Washington, D.C, United States of America
2026 G20 Youth Summit
The Summit will bring together youth delegates from all G20 member countries and observers to negotiate, collaborate, and develop a youth communiqué that will be presented to the G20 Presidency.
The Summit will take place in-person in the summer. The five themes that will be addressed during the conference include: 1) Global Economy and Job Creation; 2) Energy; 3) Innovation and Digital Transformation; 4) Fragility, Conflict, and Violence; 5) Food Security and Global Health.
This year's Y20 Summit will be held in Washington DC, August 10-14, 2026
Adrienne Ahn, Head Delegate
Adrienne Ahn is an international affairs professional pursuing her master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. She has completed her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Commerce at the University of British Columbia.
Originally from British Columbia, Adrienne brings experience working with international NGOs, academic institutions, and government. Her work has included leading communications and marketing for access to justice projects in Canada and Central America, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, serving as a board member to increase access to education and gender equality in Kenya, and contributing to advisory committees focused on youth engagement, innovation, and sustainability. She is interested in human-centered digital innovation, AI, and technology, with a focus on building ethical, responsible, and inclusive systems.
As a Korean-Canadian, she is also dedicated to community-building and continues to lead initiatives that foster cultural exchange.
Thivya Jeyapalan, Communications Coordinator
Thivya Jeyapalan is an undergraduate at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is a Joseph Wharton Scholar studying Economics. She is a Tamil Canadian, born in Sri Lanka and raised in Ontario.
Thivya works in labour rights and the future of work for young people, with a focus on inclusive education and equitable access to economic opportunity.
In 2024–2025, Thivya served as National President of FBL Canada, the country’s largest student-run business organization. She is a 2024 Rise Fellow funded by the Rhodes Trust and Schmidt Futures and an Ingenious+ National Winner by the Rideau Hall Foundation.
Thivya founded and leads CapitalHER, a women’s entrepreneurship initiative focused on early exposure to independent thinking and venture development for young girls, backed by over $200,000 from the Ontario Trillium Fund.
In 2022, Thivya also founded The Key of Sight, a music education and therapy platform for visually impaired youth, and went on to establish music camps in Toronto and Sri Lanka, serving 300 students pursuing higher studies in music.
Her work has been featured by CBC, The Walrus, Yahoo Finance, and Broadview Magazine, where she was named one of Canada’s youngest Disruptors.
Abby Pace, Engagement Coordinator
Abby Pace is a young leader from Newfoundland and Labrador who is committed to making Canada’s healthcare system more inclusive and equitable. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemistry (Nutrition) and is pursuing a Doctor of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Abby graduated top of her class, earning the University Medal for Academic Excellence, and has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year by both the City of St. John’s and Memorial University.
Abby’s commitment to advancing health equity stems from eight years of volunteering and working at a community health center supporting individuals experiencing housing and food insecurity. Building on this experience, she has led youth advocacy initiatives that mobilized healthcare students to lobby provincial policymakers for greater investment in equitable medical services. Her work has also extended to the federal level, where she represented her province in national discussions about healthcare reform.
Alongside her advocacy, Abby serves as a head coach of several Special Olympics programs and is a community mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also conducts research investigating the developmental outcomes of children with prenatal opioid exposure.
Asmaa Ali, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator
Zaffia Laplante, Engagement Coordinator
Zaffia Laplante is a Métis-Turkish entrepreneur and globally recognized leader and public speaker dedicated to scaling climate technology through the lens of Indigenous sovereignty and social impact.
Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders, Zaffia has spent nearly a decade architecting energy-efficient frameworks and regenerative systems that deliver measurable community resilience. Today, she bridges these Indigenous knowledge systems with modern biotechnology and circular economy models to ensure global climate solutions remain equitable.
Zaffia has shared her insights at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the United Nations Civil Society Conference. Currently an Advisor at Mokwateh, she works alongside industry leaders, Indigenous governments, and academic institutions to align economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Zaffia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Social Entrepreneurship from Wilfrid Laurier University, alongside specialized diplomas in Indigenous Business Leadership from Melbourne Business School and Indigenous Entrepreneurship from United College.
Asmaa Ali is an award-winning registered nurse and federal public servant for 5 years.
She is also a speaker, writer, and health researcher engaged in health promotion and developing healthy public policy on local, provincial, and national levels. Her focus extends particularly to the well-being of women, Black communities, and Muslim communities across Canada.
Asmaa holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alberta and a Master of Nursing from the University of Calgary. Previously, she has served as a board director for the Alberta Immigrant Women and Children's Centre, and completed executive education on health system leadership at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health. She was named as one of Alberta's Top 30 Under 30 by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, and served as their delegate to the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women. Asmaa was named a nursing leadership scholar by the Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust.