Born in Tarkwa, Ghana, Phyllis grew up in a Political family, her father E. K. Dadson serving as an MP, and Chief Whip in Ghana’s First Republic under Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and also a Regional Chairman during the Hilla Limann regime. Phyllis had most of her early education between Ghana and the United Kingdom. She attended Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast then attained a B.A. Hons. Degree in Modern languages, majoring in French language and culture, at Hull University in the UK. She continued her education with Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, Canada.

Phyllis also holds several professional designations in financial services and Family Business Advisory. Phyllis currently lives in Ottawa where she began her professional career as the Executive Director of the National Capital Alliance on Race Relations (NCARR). In 1989, she started a career as a Public Servant in Social and Administrative Justice, first as a Human Rights Officer with the Ontario Public Service, Ministry of Citizenship.

She also provided service through various Ministries, as a funding officer (1994) with the Ministry of Education and Training as well as with the Social Services Employment programs. She then moved to work with the Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario Courts Civil Division, as the first Alternate DisputeResolution (ADR) Coordinator (1997) and set up the Award winning Ottawa Court-Connected Mandatory Mediation Program, then finally as a Public Trust Officer (1999) with the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee Office.

In 2003, Phyllis left the Public Service having already set up her own business: Bourne Global Enterprises, specializing in Family Business Advisory with particular focus on Real Estate and Asset Management. Phyllis also founded a Social Enterprise: Jesiwa B. Fashions and Giftware as the CSR arm which promotes and markets Made-in Ghana Fashions and Giftware, in the Diaspora, particularly Ottawa and other Canadian cities..

With her extensive background in Social and Administrative Justice, Phyllis is very cognizant of the social and economic hardships faced by the masses within our nation over the years. Her passion is to reach people from all walks of life to foster a culture of respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, while helping the disadvantaged become self sufficient, and eventually build a secure financial future for themselves and their families. Phyllis has been an active member of her community and has chaired many professional and community based committees.

She served as Chairperson of the Ministry of the Attorney General Mandatory Mediation Committee during which she was also instrumental in the training of the visiting legal and professional team from Ghana at the time of the development and expansion of The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Ghana. Phyllis also served as Chairperson for the Ottawa Board of Education Multiculturalism Advisory Committee, Chairperson of The Ottawa Board of Education Employment Equity Committee, and an active member of the Ontario Social Planning Council and trainer for the Young Leaders Tomorrow Program under the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture., to name but a few.

She is currently an active member of the Family Business Network International, Family Enterprise Canada, Family Enterprise Foundation, the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Ghanaian Association of Ottawa. Phyllis is author of the upcoming book on Family Business Succession and Multi-generational. Legacies. She is married with 3 adult children.

Responsibilities

• Leads recruitment and membership development efforts.
• Supports community engagement and diaspora participation.
• Promotes inclusion, empowerment, and civic responsibility.