Speaker Bio - Ms. Zuraida Dada

Ms. Zuraida Dada, Psychologist, Immigrant Mental Health Advocate
Groundbreaking Voice on the Psychology of Immigration and Identity Transformation

Zuraida Dada is a Canadian-based psychologist, educator, and passionate advocate for immigrant mental health. Originally from South Africa, Zuraida immigrated to Canada and brings both personal lived experience and clinical expertise to her work. Her unique perspective enables her to connect deeply with newcomers navigating the complex emotional, cultural, and psychological realities of resettlement.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking metaphor: “Immigration is grieving the death of an identity.” First published in the Calgary Herald in January 2007, this powerful framing of the immigrant journey received accolades from the Psychological Association of Alberta for its emotional clarity and innovation in articulating the hidden losses that accompany migration.

Her signature talk, “The Psychology of Immigration and Integration: Supporting Newcomers Through Change, Transition, and Transformation,” has been adapted into a formal training module by the Alberta International Medical Graduate Association (AIMGA). It forms part of AIMGA’s Career Readiness for Health Program (formerly the Career Transition Program), a self-led modular program designed for Internationally Trained Physicians transitioning into healthcare roles in Canada. The talk has also been adapted and accredited as a professional development webinar through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

Whether through public speaking, clinical practice, or community outreach, Zuraida creates compassionate, empowering spaces for immigrants to reflect, heal, and grow. She believes that immigration is not just a change of geography—it is a transformation of identity, and ultimately, a courageous act of becoming.