CEO & Board
Mitzie Hunter, President and CEO
Mitzie Hunter is a dynamic, community-grounded leader and President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Her 30 years of leadership spans the nonprofit sector, private sector, and government. Mitzie has a trailblazing track record and many successes championing infrastructure and community improvements. She was the first Black woman to serve as Ontario’s Minister of Education. She also served as Ontario’s Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development and Associate Minister of Finance.
Mitzie is a respected advocate for diverse women, girls, and Two Spirit, trans, and nonbinary people across Canada. She is known for her expertise in an array of issues, from women’s leadership to inclusive economies to sustainable neighbourhood and city building.
Mitzie is a founding visionary of the Prosperity Project. She served as Chief Administrative Officer of Toronto Community Housing Corporation, CEO of CivicAction, Vice President of External Relations and Corporate Secretary at Goodwill Industries, and President of SMART Toronto, a technology hub. She is a Senior Fellow with the C.D. Howe Institute and a Canadian Urban Leader at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. Mitzie has also served in several board leadership positions in nonprofit and public service bodies, including United Way Greater Toronto and TVO. In 2023, Mitzie ran for mayor in the City of Toronto by-election.
Laurie Young, Board Chair
Laurie is a senior communications executive, now finishing her term as the CEO of Ogilvy Canada, the Canadian operation of a global network. She has grown with the firm since joining in 1988, an Honours BA in hand from Victoria College, U of T. She assumed increasing responsibility and progressively senior positions, which culminated in the role of CEO – the first woman to hold this post.
Her office has distinguished itself within the industry behind its creation of brands with purpose: brand campaigns such as Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty, Huggies No Baby Unhugged, and Hellmann’s Real Food Movement. It is this intersection of business growth and societal impact that she finds most rewarding.
She has been active as an industry leader: board member and chair of the Institute of Communication Agencies, chair of various award committees and industry conferences. A life-long learner, she’s taken courses in executive finance, leadership, digital transformation, and women in leadership.
She has spent her career coaching and mentoring women to help them overcome gender bias in career choices and advancement, through seminars, workshops, and one-on-one coaching. She sees working with the Canadian Women’s Foundation as a new, very real and broader way to continue helping women and girls reach their potential. Having had some terrific mentors and “support sisters” over her career at work, and as a mom, she wants to pay forward that advantage.
Sarah Mariani, Board Vice-Chair
Outside of the office, Sarah is a board member of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and serves on two advisory committees at Fora: Network for Change (previously known as G(irls)20). In response to COVID-19, Sarah launched Sincere Solutions, offering affordable IT consulting to non-profit clients navigating the shift to online operations without dedicated support.
Sarah graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in political science, focused on the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship and policy. Her published research is focused on youth entrepreneurship, women’s economic development and the potential of distributed ledgers for social change.
Peggy Moss, Board Vice-Chair
A lawyer and former hate violence prosecutor, Peggy served as an Assistant Attorney General in the civil rights unit of the Maine Department of Attorney General and as Associate Director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence.
She has consulted on bullying and hate violence issues and presented to educators from the elementary to university level as well as camp leaders, law enforcement and health care workers seeking to identify and prevent harassment and violence and create safe spaces. She was previously a business development director and strategic communications advisor to Blake, Cassels & Graydon, a leading Canadian law firm, where she has also played an active role in diversity and inclusion initiatives and co-founded an ally program.
Peggy has volunteered with the Canadian Women’s Foundation in a number of capacities, including as a grant reviewer, advisory board member and project advisor. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of PREVNet, a leading network for promoting relationships and eliminating violence in Canada.
Peggy is a graduate of Princeton University and the Washington College of Law at American University. She earned her MFA in writing from the University of Southern Maine, Stonecoast.
Kimberly Hu Amadori, Board Treasurer
Kimberly Hu, CFA is a Vice President, Investment Counsellor at Guardian Partners. She advises ultra-high net worth families and institutional clients including foundations and endowments to address their unique financial challenges, including stewardship responsibilities, fiduciary duties and investment solutions. She has extensive experience collaborating with Boards and Investment Committees as well as internal partners such as finance, audit and donor contribution teams. Kimberly has also been involved with educating and developing strategic philanthropy plans for her private clients and families.
Throughout her career, Kimberly has taken a personal interest in mentoring and educating women on financial literacy and wealth planning and she has been involved with organizing events centered on these topics. She has led initiatives at her prior and current organization to inspire and empower women to take charge of their financial futures by building a community that focuses on advice, education, accessibility, and women’s distinct needs.
Kimberly received her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Queen’s University. She is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the Toronto CFA Society.
As a Board member of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Kimberly will continue her efforts to support and empower girls and women through removing organizational, financial and societal barriers. She aims to transform one life at a time to create a world where gender equality becomes the status quo.
Sandy Vander Ziel, Board Secretary
As a senior lawyer and partner with Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP, Sandy practises exclusively family law. Her practice is limited to alternative dispute resolution where she specializes in Collaborative law, Mediation, Arbitration and Parenting Coordination. Sandy is an active leader in the legal community and has served on the Executive of the Canadian Bar Association Family Law Section and is the current Chair.
Sandy has been an active community leader for over 3 decades and has held numerous leadership roles and has significant experience volunteering for non profit organizations. She is the past Chair of the Calgary Youth Justice Society an organization that helps youth in conflict with the law to find what is strong in their lives through programs proven to build resilience, reduce risk and nurture community connections. Subsequent to Sandy leaving the Calgary Youth Justice Society, the Board established an award in her name, the Sandy Vander Ziel Heart of Change Award.
Sandy’s passion for issues related to family violence began at a very young age and in 2007, her passion led her to the Board of Sonshine Community Services, a transitional shelter for women and children fleeing family violence. Sandy was a member of the Board from 2007 to 2019 and served as the Chair of the Board from 2009 to 2019. In her role as Chair, Sandy was instrumental in supporting the shelters first capital campaign to raise $1,000,000 to build the first children centre in Canada. The Sonshine Children’s Centre which opened in 2015 provides children who have been exposed to trauma and violence with therapeutic intervention to work toward breaking the cycle of violence. At the opening of the Centre, Sandy shared that the Children’s Centre was an “idea whose time had come and an opportunity for children to receive the therapeutic intervention required to transition their path to one of hope and to regain the joy that should be intrinsic to every child’s life.” It was during her time on the Board of Sonshine that Sandy was honoured with the Women in Law Leadership Award for Service to the Community. Shortly after leaving the Board of Sonshine, Sandy joined the board of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters and currently chairs the Social, Legal and Ethics Committee.
Sandy is thrilled to now be joining the Board of the Canadian Women’s Foundation as she is a passionate advocate for issues affecting women and girls and is honoured to be able to continue supporting the integral work of the Foundation.
Lori Flinders-McMillan, Board Member
Her knowledge bundle includes over 30 years of experience in Social Work leadership, management, program development, leading best practices, frontline, mentorship, and counselling. She has been published with Accreditation Canada for her leading best practices and in First Lady Nation twice on sharing her story of healing and recovery. Lori has also had several poems published and shares that writing poetry is an outlet and act of self love.
Lori Flinders-McMillan is an Anishinaabekwe from Couchiching First Nation in Southern Treaty 3 and from the Lynx Clan with matriarchal Bear Clan heritage. Lori also carries an Anishinaabe Traditional bundle and is Second degree Midewin. She holds knowledge in medicines, lands-based healing methodologies and has relationships with numerous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Helpers, and Healers.
Jas Kaur Hothi, Board Member
Jas Kaur Hothi, CPA, CA fundamentally believes when we empower girls and women, we’re not only transforming their story. We’re slowly but surely knocking down barriers and opening doors to change the narrative for all women, full stop.
An EY Canada Partner and National Practice Leader, Jas guides Canadian businesses as they reimagine their strategies for the transformative age. She founded the firm’s Financial Services Enterprise Risk practice in Canada, and serves in critical C-suite roles at media and entertainment companies, crown corporations and non-profit organizations looking to reinvent themselves from the outside, in.
At its core, Jas’ work focuses on advising corporate boards, executives and business leaders on all aspects of their risk transformation strategy. But it’s how she does it that sets her apart. Jas fosters a sense of belonging, and cultivates a culture of inclusion, among her team of diverse practitioners from coast to coast. Above all: she encourages others to do the same, and leads by example. Jas is the Executive Sponsor for EY’s Professional Women’s Network nationally and in Toronto. Jas has proactively sought ways to use her voice as a catalyst for change. Some days, that meant leading EY Power Up sessions geared to help women achieve career growth. Other days, it’s serving as a mentor, both within the firm and the broader community. Jas is also a founding member of the United Way Next Gen cabinet at EY, which seeks to engage young talent’s support of at-risk communities.
As a Canadian Women’s Foundation Board Member, Jas is working to create true momentum, finding new – and better – ways of solving gender-based violence, inequality, and barriers for girls and women from all communities. She brings formal Institute of Corporate Directors training, vast professional experience, tremendous passion for the cause, and deep commitment to making progress in every possible way.
Oyinlola Iwaeni, Board Member
Oyinlola is currently the Corporate Controller at Energy Toolbase Software, Inc, where she leads the accounting team and leverages her financial acumen for the organization’s success. Her journey started with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and she has worked across Sub-Saharan Africa, England and Canada. Oyinlola also has an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, a private graduate business school based in Washington. D.C.
Beyond her professional success, Oyinlola is a member of the CPA Financial Literacy Volunteer Program, where she presents financial literacy education sessions for local communities. She also serves as a career mentor with the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Counsel, supporting new immigrants with transitioning and mentoring them to reach their full potential in Canada. Oyinlola’s commitment to lifelong learning has led her to explore ongoing courses in finance technology, business and data analytics, and leadership.
Oyinlola has enjoyed the gift of having strong female mentors across her personal and professional life and is dedicated herself to supporting and mentoring women to help them overcome gender bias in career and personal life choices. Oyinlola is a strong advocate for female empowerment and is passionate about making a broader and more tangible impact by collaborating with the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
She believes in paying forward the benefits she received, both as a recipient of terrific mentors and as a devoted mom. Oyinlola’s career embodies the spirit of leadership, purpose, and advocacy. Her journey, marked by pioneering achievements and a dedication to empowering women and girls, continues to inspire and transform the finance and accounting landscape.
Dr. Dawn Lavell Harvard
Board Member
Dr. Dawn Lavell Harvard, Ph.D., is a proud member of the Wikwemikong First Nation, the first Aboriginal Trudeau Scholar, and has worked to advance the rights of Aboriginal women as the President of the Ontario Native Women’s Association since she was first elected in 2003.
Dawn has been the Director for First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University since 2016, having left her previous role as President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada in order to return to her roots as an educator.
Dawn is a full-time mother of three girls. Following in the footsteps of her mother Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, a noted advocate for Indigenous women’s rights, Dawn has been working toward the empowerment of Aboriginal women and their families ever since joining the Board of the Ontario Native Women Association as a youth director back in 1994. She is also a co-editor of the original volume on Indigenous Mothering, “Until Our Hearts Are on the Ground: Aboriginal Mothering, Oppression, Resistance and Rebirth,” and has released a book along with Kim Anderson, “Mothers of the Nations.” Recently, Dawn co-edited a book with Jennifer Brant, entitled “Forever Loved: Exposing the Hidden Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada.”
Nancy MacKellar, Board Member
Harlene Mann, Board Member
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies and Political Science from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Royal Roads University, Harlene’s academic background has shaped her deep understanding of the systemic barriers women and girls face. Harlene is a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner and is pursuing her Certified Change Management Professional® certification, demonstrating her dedication to continuous learning and using her skills to drive positive change for marginalized communities.
As a volunteer, Harlene is driven by her belief in creating opportunities for all women. She has a proven history of engaging in initiatives that promote inclusion and empower women to overcome challenges, both in the workplace and in society. Harlene’s commitment to the Foundation’s mission is rooted in her desire to contribute to a future where all women can thrive, and where gender equality forms the foundation of our lives.
Roxanne Pereira, Board Member
Roxanne pursued her passion further by obtaining a master’s degree in international development studies at Dalhousie University. Her academic research focused on the rehabilitation and reintegration of sex workers in India, back into society. Roxanne currently works in The Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives as an Engagement and Outreach Analyst. In addition, Roxanne works part-time as a program coordinator for a research study that focuses on Preventing and Addressing Family Violence in rural parts of Atlantic Canada.
In addition to working in government, she has worked in non-profit organizations that have a focus on gender justice and equality. Through her academic and personal experience, she has realized that gender inequalities are affecting different communities in different ways. These systemic inequalities do not have a place in our country, and the need to address them is important in moving us towards becoming a more equitable and inclusive country.
Meenu Sikand, Board Member
Meenu brings with her a true passion to create accessible, inclusive and welcoming communities that embrace everyone. She joined the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility as the Assistant Deputy Minister overseeing the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Division in September 2022. Prior to this she was the inaugural executive lead for equity, diversity and inclusion and co-chair of the Inclusion Diversity Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Task Force, at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre.
She has coined and promotes the IDEA lens to build bridges between disability and EDI sectors using her approach to achieving inclusion by recognizing intersectionality and full human diversity.
Meenu is the founder of Accessibility for All, a non-profit organization that works to identify, address and meet the needs of marginalized communities. She is a proven leader in anchoring accessibility in organizational priorities and programming, including implementing accessibility requirements for local, national and international legislations using a human rights and anti-discrimination, anti-racism and inclusion lens.
Meenu is an award-winning disability rights and EDI advocate, an educator and a sought-after speaker. She is a strong social media influencer and has travelled the world speaking on a wide variety of disability topics including mental health, cultural competencies, parenting, social exclusion, accommodation and race and systemic oppression.
Kim Ulmer, Board Member
Kim Ulmer, an over 30-year veteran of RBC, has dedicated herself to a variety of roles in various markets and fields. Having proudly begun her career as a summer student in Regina as a Client Advisor, Kim has held progressively senior roles including Regional Vice President for Regina and Parkland Region, Vice President Commercial Financial Services for Southern Saskatchewan, and Vice President Small Business for RBC’s Canadian Banking division.
Passionate about youth, the entrepreneurial spirit, diversity & inclusion, and the arts, Kim is active in the community and a strong supporter of employee volunteerism. Kim is a member of the Business Council of Manitoba. Kim serves on the Winnipeg Art Gallery Board and plays an active role in the Asper MBA Executive Mentorship Program at the University of Manitoba. Kim is also part of the National Learning Partnership Board for Take our Kids to Work Day, Saskatchewan’s Polytechnic It’s about time Capital Campaign, and is a founding member of the International Women’s Forum new Winnipeg chapter.
Kim proudly serves as the Executive Champion for two RBC Employee Resource Groups within her region, The Black Professionals Network and RBC Pride.
Kim holds an MBA from Dalhousie University and a diploma in Business Administration from SIAST, and received an honorary degree from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in the spring of 2018.
Kim and her husband Garnell, together with their son Lucas reside in Winnipeg, Manitoba surrounded by family, friends, and a spirited community.
Elaine Williamson, Board Member
Elaine teaches in the Ch’nook Aboriginal Management Program, and is the former Director of the Diploma in Marketing and Sales Management. As a co-founder of the Sauder Sales Mentorship Program, she created a career development platform to connect students with industry professionals, develop career-ready skills and find employment.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Indigenous Studies, Sauder and Forestry), Elaine recently completed a Master’s in Liberal Studies (SFU), holds an MBA from Sauder, and accreditations in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
Elaine is an experienced community leader with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is on the SPARK Advisory Committee of Beedie Luminaries, has served as a Board member for organizations including B.C. Women’s Hospital Foundation, the Vancouver Writers’ Festival, and the Vancouver Space Centre. She is the past Board Co-Chair of Dress for Success, an organization committed to empowering women into the workforce. Elaine is passionate about helping individuals who are striving to advance their academic and career goals and finding ways to address systemic constraints to economic empowerment.
