January 28, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
A Syrian-born Arab Canadian, Mohammad Al Zaibak is an entrepreneur and businessman with a deep commitment to advancing social development, promoting diversity and cultural understanding, and making a difference in his Toronto community.
Mr. Al Zaibak is an expert in public-private partnerships, corporate governance, and international negotiations on capital projects in various technology industries. He is the co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Development and Marketing Corporation, a company involved in the development, financing, ownership, and management of specialized information technology services. He was previously the principal business architect, co-founder, and Director of Teranet Inc., a unique public-private partnership that developed and now manages Ontario’s Electronic Land Registration Information System.
Throughout his career, Mr. Al Zaibak has worked tirelessly to strengthen Canada’s economic, social, and cultural ties with the global community, in particular with Arab countries. He served as Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Chair of its International Strategy Advisory Committee, and he is a former Chair of the Canada Arab Business Council. He is also a co-founder of Lifeline Syria, a not-for-profit organization that helped nearly 1,200 Syrian refugees be privately sponsored and resettled in Canada. He also co-founded the Canadian Arab Institute, a think tank that works to address the Canadian Arab community’s issues and aspirations through research and community engagement.
Mr. Al Zaibak is a Senior Fellow of Massey College, a member of the Advisory Board of the Canadian International Council, a Founding Luminary, Laureate, and former Director of Luminato Festival, and a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum. He also sat on the Board of Governors of Ryerson University (now the Toronto Metropolitan University) and on the Boards of Directors of Waterfront Toronto, the Toronto Foundation, and the Canadian Centre for Diversity.
Among various honours and accolades, Mr. Al Zaibak was awarded Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the Toronto Region Builder Award by the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and an honorary Doctor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Mr. Al Zaibak is a graduate of the Harvard School of Business Administration and holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Electro-Physics Engineering from Alexandria University, in Egypt.