Sessions

CAF America

Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Leadership & Diversity Expert | Social Advocate

Yassmin Abdel-Magied is an engineer, author, broadcaster, and award-winning social advocate. Her powerful TED talk, “What does my headscarf mean to you” has more than 1.8 million views, and she has become an internationally renowned speaker on the topics of unconscious bias and leadership. Through her work and thought-provoking talks, Yassmin is on a mission to make diversity the norm across the world through empowerment, empathy, and the power of stories.

At the age of 16, Yassmin founded Youth Without Borders, a youth-led grassroots organisation focused on empowering young people to positively change their communities. Driven by her love of Motorsport, she also designed a race car at 19, and graduated valedictorian with first class honours from mechanical engineering. Yassmin then went on to work as one of the few female engineers on oil and gas rigs around Australia, while continuing to advocate for social justice.

Yassmin became a lightening rod for Australia's discussions on race, gender, and faith after an appearance on a panel show went viral, garnering more than 12 million views in less than a week. She was the presenter for the national current affairs show Australia Wide, as well as the host for the ground-breaking documentary The Truth About Racism, and co-host of the podcast “Motor Mouth”, on becoming a Formula 1 driver.

A bestselling author, Yassmin published her debut memoir, Yassmin's Story at the age of 24 and her writing has appeared in publications worldwide, including The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Australian Financial Review. She is also the author of the children’s fiction book You Must Be Layla.

Yassmin has served on numerous boards and councils, and is currently the founder of Mumtaza and an internationally sought-after advisor on issues facing women, youth, and those from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds. She has spoken in more than 20 countries across five continents.

Celeste Bannon Waterman

Partner / Lead, Research + Analytics

KCI

Moving beyond traditional research methodology, Celeste specializes in using analytics to assist charities in understanding data to drive strategy and action. During more than 10 years with KCI, she has worked with clients in all charitable sectors on data analytics, trends analysis, benchmarking, and customized prospect research projects to provide quantitative and qualitative insights for fundraising strategy. Celeste is also a key contributor to KCI’s thought leadership, including national major gifts tracking and analysis.

Allison Bone

Associate Vice President

KCI

Allison Bone is a seasoned development professional, with over 20 years of experience in the areas of annual and major giving, volunteer management, capital campaigns, and organizational development. With KCI, she specializes in organizational capacity assessment and revenue generation planning for organizations in the health care, social services, cultural, and education sectors. As on-site campaign counsel with KCI, Allison has provided campaign planning and implementation support to charities in a variety of sectors in communities in both Ontario and Manitoba. Allison served as Chair of AFP Congress in 2016.

Ian MacQuillin, MInstF(Dip)

Director

Rogare

Ian MacQuillin, MInstF(Dip) is the director of the international fundraising think tank Rogare, which he founded in 2014. He’s recognized as a leading thinker on fundraising ethics, and one of his main research areas is to develop a new theory of ethics specifically for application to fundraising called Rights Balancing Fundraising Ethics. This theory has gained considerable traction in the global fundraising profession.

Ian also edits the Critical Fundraising blog, and runs and moderates the Critical Fundraising Forum on Facebook, which has more than 1,1000 critically-minded fundraisers from all over the world. He sits on the editorial boards for Advancing Philanthropy (the magazine of the Association of Fundraising Professionals), and the International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing. Ian also writes a regular column for Third Sector magazine, and regularly contributes to the specialist charity media around the world.

Heather Hill, CNM, CFRE

Senior Account Executive

Chapman Cubine Allen & Hussey

Heather is a seasoned non-profit leader and AFP Master Trainer, experienced in several areas of the philanthropic sector, including higher education, human services, associations, faith-based organizations, and international relief and development organizations. A highly rated international speaker, she is passionate about giving back to the profession as a thought leader and volunteer.

With two decades of non-profit experience, Heather has an extensive background in leadership and management; fundraising; marketing and communications; grant seeking; strategic planning; and analytics. She has held the CFRE credential since 2009, and is past Chair of the CFRE International Board of Directors. Heather received the Jay Bleeke Award in 2014 for outstanding service as a young Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE) member, and the ALDE Creativity Award in 2017 for her “#thanksGivingTuesday” initiative. Heather is also a member of AFP’s Growth in Giving Working Group and Chair of Rogare, the international fundraising think tank.

Farheen Khan

Principal Consultant & Imama

FSK & Associates / Women’s Mosque of Canada

Farheen Khan is a senior level executive within the not-for-profit and charitable sector. Her area of expertise is capacity building for organizations of all shapes and sizes.

Farheen has worked with several causes with a particular emphasis on supporting Black, Women, and People of Colour led and serving organizations, to help them gain the knowledge, skills, and systems required to be competitive and effective in offering programs and services to their respective communities.

In addition, Farheen continues to work with and support mainstream or broad-based organizations find ways to engage with diverse communities and philanthropy. As part of her capacity building efforts, she’s led and organized numerous events and campaigns, from large scale galas and conferences to walks, rallies, and national awareness campaigns. To date, Farheen has supported organizations in raising $29M for local and global causes.

Farheen is also the co-founder and Imama of the first Women’s Mosque of Canada, and is one of the Founding Directors of the Azeeza for Women. She’s an author, has been a TV broadcaster (Azeeza Show), and continues to be an advocate in the media, speaking on matters of gender-based violence, islamophobia, equity, and civil and human rights.

Farheen has a background in Business Marketing, and is a graduate of the CITY Leaders Program, Maytree Foundation’s Leaders for Change, Civic Actions, DiverseCity Fellows, and the Centre for Social Innovation’s Agents of Change programs.

Tony Myers, PhD, CFRE

Principal and Senior Fundraising Counsel

Myers & Associates

Tony is a passionate enthusiast, fundraising consultant, strategist, author, speaker, and coach who loves to ask for money, loves to raise money, and loves to teach others how.

He has acquired a lifetime of experience, working on six continents with large and small organizations undergoing change. His skills in major gift fundraising, major donor campaigns, strategic planning, board development, and leadership coaching have placed him in high demand as a speaker and consultant globally.

Tony is a self-proclaimed student of philanthropy and leadership, continuing to learn and practice his craft. He’s committed to the success of those individuals and organizations he serves.

Ultimately, Tony’s spirited presentations will get you thinking, challenge you, and give you confidence to further your career, enjoy your work, and be successful in a world of abundance.

Sue McCoy, MA, CFRE

Director – Major Gifts

Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation

Sue McCoy is Director of Major Gifts at Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. She oversees a team of highly skilled fundraisers who secure over $9 million a year in donations. Prior to the Stollery, Sue worked as a Senior Development Officer in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta for five years.

Before this, Sue was a fundraising consultant at KCI for five years, working on a variety of capital campaign projects including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the John McGivney Children’s Centre, the Winnipeg Humane Society, and the Manzankowski Alberta Heart Institute. She’s also worked as a development professional for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton, the Mennonite Centre, the United Nations, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and the National Crime Prevention Council.

Sue is very active as a community volunteer. She’s a Board member of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada, President of the Glenora Community League, and Past President of the AFP Edmonton Chapter. Sue holds an M.A. in Sociology from Carleton University, a diploma in Fundraising Management from MacEwan University, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

Jason Shim, CFRE

Director, Digital Strategy and Alumni Relations

Pathways to Education Canada

How can we harness technology to make a difference in the world? That’s the question Jason Shim loves to explore with organizations. As Director of Digital Strategy and Transformation, Jason has led technology and innovation at Pathways to Education Canada. With experience spanning the non-profit and academic sectors both as an employee and a consultant, Jason has consistently helped organizations stay ahead of the technology curve. In 2013, he led Pathways to Education Canada to become the first charity to issue tax receipts for Bitcoin donations.

Jason serves as an editor at Ledger, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, Jason also serves as board chair of NTEN, an organization dedicated to helping non-profits fulfill their missions through the skillful and racially equitable use of technology.

Naresh De Silva

Senior Marketing Manager

Pathways to Education Canada

Through a mixture of marketing strategy, knowledge of UX best practices, and a passion for resonant leadership, Naresh helps socially focused brands cultivate a genuine sense of community among their target audiences.

With 10 years of experience producing engaging content, promoting it through multiple, integrated channels, and optimizing it for each stage of the user journey, Naresh specializes in methodologies that increase qualified leads, donors/customers, and brand champions.

He is currently Senior Marketing Manager for the national charity, Pathways to Education Canada. Prior to working at Pathways, he led digital marketing efforts at the international NGO Right To Play, and at the GTA-based social enterprise Furniture Bank.

Stachen Frederick

Executive Director

Weston Frontlines Centre/ BrAIDS for AIDS

A recipient of numerous community builder awards and academic accolades, Stachen Frederick has over 20 years of experience in the field of community and program development, both internationally and in Canada. She’s the Founder of BrAIDS for AIDS, a not-for-profit organization that raises awareness of HIV/AIDS in the African, Caribbean, and Black Communities in Canada and internationally through a culturally relevant practice of hair braiding.

Additionally, Stachen is the Executive Director of Weston Frontlines Centre, a youth charity in Toronto. She’s also a professor at Sheridan College in the Social Service Worker program, teaching Community Development and Fundraising, as well as a grant writing coach. Stachen is currently pursuing her Executive MBA at Ivey Business School. She loves to travel and enjoy time with her partner.

Chris Inniss

CEO

Pathwise Credit Union

Chris Inniss is a transformational leader in the Credit Union industry with a proven record of success. A charismatic culture builder and big picture thinker, Chris leads by example, fostering open communication and mentorship to empower his team to achieve the vision. With drive and ambition, Chris is confident, persuasive, and willing to jump into challenges and take risks himself. His collaborative leadership style gives his team the freedom to do their best with the latitude to “fail forward”.

Chris rose through the ranks in retail and small business/commercial banking at a big bank before moving to the credit union system. Chris’s management experience at the director and VP levels before becoming CEO had typically focused on member experience, strategy, and sales leadership in a multi-branch–multi-region environment.

Virginie Hotte-Dupuis

Manager External Communications & Philanthropy

L’Oréal Canada

With over 25 years of experience in the beauty industry, Virginie Hotte-Dupuis joined L’Oréal Canada in 2001 as Training and Public Relations Manager in the Active Cosmetics Division for the Vichy and La Roche-Posay dermo-cosmetic brands, where she developed communication strategies for Canadian beauty journalists, cosmeticians, pharmacists, and dermatologists. She was then entrusted with the mandate of Communications Manager for North America within the L’Oréal Luxury Division for the Biotherm brand, during which she was responsible for the communications campaign surrounding the announcement of the brand’s first North American spokesperson, actor Chris Noth.

Virginie then joined the Corporate Communications team in 2007. Her main mandate in this role is to highlight L’Oréal Canada’s best practices, support its senior executives in their communication strategies, and deploy the L’Oréal Foundation’s international philanthropic programs in Canada, such as L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science, L’Oréal For Girls in Science, and Beauty For a Better Life. She also oversees the Professional Internship Program of the Foundation Les Petits Rois, which since 2019 has integrated eight young adults with autism within L’Oréal Canada, and advises L’Oréal Canada’s 38 brands on their philanthropic development strategies.

Lori Gagnon

Regional Manager, Greater Toronto Area

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

With over 15 years of charitable sector and fundraising experience, Lori Gagnon has built her career on her exceptional ability to connect quickly with community partners to deliver impactful results.

As the Regional Manager for Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Lori has the good fortune of providing a diverse range of partners vital funds to deliver sports and recreation programs to children and youth. Lori believes that sport is a unifier and can disrupt social barriers for girls and young women, children with disabilities, and youth from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds.

T. Clay Buck, CFRE

Founder and Senior Consultant

Tactical Fundraising Solutions

T. Clay Buck, CFRE is an experienced fundraiser with proven experience in all aspects of development. He has particular expertise in developing the systems and infrastructure that support donor-centered fundraising, inspired and informed by quality data and robust analytics. Having been both a front-line fundraiser and a consultant, Clay brings a unique perspective on developing and crafting fundraising programs that really work.

Recently named one of the top 20 Charity Influencers online, Chad has held the CFRE certification since 2010, served as President of the AFP Las Vegas chapter for two years, and has been a member of the Advisory Board for Rogare – The Fundraising Think Tank, for which he co-authored the United States of America Critical Fundraising Report. He is an AFP certified Master Trainer, and speaks frequently on fundraising at conferences, workshops, and trainings, including the AFP International Conference, the annual APRA conference, and the Tessitura Learning and Community Conference. Chad also teaches the fundraising courses for the Nonprofit Management Certificate and the Fundraising Certification program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Daniele Zanotti, MSW

President & CEO

United Way Toronto & York Region

In his over 20 years of experience in the public and non-profit sectors, Daniele’s work is guided by one core value – to work in and with community across all sectors to create positive change.

As CEO of United Way York Region, Daniele played a pivotal role in the merger of United Ways across Toronto and York Region in 2015. Under his leadership, the organization continues to apply an increasingly regional lens – in 2018, joining with Peel Region to form United Way Greater Toronto, the largest United Way in the world and largest funder of social services outside of government.

This scaled-up approach is improving opportunities for donors, volunteers, and partners across Peel, Toronto, and York Region, and building capacity to expand local investments. Daniele holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toronto, and sits on advisory committees and boards across the region.

Ted Garrard, MA, CM

Chief Executive Officer

SickKids Foundation

Ted Garrard is the CEO of SickKids Foundation, responsible for raising funds for The Hospital for Sick Children, one of the most respected children’s hospitals in the world, and for granting funds across Canada to advance child health. SickKids Foundation is one of the largest charity foundations in Canada, holding endowments of more than $1 billion. The Foundation’s $1.3 billion No Limits Campaign is the largest healthcare fundraising effort ever undertaken in Canada.

Previously, Ted was Vice President at The University of Western Ontario. His portfolio included responsibility for alumni relations, development, communications, and public affairs. Ted raised more than $600 million in private funding, leading the school to become the first university to adopt the Imagine Canada Ethical Code which recognizes the need to uphold high standards of accountability and transparency in the not-for-profit sector.

Ted received his BA and MA degrees in political science and economics from York University, and was named as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in business and public service. In 2018, Ted was made a Member of the Order of Canada

Greg Hagin, MBA

Partner and Managing Director

CCS Fundraising

Greg is a Partner and Managing Director at CCS, the leading strategic consulting and fundraising management firm to non-profit organizations worldwide. He has designed, advised, and directed more than 100 resource development initiatives and capital campaigns that have collectively raised over $10 billion, positively impacting tens of millions of lives.

An accomplished instructor and facilitator, Greg has been invited to speak at international non-profit organizations, industry conferences, universities, and corporations. He teaches at both The Wharton School and the School of Social Policy & Practice of the University of Pennsylvania, and regularly convenes business and non-profit leaders to discuss recent trends and today’s philanthropic landscape.

Greg earned his MBA from The Wharton School and BA from Boston College. With a passion for global engagement, Greg has visited, studied, and worked in 40+ countries, including six continents.

Dr. Keith Leaphart, MBA

Founder

Philanthropi®

Dr. Keith Leaphart is an innovator whose expansive, parallel careers in medicine, business, and philanthropy centre upon one single mission: help as many people as possible, as often as possible. Dr. Leaphart’s work in medicine and entrepreneurship has granted him the nickname Philadelphia’s “Doctorpreneur”.

In 2019, Dr. Leaphart launched Philanthropi® – an innovative digital and social engagement platform designed to amplify awareness, excitement, and commitment to lifelong philanthropy. Philanthropi® transforms charitable giving for people of all ages by highlighting “everyday gifts of time, talent, and treasure”.

Dr. Leaphart is also Chair of The Lenfest Foundation. He serves on the boards of Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Media Network, and Comcast Corporation’s external Joint Diversity Advisory Council. Dr. Leaphart is a 2013 recipient of the Vision for Philadelphia Award, and a 2020 recipient of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Greater Philadelphia Award.

Adria Miller, CFRE

Associate Director, Development, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

University of Toronto

Adria Miller has over a decade of experience in major gift fundraising, leadership, strategy, and aligning donors’ personal philanthropic goals with institutional priorities. She’s a senior member of the major gifts team at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto, and works closely on key faculty-wide and departmental initiatives.

Adria has spent her fundraising career serving the arts/culture and social service sectors, including working with major gift donors and senior volunteers at United Way Greater Toronto. She is happiest when collaborating with board members, advancement peers, academic leadership, and donors to deliver transformational impact that advances the organization.

Hala Al-Madi

Legacy Giving Marketing Officer

Amnesty International

Hala has been the Legacy Giving Marketing Officer at Amnesty International for nearly seven years, watching over the program’s growth from $600,000 to $1.4 million, growing the number of expectancies by 75%, and doubling the number of self-identifying prospects.

She has introduced a range of marketing approaches to achieve this growth, including digital ads, trickle email marketing, supporter testimonial videos, donor surveys, high-touch supporter outreach, and integration of legacy messages into Amnesty’s mainstream marketing channels.

Hala brings 18 years of experience in fundraising, specializing in legacies, community/third party events, and direct mail fundraising. Inspired by the passion and joy that legacy donors feel about human rights, Hala has made it her personal mission to help build a strong and sustaining future for the organization through legacy gifts.

Bryan Tenenhouse

EVP, Chief Creative Officer

Stephen Thomas Ltd

Bryan honed his creative and strategic skills at major Canadian agencies, including Wunderman/Y&R, Vickers & Benson, BBDO, and Ogilvy before coming to Stephen Thomas Ltd. As a respected writer and creative director, he wanted to use his years of experience, strategic acumen, and creative ingenuity to help make the world a better place.

Bryan has served on the board of directors of the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), was founding chair of the CMA’s Direct Marketing Council, and was a founding jurist for the National Advertising Awards. He is a sought-after speaker who has addressed audiences at the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter’s Congress, the CMA National Conference, and many others. His articles have appeared in The Globe and Mail, as well as various national advertising and marketing trade publications.

Lisette Gelinas

Director, Brand Strategy

Stephen Thomas Ltd

Lisette has 25+ years of experience leading the development of strategic plans and creating branding, marketing, and communications programs for non-profit, public, and private sector organizations. Lisette is a recognized expert in digital strategy, marketing, and operations; business-to-business marketing; customer relationship marketing (CRM); and the creation of action-driven, measurable consumer experiences across digital, direct, and mass channels.

A curriculum developer and instructor for the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Lisette is a member of the team specially selected to create the ground-breaking Chartered Marketer program which launched in 2019. This is a professional designation, five-semester course for marketers in Canada.

In addition to her professional work, Lisette serves on several non-profit boards. Her passion for helping children inspired her to take on the Board Chair role for the Open Arms Children’s Foundation, and the Vice Chair role for the Adoption Council of Ontario.

Donna Richardson, CFRE

Director, Fundraising Solutions

Stephen Thomas Ltd

Donna Richardson, CFRE has been a professional fundraiser for more than 25 years – a career that spans both agency and client-side work. Today, she leads the Stephen Thomas Ltd new business efforts and has over the past five years.

Donna’s unique passion is connecting like-minded charities with Stephen Thomas. Many of Stephen Thomas’s newest clients forged relationships with Donna and the team that gave them confidence to move forward with a new agency, including World Vision Canada, The Salvation Army, Amnesty International, Children’s Defense Fund, the Arthritis Society, and many more. This perspective is invaluable to her colleagues as they craft marketing strategies and solutions for client partners. Coupled with Donna’s energy and positivity, this contribution enables the Stephen Thomas team to fulfill on its vision – to help charities raise more money.

Lacey Kempinski, CFRE

Fundraising Specialist & Owner

Balanced Good

Jessica Wroblewski, MPNL, CFRE

Director, Annual and Planned Giving

University of Waterloo

Jessica Wroblewski, MPNL, CFRE, is the Director, Annual and Planned Giving at the University of Waterloo. An award-winning fundraiser, project manager, and non-profit leader with 10 years of experience, she also teaches, speaks, and writes about fundraising. Jessica is a member of AFP, APRA, CAGP, CASE, and CCAE. She serves as a member of the AFP Canada Board, Chair of the AFP Canada Government Relations Committee, and is Chair of the CAGP Waterloo-Wellington Chapter. In 2017, Jessica received the AFP International Outstanding Young Professional Award. You can connect with her on Twitter @jesswroblewski.

Sandra Sualim, CFRE

Executive Director, Foundation

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Sandra Sualim, CFRE is the Executive Director, Foundation at Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada where she’s responsible for overseeing the fundraising initiatives, administration, programs, and strategic plan for the organization. The first thing people notice when they meet Sandra is her passion for the positive. She helps find a positive angle to most any fundraising challenge! Sandra has raised millions of dollars for non-profits through the annual fund, capital campaigns, corporate partnerships, and major gift solicitations. Sandra is a frequent speaker on the topic of effective and authentic relationship building as it pertains to fundraising and communications in general. She’s an active volunteer and serves on the boards of several organizations, including the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter. You can connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrasualim/.

Lindsay Sweeney-Hockin, CFRE

Director of Development

North York Women’s Shelter

Lindsay Sweeney-Hockin is a wife to Megg, a Mom to two wild pups, and a fundraiser who likes to do things a little differently. With a background in theatre, Lindsay started their fundraising career 13 years ago, working and volunteering for small organizations focused on 2LGBTQ+ community development and support. Through the years, Lindsay has worked at fundraising shops of all sizes, from health and wellness, to suicide prevention, to shops more focused on housing, shelter, and violence prevention.

Currently, Lindsay is the Director of Development for North York Women’s Shelter, a new kind of intersectional feminist anti-violence centre pushing back against gender-based violence in Toronto. Lindsay is committed to having complicated conversations within the fundraising sector, and is currently working on building two exciting projects at NYWS: 1) an advocacy-first donor acquisition program, and 2) a framework for trauma-informed fundraising.

Nell Redley

Director, Advancement

Rotman Commerce, University of Toronto

Nell Redley is the Director of Advancement for Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. As the inaugural Director since 2017, she’s responsible for all areas of fund development and alumni relations. Prior to this role, Nell was the Director of Development, Major Gifts at the Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, and the Manager of Corporate Partnerships/Stakeholder Relations at the Ontario Liberal Party.

A professional fundraiser for over 15 years, Nell is passionate about great leadership. She coaches emerging philanthropic leaders focusing on under-represented groups in High Performance, Transformative, and Innovative Leadership. Nell has served as Director on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club, Joanne House Youth Shelter, and Rotary Club International, and is currently the Children Director at Faith Worship Centre, her local church in Toronto. Nell is a busy wife and mother of two girls, 12 and 7, and a graduate of the University of Toronto.

Holly Wagg, MA, CFRE

CEO and Chief Fundraising Architect

Good Works

Holly Wagg, CFRE is the CEO and Chief Fundraising Architect at Good Works. She’s the co-author of You Can’t Take It With You: The Art and Science of Legacy Fundraising (the 2nd edition of Iceberg Philanthropy), the go-to book on planned giving that shows fundraisers how very ordinary donors make extraordinary gifts to charity in their wills. Through her legacy, digital, and direct mail fundraising, Holly has had the privilege to work with clients like WWF Canada, Kids Help Phone, Nature Conservancy of Canada, CARE Canada, Ontario SPCA, SOS Children’s Villages Canada, and the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

Holly co-founded the Ten Oaks Project in 2004, for which she was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in the queer community before she cracked 30. She’s a widowed, and re-married, mother of six (two adopted, one bio and three step children) who does an abundance of yoga, CrossFit, hiking, and eats of all the ice cream to stay grounded.

Janice St Denis

Director, Development, Faculty of Health Sciences

McMaster University

Janice is a passionate relationship fundraiser with nearly 20 years of experience working in major gift and legacy fundraising. She has worked with The Arthritis Society, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and currently leads the team in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Janice feels strongly about the need for open conversations on death, and believes that people-serving professions should attend to this privilege with great care. Follow @jlstdenis on Twitter, check out her blog (deathed4professionals.blogspot.com), or connect via LinkedIn.

Charlotte Paul, CIM

Associate Portfolio Manager

Perspective Wealth of Raymond James Ltd.

Charlotte Paul is an associate portfolio manager and the leader of Perspective Wealth Management. She helps women maintain – or re-establish – financial wellbeing during times of transition (like divorce or the loss of a spouse). She also works with and advises small charities and private foundations.

Charlotte has personally had to navigate times of major transition – including the death of a partner – which has given her a unique understanding of the fears, emotions, and challenges women face at these critical times. Her goal is to help women establish independence and financial wellbeing so they can live life to its fullest and achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves and their families.

Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria and is a Chartered Investment Manager. She’s also been recognized by the financial service industry as a finalist in the prestigious Top Under 40 Award in 2019.

Geoff Love, MA

President

Love Environment Inc.

Geoff Love has been in the environmental consulting business since the early 1980s. He’s worked across Canada, the U.S., and Europe on leading edge waste diversion programs with a focus on producer responsibility for blue box and other recyclable materials. In 1983, in Kitchener, Ontario, Geoff was one of the developers of the first commercial-scale “Blue Box” recycling program in North America. Geoff is a co-founder of Extended Producer Responsibility Canada, as well as the former chair of both Pollution Probe Foundation and Friends of the Earth Canada. He’s also been active on climate change issues for over 25 years, and is president of his local cycling club.

Geoff is a widower now living in Stratford, Ontario. His wife Mimi died about four years ago (at home) from ovarian cancer; she had been the Executive Director of one of Canada’s first community-based hospices. Geoff makes annual donations in Mimi’s honour to the newly built Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth. He does a spring walk with his seven-year-old twin granddaughters, and also acts as a storyteller for the local hospice as part of its ongoing fundraising to cover operating costs.

Kimberley Blease

Executive Vice President

Blakely

When it comes to building high-value donor relationships, Kimberley’s energy, enthusiasm and original thinking is unparalleled. With over 30 years of experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, Kimberley is a fundraiser and marketer who believes in building high value donor programs from the ground up. She helps not-for-profit organizations raise the bar on the experience their donors receive and inspiring donors to do more in the process.

Rachel Hunnybun

Senior Strategist – Special Projects

Blakely

Rachel is a fundraising professional with over a decade of experience working for UK charities in Individual Giving & Supporter Experience. Through her role at Blakely, she now works with U.S. and Canadian charities and is passionate about helping charities deliver a great donor experience. She speaks internationally, served as a commissioner for the UK’s Commission on Donor Experience, and is an active member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Liza Jerome, CFRE

VP, Marketing, Communications and Community Giving

Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation

Liza Jerome has over 24 years of experience in developing and leading fundraising programs at healthcare organizations in Toronto. Currently VP, Marketing, Communications and Community Giving at Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, she is responsible for leading both marketing and communications and the annual giving team in raising over $11 million annually. Over her career, Liza has been involved in implementing innovative fundraising strategies that have significantly grown revenues. She has led public awareness campaigns, developed integrated direct marketing programs, and established data mining techniques to identify revenue opportunities. Liza is highly regarded as a valued speaker and educator.

Judene Stewart

Manager, Corporate Engagement

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Judene Stewart has been working at Boys and Girls Clubs for over 17 years. She first began working in Children and Youth Development at a local Club, creating programs and supporting youth through holistic services and supports. During that time, Judene also discovered that by creating and developing strong services, the children and youth she worked with were better served.

Currently, Judene works for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada as Manager, Corporate Engagement supporting corporate partnerships. Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is Canada’s largest children and youth serving organization, supporting over 200,000 children and youth annually in 775 communities across the country.

Gemma Cowan

Director, National Events

Make-A-Wish® Canada

A proud and enthusiastic fundraiser with a passion for donor stewardship and events, Gemma is the Director, National Events at Make-A-Wish® Canada. She’s ambitious and driven in her approach to fundraising, with extensive experience in fundraising management, events, and peer-to-peer engagement. As a Tony Elischer Foundation mentee, Gemma honed and developed her strategic thinking, and now utilizes this experience to enhance the strategic direction of her organization and to build exceptional experiences for supporters.

Previously, Gemma was the Chair of the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) Scottish Community/Events Special Interest Group (SIG) in the UK, Chair of Scotland Chairs in the IoF Executive Group, and a committee member for the IoF Scottish Fundraising Conference.

Patricia Dolla

Event Coordinator, Quebec Chapter

Make-A-Wish® Canada

Motivated in event planning, onsite production, and speaker management, Patricia Dolla is the Event Coordinator for the Make-A-Wish® Canada, Quebec Chapter. Her role is to coordinate all third party events, cause marketing partnerships, and the chapter’s largest fundraising event that her efforts go into planning year-round.

Patricia’s event planning career started early through internships in her collegial program, organizing celebrations, weddings, product launches, and fundraisers. While completing her schooling with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Business from the University of Waterloo, she moved on to spend six years in conference management, managing conference programs that varied from 10 speakers to over 900 speakers.

Patricia has always been motivated to find employment in event planning that would serve a greater purpose, and would make a difference in her community. She’s happy to share she has found this at Make-A-Wish®, by transforming lives, one wish at a time.

Stéphanie Mathieu

Project Manager

DonorPerfect Canada

Stéphanie Mathieu, in charge of international marketing for DonorPerfect fundraising software, has served the non-profit community for over six years. She started her career as a trainer, and has worked closely with non-profits to help them increase their organizational skills and maximize fundraising success by taking advantage of the latest technology.

For the last few years, Stéphanie has traveled North America and the UK to attend and present at many conferences, teaching hundreds of non-profit professionals and leading discussions on the use of technology such as database tools to increase revenue and improve efficiency. Stéphanie most recently spoke about stewardship at AFP ICON 2019 in San Antonio, Texas.

Jason Moores, MA

Senior Development Coordinator

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Jason has worked with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives since 2008. He’s involved in all aspects of development/fundraising, and ensures a good flow of information from all departments to extract the most from all fundraising campaigns. During his time at the CCPA, Jason has played an integral part in the transition to a new database, the doubling of monthly donors, and the implementation of a legacy and major donor program.

Tara Sandler

Program Development & Volunteer Management Officer

Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education

Tara Sandler has been the Program Development & Volunteer Management Officer for the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) since 2016. Tara supports the work of Canadian advancement professionals through the creation and execution of relevant, high quality in-person and online programming. As part of her role, Tara manages and recruits over 250 volunteers annually.

Prior to joining CCAE, Tara worked with fundraisers across Canada as a Manager for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada’s Team In Training program. As a volunteer herself, with over a decade of experience fundraising and mobilizing volunteers, Tara believes that at the end of the day, it comes down to the human connection: conversation leads to creation.

Recently appointed President of the Elizabeth House Foundation, Tara is excited to lend her skills to the Foundation’s Board, and lead it through its next stages of planning and growth.

Woodrow Rosenbaum

Chief Data Officer

GivingTuesday

As Chief Data Officer for GivingTuesday, Woodrow has been instrumental in shaping the GivingTuesday movement globally, and has led groundbreaking research and analysis of individual giving behaviors. Woodrow’s experience in the for-purpose sector elevating giving behaviours has greatly impacted the way he approaches consumer strategies. He’s learned how to move markets from passive participants to active and vocal ambassadors – a lens he brings to all his strategic work. Woodrow is also founder and CEO of With Intent, an international consumer marketing agency. He has a long history of leading significant growth for top consumer brands by defining strategies, developing innovative business routes and expanding markets.

George Stanois

Senior Vice President

BNP GOLDIE Canada

An acknowledged leader with an extensive and accomplished consulting background, George began his fundraising career in 1984 with an international consulting firm. After gaining further experience with two additional national consulting companies with an emphasis on capital campaigns, he joined The Goldie Company in 1996. In 2020, Goldie merged with BNP Philanthropic Performance to become BNP GOLDIE Canada.

Renowned for his high-energy fundraising management style, George has conducted numerous studies and led scores of successful campaigns for a wide range of municipal, healthcare, education, religious, community service, and heritage organizations from coast to coast.

George is the editor of The Vigilant Fundraiser: 12 Steps to Fundraising Success, and the author of Dodging Tough Times: How Stewardship Programs Can Make All the Difference. He’s active with AHP and AFP, and is frequently asked to speak to organizations on the 12 Step Fundraising Program. Over the years, George has been a volunteer and board member of many charitable organizations, most recently with the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto, and the Learn and Uplift Foundation.

Tanya Rumble, CFRE, MFA-P™

Manager, Major and Planned Giving

McMaster University

Tanya is an authentic, resilient, and results-driven advancement and philanthropy leader who has raised millions of dollars for some of Canada’s largest charities, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, and now McMaster University.

Tanya’s approach to her work in the fundraising sector is greatly influenced by her lived experience as a mixed-race womxn in an interracial partnership who is a third culture kid: first-generation Canadian daughter of Jamaican and English-Irish immigrants who spent her formative years in the United Arab Emirates; she has a global outlook and holds three citizenships and her passports hold stamps from more than 50 nations.

Nicole McVan, MA

Director, Donor Relations

United Way Greater Toronto

Early riser, glass half-full, occupier of the uncomfortable spaces in between, true believer in the goodness of humanity. Nicole has been in the charitable sector for close to 20 years, and as a white, transgender, non-binary professional, they have been carving a path forward in fundraising roles locally and internationally.

They are currently the Director of Donor Relations at United Way Greater Toronto, an organization that’s at the core of improving our region to the benefit of all its people through the generosity of thousands of donors and volunteers.

Nicole is privileged to lead a team of development professionals who work with hundreds of companies and organizations across this region to raise $100M+ annually through strategic partnerships, workplace giving, employee engagement, volunteering, and events to fight local poverty and ensure that the systems and structures work for everyone in our community. They hold a Master’s degree in Non Profit Management.

Ricky Piedrahita, CEA

Divisional Director of Development, Public Relations & Development, Ontario Division

The Salvation Army

Ricky has been working in the not-for-profit sector for over 15 years. Currently, Ricky is the Divisional Director of Development for The Salvation Army Ontario Division. He’s the co-founder of FCA Canada, an affiliate charity from FCA International, one of the largest charitable organizations in the United States and sits on the board of directors.

Ricky served as chapter chair for the CAGP Niagara/Golden Horseshoe Chapter, and is an active volunteer with the CAGP Foundation. He’s also a member of the Certified Executor Advisor Network and Niagara Estate Planning Council. Ricky is an advocate of building a strong relationship between fundraising professionals and professional advisors.

Paul Nazareth, MFA-P

VP Education & Development

Canadian Association of Gift Planners

Paul Nazareth is a leader in Canada’s philanthropic sector, with over 20 years of experience. Currently the Vice President, Education & Development at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Paul was most recently the VP at CanadaHelps. He’s been a philanthropic advisor with Scotia Wealth Management working with private foundations and Donor Advised Funds, and spent over a decade with charities like the University of Toronto and the Catholic Church of Greater Toronto.

Paul is on the board of several charities, is Chair of the Advisory Board for Humber College’s Fundraising Management program, and serves on the Advisory Council for Carleton University’s Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program. He’s a speaker nationwide with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is a faculty instructor with the Knowledge Bureau, and works with tax and advisor communities like Advocis, CPA (Chartered Professional Accountants), and Estate Planning Councils. Paul writes on philanthropy for a variety of publications, and has appeared on national radio and television to speak about creating a personal legacy through charity.

Rickesh Lakhani, MBA, CFRE

Executive Director

Future Possibilities for Kids

Rickesh believes that every donor, supporter, and volunteer should feel deeply engaged in their interactions with a cause, while also learning about the issues and the role that they must play in the solution. He believes that the duty of a fundraiser is to match interest and intention with impact, and infuse passion for the cause at every step. He champions and encourages others to create a unique, personalized, and meaningful experience for their stakeholders to drive engagement and giving to new heights.

Rickesh is the Executive Director at Future Possibilities for Kids, where they provide leadership and life skills development programs for children and youth from underserved communities. Prior to this, Rickesh was the Director, Campaign at United Way York Region, leading an $8M annual fundraising campaign. He recently served on the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter’s Board of Directors. Rickesh is a strong advocate for volunteerism, and has contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to a variety of initiatives.

Michael Boulware Moore, MBA

Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion

Blackbaud

Michael Boulware Moore joined Blackbaud in early 2020, following his tenure as the founding president and CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC. The museum is located on the former Gadsden’s Wharf, where almost half of all enslaved Africans took their first steps in America. For the museum, Moore led its $125 million capital fundraising effort, hired a world-class staff, and was responsible for managing the curation of the museum experience.

Previously, Michael spent over two decades as an accomplished marketing and advertising executive working with global brands, including Coca-Cola, Glory Foods, and Kraft, as well as having several successful entrepreneurial ventures. Michael is also an author and keynote speaker, as well as a thought leader on a number of subjects, including social justice and African American history.

Elizabeth Price

Director of Marketing, Canada

Blackbaud

Elizabeth Price joined the Blackbaud team as Marketing Director in January of 2020, overseeing all marketing strategy and operations for Canada. Before Blackbaud, Elizabeth spent over a decade in leadership roles across both sales and marketing at Microsoft and Bell, where she sharpened her prowess in the software and technology sectors and built her enthusiasm for innovation.

Elizabeth is passionate about diversity, inclusion, and teamwork. She’s proud to bring this to her leadership role at Blackbaud, where she is presently building the growing marketing team within Canada.

Elizabeth holds her Honours degree in Philosophy from Queen’s University, Bilingual certificate in French from Queen’s University, and is certified in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. In her spare time, she can be found running, dancing, reading about psychology, and spending time with her family.

Sarah Kay

Spoken-Word Poet

Sarah Kay uses the power of spoken word to inspire creativity and self-empowerment in others. In her famous TED talk--a talk that inspired two standing ovations and has been seen by over seven million people online--she tells the story of her metamorphosis from a wide-eyed teenager soaking-in verse, to becoming a teacher who connects youth with the power of self-expression through her non-profit educational organization. A gifted artist and breathtaking performer, Sarah empowers audiences of any age and background to embrace words to find their voice.

Sarah is the founder and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E., an education organization that celebrates and inspires self-expression in youth through spoken-word poetry. Through her involvement with the organization, Sarah has taught spoken-word poetry to students of all ages, in classrooms and workshops all over the world. She is also a documentary filmmaker, playwright, singer, songwriter, photographer, and editor for Write Bloody Publishing, and holds a Master’s Degree in The Art of Teaching from Brown University, and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Grinnell College.

Sarah has performed her poetry in venues across the United States, including the Lincoln Center, the Tribeca Film Festival, and the United Nations, where she was a featured performer for the launch of the 2004 World Youth Report. Her international credits include the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Singapore.

She is the author of the book B, which was ranked the number one poetry title on Amazon.com, The Type, and All Our Wild Wonder. Her newest work, No Matter The Wreckage, is an American poetry bestseller. Her work can also be found in literary journals, such as Foundling Review, Damselfly Press, decomP, the Literary Bohemian, and Pear Noir!