People - Institute for Canadian Citizenship

Board

Irfhan Rawji

Chair

Irfhan Rawji is the Founder & CEO of MobSquad. This innovative Canadian start-up ensures high-calibre software engineers with U.S. work visa challenges remain working with their current company but near-shored from Canada.

Martin Katz

Vice-Chair

Martin Katz is Founder and President of Prospero Pictures. One of the most prolific feature film producers in Canada, Katz’s credits include Hotel Rwanda, which was nominated for three Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards, and Bronwen Hughes’ Stander, which the London Observer called “the greatest heist film since Reservoir Dogs.”

Zai Mamdani

Board Director

A professional with a depth of corporate and non-profit experience, Zai Mamdani leverages her education and experience to provide strategic leadership and operational guidance.

Khalil Shariff

Board Director

Khalil Shariff has served as Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), a leading Canadian global development agency, since 2005.

Staff

Daniel Bernhard

Chief Executive Officer

Daniel is a first-generation Canadian who has dedicated his career to public benefit following a short stint in corporate consulting.

Salimah Dhalla

Chief People Officer

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Salimah is the ICC’s resident newcomer advocate, bringing the perspective of our beneficiaries into every program and decision. Since 2010 Salimah has worked on policy development and program implementation initiatives with the government, Indigenous communities, and newcomers. Salimah holds an undergraduate degree from Carleton University and a Master’s in Law from the University of Toronto.

Heather Barnabe

Chief Operating Officer

She/Her

An experienced, committed leader, Heather’s career has been built around improving the livelihoods of equity-deserving groups, both at home in Canada and around the world. She was the CEO of Fora: Network for Change, an organization dedicated to advancing the meaningful participation of young women and gender-diverse youth leaders in decision-making spaces. Prior to joining Fora, she managed complex, multi-country girls’ education and women’s health interventions across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America for Right To Play and CARE Canada. She also has the unique experience of having worked in corporate relations and strategic partnerships with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

hbarnabe@forcitizenship.ca

George Carothers

Senior Director, Ideas and Insights

George is a research professional with global experience spanning academia, consulting, and non-profit management.

Roberto Esteban Alvarez

Director, Partnerships

Originally from Mexico, Roberto moved to Toronto at eighteen to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and ended up staying. He left momentarily to Spain to complete a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Samantha Zimmerman

Director of Finance & Administration

She / Her

Sam is an accomplished digital strategist and nonprofit finance leader with over 15 years of experience. She specializes in financial management, change management, and technology implementation to realize improved operations using automation.

Hugo O’Doherty

Director of Marketing

Originally from Ireland, Hugo moved to Canada in 2011 and has worked in the newcomer space since 2013, leading initiatives across marketing and business development. He is passionate about helping newcomers thrive in their new home and building inclusive pathways to belonging.

Prianka Gill

Director, Newcomer Serving Partnerships

With ten years of experience working in the settlement sector, Prianka has dedicated her time to mitigating the structural and systematic barriers newcomers face.

Jutta Gruenewald

Director, Account Management

Jutta has an extensive background in Canadian Media and Ad Tech in the form of Sales, Marketing, and Research positions at organizations such as CTV, Global TV, CBC, Postmedia and International Ad Tech. These roles allowed her to be instrumental in spearheading large scale sales strategies for major TV and News networks, Olympic Games and FIFA. Jutta’s role of SVP of Sales and Client Partnerships at Postmedia was the catalyst to her expansion of interest outside of traditional media and led to board positions at Vividata and CCHoF, mentoring students in the Ted Rogers Mentorship Program.

Tobi Adesanya

Product Manager

Tobi is a Senior Product Manager with over a decade of experience building tech across West, East, and Southern Africa. He began his career as an engineer before transitioning into product management. He has since worked across multiple countries and industries, including credit, crypto, health, logistics, and international shipping. He recently migrated to Canada.

Uzair Ahmed

People and Culture Manager

Originally from Islamabad, Pakistan, Uzair is a recent Canadian citizen whose settlement experience in Canada has helped him connect with the ICC’s mission and impact. He brings more than a decade of experience in Human Resources and Business Operations across the nonprofit, media, and technology sectors. Before moving to Canada, Uzair worked on USAID-funded development programs in Pakistan and helped establish operations for SRMG’s (Saudi Research and Media Group) South Asian expansion, one of the Middle East’s largest media organizations. More recently, as Chief of Staff at a U.S.-based tech company, he focused on operational optimization and led cross-functional initiatives that supported organizational growth and scalability. Uzair holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management from Bahria University, Pakistan and a postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management from George Brown College. He is currently pursuing his CHRL designation through the HRPA. Outside of work, Uzair is a former semi-professional basketball player and volunteer basketball coach who enjoys cooking, photography, and puzzles. He lives in Toronto.

Jenna Brownlow

Communications Manager

Jenna completed her Masters in Museum Studies at the University College Cork in Ireland. Having worked in a variety of museums and galleries in Canada and Ireland, she is passionate about building community connections through art and culture.

Samantha Dupuis

Partnerships Development Manager

Samantha Dupuis brings over 15 years of experience in marketing and account management, with a strong focus on the automotive sector and building impactful partnerships across retail, finance, and not-for-profit industries. She has a proven track record of driving business growth through strategic brand management, customer engagement initiatives, and stakeholder collaboration. Samantha’s innovative approach to partnerships and her ability to spot new opportunities make her passionate about contributing to meaningful growth and positive change at the ICC.

Nabil Fairbairn

Data Systems and Insights Manager

He/Him

Nabil is a recent graduate with a degree in Linguistics and Cognitive Science. His interests lie at the crossroads of Artificial Intelligence and Language.

Kathryn Hawco

Partnerships Manager

Born in Victoria, BC, Kathryn has moved several times and landed the longest in Ottawa, ON. Kathryn completed her undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Global and International Studies, with a specialization in Global Development. Kathryn has always been a people person. Working with children on the Autism spectrum, volunteering with elderly folks, providing personal care services to physically disabled adults, and now, fostering belonging for newcomers to Canada have all been rewarding and fulfilling fields of work. Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys spending time in nature, reading, volunteering in her community, and travelling.

Tanya Hemley

Finance and Admin Operations Manager

She / Her

Tanya was born and raised in Kingston Jamaica. She immigrated to Canada at the age of 13. Tanya has over 20+ years’ experience in the administrative field and spent 6 years as a bookkeeper.

Emel Maqsood

Manager, Partnership Development (Alberta and BC)

She / Her

Emel’s professional journey is driven by a deep commitment to fostering community and belonging for everyone, especially within the immigrant sector. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Culture from the University of Calgary and an ACE TESOL Certificate, she has over seven years of experience in non-profit leadership, partnerships, marketing/communications, and ESL education. Excelling in engaging diverse groups and leading impactful social media campaigns, Emel is dedicated to empowering newcomers to Canada. Her work has been pivotal in creating an inclusive environment, advancing community development, significantly improving immigrants’ and their families’ experiences, and fostering a strong sense of belonging in their new environment.

emaqsood@forcitizenship.ca

Jim Perry

Partnerships Development Manager – Western Canada

Jim has spent a career of over 23 years supporting multiple formats of media and sponsorship properties across North America. Highlights include supporting the Calgary Marathon, REC Media, and fractional work most relevant to ICC with the BIPOC Foundation, with a wide range of brands local to national in reach. Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Jim has made Calgary home for over 25 years with his wife Marcia and daughter Megan.

Arash Safavi

Digital Marketing and Communications Manager

Arash Safavi is digital media savvy and creative thinker. In addition to having 12+ years of experience in content creation, he also has 6+ years of experience in digital media and digital marketing. This is complemented by strong design skills and a multimedia background. His educational background includes an MFA in Art, Media, and Design as well as an engineering degree. His interest, research and practices lie around diaspora, photography and visual storytelling.

Dana Said

Account Manager, Corporate Sponsorships

Dana Said turns complexity into results. With 15+ years across 4 continents, she’s driven growth for global brands and nonprofits. A calm, decisive, bias-for-action leader she thrives on challenges. Whether she is training to run a marathon or learning a new skill, she blends strategic insight with execution and impact. Recognized with multiple awards for contributions for impactful positive change with the medal for the Canadian Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, Rotary International’s Paul Harris Award, and the Town of Oakville Community Spirit Award for the Arts.

Jayani Srigouranga

Partnership Development Manager (Major Events, Education & Conferences)

Jayani completed her undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Anthropology with minors in African Studies and American Sign Language. Additionally, during her undergrad, she was involved in many extracurricular activities that involved student support/engagement and research. With her parents immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka, making her a first-generation Tamil Canadian, Jayani has and continues to explore the meaning and experience of being a part of a diaspora. She strongly believes in the power of community and will take any opportunity to learn something new. Working with and supporting newcomers’ sense of belonging is a role she holds near and dear to her heart. In her spare time, Jayani loves to cook, read, spend time with her friends/family, travel, and tend to her many plants.

Mojoyin Adigun

Philanthropy Lead

Mojoyin was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and immigrated to Canada in her early teenage years. In her professional journey, she has extensive experience in volunteering and various associated programs. Mojoyin’s passion for inclusion and helping others has led her to actively create and participate in various initiatives to impact the community positively.

Farah Aqrabawi

Design Lead

Farah Aqrabawi is a graphic designer with 7 years of experience, specializing in designs that elevate brand narratives. Drawing inspiration from her background in architecture, she approaches design with a focus on functionality and user experience, allowing her to create designs that not only look great but also serve a purpose. Farah believes that thoughtful design has the power to inspire and drive change. Her work reflects a passion for community, culture, and the transformative power of effective design.

faqrabawi@forcitizenship.ca

Natalia Garcia Basilio

Philanthropy Lead

Natalia holds a BA in International Relations and possesses a strong background in project management, event management, fundraising and research. She has worked in a variety of environments that include non-profits, as well as local and national governments and embassies.Natalia was born in Mexico, and after having first visited Canada as an exchange student, she has called Canada home since 2016. Before coming to Canada she lived and worked in Serbia and Montenegro. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Serbian.Natalia is passionate about languages and understanding how they reflect the cultural richness of the nations that speak them. She loves trying international cuisines and learning about the stories behind each dish.

Andrew Beer

Customer Support Specialist

Andrew Beer has worked with the ICC since 2011 and marveled at its change and growth into what it is today. Keen on streamlining processes, Andrew has a database background and is Canoo’s bilingual customer service guru.

Pritha Ghosh

Social Media Specialist

Pritha Ghosh brings a diverse background in digital and content marketing, with experience spanning social media strategy, influencer campaigns, and creative brand storytelling. She has worked with lifestyle, beauty, fintech, and design brands, developing data-driven campaigns and engaging online communities. Skilled in crafting impactful content and analyzing performance insights, she is passionate about using digital platforms to connect people and share meaningful stories.

Paula Espinosa Alarcón

Partnerships Specialist, Western Canada

Originally from Quito, Ecuador, Paula holds a BA in Women & Gender Studies from Bates College (United States) and a Master of Journalism from the University of British Columbia. She has led international nonprofit projects and communications campaigns advancing gender justice, queer rights, and reproductive justice. Guided by an intersectional approach, her work amplifies underrepresented voices. At the ICC, Paula builds and strengthens partnerships that expand access, belonging, and agency for newcomers across Canada. Based in Vancouver, she enjoys hiking, walks by Jericho Beach, and binge-watching shows – especially Love Island!

Vidah Reghat

Partnerships Specialist

Vidah is a first-generation Canadian, currently finishing her undergraduate degree at The University of Toronto, specializing in Bioethics and minoring in English studies. Growing up in a Filipino-Iranian household, she understands how empowering it can be when cultures collide. Using her multiple years of customer service experience, Vidah is adamant about providing the best bi-lingual assistance (in both English and French) to any inquiring Canoo members.

Carlos Ruiz

Partnerships Development Specialist

Carlos brings several years of experience in business development and partnership management, with a strong background in building trusted relationships and driving sustainable growth across diverse markets. Throughout his career, Carlos has successfully led initiatives that connected organizations across borders, helping Canadian companies collaborate with international partners and achieve operational efficiencies. Known for his resilience and client-centric approach, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to engage stakeholders, and deliver measurable impact in every initiative. Passionate about inclusion and newcomer success, Carlos is committed to advancing ICC’s mission and supporting its transformative programs.

Founders

The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson

Co-Founder

The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Canada’s 26th Governor General from 1999-2005, is universally acknowledged to have transformed the office during her six years at Rideau Hall and to have left an indelible mark on Canada’s history.

John Ralston Saul

Co-Founder

John Ralston Saul is an award-winning essayist and novelist. His 16 works, including Voltaire’s Bastards, A Fair Country and The Comeback, have been translated into 29 languages in 38 countries. Saul is the Co-Founder & Co-Chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, President Emeritus of PEN International, and Co-Founder & Honorary Chair of French for the Future. He is a Companion in the Order of Canada and a Member of the Order of Ontario.

Join our team!

Our team is the key to the successful delivery of the Institute’s programs. Our team members bring a diversity of perspectives to our work and reflect the lived experiences of Canadian society.

Our Supporters

We are constantly inspired by our community of passionate supporters. The unparalleled commitment of our donors and partners is what builds the strength of our programs.