About Us

Gather around the fire for a little story about HCC.

Illustration of camp participants sitting around a fire where the logs are made using code tags.

In 2024, our students created their own AI chatbots using LLMs, check out how they did it 🤖💖!

We make space for everyone in technology

HER CODE CAMP is a non-profit organization that aims to empower under-represented communities in technology. Since being founded in 2018, we have been hosting a variety of programs targeted to high school students who identify as a woman and/or non-binary (including cis and trans women) in Canada.

We understand how learning to code can be difficult, especially when there is no sense of belonging and a lack of representation in technology. Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive community that makes learning accessible. We teach our campers basic coding, enable them to build their first projects, and get them connected to the tech world.

Our Vision

A tech community driven by diversity.

Our Mission

Hacking our future by igniting the potential of under-represented communities in tech.

Group photo of HER CODE CAMP participants and volunteers.

Our Work in Numbers

increase in participants since 2019

students

events hosted since 2019

mentorship projects

The spark ✨

The project started in 2018 at the University of Toronto when Joanna, the current CEO and Founder, went to graduate school. She found a wonderful community of inspirational women and she thought it should be shared! She gathered a few of her friends, and together, they built HER CODE CAMP.

Our People

Joanna Pineda

Founder, CEO

Joanna is currently a Technology Analyst at Accenture where she works primarily as a software developer to improve businesses. Prior to her time in industry, she worked in the intersection of Computer Science and Biology through research in cancer genomics and health care.

Chantal Shaib

Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Learning Officer

Chantal is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at Northeastern University, where she spends her days thinking about how to use technology to model and understand biomedical data. Through HER CODE CAMP, Chantal hopes to push for diversity by providing accessible and inclusive spaces for students to get excited by technology.

Armande Ang Houle

Chief Operations Officer, Treasurer

Armande is currently a data project coordinator at Genentech where she facilitates the use of genomic data for cancer biomarkers. Prior to her current role, Armande researched cancer transcriptomic and genomic evolution using computational approaches.

Elyssa Bader

Chief Operations Officer, Chief Strategy Officer

Elyssa Bader is a Ph.D. student in Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto researching the effects of aging on immune cells. Through her work with HCC, Elyssa hopes to provide an inclusive community for students who are curious about computer science.

Seungeun Yi

Chief Learning Officer

Seungeun is a Machine Learning Scientist at Layer 6 AI, where she works on building data-driven solutions for TD Bank and does research in healthcare to improve patient care. Seungeun is committed to creating easy-to-access and diverse content for all students interested in tech.

Marta Skreta

Chief Learning Officer

Marta is a Computer Science PhD student at the University of Toronto, where she is uses Machine Learning to design self-driving labs and discover new materials. Marta hopes that through HER CODE CAMP, she can help students use computer science to solve problems they are passionate about.

Jessie Thind

Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

Jessie is completing her Master of Human Rights degree at the University of Manitoba, where she is researching ethics and bias in AI. Through her work with HER CODE CAMP, Jessie is committed to an anti-oppression framework while establishing an equitable and inclusive environment for students and the HCC team at large.

Silvia Lopez

Head of Logistics

Silvia studied Computer Engineering with a minor in AI at the University of Toronto. Her commitment lies in supporting women in STEM fields and cultivating the self-assurance of young people to confidently pursue their goals.

Sara Rwentambo

Event Lead

Sara is a User Experience Designer at the Ontario Government where she creates user-centered design solutions and conducts user research to enhance client satisfaction of business technologies. Through HER CODE CAMP, Sara aims to encourage girls to explore the tech field in a safe environment through engaging educational content and hands-on activities.

Summer Deng

Head of People

I am currently a Master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Toronto, focusing on Artificial Intelligence. Previously, I was an AI product manager at Tencent, where I built face recognition systems to solve online verification problems for businesses. Through HER CODE CAMP, I aim to inspire women in tech and promote AI for good.

Zaynab Jean-Charles

Head of Marketing + Communications, Head of Community Building

Zaynab is a self-taught programmer with a passion for front-end web development driven by engaging UI/UX to make sites fun but functional. She strives to spark curiosity and creativity in newcomers to code through her activities at HER CODE CAMP.

Shahad Osman

Head of Marketing + Communications

Shahad is a computer science student at the University of Toronto and currently interning as a Junior Software Developer. As a former participant of HER CODE CAMP, she’s passionate about inspiring girls to explore coding and technology, just as she was once inspired to be where she is today.

Past team members: Sabrina Abbott

Our Advisors

Matt Walton

Head of Analytics & Insights - Automotive, Consumer Goods & Food at Google

Jyotheeswar Arvind Manickavasagar

Technical Solutions Consultant at Google

Ellie Hajarian

Senior IT Manager, Enterprise Information Management at TD

Ellie has studied computer programming and been working in IT since starting her career – over 20 years now. Currently she is pursuing her Masters in Computer Science in Information Systems. Throughout her career she has been passionate to be an advocate for younger females in different stages of their lives and to help them build confidence, find their inner power and build an independent life. She is currently the chair of Women in Leadership committee at TD, and a member of Girls in STEM committee at TD.

Michelle Craig

Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto

Michelle is a member of the CS Education Research Group. When I am not an associate chair, my job is primarily teaching undergraduate courses. In the past I have supervised one PhD student and a number of undergraduate projects in Computing Education Research.