Annual General Meeting – September 25

Download the AGM Participant Package

Preliminary Agenda

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

10:00 am – 1:00 pm (including health breaks)

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

OCIC Annual General Meeting 

• Welcome
• Land Acknowledgement
• Global Affairs Canada Presentation | Q&A
  with Assistant Deputy Minister Leslie Norton
• Approval of the Proposed 2024 AGM Agenda
• Approval of the 2023 AGM Minutes
• Chair’s Report
• Presentation of Audited Financial Statements
• Approval of 2024-2025 Auditor
• Governance Committee Updates
• Resolution on Number of Board of Directors
• Presentation of Slate of Candidates to the Board of Directors
• Approval of Slate of Candidates to the Board of Directors
• Membership Committee Updates  and Presentation of New Members
• Executive Director’s Report
• Board, Volunteer and Staff Recognition
• Business Arising
• Adjournment of Business Meeting

OCIC Board Director Candidate Bios

September 2024

Emily Antze, Partners In Health Canada

Emily has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and International Development Studies from McGill University, and a Masters degree in Sociology and Equity Studies from OISE, University of Toronto. She has worked in the international co-operation sector for 18 years, beginning with a CIDA internship and going on to program and project management roles at World Literacy Canada, IDRF, the York University Centre for Refugee Studies, and now Partners In Health Canada. Emily has subject matter expertise in education, health, and gender equitable and gender-transformational approaches, and very extensive experience overseeing Global Affairs Canada-funded work. Her skill set includes strong capacity in monitoring and evaluation, financial management, and reporting. She is passionate about promoting partner-led anticolonial approaches and applying an intersectional feminist lens in our sector, and is guided in all her work by a deep commitment to the principles of social justice.  

Emily found herself at her first OCIC AGM within weeks of starting her first full-time professional job at World Literacy Canada in 2007, and OCIC has played a vital role in her professional networking and development in the years since. She has been fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as an OCIC representative of three different NGOs and has participated as an associate member. She was responsible for both IDRF and PIHC joining OCIC, advocating internally and leading on their membership enrolment process. She has a deep appreciation for the value of OCIC’s significant and longstanding contribution to the sector, and some understanding of the operational and funding challenges faced over the years. She has long been interested in contributing as a board member, and is hoping this may be the right moment. 

Looking at the list of key expertise areas OCIC is seeking in board members, Emily would contribute most strongly around issues of intersectional, feminist approaches, MEAL, networking and membership acquisition, and partnership building and brokering. While she is not a technical expert in issues of charity law, compliance or organizational finance, she has an interest in these issues and would be glad of an opportunity to participate in board committees or initiatives in these areas. 

Emily lives in Toronto’s west end with her spouse and two preschool-aged children.

Hyang Cho, Good Neighbours Canada

Hyang Cho is a seasoned professional with over 15 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 ‘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 ‘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 continuing on OCIC’s board. 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.

An OCIC Board Director since 2023, Hyang has contributed her time and insights to the Membership Committee, as Chair, and to the Nominations Committee. 

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 financialization. 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 served as Board Secretary for three years, helping to maintain OCIC’s governance files.

Kristin Douglas, World Accord

Kristin Douglas is a committed, enthusiastic professional with more than ten years of experience in the non-profit sector and six 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. An OCIC Board Director since 2019, Kristin has served on the Executive Committee, as President of the OCIC Board of Directors, and is currently Chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. 

Molly Grove

Molly is passionate about building partnerships, sharing best practices, and developing tools and processes that bring projects and initiatives to life. She has engaged with OCIC for many years including as a member of the GE Hub, and is excited to bring her experience to the Board, support members and amplify OCIC’s work. 

Molly began her work in the international development sector by planning conferences and volunteering with Oxfam and Engineers Without Borders (EWB). Over the last decade she has gained valuable experience working with a wide variety of high-impact NGOs and governmental bodies including Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Journalists for Human Rights, Grand Challenges Canada, Global Affairs Canada, and overseas with an education project in Tanzania. With Global Affairs Canada she gained expertise with the Feminist International Assistance Policy, result-based management and GAC funding modalities. At Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) she supported multiple grant-making teams across the Global Health Innovation platform. She developed the in-house multi-stage application review process from the ground up and supported projects through all aspects of the funding life cycle. As a Gender Equality Officer at a trades college in Mwanza, Tanzania, Molly provided operational oversight, led monitoring and research initiatives, and engaged with key stakeholders.

Throughout these positions she has honed her expertise in gender equality, education, project management and MEAL. Molly is currently working with Salanga, a values-based company providing tools, training and technology services in MEAL to organizations around the world, as the Manager for Global Impact with a focus on GAC funded projects. She has served on OCIC’s Board of Directors for xx years, including as co-Chair of the Governance Committee, and as a member of the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee. 

Beyond professional roles, Molly’s values, approach and drive are informed by her life experiences – living on a sailboat in the Caribbean for a year at age 10, swimming at a national level, volunteering in her community, and traveling. Molly is always keen to learn, collaborate and creatively seek solutions. Molly holds a Masters focused on program management and gender from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, and a Bachelors in Peace, Conflict and Justice and International Relations, with a minor in African Studies, from the University of Toronto. 

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-centered 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!

Bella has served on OCIC’s Board of Directors since 2021 on the Governance and Personnel Committees, and on the Executive Committee as Vice-President.

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. 

Soofia has served on OCIC’s Board of Directors and Membership Committee since 2023. 

Christina Muia

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 has served as a member of the Governance and Finance Committees, as co-chair of the Membership and Nominations Committee, and on the Executive Committee as Board Secretary. 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. She 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, Canadian Red Cross

Alice is keen to continue serving on the OCIC Board of Directors where she contributes her 16 years of experience in financial sustainability/management and fund diversification of government and foundation/private sector funding relationships. Alice has extensive experience in cultivating government and academic relationships and partnerships with various stakeholders including the Government of Canada, private foundations/corporations, and academic institutions in Canada and internationally. Alice provides leadership in enhancing business technology systems and directing cross-functional teams in fund acquisition and project management of climate adaptation and gender equality programming. Alice’s efforts to increase efficiencies to automate business processes and project management results in increase in revenue for programming from institutional donors and philanthropy. She has experience in organizational efforts, within her local community and in the international cooperation sector, in anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices that allow BIPOC groups to self advocate and self represent. Alice also has skills in gender equality and intersectionality – program approaches and analysis. 

Alice is at the Canadian Red Cross as a Senior Project Manager & Appeal Lead to provide strategic guidance to the Philanthropy leadership team across Canada to determine project requirements, resources, timelines, and deliverables, and determine the optimal way to achieve desired results. Previously, for 14 years she was a Grants Program Manager at World Renew providing leadership in enhancing international cooperation programs and directing cross-functional teams in fund acquisition and project management of climate adaptation and gender equality programs. Alice has a Master of Science in Rural Planning & International Development, from the University of Guelph where she was a scholarship recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Alice also holds a BA (Honours) in Environmental Studies & Development, from the University of Waterloo. 

Alice is actively involved in her community leading a marketing and capital campaign to raise $4M amongst alumni and philanthropic donors for a local school. She provides leadership and direction to the school’s long-range plan, goals, and policies, while promoting team development and conflict resolution between teachers, principal, and staff. Alice facilitates learning amongst participants across Canada to build relationships with Indigenous communities and promote Diversity Inclusion Belonging Diversity, and support decolonization and localization.

Alice has served on OCIC’s Board of Directors and Finance and Sustainability Committee since 2023.

Efemena Stephenie Ozugha, Rooftops Canada | Abri International

Efemena is an international development expert distinguished by her proficiency and qualifications at the crossroads of law, human rights, project and human resource management, and community organizing. With 7 years of experience in the non-profit sector, she has successfully led large and mid-scale projects and programs across North America, Africa, and Europe. Her expertise is in protecting and promoting human rights, gender equality, democratic governance, social justice, and equitable human settlements. She has held mid-senior leadership roles, offered policy advisory and training, managed projects and programs, drafted legal documents and frameworks, conducted social audits, and managed strategic partnerships.

Currently, Efemena is a Senior Project Officer at Rooftops Canada where she manages Women Spaces; a 5-year Project co-funded by the Government of Canada, designed to reduce poverty and deliver meaningful change to poor and vulnerable women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, she is a pro bono coach and trainer at the African Coaching Network, where she frequently delivers training and strategic learning opportunities to communities and organizations.

With a profound commitment to global social justice, Efemena is eager to contribute to OCIC’s multifaceted approach to addressing fundamental human rights, poverty reduction, equality, and global stability and peace. She is drawn to this position by the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping decisions, policies, and practices that impact OCIC’s vision, strategic plans, and the members and communities OCIC serves. Within the Board, she aims to collaborate in enhancing innovation around the SDGs, facilitate dialogues with Pan-Canadian networks, advance member development, foster knowledge exchange, and strengthen networks for strategic partnerships. With and beyond OCIC’s membership, she intends to foster increased member engagement, strategic collaborations, transformative organizing, and public engagement.

Efemena’s extensive leadership, advocacy, strategic planning, and community organizing skills, honed through competence and experience in implementing projects with a FIAP lens, position her to contribute effectively as an OCIC Board member. She considers joining the OCIC Board of Directors to be an honor and an opportunity to deepen her involvement with the international cooperation community in Ontario. 

Helen Ray

Helen is currently a project manager for an organization working to increase Inuktitut education and improve the preservation of Inuktitut for Inuit in Nunavut. Through this, she has worked closely on research projects and other initiatives to create relationships with local Indigenous people. She also completed a postgraduate certificate in International Development at Centennial College. Before this, she worked as an entertainment organizer where their main goal was to try and get people of colour into predominantly white spaces.

Helen would love to be a board member of OCIC and contribute to the work that OCIC does. She is very passionate about international development and believes that organizations like OCIC are vital to the strengthening of the field. She brings skills in anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice; finance and financial management; global citizenship education and public engagement; government and academic relations; human resource management; intersectional, feminist understanding, analysis and approaches; monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning; and partnership building. She is interested in learning more about the sector and OCIC’s work by contributing her time and skills to the Board of Directors and its Membership or Finance Committees.

Dr. Helena Shilomboleni, University of Waterloo

Dr. Helena Shilomboleni is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability and the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. She is also a Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo. Dr. Shilomboleni is an applied researcher with extensive experience working in international development. Her areas of expertise are agriculture and food security, climate smart agriculture, scaling innovations in smallholder farming systems, and food systems sustainability, and has worked with small-scale farmers and practitioners in East and Southern Africa. She previously held a Post-doctoral Fellowship with the formerly Consultative Group of International Agriculture Research based in Nairobi, Kenya, and a Professional Development Award with Canada’s International Development Research Center in Ottawa. Her research and work also enabled her to engage different policy networks, including Global Affairs Canada and the Namibian Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Dr. Shilomboleni is keen to continue expanding her network to Ontario-based international development focused organizations and stakeholders through the Ontario Council for International Cooperation. 

She would like to contribute to OCIC’s mission to create a strong network of international cooperation-focused organizations and stakeholders committed to promoting impactful people-centered development and social justice. 

Dr. Shilomboleni first encountered several OCIC staff and member organizations at an event for the International Cooperation Sector with the Honorable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, in December 2023 at the University of Waterloo. She was moved by OCIC members’ passion and dedication to increase the effectiveness and collective impact of Canada’s advancement of the UN Sustainable Development. Dr. Shilomboleni shares these same values and seeks to make a significant impact with her work beyond the research community. She would be delighted to serve as a Board Member for OCIC to further its mission, support its members, and mobilize resources for international development efforts. 

Jacquelyn Wright, Canadian Feed The Children

Jacquelyn Wright, President and CEO of Canadian Feed The Children (CFTC), is really enjoying her time serving on the OCIC Board of Directors as a member of the Governance Committee, and currently as Chair of the Executive Committee and Board. She brings a depth and breadth of international development and humanitarian experience to these roles, after dedicating nearly 35 years to her career. 

Jackie, as she is known to many, has been the CEO of CFTC for the past five years, where she supports a Board of Directors and manages the strategic and governance processes of the organization. She is a keen advocate for women and children throughout the world, upholding their human rights and working towards diversity, equity and inclusion. Jackie is passionate about reconciliation, anti-racism, anti-oppression and 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. 

As CARE Canada’s Vice President, Partnerships for Global Change, 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 that, as Vice President, International Programs, she led CARE Canada’s development and humanitarian programming in 35 countries and strategically positioned CARE with key stakeholders, including the Government of Canada and the academic and civil society communities.

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. She served as the Canadian Red Cross country representative in Indonesia for nearly four years, where she oversaw country operations and humanitarian and disaster risk reduction programming. 

Throughout her multi-faceted career, Jackie has managed emergency relief and development programs in some of the most challenging conflict and post-conflict regions, including Sudan, Uganda, following the Rwandan genocide, Sierra Leone and Somalia. She also worked for the Red Cross in Canada in a variety of positions based in Calgary, Winnipeg and at headquarters in Ottawa. 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.

• Global Affairs Canada Transformation Implementation Plan (2023 to 2026)
• OCIC 2024 Audited Financial Statements
• OCIC AGM 2024 Participant Package
• OCIC Bylaws
• OCIC Currents of Collaboration: A Summary Report on OCIC Approaches, Priorities and Learnings on Water and Climate
• OCIC CSW68 Delegation
• OCIC Strategic Plan (2018 to 2023)
• OCIC Youth Policy-Makers Hub

Our Annual Symposium will be held on November 20 and 21, 2024 in Toronto. Mark your calendars!