Makelé Saïdi

As Director of Corporate Engagement (Central Canada), Makelé worked with leading global organizations to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Prior to joining Catalyst, Makelé worked in global affairs and international development covering varying socio-economic issues in emerging markets.  Her experiences in multinational institutions includes working at the United Nations in New York as an Analyst in the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee for the Permanent Mission of Rwanda; the World Trade Organization in Geneva advising the Deputy-Director General on informal trade and global governance, and at the African Development Bank in Abidjan where she led partnerships development for the Education and Skills Development division.

Makelé received her BA in Political Science and History from the University of British Columbia, and a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Born and raised in Abidjan, Ivory Coast to a Rwandan mother and a Congolese (DRC) father, she has lived and worked in 12 cities across Africa, Asia, Europe and America. These experiences shaped her global perspective and passion for multilateral diplomacy and equip her with a cultural sensitivity that drives her work in law and social impact.