MARTINE
ROY
TOP 25 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE CANADA | MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA | CO-CHAIR OF THE LGBT PURGE FUND | COMMISSIONER AT THE QUEBEC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | ACTIVIST AND CO-FOUNDER OF PRIDE AT WORK
"I walk with courage, carried by my story, true to my values.
Every step I take paves the way for more justice, dignity, and humanity."
Martine Roy is a leading voice in diversity, equity, and inclusion in Canada, recognized for her unwavering commitment to the 2SLGBTQ+ community. She successfully led the largest class-action lawsuit for the LGBTQ+ community in the world, which resulted in a $145M CAD settlement and official government apologies in 2017, following her dismissal from the Canadian Armed Forces at age 19 due to her sexual orientation.
She co-founded Fierté au travail and served on the board of directors of Canada for 10 years. Martine also served as President of the Fondation Émergence until 2015 and contributed to the exhibition “Love in a Dangerous Era” at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, which won the 2025 Governor General’s Award for excellence in museum history.
In recognition of her outstanding work, Martine has received numerous awards and honors, including the Quebec National Assembly Medal in 2017 and was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2023 for her leadership, activism, and advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Before becoming a leading voice in inclusion, Martine spent 20 years at IBM, where she held roles as Critical Situations Coordinator and Account Director, creating employee resource groups to support LGBTQ+ staff and raising awareness among employees and leadership about LGBTQ+ realities.
She then served as Regional Director, 2SLGBTQ+ Business Development for TD Bank in Quebec and Eastern Canada for over five years, bringing her passion and expertise to help organizations build truly inclusive and empowering environments.
Book Martine Roy, a leading 2SLGBTQ+ activist in Canada, for an inspiring conference on inclusion, diversity, and equity in the workplace - a unique experience that engages, educates, and transforms your teams.
EXPERTISE:
All of the following topics are available in a choice of formats: from classic conferences to training courses and half-day strategy workshops.
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DIGNITY AS AN ACT OF LEADERSHIP | Inclusion: from intention to impact
Women, inclusion and courage in environments that were not designed for us.
Too often, women and people from underrepresented groups must choose between adapting or excluding themselves. This conference proposes a third path: leading with dignity.
Martine Roy shares a lucid and deeply human analysis of systemic exclusion mechanisms, and shows how dignity can become a powerful lever for individual and collective transformation.
A conference for those who want to:
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exercise aligned leadership,
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create truly inclusive spaces,
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move from compliance to courage.
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STANDING TALL, WITHOUT HARDENING | The feminine courage to remain human in dehumanizing systems
In cultures where performance takes precedence over humanity, remaining sensitive, empathetic and with integrity can seem risky — especially for women.
Martine Roy demonstrates that gentleness is not a weakness, but a strategic and deeply courageous stance.
This conference explores:
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how to set boundaries without losing compassion,
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how to exist fully without apologizing,
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how to transform pressure into inner power.
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INCLUSION, NOT FOR SHOW | Creating spaces where everyone can belong
From discourse to lived dignity.
Inclusion cannot be decreed: it must be practiced, felt and lived.
Martine Roy invites organizations to go beyond intentions to commit to embodied inclusion, centered on human dignity.
Through concrete examples and an accessible approach, this conference helps to:
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recognize cultural blind spots,
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create environments where everyone can breathe,
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move from symbolic diversity to real belonging.
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THE COURAGE TO BE HEARD | Inclusion and leadership: a strategic advantage
Women, voice and legitimacy
How many women have learned to be silent, to minimize, to wait their turn?
This conference is an invitation to reclaim your voice — without violence, without masks, without denying your sensitivity.
Martine Roy explores the link between voice, dignity and power, and offers tools to:
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speak with confidence,
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navigate power dynamics,
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assert yourself without hardening.
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EXISTING FULLY | Building truly inclusive organizations, a collective responsibility
Without apologizing. Without erasing yourself.
Insightful vision.
I possess a deep understanding of complex issues and the ability to anticipate trends or outcomes. I have a vision that is resolutely turned toward the future and allows me to guide others toward meaningful goals.
LANGUAGE :
LOCATION : MONTRÉAL, QC
TESTIMONIALS:
Event Manager
Public Programs
« On behalf our Public Programs team, we thank you for your invaluable contributions to our launch program last night. We enjoyed working with you, and we appreciate the kind and wise words you shared. You have made our world a better place to live in! We all look forward to staying in touch and hearing your ideas about inspiring and impactful public programs tied to Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada's LGBT Purge Fund and beyond. »
