Anima Café | Fire and Silence Chat with Daniel Quan-Watson
Host: Annahid Dashtgard, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 22nd, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST
Register below for the link to join
Join Annahid Dashtgard in conversation with Daniel Quan-Watson, deputy minister of many portfolios and the first of Chinese Canadian descent, pull back the veil in this conversation about what it means to be a racialized leader in white dominant institutions– but beyond this, what is unique and possible that only Indigenous, Black and racialized leaders can bring forward. Join us for this conversation about call-outs, coping strategies and ultimately, connections to build more diverse stronger systems.
Register here
Daniel Quan-Watson
First Deputy Minister of Chinese Descent
Daniel Quan-Watson has had a distinguished career in Canada’s public service, with over 15 years in senior government roles, including multiple Deputy Minister appointments. His work has significantly focused on Crown-Indigenous relations, having led the federal government’s contributions to landmark Indigenous policy transformation across Canada and having been part of major initiatives such as the Nisga’a Final Agreement in British Columbia.
Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in advancing reconciliation and legislative efforts for Indigenous rights.
Quan-Watson is also the first Deputy Minister of Chinese-Canadian descent, and he actively promotes anti-racism and inclusion initiatives within the government.
Outside of work, Daniel is a pilot, a motorcycle enthusiast with a record-setting ride from Ottawa to Edmonton, and a former singer with the Regina Philharmonic Choir. Fluent in English, French and Spanish, he brings a rich cultural perspective to his role as a leader in the public service.
Annahid Dashtgard
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
As a seasoned change-maker and non-fiction author, Annahid gets juiced by figuring out what makes people and systems tick, and how to move them from survive to thrive. Over the last two decades she has worked with hundreds of organizations and leaders to create more just and equitable futures. She’s a first generation immigrant woman of colour who uses her voice to illuminate our common journey to belonging. Her new book Fire and Silence: A Roadmap for BIPOC Leaders is available for pre-order now. Alongside her bestselling books —Bones of Belonging: Finding Wholeness in a White World (2023) and Breaking the Ocean: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion and Reconciliation (2019)— she has written for numerous other publications and sits on the boards of both the Writer’s Trust and the Writer’s Union of Canada.
Annahid has a Masters in Adult Education and has trained in various psychological modalities (Process work, Somatic Experiencing trauma training, mindfulness and Chinese medicine) to understand the root of systems change in human consciousness. Besides consulting, educating, coaching and writing on JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) issues for over two decades across both public and private sectors, she has carefully cultivated her love of reading, usually on the couch with a glass of wine in hand trying to tune out the voices of her little ones. Check our her wiki page or website for more.Author, Chief Visionary Officer & Co-Founder, Anima Leadership
