Emily Smiley Joins Movement51 as Executive Director to Drive Bold Expansion

Movement51 (M51) is entering a pivotal phase of growth at a moment of unprecedented financial change. With women poised to control nearly half of Canada’s wealth—$4 trillion in assets—by 2028, M51 is accelerating its mission to ensure women and gender-diverse individuals have the financial knowledge and networks to fully participate in wealth creation and economic decision-making.

To lead this next stage of expansion, M51 is proud to announce the appointment of Emily Smiley as its new Executive Director.

“We are at a defining moment for women’s financial influence, and I am thrilled to join Movement51 as we scale our impact,” said Emily Smiley. “The opportunity to expand our programs, deepen our partnerships, and build an even stronger ecosystem of investors and entrepreneurs is truly exciting. My goal is to help catalyze this shift—ensuring more women are equipped to own their financial futures, fund and build businesses, and drive meaningful economic change through programs designed for them.”

Emily brings a wealth of experience in ecosystem-building, program development, partnerships, and investor relations. In her most recent role as Director of Partnerships and Investor Relations at DMZ in Toronto, she played a critical role in scaling entrepreneurship programs, securing high-impact corporate partnerships, and launching national initiatives to support women founders. Her ability to connect investors, founders, and industry partners has consistently resulted in transformative collaborations that fuel growth.

“Emily’s expertise and vision align seamlessly with Movement51’s mission,” said Alison Pidskalny, Board Chair at Movement51. “Her proven track record in fundraising, program development, and stakeholder engagement will be instrumental as we expand our reach and deepen our impact. We are confident in her ability to elevate M51 as a national leader in financial education and economic development.”

As M51 and The51 grow in parallel, the urgency to equip women with financial fluency and investment confidence has never been greater. The organization’s flagship programs—including the Financial Feminism Investing Lab,

Founder Lab, and Investor Bootcamp—are shifting the financial landscape, ensuring that more women and gender-diverse individuals can participate fully in wealth creation.

“This is a generational economic opportunity,” said Shelley Kuipers, Co-Founder & CEO at The51. “We know that when women control capital, they invest in ways that drive inclusive prosperity. Movement51 is at the forefront of building the knowledge, confidence, and networks that will allow more women to seize this moment—and in doing so, shape the future of Canada’s economy.”

With Emily’s leadership, Movement51 is set to accelerate its expansion, strengthen its partnerships, and create even greater access to financial education, investment, and entrepreneurship.