Dr Clare Warner,
PhD in Educational Studies
I was born in Hamilton in the 70s to a Trinidadian father and an English mother who immigrated to Canada in the 1960s. At the time, there weren’t many people who looked like me or had families like mine, which is probably what set me off on my quest to learn more about this thing called race that was an ever-present feature in my life. As a kid, I wondered why my hair didn’t behave like the other kids’ in the playground and was always undone by that devastating question, “So, what are you?” Critical of some of my early experiences of education, I set off to be a teacher and change the world.
Along the way, I learned a lot about how hard and slow systemic change is. Fortunately, I have a quiet but unrelenting determination I attribute to my grandmother Ivy. Over the past 25 years, I’ve collaborated with students and their families, community organizations, local government, as well as public sector and corporate organizations to achieve a number of hard-earned wins characterized by the introduction of new services, programs, and policies focused on transforming the experiences and outcomes of equity-seeking groups in education.
Along the way, I’ve developed expertise in strategic planning, curriculum development, policy reform, and executive coaching. As a champion of change, there’s nothing I relish more than being told something can’t be achieved because I’m anchored in my belief that a more humane and just world is right there on the edge of our collective imagination, and together we can usher it in.
I currently offer a small number of anti-racism capacity building services focused on individual and systems change. Get in touch to find out more about pricing and my availability.
Client Testimonials
Working with Dr. Warner on the development of the We Got You, Sis Toolkit was an incredibly enriching experience. She brought a deep well of knowledge, lived experience, and a justice-centered lens to every stage of the project. Her understanding of social justice, anti-racism, and equity was evident not only in the content she helped us shape but also in the thoughtful and inclusive process she led.
What stood out most was Dr. Warner’s ability to hold space for complex conversations and ensure the toolkit was approached holistically—honoring the voices of survivors, centering Black and racialized communities, and embedding accountability throughout. She asked the right questions, listened deeply, and consistently ensured we remained aligned with our vision.
The final product is not only well-informed and accessible but also something we are deeply proud of—thanks in no small part to her insight and expertise. I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Warner to any organization seeking someone who brings both heart and rigour to equity-focused work. She is a powerful thought partner and someone you absolutely want in your corner.
— Joëlle Kabisoso
Founder & Executive Director, Sisters in Sync
Working with Dr. Clare Warner to develop our industry-leading e-learning program was, in a word, transformative. She was able to apply her deep subject matter expertise in EDI and anti-Black racism to the creation of a 15-chapter curriculum that paired our national research with actionable recommendations leaders can apply to their businesses for improved employee engagement and a stronger bottom line. Whether we worked together online or in person, I could count on Clare's advice as being thoughtful, informative, and flexible. In particular, we appreciated her ease with creating easy ways for learners to digest difficult topics and terms. And even though she did not have deep experience in the foodservice industry, she was able to come up with creative solutions to key organizational challenges that ensured our e-learning program script met the brief for our industry and our project KPIs.
It's my pleasure to recommend Clare as a consultant and subject matter expert and I can't wait to work with her again!
- Elle Asiedu (she/they)
Executive Director | The Re-Seasoning Coalition
On behalf of the Regional Diversity Routable (RDR) team thank you for delivering such a powerful and deeply grounded keynote at our Annual Conference. Your framing of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as change management, centered in compassion, clarity and courage, was especially impactful. The way you dismantled harmful narratives around “reverse racism” and “meritocracy” , and instead called for a shared commitment to justice, inspired deep reflection among us all.
- The RDR Team