Paris, France
2026 G7 Youth Summit
The Y7 Summit will bring together youth delegates from all G7 member countries, the European Union, and guest countries to discuss and form policy suggestions. The Y7 Summit leads to the creation of a Y7 Communiqué that will serve as the official youth recommendations to G7 leaders in advance of their international summit.
The 2026 Y7 takes place in Paris, with each delegate representing Canadian youth on one of the following policy tracks: AI & Digital Technology, Energy & Environment, Supply Chains, and Peace & Security.
This year’s delegation is an accomplished group of young Canadians. They look forward to engaging with Canadian youth and other young leaders in preparation for the Y7 negotiations.
Andylath Djima, Head Delegate
Andylath Djima is completing a Master’s degree in International and Development Studies at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
With over six years of experience in the Canadian government, Andylath has held multiple roles at Global Affairs Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada. She also served as an official Canadian delegate to the UN in Geneva, notably at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Human Rights Council. Most recently, she worked at the International Labour Organization (ILO) as an External Relations Officer in the Deputy Director-General’s Office, gaining hands-on experience in G7 and G20 multilateral diplomacy, decent work, and social justice advocacy.
Andylath holds a Bachelor of Commerce in International Management from McGill University and a Certificate in Social Sciences and Humanities from Sciences Po Paris. She is fluent in English and French, and intermediate in Spanish.
Passionate about economic development, multilateral cooperation, and meaningful youth participation, she actively engages in initiatives bridging research, policy, and stakeholder engagement across Canada, Africa, and Europe. Drawing on her Beninese-Canadian background and studies abroad, Andylath brings a multicultural perspective to policy discussions.
Helen Cashman, Communications Coordinator
Helen Cashman is currently completing a joint MBA and Master in Public Policy degree program at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Kennedy School. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.
Helen began her career at McKinsey & Company, where she spent three years working with clients across four continents, including a six-month placement in Lagos, Nigeria. She later joined Generation Youth Employed, a non-profit organization that trains and places people into life-changing careers in 17 different countries, as the Global Strategic Projects Lead.
Helen’s current community focus is supporting organizations that empower youth. She serves as Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors of Girl Guides of Canada, the country’s largest organization focused on empowering girls and young women.
Helen is a proud Edmontonian and she enjoys back-country camping, boating, downhill skiing, and sampling unique ice cream flavours during her international travels.
Cathy Yan, Engagement Coordinator
Cathy Yan (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Genome Science and Technology program at the University of British Columbia. Her research seeks to understand how the DNA and RNA of cancers at the cellular level could inform better treatments for patients.
In 2021, she started volunteering with the Invasive Species Council of BC, which sparked her interest in environmental restoration, climate science, and community building. Since then, she has initiated, led, and collaborated on multiple projects with various community groups on civic literacy and engagement, with an emphasis on environmental issues.
Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition, where she leads the Our City Hall (OCH) for the 2026 municipal elections in Richmond, BC. Through community consultations, OCH distills pressing community issues into policy asks for municipal candidates, enabling non-partisan tracking of commitments made during campaigns.
If you don't want her to stop talking, ask Cathy about her stance on LNG development in BC, why "lobbying" is not a dirty word, and marathon training.
Marisha Boyd, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Coordinator
Marisha Boyd holds an MSc in Applied Digital Health from the University of Oxford, where she focused on the intersection of technology, equitable healthcare, and public policy. Through her academic and professional work, she has developed a strong interest in how digital and AI-enabled solutions can be designed and governed to improve health outcomes while reducing systemic inequities.
Marisha first became interested in digital solutions during her undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia, where she completed a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience with a minor in Health & Society. She spent three years working in research and development of digital health tools to support people living with mental health conditions in Vancouver. She has contributed to multiple scientific publications and has presented both her research and advocacy work at international conferences.
During her time at Oxford, Marisha furthered her interests through an internship with a cybersecurity venture capital fund and by co-developing diversity, equity, and inclusion metrics alongside a financial technology firm, gaining exposure to responsible investment and governance in emerging technologies.
Now based in London, UK, Marisha works in consulting with a focus on technology and AI, supporting organizations in digital transformation and technology adoption.