The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) is pleased to officially announce the recipients of 2026’s CRIW Ignite! research grants. This annual competition is designed to advance workplace inclusion by supporting collaborative research projects that align with the Centre’s mission of producing and sharing scholarship on topics of relevance to equity,��diversity��and inclusion. This year, our grants��made up to CAD $30,000 available to fund up to four (4) research projects (maximum value per project $7,500 at the discretion of the adjudication committee).��Congratulations to the following recipients!��

Beyond Tokenism: Antecedents and Outcomes of Critical Mass of Women on Boards��

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Greg J. Sears, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University��
• Co-Investigators: Dr. Tasnuva Chaudhury, Assistant Professor, Organizational��Behaviour��and Human Resource Management, University of Regina; Dr. Shasanka Chalise, Assistant Professor, Organizational��Behaviour��and Human Resource Management, University of Regina;��Endravid��(Eddy) Mathy, Student, Master of Human Resource Management, University of Regina��

This research investigates the transition from tokenism to a critical mass for women on corporate boards. Grounded in Critical Mass Theory, the study explores why the mere presence of one or two women is often insufficient to shift board dynamics. Using a systematic literature review,��this study��identifies��the factors and outcomes that��facilitate��a “critical mass” of at least three women –the threshold��required��to move beyond symbolic inclusion. Our proposed integrative framework will provide practitioners with evidence-based strategies to foster gender diversity and improve governance effectiveness.��

A National Survey of Women in Policing��

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Kate Dupré, Professor, Department of Psychology, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University��

• Co-investigators: Dr. Kirk Luther, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University; Dr. Angela Dionisi, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University��

This project will conduct a national survey of women police officers and civilian staff in Canada to examine lived experiences in policing and inform organizational transformation toward equity, diversity, and inclusion. This project will produce the first national dataset and explore issues such as 1) policewomen’s perceptions of inclusion within the police service, 2) barriers and facilitators shaping women’s entry into and progression within policing, 3) gender-based mistreatment, organizational responses to such incidents, and women’s experiences reporting misconduct, and 4) work-life balance and the compatibility of policing and caregiving.��

NHL Fandom and Attitudes Toward��Women in Leadership��

• Principal Investigator:��Dr. Shani��Pupco,��Assistant Professor,��Sprott School of Business,���Ӱ�ԭ�� University��
• Co-investigators: Dr. Angela Dionisi, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University; Jake Starr, MSc student, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University��

We examine whether exposure to��men’s��professional��ice hockey, particularly the NHL, reinforces hegemonic masculinity,��shaping��negative gender role attitudes��and attitudes towards women as leaders. Grounded in social learning theory, this��study builds on reactions to the controversy around the gold medal-winning U.S men’s hockey��team and��surrounding sexist behaviour and discourse that followed their victory. Following the establishment of such a link, we hope to expand our research to��identify��potential interventions to reduce bias, mitigate any��uncovered��negative effects of NHL fandom to women’s leadership, and promote��more��equitable��perceptions��of women��in leadership roles.��

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The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) is pleased to officially announce the recipients of 2026’s CRIW Knowledge Mobilization grants. This annual competition designed to advance inclusion at work by encouraging the dissemination of knowledge about inclusion-related issues, through an event or other knowledge mobilization deliverable or activity(ies) that brings together interested parties. In 2025/26 the grant program made up to CAD $13,000 available to fund up to two (2) knowledge mobilization projects (maximum value per project $6,500). Congratulations to the following recipients! 

Knowledge Mobilization with an intercultural��lens��on water and inclusive employment in��rural Tanzania��

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Onita D. Basu, Professor, Faculty of Civil/Environmental Eng, and Associate Vice-Provost for Graduate Studies 
• Co-investigator: Dr. Troy Anderson, PhD, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business 

This project advances inclusive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) employment for Maasai women in rural Tanzania while supporting CRIW’s EDI goals. With female underemployment at 10–20% and only ~30% post‑secondary job placement, opportunities remain limited. Building on our ceramic water filter initiative, we will hire and train two young women to assist and engage in knowledge mobilization pertaining to this project, while also learning meaningful employability skills. A bilingual (English/Swahili) community event will share outcomes, strengthen �Ӱ�ԭ��‑TEMBO collaboration, and mobilize WaSH knowledge and equity-focused employment. 

From Research to Action: Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy on Corporate Gender Diversity and Inclusion 

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Sana Mohsni, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University 
• Co-investigator: Amar Benaissa, PhD candidate in management, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University 

This project represents a half-day knowledge mobilization conference at the Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University, designed to bridge the gap between academic research, industry practice, and public policy on gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The event will provide a structured and interactive platform for knowledge sharing, cross-sector dialogue, and the co-creation of actionable insights. The conference will feature research presentations by CRIW-affiliated Sprott Researchers and graduate students, followed by a high-impact panel discussion bringing together representatives from academia, industry, and government. The event is designed to translate current research findings into practical recommendations, foster cross-sector collaboration, and contribute to more inclusive and equitable workplace practices in Canada. 

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It is with gratitude that The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) announces the conclusion of Dr. Daniel Gulanowski’s term as Associate Director. Dr. Gulanowski joined CRIW’s governance team in 2022, working alongside Director Dr. Angela Dionisi to advance the Centre’s mission of generating and mobilizing knowledge on equity, diversity, and inclusion at work.

“I am grateful to Daniel for his service to CRIW over his term,” said Dr. Dionisi. “We appreciate his engagement with the Centre and look forward to following his ongoing contributions to research and scholarship.”

During his term, Dr. Gulanowski supported the Centre in strengthening its research community, fostering new collaborations, and advancing CRIW’s profile as a hub for impactful scholarship. His own research on immigrants’ workforce integration, labour market adjustment, and global mobility has both complemented and expanded CRIW’s focus on inclusion at work.

Reflecting on his time in the role, Dr. Gulanowski shared: “Serving as Associate Director has been a rewarding experience. CRIW has provided a supportive and stimulating environment for pursuing research and engaging in important conversations about inclusion. I look forward to continuing my involvement as a member of the Centre.”

CRIW extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Gulanowski and wishes him continued success in his research and future endeavours. Under the ongoing directorship of Dr. Angela Dionisi, the Centre remains dedicated to advancing inclusive research and supporting its community of scholars.

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The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) is pleased to officially announce the recipients of 2025’s CRIW Ignite! research grant. This annual competition is designed to advance workplace inclusion by supporting collaborative research projects that align with the Centre’s mission of producing and sharing scholarship on topics of relevance to equity, diversity and inclusion. This year, our grant provided $7,000 to a unique project, which examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can reduce inequities in Canada’s healthcare system. Congratulations Dr. Lindsay McShane and her research assistant Narmin Banu! Read below for more information about their project.

Leveraging AI to Bridge Gaps in Healthcare Equity

Principal Investigator: Dr. Lindsay McShane, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business Research Assistant: Narmin Tartila Banu, Ph.D. Candidate, Sprott School of Business

This research examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can reduce inequities in Canada’s publicly funded yet uneven healthcare system, where access often depends on having a family doctor or the ability to pursue alternative options. It asks: How can AI improve access to healthcare providers? What drives public acceptance of AI-powered medical advice? Using interviews and experiments, the project investigates accountability as a key mechanism and human oversight as a moderating factor influencing trust and adherence. The findings aim to inform equitable and inclusive AI-based healthcare solutions and shape public understanding of fairness, innovation, and trust in digital health systems.

CRIW Ignite! is one of the vehicles through which CRIW aims to advance knowledge and drive change towards more inclusive workplaces that support greater participation of all peoples. For more information, visit CRIW’s web pages on Research Support and Resources and Grants.

CRIW’s research activities and knowledge-sharing efforts are possible, in part, through generous financial support from the RBC Foundation. This funding is providing opportunities for conducting and sharing innovative research on inclusion at work. CRIW is grateful for the RBC Foundation’s support in making its work possible.

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The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) is pleased to officially announce the recipients of 2024’s CRIW Graduate Student Bursary. This bursary is awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, on the joint recommendation of the Directors of CRIW and the Dean of the Sprott School of Business, to graduate students affiliated with CRIW who are entering or continuing in a graduate degree program within the Sprott School of Business, and are studying issues around workplace diversity and inclusion.

This year, our grants provided $6,000 to three graduate students. Congratulations to the following recipients!

Narmin Tartila Banu is a PhD candidate at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University’s Sprott School of Business. Narmin is actively exploring the potential of technology, particularly culturally-inclusive AI, to improve healthcare experiences. Her current research investigates how AI-powered chatbots can personalize communication in an inclusive manner to enhance patient satisfaction. She also plans to investigate the role of AI in enhancing patient services, such as improving accessibility and communication for diverse patient populations. By harnessing the power of AI, Narmin aims to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that alleviate the burden on healthcare professionals, and improve patient experiences. She is thrilled to have CRIW’s support, which will help her further her research and make a positive impact on the healthcare industry.

Sasha Valgardsson is a PhD in Management Student at the Sprott School of Business, specializing in International Business. Her research explores topics related to multiculturality using qualitative research methods. Her work is driven by a desire to explore how cultural and cognitive influences may lead to fostering openness and belonging in multicultural environments. Sasha’s dissertation focuses on understanding the diverse population of individuals who grew up immersed in more than one culture, such as second-generation immigrants or those from households with more than one culture. In particular, her work explores the factors that support or hinder the skills, challenges, and feelings of organizational belonging, for these individuals. Sasha integrates arts-based methods into her research. By facilitating access to populations unable to participate in traditional data collection, arts-based methods increase inclusivity in research.

Anamika Jayendran is a doctoral candidate in Management at the Sprott School of Business, specializing in Accounting. Her research focuses on sustainability accounting and organizational accountability, with an emphasis on the intersection of sustainability practices and equity. She critically examines the standard-setting process for sustainability accounting, exploring its impact on stakeholder representation, equity, and inclusion. Her current research

investigates the sustainability standards developed by the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) and their alignment with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Using an intersectional lens, she assesses the influence of these standards on diverse stakeholders. By identifying systemic inequities and nuanced impacts, Anamika’s work aims to contribute to the development of accounting standards that are more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to diverse stakeholder needs.

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The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) is pleased to officially announce the recipients of 2024’s CRIW Ignite! research grants. This annual competition is designed to advance workplace inclusion by supporting collaborative research projects that align with the Centre’s mission of producing and sharing scholarship on topics of relevance to equity, diversity and inclusion. This year, our grants provided up to $8,000 to four unique projects, each addressing these important issues in different ways. Congratulations to the following recipients!

Examining the Inclusivity of Sustainability Standards: A Critical Analysis of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Merridee Bujaki, MBA, FCPA, FCA, PhD Full Professor, Sprott School of Business
• Co-investigator: Anamika Jayendran, Ph.D. Candidate, Sprott School of Business

This research project critically examines the inclusivity and recognition of intersectionality in the draft sustainability standards developed by the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB). It asks the questions: Do CSSB standards address social and environmental concerns? What impact can these standards have on marginalized stakeholders? How does intersectionality within stakeholder groups affect their response to sustainability standards? The project includes a literature review, document analysis of CSSB materials, and consolidation of findings for publication. It seeks to inform policy and practice in sustainability standard-setting, emphasizing the need for an inclusive and intersectional approach.

Empowering Change: How Board Diversity Shapes CEO’s Influence on Environmental Decoupling

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Sana Mohsni, Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business
• Co-investigator: Awais Mojai, Ph.D. Candidate, Sprott School of Business

Personalities and priorities of CEOs influence a firm’s decision to engage in environmental decoupling – an unethical practice where firms overstate their environmental performance to gain social legitimacy. However, CEO characteristics don’t work in isolation. Strong interplay between CEO and board of directors influences organizational practices, including environmental decoupling. We examine how board gender diversity, and the presence of other minorities (indigenous and LGBTQ+) on boards moderate the relationship between CEO personality and environmental decoupling. Our research highlights the role of board diversity in fostering ethical and environmentally responsible business practices.

Equitable Workplace Inclusion of Contingent Workers

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Daniel Gulanowski, Assistant Professor, International Business, Sprott School of Busines

The rise of the gig economy, digital platform work, and freelancing draw our attention to the diversity of contingent work arrangements and their implications for workers and organizations. While there are certainly benefits to contingent work, such as flexible work hours and autonomy, contingent workers face challenges being included in the workplace. This literature review intends to better understand different forms of contingent work and effective organizational practices in managing contingent workers. It also aims to identify future research directions to advance equitable workplace inclusion of contingent workers.

The Juggling Act: Exploring the Paradox between Inclusive Leadership and Creative Deviance

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Greg J. Sears, Associate Professor, Management, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University
• Co-Investigator: Tasnuva Chaudhury, PhD Candidate, Sprott School of Business, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University

This research examines the paradoxical relationship between inclusive leadership and creative deviance. Potential boundary conditions, including the role of gendered organizational culture and specific Big Five personality traits (e.g., openness to experience, conscientiousness), will also be explored. Given growing interest in inclusive leadership and our limited understanding of individual and contextual factors that promote or inhibit creative deviance, our study aims to provide theoretical and practical insights into the actions leaders may adopt to foster employee creativity and address systemic barriers (e.g., gender bias, cultural constraints) in the innovation process.

CRIW Ignite! is one of the vehicles through which CRIW aims to advance knowledge and drive change towards more inclusive workplaces that support greater participation of all peoples. For more information, visit CRIW’s web pages on Research Support and Resources and Grants.

CRIW’s research activities and knowledge-sharing efforts are possible, in part, through generous financial support from the RBC Foundation. This funding is providing opportunities for conducting and sharing innovative research on inclusion at work. CRIW is grateful for the RBC Foundation’s support in making its work possible.

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Enjoy the photos from our conference on this page.

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The Inspire Inclusion Conference is an in-person, multidisciplinary conference hosted by the Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW). The conference will take place on April 12th, 2024, at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University. Scholars exploring workplace inclusion-related issues among traditionally underrepresented populations will come together to present their research, exchange ideas, and participate in workshops. The conference aims to encourage interdisciplinary discussion, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Who should apply: CRIW is inviting applications from faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars who conduct research on equity, diversity and inclusion, particularly that which may be applicable in a workplace or organizational context. We encourage contributions from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, social work, psychology, anthropology, gender studies, business, education, disability studies, critical race studies, and others.

Research topics: All research focused on the work-relevant experiences (loosely defined) of those from traditionally underrepresented populations (for example, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), immigrants, women, individuals with disabilities, Two Spirit, trans man, trans woman, nonbinary, agender, gender variant, gender fluid, intersex, or asexual persons (2SLGBTQIA+) and youth) is welcomed. Both empirical and theoretical contributions are acceptable.

Proposal submission instructions

If you wish to present your work at the conference, please submit the following for consideration:

• a title page containing the name of the project, along with the name(s), position(s), institutional affiliation(s) and contact information of all authors
• a 500-word abstract, including a statement of research questions, theoretical framework, methods and main findings or arguments (as relevant for the type of paper you are submitting)
• an indication of whether you would like to have your work considered for presentation in the form of a poster (Note: the assumption is that successful candidates will present their work in the form of a 15-min presentation, with a handful of submissions selected to present via poster format)

The deadline for proposal submission is March 17, 2024. The submission should be sent to criw@carleton.ca with the subject line “Inspire Inclusion Conference submission”. The proposals will be peer-reviewed, and decisions will be made by March 20, 2024.

Registration

Registration is required. Registration for different sessions may be necessary. Please register . Spaces are limited.

Important dates

Please note these dates were updated.

Accessibility Accommodations

For questions about accessibility or to request any accommodations, please contact CRIW at criw@carleton.ca. Kindly send any requests for accommodations by March 22, 2024.

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It is with great pleasure that The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) announces the appointment of its new Associate Director, Dr. Daniel Gulanowski. Dr. Gulanowski joins CRIW’s current Director, Dr. Angela Dionisi, in seeking to grow the Centre’s impact.

“I am happy to welcome Daniel to our team.” Dr. Dionisi said. “I am confident that he will make a significant impact and use his passion and expertise to advance CRIW’s mission. I look forward to working together to achieve new heights of excellence for the Centre.”

Dr. Gulanowski brings a wealth of energy and insight to this role and has a proven track record in research and knowledge mobilization. His work has been published in leading journals in his field, has been showcased at more than 30 conferences, and has been funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grants. His dedication to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion through studying immigrants’ adjustment and labour market integration – in reference to expatriates, refugees, or international students – makes him a promising fit for the team.

Dr. Gulanowski expressed what CRIW has meant to him over the years and what he looks forward to as part of the Centre’s governance team. “My interest in immigrants’ workforce integration drove my interest in CRIW,” he said. “As an active member of the Centre since 2019, I’ve significantly expanded my research network and collaboration opportunities within the Sprott School of Business community. I have also benefited from research funding programs available through CRIW and have seen my supported research go on to be published. As the Associate Director, I am eager to contribute to our center’s continued success, growth, and development of research collaborations.”

Dr. Gulanowski’s arrival also marks the departure of inclusion champion, Dr. Luciara Nardon from CRIW’s leadership team, after serving for the last five years.

“CRIW would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Luciara Nardon for her significant contributions to the Centre over the years.” Dr. Dionisi said. “She has played a central role in propelling the Centre forward, re-envisioning its scope, and expanding its mandate to focus on inclusion at work more broadly. This shift has undoubtedly grown the impact of the Centre. We are sad to see her move on, but are grateful for her service and dedication to CRIW and its mission.”

Please join CRIW in welcoming Dr. Gulanowski to CRIW’s governance team, and wishing Dr. Nardon all the best in her future endeavours.

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