Yinka Oladele
Member-at-Large
Yinka Oladele is an Executive Director, social entrepreneur, and community health advocate whose work sits at the intersection of public health, culturally grounded healing, and equity-driven leadership. She is the co-Founder and Executive Director of The Oladele Foundation and its flagship initiative, the African Cancer Support Group (ACGS), organizations dedicated to breaking the silence, reducing stigma, and creating accessible, culturally responsive support systems for African and Black communities navigating cancer and other health challenges.
A Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with dual master’s degrees in counselling psychology and educational leadership, Yinka brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, strategic leadership, and community-rooted compassion. Her work spans psychosocial support, patient navigation, health education, and food security programming – supporting individuals, families, and caregivers across the cancer continuum. Through her leadership, hundreds of families have been reached through culturally grounded programs that address both systemic barriers and lived realities.
Yinka’s leadership is deeply informed by lived experience. As a caregiver to multiple family members affected by cancer, and as the spouse of a long-term cancer survivor, she understands the emotional, psychological, and practical complexities of navigating the health system. This perspective shapes her commitment to advancing inclusive, patient-centered, and culturally safe care.
She is the pioneer of Women of Vision Society of Alberta and serves as Board Chair of the Calgary African Community Collective, where she has guided organizational growth, strengthened governance structures, and fostered cross-sector collaboration. She also contributes to health system improvement as a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at Alberta Health Services, advancing equity-informed approaches to care delivery.
Yinka is recognized for designing healing-centred programs, leading courageous conversations on anti-racism in healthcare, and shaping peer-support models that honour dignity, resilience, and cultural identity. A sought-after speaker and facilitator, her work is grounded in faith, storytelling, and a deep commitment to community healing and systems change.