January 26, 2024

BBPA Welcomes Lianne Hannaway As New CEO, Paving The Way For Growth In Canada’s Black Business Community

Lianne Hannaway

The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) has appointed Lianne Hannaway as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Black Business And Professional Association

Founded in 1983, the BBPA is a non-profit charitable organization that addresses equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education, and economic development.

Their mission is to advance Canada’s Black communities by delivering programs that support business and professional excellence.

Hannaway became their new CEO on January 22 of this year, 2024.

“I am honoured and excited to take on the role of CEO at the BBPA. I am deeply committed to advancing the organization’s mission and working collaboratively with the Board, Staff, and Partners supporting Black businesses and professionals,” said Hannaway in a press release.

Meet Lianne Hannaway

Hannaway is a Chartered Professional Accountant, finance executive, investor, and founder of Wealthnuvo, a financial education and coaching platform for women building generational wealth.

With a Bachelor of Mathematics and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Waterloo, Hannaway earned her Chartered Accounting designation and spent 15 years in the financial services industry.

Her leadership roles include time at The Black Professionals in Tech Network and the Head of Finance at Elevate.

With her entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated passion for championing Black communities, she became the right leader to deliver continued growth and success for the BBPA and its valued members.

“The appointment of Lianne Hannaway as our new CEO marks a pivotal moment for the BBPA. With her extensive experience, unwavering passion, and commitment to our mission, we are confident that she will lead us into a new era of growth and transformative impact – solidifying our dedication to the Black business and professional community,” said Ross Cadastre, BBPA Board Chair.

“Together, we will continue our tireless work of promoting equity, fostering entrepreneurship, facilitating resource access, and recognizing excellence to drive positive change within Black communities across Canada.”

Sara Keenan

Tech Reporter at POCIT. Following her master's degree in journalism, Sara cultivated a deep passion for writing and driving positive change for Black and Brown individuals across all areas of life. This passion expanded to include the experiences of Black and Brown people in tech thanks to her internship experience as an editorial assistant at a tech startup.