working in a variety of business, leadership, and community development roles, including as the CEO of the YMCA of Brockville and Area, and as CEO of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves as a member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

A strong community advocate, Sueling has been involved in many volunteer and charitable causes including 100 Women Who Care, Make-A-Wish, Rotary International and The Royal Ottawa Foundation. More recently, she has pursued her interest in entrepreneurship by launching a consulting firm focusing on women’s leadership, community development, and personal wellness.