Amanda Arella is the National Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at YWCA Canada. She is a lawyer, strategic thinker, and passionate advocate for gender equity. As part of her work at YWCA Canada, Amanda advocates to end gender-based violence, build affordable housing, implement national child care, and advance economic equity. Prior to joining YWCA Canada, Amanda honed her advocacy skills as a litigator at a national law firm, with a focus on administrative, privacy, and health law. 

Sara Beyer is a policy professional with experience in the non-profit, public, and private sectors, where she has focused her practice on housing affordability and Indigenous-settler relations. Sara is currently the Manager of Policy with the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), where she works to advance human rights-based housing policy at all levels of government.

Prior to joining CCHR, Sara held policy roles with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, and the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. Sara holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from McGill University, and a Diploma in Community Work from George Brown College.

Cheryll Case is the Founder and Executive Director of CP Planning, a Toronto-based community network defining a human rights-based approach to urban planning. She leads the co-design and implementation of local, city, and national strategies that have mobilized millions of dollars to advance solutions for a more inclusive Land Use Planning Economy — one capable of catalyzing social capital so that affordable housing is protected and generated at the scale required to meet community need.

Cheryll has held key roles in several influential committees, including co-chairing the BSH Knowledge Mobilization Committee of the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, advising national Black-led housing development, and advising the City of Toronto’s housing strategies. She co-authored and co-edited House Divided, and has taught at the Rotman School of Business and Waterloo University’s School of Architecture.

Her leadership earned her the University of Toronto’s Early Career Canadian Urban Leader role in 2022, alongside other notable recognitions.

Joyce Chua is the Director of Operations at Amadeusz, where she oversees daily operations and collaborates with program directors and stakeholders to strengthen community impact. With over eight years of experience in the non-profit sector, her expertise includes supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, including students, executives, individuals with complex mental health needs, and those in conflict with the law.

Joyce holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Law, and Society, with a minor in Political Science from the University of Toronto Mississauga. She is also the co-author of What Works and What Doesn’t When Policing People with Mental Health Issues with Dr. Jerry Flores, published in the Social Justice Journal. Joyce is dedicated to creating meaningful change for people who are incarcerated or transitioning back into the community.

She is also a mother who enjoys spending quality time with her daughter. In her free time, she enjoys meditating, reading, and exercising.

Mohini Datta-Ray is currently the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Toronto (PPT), Ontario’s only youth community health centre. She’s grown up bi-culturally between Canada and India and has had a strong commitment to gender and social justice since she was a small, furious child.

Holding a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from McGill University with a focus on colonialism, Tantra and political identify formation in Bengal, she has made Toronto her home for the past 15 years, working first in the city’s unique ethno-specific HIV sector, then as the provincial Director of the Women and HIV/AIDS Initiative.

Prior to joining PPT, Mohini was the Executive Director of North York Women’s Shelter and led it through funding, design, and rebuild to become a paradigm-shifting anti-violence centre, with the profound joy of pulling on extensive anti-racist, anti-colonial feminist policy, research, and collective wisdom to do so.

Malika Dhanani is a second-generation settler living and working in what is traditionally known as Tkaronto. Malika is the Executive Director of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). She supports student-driven policy and works alongside student leaders to advocate for improvements to the affordability, accessibility, quality, and accountability of undergraduate education in the province.

As an advocate, Malika values uplifting voices of affected populations and harnessing the power of their perspectives and lived, intersectional experiences to strengthen policy advocacy. The shared values between her personal and professional journeys have led her to engage with policy advocacy for childcare in Ontario, youth homelessness and housing in Canada, and national home care.

Malika holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto.

Megan Fowler is a member of Wahnapitae First Nation, located in Ontario, with mixed settler ancestry. She is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Assembly of First Nations in the Rights and Governance Sector. Her work includes implementation of the United Nationals Declaration Act (UNDA) and other mandates related to supporting the self-determination and jurisdiction of First Nations.

Megan has over ten years of experience advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Prior to this role, her work focused on strengthening international advocacy for the Ontario Native Women’s Association. During this time, she attended and spoke at the United Nations’ Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Megan has served on the Board of Directors of the YWCA Toronto since 2022 and sits on the Reconciliation Committee. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Policy, Administration, and Law from York University.

Lauren Gallacher is the Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the Malvern Family Resource Centre (MFRC) in Scarborough. There she helps guide advocacy efforts focused on food security, childcare, housing, and mental health. With a strong commitment to community-centred advocacy, Lauren works to amplify the voices and experiences of those most affected by these critical issues.

Lauren holds an Honours Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management, specializing in Communication and Information Technology Policy, from Carleton University. Previously Lauren supported a Senior Policy Analyst doing work around the social determinants of health and as a Junior Policy Analyst.

In addition to her advocacy work, Lauren teaches the Malvern Youth Advocacy and Action Program (MYAAP), supporting youth to become advocates for their communities. She is particularly passionate about advocating for digital privacy protections, especially for young people navigating online spaces.

Her work and personal mission reflect a deep commitment to making meaningful change, rooted in the experiences of the communities she serves.

Krishni Ganesan is a health policy and evaluation professional, specializing in mental health and addictions services, based in Toronto.

She has worked in the public and non-profit sectors throughout her career in roles where she champions the delivery of evidence-informed and equitable health and social services. She currently works at Addictions and Mental Health Ontario as the Director of Policy, and previously worked at the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario and the Ministry of Health.

She holds a Master of Public Health from Queen’s University and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from McMaster University.

Selah Getahun is a community leader with extensive experience in foreign policy, immigration advocacy, and community development. His career spans over a decade in foreign policy and nonprofit leadership, with a strong focus on shaping policies that support immigrant integration and strengthen international relations.

Currently, Selah serves as the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Association in the Greater Toronto Area, where he leads initiatives that empower immigrant and refugee communities, particularly those of African origin. His work focuses on building strategic partnerships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private sector stakeholders to improve access to essential services for newcomers and foster social inclusion.

Selah held key government relation positions with the U.S. Department of State and Global Affairs Canada, where he contributed to high-level foreign policy initiatives across Africa. His expertise in political analysis, international diplomacy, and government relations has been instrumental in advancing policies on democracy, human rights, and migration.

Selah holds a Master of Arts in International Relations.

Emily Holton is Senior Manager, Communications, Brand and Partnerships at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Canada’s largest research centre focused on health equity and the social determinants of health. Based at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, MAP partners with communities and policy makers across the country to take on complex issues such as homelessness, intimate partner violence, inequitable access to healthcare, and the prevention of opioid-related harms.

For two decades, Emily has led communications, change management and stakeholder engagement initiatives to advance Ontario research and healthcare organizations’ strategic goals. At MAP, Emily leads marketing communications, MAP’s national policy impact strategy, and MAP’s “Even the Odds” fundraising and awareness partnership with Staples Canada.

She lives in Toronto.

Jean Hopkins is a highly collaborative policy professional currently managing the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy, a coalition of community partners working to minimize the harms related to substance use in Guelph and Wellington County.

Jean has extensive experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects within social services, regulatory bodies, and post-secondary environments. Jean holds over 15 years of experience in a broad range of roles within the non-profit sector and is committed to developing equitable and evidence-based policies. Previously, Jean was the provincial lead on the substance use and drug policy portfolio with Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario. She has also worked as a clinical social worker in the community-based addictions sector.

She holds a Master of Science from McMaster University’s Global Health program and a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University.

She is a mom to a fabulous five-year-old and a dog named Zamboni.

Jessica Justrabo is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Impact at Goodwill Industries, where she drives innovative initiatives to advance equity, inclusion, and systemic change. With over a decade of experience, Jessica has held pivotal roles including Manager of Circles London, where she collaborated with diverse stakeholders to address poverty and systemic barriers, and Manager of Social and Health Equity at Goodwill Industries, focusing on integrating health and social supports into community programs.

Jessica has worked extensively with diverse populations, including youth experiencing homelessness, families navigating poverty, and newcomer populations. Her work has consistently centered on amplifying the voices of people with lived experiences, ensuring their perspectives inform policies and solutions. A co-author of research on structural violence and policy impact, Jessica uses evidence-based practices to inspire meaningful change. With training in trauma-informed care, Indigenous cultural safety, and solution-focused coaching, she fosters inclusive and transformative solutions that empower communities.

Shaneeza Nazseer Ally is a social impact sector leader, intrapreneur, and passionate advocate for equitable access for youth to post-secondary education, meaningful employment, and justice system reform.  With more than 20 years’ experience in corporate, NGO and community-based organizations, Shaneeza is both visionary and practical, globally-minded but locally-focused.

Dalubuhle Ndlovu is a strategic and passionate systems leader with a strong record of successful program planning, monitoring and evaluation in various sectors. He is skilled in developing and implementing strategies related to local and provincial planning. He is passionate about enhancing equity and accessibility in healthcare, particularly to marginalized communities.

As Co-founder and Chair of the Black Creek Youth Initiative (BCYI), a youth-led organization in Toronto’s Black Creek area, he fosters an inclusive environment for young people, helping them navigate systemic challenges and improve their mental health. Additionally, he is Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Vitanova Addiction Treatment Centre in Vaughan and is a member of the Ontario Health System Transformation Advisory Regional Table (START).

Dalu holds a Master of Health Science in Health Administration from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights and Equity Studies (Honours) from York University. He is certified in Negotiation & Leadership from Harvard Law School.

Aleem Punja is a Registered Social Worker and strategic leader with over 20 years of experience advancing social policy initiatives and services for vulnerable communities. As Executive Director of the Future Ready Initiative, a national agency of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, he oversees programs supporting newcomers, reducing poverty, and improving quality of life through strategy, partnerships, and policy development.

Aleem holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University and is a value-based, mission-driven, and collaborative leader skilled in supporting staff and volunteers. With direct experience serving on and working with Boards, he is a proven driver of innovation and operational excellence. He excels at cultivating strategic relationships with governments, stakeholders, funders, and donors, with expertise in integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion across organizations.

Aleem consults with the Barnes Training Institute and serves as Vice-Chair of the Board at Toronto Lands Corporation. As a Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow (2023/24), he is committed to city-building and fostering inclusive communities.

Lisa Rae is the Director of Systems Change at Prosper Canada and is responsible for advancing policy and advocacy efforts to catalyse “upstream” policy, regulatory, and institutional changes.

Lisa has worked in public policy, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and communications for fifteen years. She has held roles in membership organizations, the postsecondary education and health sectors, and in government. Lisa served as a senior advisor to the Ontario Minister for Advanced Education and Skills Development and served as the Minister’s lead on the co-creation and introduction of legislation recognizing Indigenous Institutes and on the transformation of OSAP.

Lisa holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Vanessa Redditt is a family physician at the Crossroads Refugee Clinic, a specialized primary care clinic for refugees at Women’s College Hospital, and a lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Department of Community and Family Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

She is passionate about advancing health equity and tackling social and structural determinants of health. Vanessa’s clinical care, research, teaching, and advocacy focus on enhancing the health of marginalized communities, particularly refugee newcomers and migrants.

She has also previously worked in Rwanda with Partners in Health and the Ministry of Health in primary care system strengthening and health worker training; consulted with the World Health Organization on community engagement strategies; and spent time working and learning in primary care settings in Brazil, Guatemala, Malawi, and Zambia, among other contexts.

Beeta Senedjani is the community policy and network coordinator at the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, where she supports the organization and network partners in participating in policy development processes and building public support for rights-based drug policy.

Beeta’s professional background is grounded in project management and youth mental health support. In 2018, Beeta developed a mental health promotion program at Planned Parenthood Toronto, and she spent seven years working with high school-aged youth in Scarborough and Rexdale in Toronto, Ontario, as a group facilitator for yoga, mindfulness and mental, emotional, and physical health skills as part of her work with New Leaf Foundation.

Beeta received her Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, specializing in social justice.

In her spare time, Beeta enjoys forest-bathing.

Edgar Valderrama Medina is a 2020 Social Service Worker graduate from Seneca College. He first joined the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto as a placement student in 2019 and now is the Immigration and Refugee Protection Manager.

He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in the English Specialist Language program from the University of Toronto and has a background in Hispanic Literature from his time in the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM). His academic background in languages and lived experience immigrating to multiple countries in the Americas empower him to support the community establish roots in Canada.

He is an active member for the FCJ in the Canadian Council for Refugees working groups and consultations that focus on advocacy on a national level.

Ryan Voisin is the Managing Director of Inspiring Healthy Futures (IHF), where he leads strategic efforts to advance children’s well-being across Canada. Ryan drives collaboration among key partners, including child health researchers, healthcare professionals, and child rights advocates, to address the most pressing issues facing children and youth. He oversees the Acceleration Agenda and related initiatives, which focus on advancing research and actionable solutions. Under Ryan’s leadership, IHF regularly contributes to critical conversations on policy, engaging decision-makers to ensure children’s needs are prioritized.

Before joining IHF, Ryan worked for over a decade as a consultant in healthcare strategy, human-centred research, and government advocacy. He is a strong and passionate community builder who believes in celebrating and incorporating every individual’s unique contributions and achievements.

Ryan earned a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University in Toronto.