Three-time Grand Slam doubles champion and former Chair of the Board of Tennis Canada honoured by Women of Influence+
It was revealed on Tuesday that Gabriela Dabrowski, three-time Grand Slam doubles champion, and Jennifer Bishop, current board member and former Chair of the Board of Tennis Canada, were named as part of the 2024 Top 25 Women of Influence by Women of Influence+, a leading global organization dedicated to promoting gender equity in the workplace.
The annual awards program recognizes the achievements and contributions of women who have made significant impacts in their respective fields. The award considers the following criteria: Initiative, Inspiration, Influence and Leadership.
Dabrowski’s impact on tennis, especially within the Canadian landscape, over the course of her career has been resounding. Not only is she a three-time Grand Slam doubles champion, but she’s also been heavily involved off the court as an active member on the WTA Players’ Council and with several different charitable efforts, including being a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.
In 2023, Dabrowski became the first Canadian woman in history to win a Grand Slam doubles title at the US Open. She quickly followed this up by helping lead Team Canada presented by Sobeys to a historic Billie Jean King Cup title at the women’s World Cup of Tennis in November. She’s been a mainstay for Canada on the international stage, including participating in the Olympics in 2016 and 2020. She’s won 22 titles on the professional circuit and has firmly established herself as one of the best doubles players in the world.
“It is an honour to be mentioned as a part of the Top 25 Women of Influence. I feel privileged to be in a position where I’m considered to have a platform,” said Dabrowski. “I am proud of the work I do off the tennis court because it matters to me to be impactful and create positive change. Thank you for recognizing the importance of contributing to initiatives that give back as well as the efforts made to master my craft.”
Bishop was appointed Chair of Tennis Canada’s Board of Directors in 2019, becoming the second woman to hold the office in the 129 years of the federation’s existence at the time. During her tenure, Canada enjoyed unprecedented success at the professional level as Bianca Andreescu became the first Canadian to win a singles Grand Slam at the US Open in 2019, the Team Canada men’s team reached the Davis Cup finals for the first time in history in 2019, and Leylah Annie Fernandez reached the US Open final in 2021.
Bishop is a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, where she is Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group. She’s been recognized as a leading Canadian corporate lawyer by multiple organizations, including Best Lawyers in Canada and the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40. Despite a demanding job in the world of law, Bishop still dedicates much of her time to helping grow the sport of tennis. She currently serves on the Executive Board and as Chair of the Nominating Committee of Tennis Canada and is a member of the International Tennis Federation’s Davis Cup committee, previously becoming the second woman in history to do so.
Bishop’s dedication to her career in law and to her involvement in growing and advancing the sport of tennis serves as an inspiration to many. She’s done tremendous work to advance gender equity in the sport from a corporate level, acting as a trailblazer via her involvement in the many roles she’s rightfully earned. In addition, she’s an ambassador for Tennis Canada’s Game. Set. Equity. initiative, and was one of the participants at Tennis Canada’s 2023 edition of the Unmatched: Gender Equity in Sport conference, where she moderated a conversation with keynote speaker Maria Sharapova.
“I am truly honoured to have been selected as a Women of Influence,” said Bishop. “I define a woman of influence as someone who champions the success of others and lives by the mantra that all boats rise – someone who has successfully weathered the storm to arrive at a position where she has the opportunity to use her voice and elects to use it in a way that respects the past while investing in the future. I am fortunate that through my position with Tennis Canada, I have been able to challenge conventions to command positive change and equal opportunity.”
You can read the full release and see the full Top 25 Women of Influence list here.
