speakers & mentors

Asha Wheeldon (she/her)

KULA |@kulafoods

Asha Wheeldon is founder and owner of KULA, an Afrocentric plant-based food producer and online local market. Her journey began in Kenya where sharing food in community was an important part of every day. When she migrated to Toronto as a young teenager, she was introduced to West African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern cuisine, and after moving to Vancouver, she was inspired to create something unique: the beginning of KULA! KULA is a proudly Black-owned vegan food business that brings together food sustainability, cultural pride, and community building. Asha is excited to connect with the incredible women who are gearing up to launch their food business and share her entrepreneurial wisdom and experience.

Céline Chuang (she/her)

Céline Chuang I @celinebytheriver

Céline Chuang is a writer, facilitator, and designer who co-runs a neighbourhood used bookstore in amiskwaciwâskahikan, Treaty 6 (Edmonton). She has worked in a variety of spaces, from community programming in the Downtown Eastside to anti-racism education, and helped nurture Dream Cuisines from sprout to seedling. Her practice includes visual communication and graphic design oriented to ease, accessibility, and creative expression. With familial & ancestral ties to Mauritius, Hong Kong, Meixian, and Fujian, she grew up with dumplings, dholl puri, satini, and seaweed soup as favourite foods—all of which still retain a soft spot in her heart (and belly!).

Mariam Demian (she/her)

Caffeinated Media I @caffeinated_media

Mariam Demian works with businesses to elevate their online presence – from branding to website design – through her company Caffeinated Media Solutions. She recently went back to her homeland in Egypt, where she rediscovered amazing street food and came back inspired to recreate her favourite dishes, especially koshary! She admires Flavours of Hope’s hands-on learning and believes that it kindles opportunities for the participants throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. As an immigrant herself, she is looking forward to providing the help that newcomers need through the Dream Cuisines program.

Christina Kouch Tran (she/her)

christinaktran.ca | @chriskdesigns

At the core of her practice as a graphic designer and illustrator, Christina believes in the art of storytelling through bold imagery and conceptual thinking. She is passionate about working with POC-owned businesses and organizations to position themselves as joyful leaders and creative storytellers in their community. Christina loves an intensive brand strategy brainstorm, and she is eager to work with new clients no matter what stage they are at with their business idea. She is also just as eager to try new foods and connect with people over a delicious savoury meal.

Mithalee Rawat (she/her)

Shorba Bone Broth | @shorbabonebroth

Mithalee Rawat is the founder of Shorba Bone Broth, which offers nourishing gut-friendly bone broths rooted in Ayurvedic principles. She grew up amidst a family of food people (her mother went to culinary school, her father and auntie were avid home cooks, and two of her uncles were professional chefs) and was exposed to myriad Indian and international cuisines since birth. Her husband says that this explains her ridiculously high standards for food! Mithalee is inspired by the mission of Dream Cuisines in empowering newcomer women by leveraging their food skills. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience, especially pertaining to the Farmers Market, and to support the cohort’s success.

Annabelle Choi (she/her)

Annabelle Choi Studio | @annabellechoistudio

Annabelle Choi is a chef, teacher, and facilitator, interested in food's ability to connect people from all walks of life. Memories of her Korean immigrant family adventuring in nature together still evoke contentment; on those occasions, her mother would wake up early to pack multiple Tupperwares of kimbap. They'd always be accompanied by an equal presence of kimchi cajoled from a church ajumma (aunty). Throughout her career, Annabelle has collaborated with Firebelly Design, Kinfolk Magazine, ArtStarts, and others. She teaches workshops on sourdough and fermenting through her eponymous studio, and has established a robust creative food consultancy, with a focus on artisanal baking. Dream Cuisines has inspired Annabelle since its inception, as her passion is to better understand how we can connect with neighbours through our senses and shared food stories.

Mun Yee Kelly (she/her)

Pastry Chef & Entrepreneur

Mun Yee Kelly is a pastry chef, and entrepreneur with big dreams and an unwavering belief in the potential of human connection. She was born to parents from opposite sides of the world and grew up in Calgary, Hong Kong, and California, inheriting her father’s love of baking and mother’s adventurous spirit (and knack for balancing flavour palettes). Previously in San Francisco, while working in advertising by day, she ran her own underground supper club and hosted pop-up dinners. Mun is thrilled to be part of the mentor team and come alongside women in realizing their food business dreams.

Mina Haghighi (she/her)

Financial Literacy

Mina Haghighi is passionate about mentoring women entrepreneurs and building understanding and literacy on crucial business components, such as cash flow, budgeting, and financial planning. She moved to Vancouver in 2003 with her family from Iran. Her first job in Canada was at a pizza place, which led to her being designated the dough maker on pizza nights with her big extended family (who are also all foodies!). In her family, gatherings always revolve around food: Persian stews, saffron rice, eggplant dip, and shirazi salad. Mina’s work is dedicated to supporting small businesses, building community and connecting like-minded individuals. She’s looking forward to participating in the Dream Cuisines vision for the second year, helping women launch their food businesses and define success on their own terms.

Destiny Hoostie (she/her) & Kelsey Coutts (she/her)

Bangin’ Bannock |@banginbannock

Kelsey Coutts is of mixed Nakazdli (from Fort St James) and Irish/Scottish descent. She met Destiny through an Indigenous youth entrepreneurship program, and together they created what Bangin’ Bannock is today: a consistent, delicious, golden frybread business.

Destiny Hoostie’s Indigenous roots are Assiniboine from White Bear First Nations in Saskatchewan. She is a mother of three loving children, and entrepreneur as of 2021 when she and Kelsey started Bangin’ Bannock. She has endless memories of eating bannock as a child, always a treat in her family. Destiny is passionate about shifting the narrative of assimilation towards honouring and creating space for difference.

Bangin’ Bannock has been an incredible journey and opportunity to share a culturally loved favourite, as well as a platform for speaking about Indigenous issues, histories, and culture.

Dayle Kennedy (she/her) and Cass Helps (they/them)

Tall Shadow Bakery I @tallshadowbakery

Dayle and Cass, the duo behind Tall Shadow Bakery, specialize in sourdough - one they deem as requiring “time, patience, and a sense of humour.” Having broken a brand new mixer at her school in 10th grade, Dayle thought it would be the first and last one she would ever use. Twenty years later, she co-owns a bakery and confidently uses a mixer everyday! Cass recalls their favourite food memories during the time their mother worked as a cook at a logging camp: large pans of cinnamon buns being pulled out of the oven, massive trays of nanaimo bars being assembled and huge pots of chili and cornbread for everybody. They first heard about Dream Cuisines through Coho Commissary and the Vancouver Farmers Markets. Knowing that there are many barriers to starting a food business in Vancouver, Dayle and Cass believe in paying forward the help that they received in taking their business off the ground, which is why they are so excited to be a part of Dream Cuisines.

Andrea Welling (she/her)

Futurpreneur | @futurpreneur

Andrew Welling is the Regional Director for Futurpreneur BC, whose master’s thesis focused on food security, local economic development, and women in business—interests which still inspire her work and life. Andrea is also the co-founder of Ladybug Organics Home Delivery Service in the Fraser Valley. Her entrepreneurial experience fuels her passion for mentorship and supporting women entrepreneurs every step of the way. Andrea believes in the importance of food security and empowerment, and how food can be a vehicle to share culture and bridge differences, for the betterment of all. Her own fond food memories include the Norwegian treats homemade by her grandmother, such as lefse, a flat potato tortilla brushed with butter and rolled up with brown sugar. Yum!

Nikki Nassiri (she/her)

Vancity Credit Union | @vancityu

Nikki Nassari immigrated from Iran twenty years ago, and started her own business five years after she came to Canada. At the time, she was a mother of two small boys, and her family was her motivation to set goals, work hard, and achieve her dreams. Now a Business Account Manager at Vancity and a certified Each One Teach One trainer, Nikki delights in helping small business owners meet their financial needs and become financially sustainable. She loves to cook, bake, and eat, her favourite food being her mother’s—specifically, an Iranian stew called Fesenjoon, which she could eat three times a day! Nikki thrives through adventure and learning new things. She remembers well the struggle of adjusting to a new country, new work, and new language. Nikki is pleased to be part of Dream Cuisines, as it is her passion to increase access to solid financial planning and smooth, efficient processes for other newcomer women entrepreneurs.

Andrea Gray-Grant (she/her)

Good to Grow | @goodtogrowproducts | @bclocalroot.ca

Andrea Gray-Grant is an educator, entrepreneur, coach, and local food enthusiast who has worked in the food and beverage industry for the past 28 years. With extensive experience in senior sales and marketing, Andrea is the founder of Tarragon Foods, and after Tarragon Foods closed, Good to Grow. Good to Grow provides teaching, coaching, and mentoring for emerging food and beverage businesses and signature events From The Ground Up Trade Show and Pitch & Plate. When the Covid pandemic threatened to negatively impact local food and beverage processors, Good to Grow started BCLocalRoot.ca, an online grocery delivery store selling solely B.C. made, produced and processed products. Andrea remembers braving snakes to pick blackberries with her mom when she was young, and how the jam was always worth it. She is pleased to bring her expertise to support this year’s Dream Cuisines cohort, especially in the important realm of packaging and labelling.