Omayra Issa

About

Omayra Issa is an award-winning journalist and innovative storyteller. She is currently an anchor at CPAC, connecting Canadians to their democracy. Through her extensive experience in television, radio, and digital programming, she has developed a blueprint as a large-scale narrative shaper for reach and impact, producing fact-based content, leading strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and thought leadership across Canada and Africa. Omayra is the co-creator and co-producer of Black on the Prairies, a groundbreaking series telling a new Canadian story. The series has reached millions worldwide, changed education policy, and is integrated in dozens of cultural institutions. As a national reporter at CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada’s public broadcaster, she reported on some of the pressing global issues, including COVID-19 and climate change. She has received several National RTDNA, celebrating the best in Canadian journalism, and National Digital Publishing Awards. A globally renowned keynote speaker, content curator, MC, panel moderator and master interviewer, Omayra is recognized for her mastery of the art of quickly articulating concise takeaways from complex ideas for the audience to remember. Fully bilingual, she has presented at over 600 high level forums across the globe in French and English. She has interviewed heads of states, business leaders, community builders, and everyone in between.Omayra has been named one of Canada’s “Top 100 Black Women to Watch” by Canada International Black Women Excellence in 2019, a “Woman of Distinction” by YWCA the same year, an “Inclusive Storyteller” by CBC in 2021, a William Southam Fellow by Massey College in 2022, a Reelworld Trailblazer in 2024 by Reelworld Screen Institute, and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum the same year. She has served on the board of the Canadian Association of Journalists and is a Jury for the National Newspaper Awards. Omayra graduated from the University of Alberta where she was also awarded the Alumni Award.