HSBC - Emily and ShannonHALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA (March, 2, 2015) – Emily Bland, student at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Shannon Hickey, student at College of the North Atlantic – St. John’s Campus, both received the 2015 HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow award for Atlantic Canada from this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud program supporter, HSBC Bank Canada. The award presentation took place at the 2015 Enactus Canada Regional Exposition on February 27 in Halifax.

The HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow award is designed to recognize, celebrate and honour female university and college students – on a regional and national level – who exemplify success and inspire their peers, community and country through entrepreneurial leadership.

Emily quickly brought her passion for sustainable agriculture to the Enactus Memorial team, founding and managing a project which has kept the doors open in seven farms in her province. She fundraised $14,000 for her Enactus team and, since starting university, has volunteered with 21 local volunteer organizations and participated in the first Tim Horton’s Youth Sustainability Council.

Shannon has grown her Enactus team from 10 to 33 active volunteers and secured funding for her team to attend the 2014 Enactus World Cup in Beijing. She is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of her family business, of which she is a part owner. Beyond Enactus, she volunteers with provincial party politics and is actively involved in community revitalization projects in her home town of Belleoram.

“At HSBC, we strongly believe in the importance of a diverse, high-performing and inclusive culture – in our organization and in the wider business community,” said Sandra Stuart, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Bank Canada. “We are delighted to be working with Enactus to recognize and encourage emerging leaders at the start of their careers through the delivery of the HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow awards and HSBC Women’s Leadership Forum.”

Emily Bland and Shannon Hickey are two of six regional award winners from across Canada who will travel to the 2015 Enactus Canada National Exposition taking place in Toronto in May in the hopes of being named the national 2015 HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow.

The top 50 award applicants from across the country will also be invited to attend the exclusive HSBC Women’s Leadership Forum to be held at the 2015 Enactus Canada National Exposition. This annual forum will bring together the top entrepreneurial female leaders of today and tomorrow to encourage open dialogue, build leadership aptitude and establish connections amongst generations of top entrepreneurial female leaders.

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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, this country’s largest student leadership development organization, is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,400 entrepreneurial postsecondary students led 250 community empowerment projects and business ventures this past year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

ABOUT HSBC BANK CANADA: HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in Canada. The HSBC Group serves customers worldwide from over 6,100 offices in 73 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,634bn at 31 December 2014, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.

Media Inquiries:
Jody Lundrigan
Director of Communications
Enactus Canada
E: jody@enactus.ca
P:416.304.1566 ext.222
M: 416.346.0131

Aurora Bonin
Senior Media Relations Manager
HSBC Bank Canada
E: aurora.f.bonin@hsbc.ca
P: 604-641-1905