Danya Pankiw

Danya Pankiw is a dedicated leader in the Ukrainian Canadian community with extensive experience in youth engagement and advocacy. From 2020 to 2023, she served on the Board of the Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK), including two years as National President. In her first year as president, Danya amplified the voices of Ukrainian Canadian youth and mobilized national student support for Ukraine during a time of crisis. She frequently represented Ukrainian students in national media interviews, raising awareness of the challenges facing Ukrainian students, and spoke at rallies across Canada to inspire engagement within the Ukrainian community.

During her second year as SUSK President (2022–23), the organization launched the Unissued Diplomas campaign to mark one year since the full-scale invasion and to commemorate the students whose lives were lost due to the war. The campaign shared 36 stories of fallen students through 110 exhibitions hosted at 67 universities worldwide, bringing global attention to the devastating impact of the invasion on Ukraine’s youth. Under her leadership, SUSK strengthened its advocacy, expanded programming, and united student organizations nationwide, ensuring youth perspectives were represented in Canadian and international forums.

Danya Pankiw holds a degree in chemistry and an education degree from Queen’s University, where she distinguished herself through academic excellence, leadership, and cultural advocacy. She remains actively engaged in the Ukrainian community through Plast Ukrainian Youth Organization, where she has served in various leadership capacities, most recently as Camp Director in Grafton, Ontario.

In addition to her community leadership, Danya Pankiw is committed to inspiring the next generation through her career in education. As a teacher at The York School in Toronto, she integrates global awareness into her teaching practice and encourages students to actively support Ukraine.