The Honourable Amina Gerba was appointed Independent Senator for Quebec (Rigaud) in July 2021, by the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau.
Holder of a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Université du Québec à Montreal (ESG-UQAM), School of Management, Senator Gerba stood out as a serial entrepreneur for more than 25 years. She brings to the deliberations of the Upper House of the Canadian Parliament a strong experience acquired in the business community as CEO of companies she founded or as a member of the board of directors of public and private organizations, as well as a high-level practice in business development (investments, financing, trade) on the international level. She also brings the lessons she has learned from her social commitments, notably as a member of the executive committee of the University of Quebec in Montreal, as Chair of the board of directors of Entreprendre ici, an organization set up within the framework of Government action plan in entrepreneurship 2017-2022 of the Government of Quebec to support entrepreneurs from ethnocultural diversity in Quebec and also as former president of the Rotary Club of Old Montreal and mentor for the Network of African Entrepreneurs and Professionals.
A specialist in international marketing, institutional communications and the organization of international events, Senator Gerba acted for more than two decades as an economic link between Canada and Africa. She thus succeeded in bringing together thousands of economic decision-makers and investors interested in business partnerships in Africa, during B2B meetings and high-level meetings that she organized in Montreal. These meetings led to the signing of contracts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in business partnerships between African and Canadian companies.
The Honourable Amina Gerba is a pioneer in Quebec in the manufacturing and distribution of body and hair care products, made from natural and organic ingredients sourced through fair trade in Africa. Through her brands, she has successfully showcased in Canada natural and certified organic raw materials from Africa.
Senator Amina Gerba is a member of the Senate Standing Committee of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Senate Standing Committee of Human Rights. She is also an active member of the Canadian Black Parliamentarians Caucus as well as the Senators Group for Climate Solutions.
The Honourable Amina Gerba is also very actively involved in parliamentary diplomacy. She is co-chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, which promotes exchanges between African and Canadian parliamentarians and member of the executive committee of the Canadian branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. She is also a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Member of the International Women’s Forum and the Excellence-Québec group, Senator Gerba has received several awards and distinctions: The King Charles III Coronation Medal 2024, in recognition of her significant contributions to Quebec and Canada, Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2014, personality from the business world at the Gala Dynastie, entrepreneur of the year of Network of African entrepreneurs and professionals, etc.
The Honourable Amina Gerba is married to Malam Gerba, mother of four children (Ali, Aïcha, Habi, Kiari) and grandmother of three grandchildren.
