Angela Wood

Angela Wood knows creativity, innovation and invention. An honours graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, she has worked in the creative industries since graduation.

She is the Founder and Director of www.inventivewomen.com, which celebrates the inventive capabilities of women and www.inventivekids.com, a fun educational site that encourages innovation in children.

Ms. Wood launched www.inventivewomen.com in 2001 after interviews were conducted with more than a thousand female inventors. Visitors to the site can read about the creative sparks, challenges and successes of those women profiled. Women looking for invention advice can also access helpful tips to make the invention process easier.

The www.inventivekids.com site was launched in 2003 and, since then, it has been used in classrooms across North America. In 2006, the American Library Association included the site in its list of Great Websites for Kids. The site has received many international honours from cultural organizations such as the Exploratorium, Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception in San Francisco, as well as numerous educational oragnizations.

She is the author of the children's book Canadian Women Invent!, which was selected by the Canadian Children's Book Centre for its Our Choice 2003-4 annual guide to Canada's best new children's books. She is often asked to speak on the topic of invention and creativity to youth and adults as a keynote speaker, and has partnered with the Canadian Government on a number of initiatives promoting innovation.

Previously, Ms. Wood was a founding member of Kids Can Press, which is one of Canada's leading publishing companies. In her role as Publisher she helped to establish and advance the Canadian children's book publishing industry. Kids Can Press was the first to publish books on themes such as Canadian history. She launched the careers of many artists and writers, and she is also a published author and illustrator of many books.

Ms. Wood is included in the Canadian Who's Who 2008 directory of notable Canadians published by University of Toronto Press in recognition of her role in the development the country's book publishing industry. She has been the subject of many articles and interviews, and also appears in the book Technology with Curves published by Harper Collins for her contributions in the area of digital media.

In 2003, she was nominated for the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network Award, GWIIN, London, England.