Maytree Policy School
The Maytree Policy School is designed to support policy professionals from the non-profit sector to build skills and resources to enhance their ability to influence public policy and strengthen the policy capacity of their organization. Meet the alumni and learn about their work.
Christine Alden (MPS '20)
Program Director, Lawson Foundation
Dina Al-khooly (MPS '21)
Director, Research and Evaluation, Visions of Science Network for Learning
Lisa Ambaye (MPS '21)
Executive Director, Rideau-Ottawa Valley Learning Network (ROVLN)
Micah Anshan (MPS '19)
Director, Government Relations at Futurpreneur Canada
Former: Partnerships Manager, Canadian Programs, Right to Play International
Laura Arrell (MPS '20)
Managing Director, The Arrell Family Foundation
Michelle Baldwin (MPS '19)
Senior Advisor, Transformation, Community Foundations of Canada
Former: Executive Director, Pillar Nonprofit Network
Paul Bailey (MPS '20)
Interim Executive Director, Black Health Alliance
Nigel Barriffe (MPS '21)
President, Board of Directors, Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR)
Cynthia Belaskie (MPS '22)
Managing Director, Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, McMaster University
Catherine Belshaw (MPS '18)
Manager of Fund Development, Strategy, and Partnerships, Native Child and Family Services
Michelle Bilek (MPS '22)
National Organizer, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH)
Michèle Biss (MPS '20)
Project Manager, National Right to Housing Network, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Ekua Asabea Blair (MPS '18)
CEO, Massey Centre
Kaelen Boyd (MPS '22)
Senior Policy Advisor, Ontario Association of Social Workers
Michael Braithwaite (MPS '22)
CEO, Blue Door
Alyssa Brierley (MPS '19)
Executive Director, National Institute on Ageing (NIA), Toronto Metropolitan University
Former: Executive Director, Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
Talia Bronstein (MPS '20)
VP Research and Advocacy, Daily Bread Food Bank
Graham Brown (MPS '18)
Former: Policy Analyst, John Howard Society
Janet Butler-McPhee (MPS '18)
Co-Executive Director of Communications and Advocacy, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Former: Director of Communications and Advocacy, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Mamta Chail (MPS '22)
CEO, Youthdale
Camara Chambers (MPS '22)
Senior Manager of Partnerships and Learning Development, Ryerson Leadership Lab
Diana Chan McNally (MPS '22)
Harm Reduction Case Coordinator, All Saints Church-Community Centre, Diocese of Toronto
Former: Training & Engagement Coordinator, Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)
Sibel Cicek (MPS '20)
Director, Government Relations, YMCA Ontario, YMCA of Greater Toronto
Beth Clarke (MPS '20)
Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, World Education Services
James Cohen (MPS '19)
Executive Director, Transparency International Canada
Regini David (MPS '20)
Outreach and Law Reform Coordinator, West Scarborough Community Legal Services
Brian Davis (MPS '19)
Executive Director, Houselink Community Homes
Sané Dube (MPS '20)
Director of Health Equity and Priority Populations, Ontario Health, West
Former: Manager of Community and Policy, University Health Network
Geordie Dent (MPS '18)
Executive Director, Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA)
Carissa Di Gangi (MPS '18)
Director of Operations & Government Relations, ABC Life Literacy
Francesca Dobbyn (MPS '19)
Executive Director, United Way of Bruce Grey
Lieran Docherty (MPS '19)
Program Manager, Women Abuse Council of Toronto
Judy Duncan (MPS '18)
Executive Director, ACORN
Christine Durant (MPS '18)
Former: Director, Poverty Roundtable Hastings Prince Edward
Kay Dyson Tam (MPS '19)
Senior Strategy Manager, Service Design, Telus Digital
Vanessa Emery (MPS '21)
Director of Legal Services, West Scarborough Community Legal Services
Sasha Elford (MPS '22)
National Manager, Public Affairs, March of Dimes Canada
Randalin Ellery (MPS '20)
Director, Data Impact & Policy, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Kate Fane (MPS '21)
Communications Manager, Canadian Urban Institute
Former: Communications Officer, The Stop
Tiffany Fearon (MPS '22)
Policy & Research Manager, Family Councils Ontario
Max FineDay (MPS '19)
Former: Executive Director, Canadian Roots Exchange
Nathan Gardner (MPS '21)
Executive Director, Back Door Mission
Jake Tobin Garrett (MPS '19)
Policy and Planning Manager, Park People
Katie German (MPS '18)
Director of Programs, FoodShare Toronto
Agapi Gessesse (MPS '19)
Executive Director, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
Berkha Gupta (MPS '22)
Executive Director, LGBT Youthline
Kat Hamilton (MPS '18)
Senior Manager, Ontario East & Government Relations (Ontario), CNIB
Terence Hamilton (MPS '20)
Policy Specialist, UNICEF Canada
Sandani Hapuhennedige (MPS '22)
Senior Policy Advisor, Children's Mental Health Ontario
Teshini Harrison (MPS '19)
Policy Development Officer, Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, City of Toronto
Former: Policy Analyst, Ontario Nonprofit Network
Todd Jaques (MPS '22)
Director, Strategic Initiatives, MakeWay (formerly Tides Canada)
Lynette Katsivo (MPS '20)
Director, Health Policy and Promotion at Ontario Medical Association
Former: Director of Public Policy, AdvantAge Ontario
Annie Kidder (MPS '19)
Executive Director, People for Education
Amanda King (MPS '20)
Director, Communications & Research, Feed Ontario
Devorah Kobluk (MPS '21)
Director, Public Policy at Canadian Mental Health Association
Myna Kota (MPS '19)
Public Policy & Stakeholder Affairs Lead, Casey House
Former: Senior Manager, Advocacy & Girl Engagement, Girl Guides of Canada
Miriam Kramer (MPS '21)
Executive Director, Government & Corporate Relations, OCAD University
Jonathan Lai (MPS '21)
Executive Director, Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance
Ilana Dodi Luther (MPS '21)
Executive Director, Access to Justice & Law Reform Institute of Nova Scotia
Maggie MacDonald (MPS '18)
Director of Communications and Government Relations, McConnell Foundation
Former: Manager, Public Policy, YMCA
Karen Madho (MPS '19)
Senior Coordinator of Public Relations, DeafBlind Ontario Services
Krys Maki (MPS '22)
Director of Research and Policy, Women’s Shelters Canada
Janet McCrimmon (MPS '22)
CEO, Strides Toronto
Sasha McNicoll (MPS '19)
Policy Manager, Prosper Canada
Former: Senior Specialist, Policy, Community Food Centres Canada
Dominica McPherson (MPS '21)
Coordinator, Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination
Steven Meagher (MPS '21)
Project Director, Centre for Refugee Children
Liv Mendelsohn (MPS '21)
Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Excellence in Caregiving, Azrieli Foundation
Former: Director, Accessibility and Inclusion, Miles Nadal JCC
Tesfai Mengesha (MPS '18)
Executive Director, Operations, Success Beyond Limits
Sara Middleton (MPS '18)
Director, Community Impact, United Way Middlesex
Jessica Mustachi (MPS '18)
Senior Research Analyst, Ontario Government
Former: Ontario Campaign 2000 Coordinator, Child and Family Poverty Campaign 2000
Shivanee Nadarajah (MPS '19)
Director of Operations, Inner City Health Associates
Shelley Nicholls (MPS '20)
Former: Executive Director, Sistering
Emily Nickerson (MPS '20)
Director, Publish What You Pay Canada
Christina Palassio (MPS '21)
Director of Communications, Right to Play
Doug Pawson (MPS '21)
Executive Director, End Homelessness St. Johns
Shawn Pegg (MPS '21)
Director, Social Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Community Living Ontario
Chris Persaud (MPS '22)
Program Director, Contract Monitoring & Intake Program, Habitat Services
Bruce Pitkin (MPS '20)
Executive Director, Art Starts
Shelagh Pizey-Allen (MPS '19)
Executive Director, TTCriders
Colette Prevost (MPS '18)
Territorial Executive Director, Child and Family Services, Government of Northwest Territories
Former: Director, Advocacy & Communications, YWCA Toronto
Sharma Queiser (MPS '20)
Researcher and Policy Analyst, Social Planning Toronto
Melanie Redman (MPS '18)
President & CEO, A Way Home Canada
Jasmine Ramze Rezaee (MPS '21)
Director of Advocacy and Communications, YWCA Toronto
Talya Rotem (MPS '20)
Program Director, SmartSAVER
Suman Roy (MPS '21)
Former: Executive Director, Meal Exchange
Rekha Sadasivan (MPS '18)
Director, Marketing and Communications, Toronto Metropolitan University, Faculty of Law
Former: Director, Strategic Initiatives, Dignitas International
Ya’el Santopinto (MPS '18)
Director, Research and Partnerships, Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal
Leila Sarangi (MPS '19)
Director, Social Action, National Coordinator, Campaign 2000, Family Service Toronto
Trisha Scantlebury (MPS '22)
Senior Manager, Research, Public Policy and Evaluation, United Way Greater Toronto
Jeffrey Schiffer (MPS '20)
President & CEO, Thrive Youth Development Canada
Former: Executive Director, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
Tim Smuck (MPS '22)
Executive Director, Changing Ways
Former: Director of Programs, Choices for Youth
Dusha Sritharan (MPS '18)
Advisor, Policy and Constituency at the Office of Councillor Gord Perks
Former: Campaigner, Climate Change, Toronto Environmental Alliance
Sarah Stern (MPS '20)
Director, Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security
Jamie Stuckless (MPS '18)
Former: Executive Director, Share the Road Cycling Coalition
Rebecca Stulberg (MPS '22)
Board Director & Chair of the Advocacy Committee, The Neighbourhood Group
Anjum Sultana (MPS '19)
Director of Youth Leadership & Policy Advocacy, Plan International Canada
Former: National Director, Public Policy, Advocacy & Strategic Communications, YWCA Canada
Saman Tabasinejad (MPS '21)
Project Manager, Progress Toronto
Elisa Traficante (MPS '19)
Manager, Spanning the Gaps, Ryerson University, G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
Former: Director of Community Initiatives, Raising the Roof
Jen Turner (MPS '22)
Manager, Research and Public Policy, BGC Canada
Bronwyn Underhill (MPS '21)
Director of Health Promotion and Community Engagement, Parkdale Queen West CHC
Pamela Uppal (MPS '22)
Director of Policy, ONN
Nithya Vijayakumar (MPS '18)
Former: Senior Advisor, Transportation Policy and Planning, Pembina Institute
Pablo Vivanco (MPS '22)
Executive Director, Albion Neighbourhood Services
Former: Director of Programs and Community Development, Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre
Sarah Watson (MPS '19)
Director of Community Engagement, North York Harvest Food Bank
Michelle Westin (MPS '22)
Senior Analyst - Planning , Quality & Risk, Black Creek Community Health Centre
Victor Willis (MPS '20)
Executive Director, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC)
Elodie Young (MPS '22)
Manager, Public Sector Transformation, Human and Social Services, Deloitte Inc.
Former: Director, Impact and Innovation, Prosper Canada
Carol Zoulalian (MPS '20)
Executive Director, St. Jude Community Homes