Annual General Meeting – September 26

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

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Download the AGM Slides – OCIC Presentation

Download the AGM Slides – FIT & Spur Presentation

Download the AGM Slides – GAC Presentation

Hosted by OCIC’s Board of Directors and staff, this online gathering included presentations on the governance, finance and operational aspects of our work, election of new Board Directors, ratification of new members, and recognition of key contributors this year.
  

Voting Member Poll Everywhere and Zoom Platform Sign-In & Tech Support

9:50 – 10:00 AM

OCIC Annual General Meeting

10:00 – 2:00 PM

Proposed Agenda

• Welcome
• Land Acknowledgement
• Approval of the Proposed 2022 AGM Agenda
• Approval of the OCIC 2022 AGM Minutes
• President’s Report
• Presentation of Audited Financial Statements
• Approval of 2023-2024 Auditor
• Governance Committee Report
• Ratification of New Members
• Presentation & Election of Candidates to the Board of Directors
• Executive Director & Program Reports
• Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT) & Spur Change Program Reports
• Approval of Candidates Elected to the Board of Directors
• Volunteer & Member Recognition
• Business Arising
• Adjournment of Business Meeting
• Overview & Update on the Grants and Contributions Transformation at Global Affairs Canada with Brandon Lee – Director General, Grants and Contributions Transformations Bureau

Candidates to the Board of Directors

Organizational Members

Hyang Cho, Good Neighbours Canada
Hyang Cho is a seasoned professional with over 14 years of experience in the humanitarian-development sector, specializing in the successful implementation of community-oriented projects in education and the social economy. As the Executive Director of Good Neighbors Canada, she has consistently empowered individuals and facilitated community transformation, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on vulnerable populations both locally and globally.

Her educational background includes a master’s degree in Global Political Economy from Sussex University, where she conducted in-depth research on the consequences of economic colonization on social structures in sub-Saharan Africa. This academic foundation has equipped her with a profound understanding of complex global issues, further strengthening her dedication to international development.

Hyang Cho’s professional journey spans various roles and industries, each contributing to her comprehensive skill set:

• She initiated her career at a Korean government Economic Research Institute, where she gained valuable insights into energy economics policies’ implications and co-authored a significant LNG pricing policy paper.
• During her tenure at Good Neighbors International, spanning over a decade, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to sustainable community development, particularly in the Dominican Republic. Her work placed a strong emphasis on social enterprise and the empowerment of women. Furthermore, she provided consultancy services to Korea International Cooperation Agency, contributing to Korean International Aid practices in Haiti by offering strategic partnership advice.
• Hyang Cho’s transition into the aerospace industry in Canada showcased her financial acumen and strategic planning capabilities as she took on the role of a finance manager. She successfully managed budgets exceeding $100 million, underscoring her ability to efficiently oversee financial matters.
• Hyang Cho’s leadership shone through as she accepted the challenge of expanding Good Neighbors Canada by establishing offices in London, Ontario, and Toronto. Her visionary approach and adept networking skills significantly advanced the organization’s humanitarian mission.
• Eager to contribute her expertise, Hyang Cho is enthusiastic about joining the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC). Her particular passion lies in supporting new members’ seamless integration into OCIC, ensuring they maximize the benefits of the organization’s resources and network. Her involvement with OCIC has created opportunities for Good Neighbors Canada to secure interns, volunteers, and funding while fostering collaboration with similar organizations.

Hyang Cho’s dedication to creating positive change and her extensive experience in the humanitarian-development sector make her an invaluable addition to OCIC, aligning with the organization’s mission of promoting international development and global education in Ontario.

Kristin Douglas, World Accord
Kristin Douglas is a committed, enthusiastic professional with more than ten years of experience in the non-profit sector and five years of experience in international development. She is currently the Executive Director at World Accord, was the previous Executive Director at Ethiopiaid Canada, and has held management positions at Plan Canada, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families. She graduated with a BA in Philosophy, Minor in Social Justice, and an MSc in Human Rights & International Politics which has led her down a career path in which she is focused on positions that give back to the local and global communities that are supported by the organizations that she works for. Kristin specializes in fund development, fund diversification, relationship management and community engagement and is currently the President of the OCIC Board of Directors.

Bella Lam, Jane Goodall Institute of Canada
Bella (she/her/elle) has over 20 years of experience in international cooperation and community development, amplifying the work of local partners across regions of Latin America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is currently the CEO at the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) of Canada, leading a team to address the convergence of three crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental inequity. Bella has in-depth experience with community-centred conservation focusing on ecologically sensitive regions across Africa, promoting the “One Health” approach that recognizes the well-being of people, animals and the environment are deeply interconnected. She has helped to build a team at JGI Canada that engages youth across the country, developing young leaders to take actions on sustainability issues, and collaborating with Indigenous-led partners on reconciliation and decolonization. Supporting an anti-racist and anti-oppression framework is one of Bella’s priorities at her own organization, and she hopes to contribute to the broader dialogue in the sector. She is a strong advocate for climate and gender justice, and has been a Board member of OCIC since 2021. Bella fills her cup by connecting with nature, enjoys hiking, camping, canoeing and all things outdoors!

Soofia Mahmood, Raising the Village
With over 20 years of service in the corporate, non-profit, and international development sectors in Pakistan and Canada, Soofia has lived many lives. Her proficiency spans a range of areas, notably strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, policy development, issues management, crisis communications, and complex project management. Her personal passions are photography and writing, and she has an unwavering commitment to lifelong personal growth.

As the Managing Director at Raising The Village (RTV), Soofia serves a team of 150+ staff in Canada and Uganda as a senior leader and oversees the Communications and Marketing, Government Funding Partnerships, and Knowledge Management portfolios in addition to providing oversight to the day-to-day operations in Toronto. She also works closely with the Programs team to advance projects of strategic significance. In this role, she is most proud of envisioning and creating the Knowledge Management unit, which centers on the creation, management, and dissemination of technical knowledge and is playing a significant role across the organization and portfolios. Prior to this role, she held the position of Chief of Staff at RTV, where she was also leading the Human Resources department.

Before joining RTV, Soofia was serving The 519, LGBTQ2S community centre and City of Toronto agency as Director of Strategic Communications and Executive Planning, where she led the Marketing and Communications team with a focus on advocacy, media relations and crisis communications. She was also the Board Secretariat and Privacy Officer for the organization. Her experience at The 519 played a pivotal role in her personal and professional growth as a newcomer in Canada.

Prior to immigration, Soofia had worked in UNICEF Pakistan and several creative agencies leading behaviour change communications and advertising projects for international development clients including USAID and Oxfam. She led complex and high-risk creative and documentary projects during those times that profoundly influenced her understanding of the sector.

Joining the OCIC Board will represent a significant personal milestone for Soofia, especially as an immigrant who has diligently rebuilt her career over the past 8 years in Canada. A Board member position at OCIC would not only elevate her profile as a Senior Leader but also offer her an opportunity to contribute to a sector she is deeply passionate about. She is also eager to build relationships across organizations for meaningful dialogue and shared learning. She brings to the table a wealth of experience in areas like anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices, learning and development, strategic planning, and strategic communications. Having worked as national staff in Pakistan and now as international staff in Canada, Soofia offers a unique perspective and is confident in her ability to meaningfully contribute to OCIC’s mandate.

Associate Members

Aysha Dawood

Aysha Dawood is an advocate for both local and global scale social equality, with a focus on affordable housing and sustainable finance. This ambition stems from her intersectional identities, and the transformative experiences gained while working with populations made vulnerable in the UK, Southern Africa, and Canada. She is fuelled by research, attempting to unravel the root systemic drivers of poverty. Aysha works as an operational and strategic consultant with non-profits. Her current work includes coordinating the management of the Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID), and researching the nexus of human rights and the financialization of housing in emerging markets. Aysha’s previous positions have been with Oikocredit, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, South Liverpool Homes and the City of Toronto. Aysha holds a master’s degree in Local Economic Development, a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and diplomas in Architectural Technology, and GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and Urban Planning. 

Aysha has been a member of the OCIC Board of Directors since 2019, serving on the Finance and Sustainability, Membership and Nominations, Governance, and Executive Committees. She has also been the Board Secretary for two years, helping to maintain OCIC’s governance files. She looks forward to co-hosting OCIC’s 35th Anniversary Celebration this year, as one of the special event planners! 

Brian Waters
Brian Waters is a dedicated scholar and practitioner with a diverse academic and professional background. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Non-profit Leadership which has strongly influenced his inclusive and communication-based leadership style. He earned Master’s degrees in both Urban Planning and Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois, where he graduated as a Fulbright scholar. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Geography at York University, where he aims to lead the academic field in decentralized water sources (wells, boreholes, packaged water, etc.) throughout the global south and is currently designing a significant research project investigating the impact of water ownership on service, safety, and reliability. At the core of Brian’s work is his passion for participatory action research. He firmly believes in the power of collaboration and leverages research as a tool to benefit all stakeholders involved. Over the years, Brian has led numerous studies and development projects covering a wide spectrum of topics, including urban transportation, energy access, urban agriculture, poverty alleviation, and access to clean drinking water.

Brian’s experience extends  beyond academia and includes roles within the municipal government of Freetown, Sierra Leone, as well as positions with non-profits such as the Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP) and the Centre for Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOSAPA). He has actively partnered with community-based disaster mitigation organizations in West Africa, working to advocate for marginalized populations in informal settlements.  Furthermore, Brian has contributed to the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects funded by the UNHCR and World Vision. His commitment to international development is further reflected in his role as a board member for Microfinancing Partners in Africa. Finally, Brian is an active member of several professional associations, including the Agriculture & Applied Economic Association (AAEA), the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC), the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS), and the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID). These experiences and affiliations showcase his ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of both international development research and practice.

Symposium – September 27 

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

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Registration & Fair Trade Café

• Moderator: Marlen Mondeca – Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Canadian Feed the Children
• Shirley Estévez – Country Director, Canadian Feed the Children in Bolivia and Jacquelyn Wright – President and CEO, Canadian Feed the Children
• Renaud Thomas – Director, Rayjon Share Care Haiti and Heather Smith – Executive Director, Rayjon Share Care
• Heather Dicks – PhD candidate, Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and Andrea Paras, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Guelph
• Chris Dendys – Executive Director, Results Canada and Ekatha Ann John – Policy and Advocacy Manager – Global Health, Results Canada.

• Join Shirley Estévez, Jacquelyn Wright, Alejandro Barrios – Instituto Politecnico Tomas Katari (Bolivia), and Felipe Mamani – Mayor, Municipio Poroma (Bolivia) for a deeper exploration on approaches to partnerships, knowledge exchange and solidarity with and for Indigenous Peoples in Bolivia, Canada and globally.
• Join Heather Dicks and Andrea Paras to explore each of our roles as organizations and individuals in cultivating impactful and transformative partnerships for community-led development through global cooperation. 

Planning for Action Parallel Dialogues
3:10 – 3:50 PM

• Join Renaud Thomas and Heather Smith to share ideas and experiences around responsive partnership and solidarity, with a particular focus on navigating complex situations of conflict/crisis together.

• Join Chris Dendys and Ekatha Ann John for a deeper dive into how to galvanize the political will for change by connecting grassroots and community-based issues and approaches with global policy efforts. Practice communicating a message powerfully and persuasively, in order to motivate others to your ‘call to action’. 

Afternoon Refreshments

3:50 – 4:00 PM 

Sharing & Learning Plenary

4:00 – 5:00 PM 

• With reports-back from Dialogue Rapporteurs, and Remarks from special guests Assistant Deputy Minister Patricia Peña, and Felipe Mamani – Mayor, Municipio Poroma (Bolivia), with translation from Vladimir Gomez

Contributor Bios

‘Honoring Indigenous Wisdom; Taking Action for Reconciliation’

Jason Carter, a proud member of the Nehiyaw community from Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan’s Treaty 6 territory, serves as Director of Bear Standing Tall Inc. Specializing in Advisory Services and Digital Indigenous Awareness Training, Jason is committed to fostering meaningful connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.

Guided by the wisdom of his elders, Jason is deeply involved in leading traditional ceremonies. He is passionate about disseminating authentic Indigenous knowledge, aiming to promote healing, wellness, and reconciliation for both Indigenous communities and their non-Indigenous allies, including newcomers to Canada. His esteemed clientele encompasses a wide range of organizations, including the Government of Canada, Uber, Interac, Yamaha, Aon, TCS, AECON, TD Canada Trust, BMO, Scotiabank, and various food banks, among other national and local businesses.

Known spiritually as “Muskwa Inso Capow,” Jason is also a Day Scholar Residential School Survivor, having endured the experience from 1974 to 1987.

‘Perspectives on Community, Collaboration & Solidarity’

Chris Dendys has 25+ years of experience working on social justice and impact in Canada and internationally. She is experienced in advocacy, government relations, strategic partnerships, and supporting grassroots movements. As Executive Director of Results Canada, Chris oversees Results Canada’s operations, campaign strategy, and grassroots support. Prior to Results, Chris served on the executive team of Nutrition International and has held positions in government and Parliament. Chris is on the Board of Directors for Can-WaCH and the leadership group for ACTION, an international partnership of global health advocates. Chris holds a Master’s Degree from Carleton University.

Heather Dicks is a PhD candidate within the Sociology Department at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador; her present research is centered on the nexus between International Development and Migration. Prior to starting her PhD, Heather spent over a decade working in the field of International Development. This included work with the Canadian government, the United Nations, and several non-governmental organizations. Heather is currently working with the University of Guelph as a Research Assistant on a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)- funded research project exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Small and Medium-sized Organizations (SMOs) working in Canada’s foreign aid sector.

Shirley Estévez, Country Director of Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC) in Bolivia, has a passion for international development and has dedicated 35 years to the social development of vulnerable communities in her home country, Bolivia. Besides her role with CFTC Shirley has founded along with other Canadian NGOs, the Coalition of Catholics for the Betterment of Indigenous Peoples (COACAB) Canadian Coalition in the country in 2011, and has been President of the Board in two periods. She was also a member of the CONGI – International NGOs Coalition twice contributing to positioning these coalitions in the country as well as setting the basis of a horizontal dialogue with the public and private sectors.

Shirley has worked at CFTC since 2011 and as a Country Director since 2013, leading the program in Bolivia in partnership with strong local NGOs. She has devoted her knowledge and experience to the exercise of girls and women’s rights, especially in the most vulnerable areas of the country. Before joining CFTC Shirley was linked to several well recognized INGOs working in Bolivia such as Plan International for five years as a Communications, Sponsorship & Grants Manager; Christian Children’s Fund for 16 years in six different roles; and Save the Children and World Vision as an external consultant.

Shirley holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sciences of Education, a Post grad in Social Development Projects design and evaluation, and is committed to supporting the food security, food sovereignty and integral development of girls and boys of Indigenous communities in her country. Shirley works closely with two local partners to overcome Indigenous communities’ vulnerabilities and to create better opportunities to unlock their potential and attain freedom from poverty.

Ekatha Ann John has more than 10 years of combined experience as a multimedia journalist and advocate for health equity in Canada, the UK, and South Asia. Currently she is the Global Health Policy and Advocacy Manager at Results Canada. A Chevening scholar, she completed her Master’s in Migration, Culture and Global Health Policy from Queen Mary University of London, UK, and spent time in Geneva undertaking research in gender inequity in global health leadership. She is a published researcher and has also worked with the United Nations Office for Project Services, focused on TB-related programs.

Marlen Mondaca is a feminist leader and strategist with over 25 years of experience leading and supporting organizations working in the international and Canadian aid sector. Marlen has also been a consultant with a focus on supporting organizations in their journeys towards creating more locally led equitable, inclusive and sustainable partnerships. During her career Marlen has worked with Oxfam and Save the Children. During her time with Save, she managed multi-million-dollar, complex development and humanitarian programs where she brought a strong human rights and gender equality lens. In her capacity as Director and then Chief of Programs and Policy Officer, Marlen oversaw both the International and National Reconciliation Canadian programs. During her last two years with Save the Children, Marlen took on the role of Special Advisor to the CEO on Strategy and Thought Leadership, which allowed her to deepen her understanding of external trends impacting the international aid sector. She authored three papers focused on localization, the triple nexus and climate change. Since 2021 Marlen serves as a Co-Chair of Cooperation Canada’s Localization Working Group. The group facilitates Canadian CSOs discussions and learning on locally led initiatives in the humanitarian and development sector. Since June 1, 2023, Marlen joined Canadian Feed the Children as the VP of Programs and Partnership. Marlen holds Masters’ degrees in political science and in journalism.

Andrea Paras is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph. Her research investigates the contributions of SMOs to Canada’s foreign aid sector, specifically in relation to localisation debates, enabling environments and pandemic adaptation. She has previously conducted research on the history and politics of humanitarianism, including her book Moral Obligations and Sovereignty in International Relations: A Genealogy of Humanitarianism (Routledge, 2019), as well as investigated the history and current practices of faith-based development organisations. She teaches and supervises in the areas of international development, international relations, human rights and humanitarianism, religion and politics, community-engaged research, and intercultural competence.

Heather Smith has been Executive Director and Program Manager for Rayjon Share Care (based in Sarnia, ON) since 2016. She brings a focus on developing healthy intercultural communication and partnerships internationally, and just and effective approaches to non-profit leadership in Canada. In her current role she facilitates dialogue and cooperation between Rayjon and their partners in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Together they support local solutions to sustainable community development through health care, education, microcredit and the empowerment of women.

Renaud Thomas was born in Jacmel, Haiti, and attended university in Port-au-Prince where he graduated with an advanced degree in agronomy in 2007. He is an expert in permaculture design and sustainable development, providing consultation to various organizations from farms and local cooperatives to NGOs and universities. Renaud has been Director of Rayjon Share Care Haiti (RSCH) since 2018, overseeing programs in Education, Health Care, Agriculture, and the Empowerment of Women. He is the co-founder of local Haitian organizations Fond Paysans de Fond’Oies, Assocation Haïtenne de Permaculture, Inisyativ Sante Peyizan, and Zanmi Lagrikilti. Renaud brings a particular focus on finding local and sustainable solutions to complex problems.

Jacquelyn Wright brings a depth and breadth of international development and humanitarian experience to the role of President & CEO for CFTC, where she has been working to support a Board of Directors and to manage the strategic and governance processes of the organization for the past five years. A keen advocate for women and children throughout the world, she believes in upholding human rights and working towards diversity, equity and inclusion. Jackie is passionate about reconciliation, anti-racism, anti-oppression, protecting and upholding Indigenous Peoples rights in Canada and globally, and supporting Indigenous communities and nations in the area of food security and food sovereignty.

For five years at CARE Canada as the Vice President, Partnerships for Global Change, and before that in International Programs, Jackie built a diversified program portfolio by strengthening strategic partnerships and growing revenue through evidence-based best practices, innovation and future-ready programming. Prior to joining CARE in 2013, Jackie spent more than 25 years in humanitarian response and international development with the Canadian Red Cross, and with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) internationally.

Strongly committed to the study and practice of leadership, Jackie has a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, where she is past co-chair of the Advisory Council of the School of Humanitarian Studies. She currently serves as Vice President of the OCIC Board of Directors.

‘Sharing & Learning’ Plenary

Patricia Peña, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Partnerships for Development Innovation leads a multi-faceted team at Global Affairs Canada responsible for consolidating expertise and excellence in the delivery of international assistance, and increasing impact, innovation and engagement with a wide range of Canadian partners. She has a rich and long-standing history working with Canadian, multilateral, civil society, private sector, philanthropic and diplomatic partners globally.

Since joining the Government of Canada in 2007, she held a number of senior positions at Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). She served as Canada’s Ambassador to Chile (2017-2020), Director General Foreign Policy and Director General Economic Development. From 2007 to 2011, Patricia held various policy and operational positions at CIDA, including as Director Democratic Governance and Human Rights, and Director of the Economic Development and Natural Resources.

Prior to joining the Canadian public service, Ms. Peña lived for almost ten years in London, England and worked in various public sector agencies, including the UK Electoral Commission where she oversaw political financing regulation in the United Kingdom.

Patricia Peña has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Alejandro Barrios is a Bolivian economist with two master’s degrees in Business Administration and Politics for the Third World. His experience is most focused on issues of food sovereignty, climate change, Indigenous peoples, education and politics, and being a representative of the Bolivian Delegation to COP 19 and Regional Coordinator of IBON International, attending to different international agendas.

Alejandro is passionate about sharing his experience as a professor of sociology in the San Francisco de Asis University and Universidad de la Cordillera in his home country, Bolivia. He has been leading the local NGO Instituto Politécnico Tomás Katari (IPTK) since 2018, where the institutional values and strategic priorities include providing opportunities to Indigenous communities. Alejandro is also a key member of national networks such as Programa de Coordinación en Salud Integral (PROCOSI) and The Unión Nacional de Instituciones para el Trabajo de Acción Social (UNITAS).

Felipe Mamani has been an Indigenous leader since he was a young man. At the age of 18 he showed his leadership as an authority in his home community for four years, and was elected in several authority positions representing his home community and municipality. In 2020 he participated in the municipal elections and was elected by the communities as Indigenous Mayor of the Municipality of Poroma for the period 2020-2025. Felipe is passionate about the defense of the Indigenous peoples rights and works hard to address and mitigate the effects of climate change in Poroma. Felipe is an open-minded person committed to promoting strategic alliances with other stakeholders. Felipe, as the main authority in Poroma, signed agreements with IPTK, SOCODEVI and other local and international NGOs to work in the region.

35th Anniversary Celebration – September 27 

5:30 – 8:00 PM  

Our evening celebration included the opportunity to enjoy food and drink, music and interactive networking activities and Transformations Stories micro-exhibits in the company of our 35th Anniversary Celebration partners, sponsors and funders, special guests from Bolivia and Haiti, Alejandro Barrios, Shirley Estévez, Felipe Mamani and Renaud Thomas, and a number of OCIC ‘Super Hosts’.

Celebration Live Musician
  

Paula Sofía is a Guatemalan singer-songwriter based in Toronto. Most of her work is in Spanish, which makes her music and live performances very dynamic where she forms playful connections with the audience from the stage. She is able to convey universal themes through storytelling, imagery, and quirky songwriting. For more information about her work: visit her Instagram page or Linktree.

Super Hosts

Yin Brown is a disability inclusion advocate with 20 years’ experience  in community work, including 15 years in international work. She has developed and implemented disability inclusive policies, projects and consultancy to help organizations embed disability-inclusion in all aspects of their work. As a former Board member at OCIC,  she has emphasized access for and participation of people with disabilities in international development. Yin is currently working at Abilities Centre delivering accessibility and inclusion consultancy to municipalities.

Amanda Cupido is an award-winning podcast producer, TEDx speaker, author and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Lead Podcasting, a podcast production company that specializes in developing podcasts for thought leaders and organizations. Amanda is the author of the Amazon bestseller, Let’s Talk Podcasting: The Essential Guide to Doing it Right. She is also a part-time university lecturer and has helped to redefine the radio courses at both Seneca College and Toronto Metropolitan University. Amanda’s expertise in storytelling has led her to train executives and professionals across the globe. Previously, she worked as the program director at AM 640 Toronto and a communications manager with World Vision International. Amanda has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University and a Master of Professional Studies in the Psychology of Leadership from Penn State University.

Aysha Dawood is an advocate for both local and global scale social equality, with a focus on affordable housing and sustainable finance. This ambition stems from her intersectional identities, and the transformative experiences gained while working with populations made vulnerable in the UK, Southern Africa, and Canada. She is fuelled by research, attempting to unravel the root systemic drivers of poverty. Aysha works as an operational and strategic consultant with non-profits. Her current work includes coordinating the management of the Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID), and researching the nexus of human rights and the financialization of housing. Aysha’s previous positions have been with Oikocredit, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, South Liverpool Homes and the City of Toronto. Aysha holds a master’s degree in Local Economic Development, a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and diplomas in Architectural Technology, and GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and Urban Planning.

Aysha has been a member of the OCIC Board of Directors since 2019, serving on the Finance and Sustainability, Membership and Nominations, Governance, and Executive Committees. She has also been the Board Secretary for two years, helping to maintain OCIC’s governance files. She looks forward to co-hosting OCIC’s 35th Anniversary Celebration this year, as one of the special event planners! 

Susan James served on the Board founding OCIC as an organization 35 years ago. She has worked with NGOs and Universities in Canada and the US focusing on Africa and the Caribbean. She has volunteered with OCIC on its Board and on the Personnel Committee most recently. 

Susan MacGregor is an International Development/Humanitarian Assistance specialist with over 15 years experience in the International Relief and Development Industry. She spent 12 years based overseas providing direct logistics services to victims of natural disasters and conflict. Upon returning to Canada, Susan worked on a consultative basis with World Vision, the Canadian Red Cross, Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, Air Serv International, and the Department of National Defense helping to analyse and improve internal processes and to create in-house manuals and training materials. Since 2009, Susan has been in charge of the International Development Graduate program at Humber College, which trains the next generation of community and international development professionals to respond to needs both internationally and in Canada’s underserved communities.

Whilst growing up in Kenya, Christina Muia witnessed a clear gap between the haves and have-nots. From those early years to her adulthood in Canada, Christina has been passionate about poverty alleviation. This has led her to work and volunteer with the United Nations and several Canadian international non-profits on women empowerment, youth employment, food security, sustainable agriculture and climate change projects. Her experiences sparked interest in how youth from marginalized and poor communities are involved in poverty reduction, which was explored in her Masters thesis and led to co-founding BiaSHEara, a multifaceted enterprise that showcased stories of Canadian women entrepreneurs of East African descent and engaged youth volunteers to support documentary production. 

Christina has worked and volunteered with five Canadian international development organizations: World Renew (OCIC member), Mennonite Economic Development Associates, TakingITGlobal (OCIC member), Canadian Samaritans for Africa, and Paradigm Shift Project. She has also served as a Board advisor for the Canadian Samaritans for Africa. As a part of her Board commitment to OCIC, Christina is serving on the Finance and Sustainability Committee, has served as a co-chair on the Membership and Nominations Committee, and been a Secretary to the Board. Christina was also involved with the OCIC Youth Policy-Makers Hub. Christina is excited to continue serving on the Board to contribute to anti-oppression and anti-racism policies and work, and to contribute to shaping the future of international development work in Ontario. 

Christina has a Masters in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University, and a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in Agricultural Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of Guelph. Christina is currently working with Skills for Change as a Manager of Social Enterprise where she manages programs to diversify non-profit funding to better serve immigrants, refugees and underrepresented communities.

Alice Ng Bouwma provides strategic data-driven leadership of locally led programming, and cultivates relationships with donor institutions to further enhance international investment and prioritize localization. She facilitates learning amongst participants across Canada to build relationships with Indigenous communities and promote Diversity Inclusion Belonging Diversity, and support decolonization and localization.

Harshini Ramesh is a recent graduate of McGill University’s Master of Public Policy program. She currently works in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s International Affairs Branch as a Policy Analyst. Harshini is also the Founder and Executive Director of the YPA Policy Corner, an organization dedicated to publishing youth policy ideas and providing policy skill-building opportunities. Her passion for climate action and creating inclusive decision-making spaces for youth has led Harshini to pursue and implement many initiatives at local, national and international levels. 

Dr. Vida Shehada is a Professor and Program Coordinator of the “International Development Postgraduate Program” at Centennial College. She completed her Ph.D. as a Fulbright Scholar at the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (United States). Dr.Shehada held research and teaching positions at Rutgers University and the State University of New York (SUNY). She serves on the Executive Board of the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID), and previously served on the board of Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC). Her teaching and research interests includes Results-based Management (RBM), human rights, and gender equality.

William (Bill) Sparks is Retired Professor PL Humber College: Post Graduate Certificate Program, International Development Project Management Program and Retired Professor PT Centennial College: Post Graduate Certificate Program, International Development Studies. Bill is a past certified member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and a retired registered member (MSW,RSW) of the Ontario College of Social Workers He is an ASIST Trained safeTALK Trainer and a Compassion Fatigue Specialist trained in CF Education & ARP Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He is a veteran civil society organization executive director skilled in capacity building and the Retired Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Ontario with over twenty years at JHSO. He is the Retired Program Coordinator Management Advisory Service (MAS) and their current Co-Practice Lead in NFP Governance. He is a guest lecturer, animateur, facilitator in international development, social work, criminal justice and human service administration to various school boards, colleges and universities. He is in demand as a Workshop Leader on Compassion Fatigue Education and Intervention and a frequent contributor, trainer and panelist to many conferences, training workshops. Bill is Past Board President of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation, Past Board Treasurer of CUSO, and a Current Board Member and Past President of Defence for Children International – Canada Section; Current Board Chair Canada Nepal Community Foundation/Diyaalo International Canada-Nepal, and The Bright Future -Afghanistan/Canada, and a Past Board Member of Canadian Feed the Children. Areas of expertise include teaching, training, counsellor supervision, agency and staff Compassion Fatigue education, resilience and recovery and staff suicide prevention/education; voluntary sector board governance, policy development, strategic and annual planning, participatory program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, public engagement and sustainable funding. His continuing interest is the integration of the clinical, organizational and international in holistic inclusive human development. In his retirement, Bill will continue to volunteer and be available as can. KELEN-GAKU-TELLEGH-PAT!

Tina Sweeney – After volunteer trips to Tanzania and Dharamsala, assisting with experiential learning and development, Tina found meaning in proximity and that closeness voiced a new narrative and a career transition from the private sector into community engagement and international development. “I am passionate about engaging global citizens on Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and sharing opportunities with Canadian’s interested in volunteering their knowledge and partnering with local organizations to build capacity and equity.” 

For the past nine years Tina Sweeney has been part of Cuso International’s communications and marketing team. She creates spaces to strengthen global citizenship and social inclusion while amplifying the voices and stories of those around the world. Tina is an executive board member of the Canadian International Council (CIC) Toronto branch and a member of The Program Advisory Committee for the International Development program at Centennial College. In 2019 Tina was nominated by a diaspora partner and awarded Canada’s 100 Black Women to Watch by the Canada International Black Women Event.

With a background in Fashion Design and Content Creation, Gladys Trinidad is passionate about sustainability, climate change and workers’ and women’s rights, specifically within the fashion and textile industry. She also has experience working in communications, which has allowed her to use both her creativity and passion to advocate and share information on various social media platforms to magnify global issues and influence online communities. With her passion for fashion, development and content creation, she hopes to amplify voices and create a safer environment for workers in a more sustainable and ethical future in the fashion industry.

Dr Maggie Zeng has over 20 years of experience working in the international development sector with Ph.D in International Development Policy and Administration from University of Florida, USA. She has worked as gender advisor and program manager for various academic, government and non-governmental organizations in Canada and overseas. Recently she joined World Renew as Grants Program Manager. Prior to that she has worked for a number of Canadian and international organizations including: The Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT) – a program of the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils (ICN) funded by Global Affairs Canada and administered by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC), Children Believe (Formerly Christian Children’s Fund of Canada – member of ChildFund Alliance), Canadian government (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canadian International Development Agency), Parliamentary Centre, Oxfam, York University. Dr Zeng frequently speaks on international development issues and approaches including gender equality, child rights and child protection, diversity, equity and inclusion at various international conferences, seminars and workshops. Over the years Dr Zeng has served as board director, organizational representative, technical advisor and volunteer for a number of Canadian and international networks including: Board Director of Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC), organizational representative for Cooperation Canada, Digna, ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 11 child-focused development organizations, International Child Protection Network Canada (ICPNC), and member of CanWaCH – Gender Equality Working Group.

Najia Zewari is the founder of the Global Women’s Network (GWN). GWN is a grassroots initiative organized out of many consultations with immigrant and refugee women from diverse ethnocultural communities in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has a wealth of international experience, working with non-government organizations and the United Nations in Afghanistan and Pakistan on gender equality, advocacy, institutional capacity development, and policy and law reform. She was the Advisor to the Country Director UNWomen Country Office Afghanistan; and provided strategic advice on UN women’s roles within the UN Integrated Strategic Framework to ensure gender mainstreaming. Since she came to Canada nine years ago, she has been transferring the knowledge and experiences she has gained to the communities of the GWN. She has faced many struggles and turbulent experiences as a woman, but she drew her strength from these, sustaining her passion and commitment to peace, social justice, and gender equality. Najia is also the founder of the Women’s Cycling Network grass-root organization and aims to have an inclusive society for those who identify as female to feel safe and enjoy free mobility while working to challenge the concept of what it means to be a cyclist. She won the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Award in 2023 for her community work.

Click and explore the links below of background readings, other relevant and related resources on themes, OCIC and our community, our sector have been engaged with over the past year. 

Taking Action for Reconciliation

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• About the National Day for Truth and Reconcilation
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Indigenous Awareness and Cultural Sensitivity

• Bear Standing Tall 

‘What constitutes an ‘enabling environment for Canadian SMOs?’

• About Spur Change
• Spur Change 2023 SMO Report 
• Spur Change 2023 SMO Report (Executive Summary)
• Webinar on key findings, June 19, 2023
• Additional resources: Spur Change Reports

Local Solutions for Sustainable Community Development

• Rayjon Share Care, Canada
• Rayjon Share Care Haiti (RSCH)
• OCIC ‘Tapestry 2023’ Season 1 Podcast & Illustration Series Episode 7 ‘Haitian Women in the Lead’
• Canadian Feed the Children
• Instituto Politécnico Tomás Katari (IPTK)

Advocacy for Social Justice 

• Results Canada