Allison Sekuler has received a Women’s Executive Network 2019 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award in the Manulife Science and Technology category.

The annual award recognizes outstanding Canadian women from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors who advocate for diversity in the workforce and inspire the next generation of leaders.

The Women’s Executive Network is a member-based organization for the advancement, development and recognition of professional women in Canada.

Sekuler, a professor with the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, is also a professor with the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, vice-president research at Baycrest Health Sciences, managing director and senior scientist at the Rotman Research Institute and managing director at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation.

Allison and three other female scientists have cofounded FoVea – Females of Vision et al – to build an international community of support for women and recognize exceptional women scientists.

“Canada’s Most Powerful Women Award is the only award I have received that has made me want to show I can do more,” Allison said in an interview with the Financial Post. “It has given me impetus – and the responsibility – to take things one step further and implement a program that will use the power of social media to bring mentors into the lives of women around the globe who lack these resources in their own area.”