Board of Trustees

Lisa Gonsalves

Chair, Board of Trustees
The Regional Municipality of York

Lisa is an accomplished public sector professional who has led countless human services and policy initiatives over her 30-year career.

For more than 20 years, Lisa has worked for York Region in multiple positions which included working in the Regional Clerk’s office and in the Office of the Chairman and CEO and was the Director of the Strategies and Partnerships Branch of the Community and Health Services department, for 9 years, where she oversaw community investment allocations, strategic social policy, research and analysis, and strategic communications. In her role as Director, she led the development of the Region’s newcomer and seniors strategies and the Inclusion Charter which received international recognition from United Nations Institute for Training and Research. In 2019, she took on the role of General Manager, Paramedic and Seniors Services, where she now provides operational oversight for paramedic services and the Region’s two long-term care homes.

Lisa has also worked for the provincial government in a variety of roles including at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Community and Social Services, the cabinet office providing support to the Premier’s Office, and with the management board.

Lisa has a B.A. in public policy and administration and a M.A. in political science.

Mariam Hashmi

Vice Chair,
Community Impact Committee
Walmart Canada

Mariam Hashmi’s background combines an understanding of the Peel Region community through her United Way experience and other volunteer involvements, with a professional background in technology-led transformation and organizational development.

Mariam is currently working at Walmart Canada as a Senior Director, Head of Insights and Analytics Centre of Excellence where she leads data governance, data platform strategy, and data product development, including AI/ML powered analytics.  Previously, Mariam was the Director of Technology Products & Program Operations at IMAX for enterprise applications and direct-to-customer mobile products.  Prior to this role she worked at RBC as the Director of Strategic Initiatives, where she led key programs to support the transformation and talent priorities of the Technology & Operations group. Earlier in her career, Mariam was a management consultant at KPMG and IBM serving private and public sector clients with technology advisory and implementation services.

Mariam has served on other boards including her role as Vice Chair of the Peel Leadership Centre. She was also a member of KPMG’s GTA Foundation grants committee and completed the DiverseCity Fellowship program at Civic Action in 2017. 

Mariam graduated with distinction from the MBA and HBA programs at the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and completed the Product Platform management program at MIT. She received an Emerging Leader Award from the Ivey Alumni association in 2013 for her community engagement within the GTA.  She also received an Ontario Community Service Award in 2021.

Mariam lives and works in Peel Region and has served on our Board and Community Impact Committee (CIC) since 2018. In addition, she will also be Chair of CIC and a member of the Governance and Human Resources Committee (GHRC) starting in 2023. She was a member of United Way of Peel Region’s Board of Trustees and Governance and Nominations Committee.

 

Nancy McConnell

Vice Chair, Strategic Development, Google Canada

Nancy McConnell is a strategic business leader and a curious, tenacious optimist who specializes in productive partnerships. Nancy is Director, Strategic Customer Partnerships for Google Cloud.  In this role, Nancy brings the best of Google teams, products and Alphabet companies to accelerate innovation in Canadian businesses, with a focus on growing Google Cloud in Canada.   
 

Before joining Google Cloud in July 2021, Nancy worked in Google’s advertising and marketing functions for over 6 years, most recently as Director, Agency & Industry Relations and as a member of the Canadian Leadership Team.  Before Google, Nancy was Vice President, Digital Sales & Operations at Bell Media. 

Nancy is an active executive sponsor of Employee Resource Groups which support underrepresented employees and their allies, with the shared value of promoting diversity and inclusion at Google. Nancy is a mentor for PwC’s Women in Leadership program and dedicated to United Way Greater Toronto as a member of the Governance & Human Resources Committee, Chair of the Strategic Development Subcommittee and Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees.   

Nancy holds a BA (Honours) in Philosophy from Queen’s University. 

Nancy lives in Toronto with her husband and two typically Canadian hockey-playing kids. 

Bruce McCuaig

Vice Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk & Treasurer, AECOM

Bruce McCuaig is an experienced leader in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects and public-facing services to diverse customers in intense media and political environments, where he pursues an agenda requiring alignment and collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

He currently works at AECOM as Senior Vice President responsible for leading the Canadian transportation business line, providing engineering and consulting services to public and private clients.

Bruce spent his early career at the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs, working in community planning, housing development, executive administration, and long-term structure planning for the Greater Toronto Area. He has held a variety of roles in planning, policy, and service delivery at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, culminating as Deputy Minister between 2008 and 2010. From 2010 to 2017, Bruce was the President and CEO at Metrolinx, the regional transportation authority in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

In 2017, Bruce served as an Executive Advisor with the Privy Council Office of the Government of Canada, advising on the set up and launch of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and where he developed and implemented a program of outreach to municipalities.

In addition to his United Way involvement, Bruce has served on several professional and community boards, including the Providence Healthcare Foundation as Vice Chair of the Campaign Committee. Bruce is a program director and an instructor at Osgoode Hall in the Master of Law program specializing in energy and infrastructure.

Bruce graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning and from Queen’s University with a Master of Public Administration.

Bruce lives and works in Peel Region and has served on our Board as Vice Chair, Finance and Treasurer since 2018. Additionally, he is chair of our Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and member of our Governance & Human Resources Committee. Before joining UWGT’s Board, Bruce was the Vice Chair of United Way of Peel Region’s Board of Trustees.

Andria Babbington

Toronto & York Region Labour Council

Andria Babbington is the President of the Toronto & York Regional Labour Council representing over 220,000 union members in Canada’s largest urban centre. An immigrant to Canada in her youth, Andria joined the labour movement when she began working in the hotel sector in downtown Toronto, where she became chief steward in her hotel at the age of 19, one of the youngest in her union’s history. Working as a union organizer for many years, Andria played a pivotal role in campaigns like 2006’s Hotel Workers Rising, which raised the living standard across North America for thousands of hospitality workers.

Andria has been on the executive board at the Labour Council since 2004 and served as Vice President for eight years prior to being elected President. The first woman of colour to sit as President, Andria is committed to fighting for a just economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond; equality and justice for all workers; growing the labour movement by increasing union density; and fighting for climate justice to ensure a future for our children.

Len Carby

IG Wealth Management

With a record of over 20 years of community service in Canada and abroad, Len Carby is driven to serve his community by bringing practical and innovative social leadership. He understands the challenges and opportunities facing the Region of Peel, and desires to position the growing region to confront them by offering new ideas to make his community a caring, inclusive and welcoming place, where residents feel safe to live, work and raise their families.

Len is member of the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee at the Peel Regional Police and a member of the We Rise Together Steering Committee with the Peel District School Board. He has volunteered with United Way of Peel Region, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario–Black Leadership Health Summit, Jamaica Consul General Citizenship Committee, Cuso International and was a founding board member of the Federation of Black Canadians. Len was a candidate for Peel Regional Council in the 2010 Municipal election.

Len is currently a Senior Financial Consultant at IG Wealth Management. Previously, he held positions as a Financial Planner at RBC Royal Bank, Financial Advisor at Versatile Financial Group and managed an Associate General Agency with PPI Solutions. Prior to this, Len worked in Information Technology.

Len holds a Fellow at the Life Management Institute (FLMI), a Personal Financial Planner (PFP) accreditation from the Canadian Securities Institute, a BBA from the University of Technology in Jamaica, and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.

Len lives and works in Peel Region. He has been a member of our Board of Trustees since 2021, a member of the Strategic Resource Development Committee since January 2020 and he was the Chair of our Black Community Advisory Council from 2012-2018 and continues to be an active member.

Betsey Chung

TD Bank Group

Betsey Chung is the EVP, Global Chief Marketing Officer of TD Bank Group (TD), where she oversees the articulation of TD’s purpose-driven strategy across its global footprint. In this role, Betsey leads a world-class team of marketers who drives growth, activates the brand and helps form deeper connections with our customers, colleagues and communities.  

Betsey is an international executive with expertise as a Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a P&L owner.  She has consistent success driving digital transformation at global organizations including American Express, BMO and KPMG Consulting in the US, UK and Europe. 

Betsey joined TD in 2017 and has helped re-imagine the banking experience on TD’s digital channels, including providing our customers with proactive advice and personalized solutions that help them feel confident about their financial future.   

Betsey has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, leading large global teams driving brand, customer experience, martech and adtech, digital marketing, personalization, data/analytics, in house creative and digital media.   

Betsey has been recognized for her impact and excellence in Canadian leadership and was named a 2020 recipient of The Globe & Mail, Report on Business Best Executive Award – Sales & Marketing.   

As a key member of TD’s Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Council, Betsey is champion of inclusion and diversity. She is active on TD’s Enterprise Women in Leadership and Visible Minority Committees and chairs the TD Marketing Black Colleague Network. She also sits on the United Way Board of Trustees.    

Betsey completed her MBA at London Business School in the UK and obtained her Chartered Accountancy designation. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters. 

Laura Dottori-Attanasio 

Element Fleet Management

Laura Dottori-Attanasio is Element Fleet Management’s President and will become President & Chief Executive Officer on May 10, 2023.

Laura brings a wealth of experience from more than 30 years in the finance sector. Prior to Element, Laura was Senior Executive Vice President & Head of Personal and Business Banking at CIBC. Under her leadership, the bank received the highest rank in overall client satisfaction for online banking among Canada’s Big Five banks in 2022, according to J.D. Power. During her tenure at CIBC, Laura also held numerous senior executive positions including Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Risk Officer and Managing Director & Global Head of Corporate Banking. Before joining CIBC, Laura held progressively senior roles at National Bank of Canada in corporate banking, credit, capital markets and risk.

A continuous learner with an entrepreneurial mind-set, Laura leads by example through collaboration, empowerment, transparency, and her commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Laura is a member of the Board of the C.D. Howe Institute, a Board of Trustees member at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and a member of the Board Selection Committee for The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons “A Seat at the Table”. Laura is also Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee of the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada and a member of the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Greater Toronto.

Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from Western University and is fully bilingual in English and French.

She is a Capital Club donor and she served on the MIG cabinet from 2009-2013 and joined the MIG cabinet again as Chair in 2018 and 2019 and a member Campaign Cabinet in 2018 and 2019.

Katherine Dudtschak

Leader, Corporate Director, Advisor and Community Builder

Katherine (Katie) Dudtschak led RBC’s eight personal and business regions in Canada. This includes more than 20,000 advisors in branches and business centres, and industry-leading specialist teams such as Commercial Banking, Financial Planning, Investment and Retirement Planners and Mortgage Specialists. More than 10,000 of these advisors are also licensed through Royal Mutual Funds Inc.

Katie was responsible for setting and leading the execution of distribution strategies that enable our “digitally-enabled relationship bank” strategy and deliver outstanding client loyalty and growth. From 2013-2019, Katie also had overall leadership responsibility for RBC’s presence in the Caribbean, following her successful repositioning of the region’s personal, business and corporate banking businesses. She brings more than 30 years of RBC experience and has held a variety of executive roles across the P&CB network and head office including Strategy, Human Resources, Distribution Strategy, Operations, Group Risk Management and Regional President.

Committed to community leadership, besides being a member of our Board of Trustees and Campaign Cabinet, Katie is a past member of our Major Giving Cabinet and co-chaired RBC’s United Way employee giving campaign. Katie is an Industry Director with the Mutual Fund Dealers Association Board of Directors. In 2021, she also became a member of the Board of Directors for Jack.org, a Canadian charity dedicated to training and empowering young people to revolutionize mental health.

Katie holds an MBA from Ivy Business School, Western University and a Partners, Directors and Senior Officers certificate as well as an Institute-Certified Director (ICD.D) certificate from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Wayne Halenda

Independent Consultant

Wayne Halenda brings a depth of financial management expertise to the Board. For 30 years, he focused on capital markets and risk management in the banking industry. He is currently an independent consultant providing CFO services to entrepreneurs and business owners.

Wayne holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Wayne lives in Peel Region and has served on our Board and Finance, Risk & Audit Committee since his election in 2018. Prior to that, Wayne was a member and Treasurer at United Way of Peel Region Board of Trustees.

Mohammed Hashim

Canadian Race Relations Foundation

Mohammed Hashim is the Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, a Federal Crown Corporation within the Department of Canadian Heritage. Mohammed has worked as a labour organizer and human rights advocate for over two decades, dedicating his career to advancing equity, inclusion, and community empowerment. He is committed to pushing bold public policy that addresses systemic discrimination and has a long track record of being a collaborative leader.

Previously, as a senior organizer with the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Mohammed was responsible for leading the government relations and campaign work, and has been involved in advocacy across municipal governments and school boards in Toronto, Peel and York Region.

Mohammed worked as a Labour Liaison to both the United Way of Peel Region as well as the United Way Toronto & York Region. Until 2016, he served as the Board Chair of the Erin Mills Youth Centre, a United Way funded agency in Mississauga in a neighbourhood he grew up in.

Mohammed lives in Peel Region and has an office in Toronto.

Ziad Hindo

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Ziad leads all aspects of Ontario Teachers’ investment activities with overall oversight of the Investments Division. He is responsible for the global portfolio and strategy for Ontario Teachers’ investment activities, including the real estate portfolio managed by wholly owned subsidiary Cadillac Fairview, and its international offices in Hong Kong, London, Singapore and San Francisco.  

Ziad joined Ontario Teachers’ in 2000 and has global experience spanning multiple asset classes, in both public and private markets. Since assuming his role as the CIO in 2018, he has been instrumental in leading the Investments Division to launch the Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), refresh the global investment strategy, expand active investing across the various asset classes and establish a comprehensive climate strategy, anchored by a commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050.  

Ziad earned a B.Sc. at the University of York, an M.Sc. from the University of Warwick, and is a CFA charter holder. 

Michelle Johnston

Society of United Professionals, IFPTE 160

Michelle Johnston is the president of the Society of United Professionals, the union of choice for Ontario’s professional workers. 

A proud northerner from Timmins, Ontario, as a woman with mixed Indigenous and European ancestry Michelle has burst through glass ceilings throughout her more than 30 years in the provincial energy sector. Prior to becoming an elected union leader, Michelle worked in IT for Hydro One. Michelle first got involved in her union to fight for good jobs for the next generation of workers.  

Michelle is also Vice President (Canada) of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Workers Council, a member of the Canadian Labour Congress’s Canadian Council, and a director of the Canadian Nuclear Association and Electricity Human Resources Canada. 

Michelle holds an Honours BA in Psychology with a double minor in Sociology and Social Work from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. 

Having beat an aggressive form of breast cancer with the support of Ontario’s health care system and her family, in her spare time Michelle dedicates her efforts to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, the CIBC Run for the Cure, and serves on the board of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. 

Michelle lives in Durham Region and works in Toronto. She is a member of our Community Impact Committee and Indigenous Partnership Council. 

Islay McGlynn

Corporate Director

Islay McGlynn recently retired from a 33-year banking career and has broad experience across Personal, Small Business and Commercial Banking business lines as well as experience in risk management, human resources and operations. She is also the Chair of Maduro & Curiel’s Bank, a full-service bank based in Curaçao with subsidiaries across the Dutch Caribbean. 

Islay holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel and Food Administration from the University of Guelph, an MBA from McGill University, and a Master of Information Studies from the University of Toronto. She also has the Director designation (ICD.D) from the Institute of Corporate Directors.  

Islay is a dedicated United Way supporter and volunteer. She was active with the United Way Halifax, is a long-time donor, and a member of our Major Individual Giving Cabinet, and she was the executive lead when Brian Porter chaired the UWGT Campaign Cabinet in 2018. 

  

Dr. Patricia O’Campo

Past Chair, Board of Trustees
St. Michael’s Hospital

Dr. Patricia O’Campo is the Executive Director of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital. Pat holds a Canada Research Chair on Population Health Intervention Research and is a scientist in the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions. She is also a Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, and Fellow at the Royal Society of Canada.

Pat is an internationally renowned public health scholar who has an active research program that focuses on understanding the health impacts of complex urban social problems experienced by low-income populations. Her exceptional career includes a decade as director of one of Canada’s top research centres committed to reducing health inequities by generating strong evidence to support social change, the Centre for Research on Inner City Health.

Through her scholarship over the past 25 years, dedicated partnerships with affected communities, and leadership at a large multi-disciplinary health research centre for over a decade, she has advanced methodologies and generated strong evidence for solutions to reduce urban health disparities.

In the past, she served on local governing and advisory boards such as the Wellesley Institute Board of Directors and the Toronto Ward Boundary Review Advisory Board.

Kurankye Sekyi-Otu

Asset Management Executive

Kurankye has enjoyed a 29 year career spanning business development, marketing and executive leadership within asset management and capital markets organizations. Most recently, Kurankye was the Chief Strategy Officer and a member of the executive leadership for Polar Asset Management Partners. At Polar he was responsible for the global distribution strategy, marketing, and the implementation of the firm’s strategic business initiatives. Prior to Polar, Kurankye held business development and marketing roles at other Canadian asset managers and the capital markets unit within a Canadian bank.

Kurankye is a Member of the Board of Governors at Branksome Hall, a Founding Supporter of the Black Opportunity Fund, and a former President of the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals.

Kurankye graduated from York University with a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics and holds the CFA and ICD.D designations.

Kurankye lives and works in Toronto and is a MIG donor.

Ram Selvarajah

Peel Regional Labour Council

Ram Selvarajah is a Senior Systems Analyst with the Ministry of the Solicitor General and has more than 20 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service. He is the Co-Chair of the Solicitor General’s Ministry Employee Relations Committee, President of OPSEU Local 524, and a steering Committee member of the Tamil Workers Network. He has extensive experience in labour relations and is a strong advocate for human rights and equity. Ram first got elected to the Board of the Peel Regional Labour Council in 2019 and became the President in September 2022.    

Ram Selvarajah has been on the Board of Trustees for OPTRUST since April 2021 and is the Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of OPTRUST. Ram became a Trustee of UWGT as of the 2023 AGM. 

Ram has a BA in political science from York University, ICD.D designation along several IT Designations.

Daniele Zanotti

President and CEO

Daniele Zanotti was named President & CEO of United Way in June 2016. With more than 20 years of experience in the public and non-profit sectors, he has earned a reputation as an accomplished, strategic, and energetic leader.

From 2007 to 2015, Daniele served as CEO of United Way York Region, where he led an evolution to transform the charity from federated fundraiser to convener, mobilizer and agent of community change.

In 2015, Daniele was the catalyst behind a merger between United Ways in York Region and Toronto. He helped establish a new regional organization to tackle issues on both sides of Steeles Avenue and stewarded the first-ever United Way Toronto & York Region campaign to an historic achievement of $100 million for United Way’s agencies, programs, and initiatives. United Way’s record-breaking annual campaigns and community investment have continued, and the charity has applied an increasingly regional lens to its work.

Under his leadership, on April 1, 2018, United Way Toronto & York Region merged with United Way Peel Region. As United Way Greater Toronto, the organization is now able to use its bigger scale to strengthen a region-wide strategy to fight local poverty and address and advocate on complex social issues. Crucial to that work is the contribution of donors and volunteers across the region. To harness their time, talent and treasure, United Way is innovating to provide digital tools and a regional infrastructure that will welcome and support the engagement of 1 million people in its efforts by 2025.

Before joining United Way, Daniele served the community through organizations like the Rexdale Community Health Centre; The Regional Municipality of York; Family Day Care Services; and Villa Charities Foundation. He is also deeply involved outside of his professional career, volunteering his time as a member of CivicAction’s Board of Directors and the City of Toronto’s Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) and Toronto’s Resilience Steering Committee.

Daniele has a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto and Bachelor’s Degree from York University. He lives in Vaughan with his wife and two children.