Lois Nahirney headshot

Dr. Lois Nahirney

President and CEO, dnaPower Inc., Inaugural Chair, CanWIN

Dr. Lois Nahirney is the President and CEO of dnaPower Inc. Her businesses are revolutionizing preventative health care by bringing state-of-the-art DNA information to people to help them make better health decisions based on their unique genetic makeup. Prior to becoming a biotech entrepreneur, Lois was the Executive Vice-President, Corporate Resources for Teekay Corporation and a global senior executive with BC Hydro, WMC, ACL, Crystal Decisions, and Fletcher Challenge. In addition, Lois serves as a board member for Coast Capital Federal Savings Credit Union and BCAA.  

Lois has a Doctorate of Business Administration from Asia Pacific International University. She also has a Master of Business Administration from Ivey Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from UBC. She was an international Rotary Scholar in New Zealand, an intern in the Prime Minister’s Office, and has a Fellow in Board Governance designation.  

Lois is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has advised the BC Government on gender equity as Chair of the Premier’s Women’s Economic Council, and has created impact in the community as the Inaugural Chair for the Canadian Women’s International Network (CanWIN), Co-Chair of WE for SHE, National Co-Chair of the Women’s Executive Network, founding visionary of The Prosperity Project, and board member of Vietnam Education Society (VES), a family charity that supports at-risk children in Vietnam attend school and avoid human trafficking.

For her work, Lois has been recognized with awards for Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100, YWCA Women of Distinction, BC Medal of Good Citizenship, Most Pioneering Health CEO, BIV Influential Women in Business, BC Business Women of Influence, and CCDI Community Contributor of the Year. VES was awarded a Medal of Honour from the Vietnamese Government for its contributions to the education of girls and youth in Vietnam.