On Friday May 30, Shiza Hirani received the RCE Saskatchewan Education for
Sustainable Development Recognition Award presented by Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. The award was presented in recognition of Shiza’s outstanding efforts to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through her youth-driven initiatives – Youth MentorNet Café.
During the event, Shiza presented her project to the Lieutenant Governor and the gathered audience, showcasing the initiative’s impact in promoting youth empowerment, sustainability in education, and community engagement among high school students who often struggle with lengthy post-secondary applications, complex scholarship forms, and financial management.
In addition to receiving this distinguished accolade, Shiza was featured in a CTV News interview, where she highlighted the importance of youth leadership and the urgent need for sustainable and inclusive solutions. Youth MentorNet Café’s mission is to equip high school students, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented communities with mentorship, skills development, and pathways to civic leadership.
As a passionate advocate for social justice and education, Shiza Hirani has completed a Nonprofit Sector Leadership and Innovation Certificate, and she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at the Hill and Levene School of Business, University of Regina.
Shiza’s work has earned her over 25 prestigious accolades including the SaskEnergy Award, Women Student Leaders in Business Administration Award, Ted Roger’s Scholarship Award, Honour Roll Awards, Jax Mac Foundation Award, Campus Regina Public Award, YWCA Young Women of Distinction Finalist Award, Hill Business Student’s Society and Faculty of Business Administration Award.
From leading workshops to shaping national conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability, Shiza Hirani continues to amplify youth voices, dismantle systemic barriers, and create inclusive spaces where diverse young leaders can thrive and drive meaningful change. In addition to founding Youth MentorNet Café, Shiza Hirani serves on prestigious youth advisory boards at the local, national, and international levels. At the national level, Shiza is a Youth Advisor to Senator Marilou McPhedran at the Canadian Council of Young Feminists, where she champions inclusive policy making, climate action, and social equity.
Shiza also holds the role of National Youth Ambassador with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) and Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with the Hill Business Student’s Society. On the global stage, Shiza advocates for inclusive education as a Global Youth Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal #4 (Quality Education) with Theirworld, Ambassador for the Institute of Economics and Peace, and has represented Canada as a delegate at international summits including the World Bank Group Summit and the International Youth Conference (IYC11). Through these leadership roles, she uplifts marginalized communities, empowers youth voices, and advances the global SDG agenda with passion and purpose.
Shiza has spoken at summits and major events, including the International Youth Conference (IYC11) as a Canadian Delegate, the World Health Assembly, where she contributed youth perspectives to WHO’s decision-making body, and Theirworld’s “Girls, Play, and Power” Session as an invited panelist, that reached thousands of policymakers, educators, and advocates worldwide. Shiza is also championing youth-led solutions to public health challenges like mental health, climate change, and gender equity in education. Through her leadership and mentorship, she continues to inspire and empower the next generation of change-makers.
Links:
https://saskrce.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RCE-SK-News-Release-Sustainability-Awards-2025-1.pdf
https://www.uregina.ca/business-administration/news/2025/honouring-excellence-celebrating-our-ywca-women-of-distinction-nominees.html
https://ccyf-ccjf.com/members-membres-2/shiza-hirani
https://savvyfellows.com/userprofile/shizahirani/
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