Alya Jinah

Biography

Alya Jinah serves as the Senior Specialist, Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability with the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship. She brings a globally informed and linguistically diverse perspective to advancing equitable societies, inclusive access, and frameworks of belonging. Her commitment to pluralism—recognizing and valuing diverse identities, disciplines, and worldviews—underpins her belief that complex societal challenges demand transdisciplinary collaboration.

Prior to joining the team, Alya played a pivotal role in launching key initiatives at the University of Calgary, including the Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies (CDL), which supports diverse deep-science and technology-based ventures in accessing mentorship and investment to scale their impact. She also helped establish the Trico Foundation Social Entrepreneurship Centre, where she designed empowering experiences for mentors, ventures, students, and partners—demonstrating how business can be a powerful force for social good.

Alya’s academic background includes undergraduate studies in Nursing, a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Master of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her interdisciplinary education and professional experience across business, engineering, education, and health enable her to collaborate effectively across sectors and communities. She is particularly focused on mobilizing networks, ideas, and people to address global challenges through innovative, inclusive, and transdisciplinary strategies.

Alya is an avid traveler and l though already a plurilingual is continuously developing fluency in Farsi, Spanish, and Hindi. She values cultural exchange and community engagement, and welcomes opportunities to connect—whether through strategic partnerships or a conversation over coffee.