Olena Skalianska

Olena Skalianska was born in Desna and raised in Sumy, Ukraine, where she began volunteering in high school with the Charity Organization Charity Initiative. Over the years, she has led numerous community projects, including the Computers for Orphanages campaign, which provided over 200 computers to Ukrainian schools, libraries, and orphanages, and inspired the Toronto-based Computers for Ukraine initiative. She also co-coordinated the Christmas Presents for Orphans project, connecting children’s letters with sponsors from the Ukrainian Canadian diaspora. These initiatives strengthened ties between Canada and Ukraine while making a tangible difference in the lives of children and youth.Olena’s academic journey reflects her dedication to education and innovation. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in Poland, a Master’s degree in Business and Management in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (MBAI) from the Kyiv School of Economics, and a Master’s degree in Computational Science and Engineering from McMaster University. Her research on data analytics and natural language processing for curriculum design has been published and presented internationally.Professionally, Olena works at RBC as a project manager, where she applies agile practices and data-driven strategies to deliver complex initiatives. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Ukrainian Mitacs Programs in Canada, promoting international research collaboration and supporting student mobility. Under her leadership, Mitacs recently celebrated a milestone of 1,000 Ukrainian students participating in Canadian internships, supported by more than $10M in government funding.A recipient of multiple scholarships and awards, including the BCU Foundation’s Canada 150 Scholarship, Olena is widely recognized for her leadership, civic engagement, and cross-cultural collaboration. She continues to champion initiatives that empower youth, advance education, and strengthen Canada–Ukraine connections.