Manjit Minhas to speak at Surrey & White Rock Women in Business Awards
Published 9:45 am Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The finalists, guest speaker, event date and venue have been announced for the 2026 Surrey & White Rock Women in Business Awards.
The 17th annual awards luncheon, hosted by Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade, will celebrate some of the region’s most dynamic business leaders Thursday, April 16, at Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel.
Keynote speaker is Manjit Minhas, from CBC’s Dragons’ Den show. She joined the hit series in 2015 after establishing herself as the entrepreneur behind Minhas Breweries and Distilleries, a privately-owned business with annual revenues of over $300 million, according to a bio on speakers.ca.
“An engaging and inspiring speaker, Minhas is as down-to-earth as she is business-savvy,” the bio says. “In her highly customizable keynotes, she shares lessons learned from her two decades of groundbreaking business leadership, as well as the strategies used by some of the best entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries of our time to find and sustain long-term success.”
In 2024, the United Nations Association in Canada honored Manjit with the Global Citizen Laureate Award in recognition of her commitment to the UN goal of gender equality.
Twenty-one Women in Business Awards finalists in seven categories were named Feb. 23. See list below.
“These finalists represent the strength, resilience and leadership that define our business community,” said Joslyn Young, CEO of Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade.
“Each of them is driving innovation, creating opportunity and lifting others as they rise. We are proud to celebrate their impact and the example they set for the next generation of women leaders.”
Entrepreneur – Large Business
Holly Halford, Blossoms & Roots Childcare
Maxime Spakowski, Ferro Building Systems Inc.
Zohra Sarwari, Afghan Kitchen and Zarak
Entrepreneur – Small Business
Andrea Kloegman, Safe Sweat Fitness Ltd.
Dr. Kimberly Huynh, Paradise Chiropractic Health and Wellness Clinic
Raman Dhaliwal, WR Mattress Gallery
Professional
Dr. Balbir Gurm, Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR) Society
Dr. Funmilola Iyiola, Trending Business and Project Management Consulting
Paula Bude, Love This Therapy
Not-for-Profit Leader
Heather Lynch, Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
Louise Taylor, Brella Community Services Society and Crescent Housing Society
Meghan Neufeld, Baby Go Round
Corporate Leader
Cari Watson, Westland Insurance
Hermina Khara, Odgers
Maria Hussain, Oberoi Group
Emerging Leader
Dione Costanzo, Dione Costanzo Events and Marketing
Nicole Heidari, SWR Drain Service Ltd.
Suhana Gill, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and CBC
Social Trailblazer
Andie van der Eerden, Running on Faith Project
Noemi Victorino, Harvest for Hope
Reetinder Kaur, Providence Research Vancouver and SFU Surrey