Daniela Valenzuela Neto [she/her]
Rise on Boards | Cohort 9
Daniela Valenzuela Neto is a passionate advocate for social justice and youth empowerment, deeply influenced by her Peruvian and Brazilian heritage. As a third-year Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management student at Carleton University, she is committed to addressing global challenges such as poverty, socio-economic disparities, and inclusive governance.
Her advocacy spans multiple sectors, from raising awareness of youth homelessness with 360°Kids in Woodbridge, Ontario, to supporting climate finance legislation during her internship with Senator Rosa Galvez. She has also promoted civic engagement as an Interpretive Officer at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and supported the advancement of reconciliation and self-determination as a student policy analyst at Indigenous Services Canada.
Dedicated to making international relations and diplomacy more accessible, Daniela became the youngest executive member at Young Diplomats of Canada. As a Programs Coordinator, she champions inclusive communications to engage youth in global policymaking. She also launched and chaired Carleton University’s first undergraduate Public Policy Case Competition, connecting students with municipal issues in Ottawa.
Recognized for her leadership in inclusive policy making, Daniela was awarded King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for her contributions to public service and youth engagement, and a 2024 Youth Ottawa 21 Under 21 Award Recipient.Emily Sams-Harris is an intersectional feminist committed to community building and creating equitable spaces. She holds a Bachelors of Social Science in Conflict Studies and Human Rights and a Masters with Distinction in Gender, Policy and Inequalities from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Living as an international student in the United Kingdom taught her many cross-cultural skills and grew her feminist leadership skills. For as long as she can remember, Emily has been committed to serving her community by organizing advocacy teach ins, fundraisers and marches for social justice. She is trained to be a Positive Space ambassador, supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ public servants and their allies.
Throughout her life and career, Emily has won multiple awards, for which she feels deeply humbled, including Excellence in Policy Design for her employer through the Canadian federal government and Volunteer of the Year with a non-profit dedicated to supporting survivors of intimate partner violence. Emily is also the survivor of a rare brain injury called Anti-NMDA autoimmune encephalitis, which impacts approximately 1 in 1.5 million people every year. Currently she lives in the unceded, unsurrendered territory known as Ottawa, Ontario. In her spare time, she enjoys embroidery and musical theatre.