Our Board
Arshia Ali
Chair
Arshia is a transformational, resourceful, and values-driven healthcare leader working towards an inclusive and diverse society that works for all. She has over 18 years of experience in managing cross-functional teams, complex portfolios of projects, and organizational change management, and Board reportage. She has a Graduate Degree in Health Administration from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto; and is a Certified Health Executive (CHE), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Scrum Master (CSM). Her career has encompassed a variety of roles in which partnerships, engagement, strategic thinking, program design and delivery were core to her contributions. Currently, as the Director of Client and Family Engagement at VON Canada, Arshia is supporting the organization to embed the voice, thoughts, and perspectives of patients, caregivers, and families into the governance, policies, programs, and services.
Chilton Ng
Vice Chair
Chilton is a management professional at RBC Royal Bank with over 13 years of experience in financial service sales, strategy, and leadership. His areas of expertise include retail banking, commercial banking, human resources, and business strategy/transformation. In his most recent role as senior commercial account manager, he worked with leaders of mid-market corporations to formulate financial strategies and secure financing up to $50 million. Chilton has over 9 years of experience in not-for-profit governance as a member of the board of directors of Youthlink, where he served in a variety of capacities including chair of corporate governance, vice president, and president. His areas of interest and ongoing areas of self-study include generative governance, governance of service quality, and system transformation. Chilton holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Toronto and MBA from the Rotman School of Management.
Sameera Karim
Treasurer
Sameera Karim is passionate about supporting marginalized communities and working to break down oppressive systemic barriers. She strongly believes that health and wellness go beyond the absence of illness, and therefore it is critical to address the social determinants of health. She has over 10 years of experience in the health system, and is currently working at Ontario Health where she leads initiatives focused on advancing health equity for better health outcomes for marginalized individuals.
Sameera centers community in all of her work and volunteers with grassroots and non-profit organizations both locally and globally that support vulnerable groups such as LGBTQIA+, newcomers, and refugees.
Tamara Harduwar
Secretary
Tamara is passionate about integrated health systems design and making health services accessible to all. She has worked with stakeholders across the Canadian health system, and brings experience in strategic planning, clinical services design, technology innovation, and inclusive leadership. Tamara currently works within Manulife’s Group Benefits division as the Director of Health Insights and Outcomes, delivering data-driven recommendations to meaningfully improve health and wellbeing for benefits members. Previously, Tamara worked in Health and Life Sciences consulting at Deloitte, advising governments, health agencies, and health care providers throughout the life of strategic transformation initiatives. Tamara holds a BSc degree in Biology from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA in Health Services Management from the DeGroote School of Business.
Rudayna Bahubeshi
Director
Rudayna has over ten years of experience in nonprofits, foundations, grassroots organizations, and governments. She is currently Principal at Evenings and Weekends Consulting, a firm working with nonprofits, activists, charities, and community groups to advance equity, justice, and impact. Previous to this, she led a team in Ontario Health’s Provincial Equity Office, leading a number of strategic initiatives, including supporting the province’s first Black Health Plan and the design and delivery of an organization-wide equity plan to facilitate improvements in access, experiences, and outcomes across the health system. She has worked in organizations focused on environmental sustainability, civic engagement, gender justice, housing, food security, and other areas employing expertise in managing programs, writing and communications, partnerships, and strategic planning. Rudayna has led and worked on numerous political campaigns across levels of government. Recently, she completed a Masters of Public Policy at McGill University, focusing her research on policy solutions to address anti-Black racism in Canada’s rental market. Rudayna has been published in places including the CBC, TVO, Policy Magazine, The Philanthropist and more. She was previously named a Top 30 Under 30 Leader in Canada and held fellowships at CivicAction and TMU’s Leadership Lab. She is a board member at Black Artists’ Network in Dialogue (BAND), an art gallery in Parkdale dedicated to Black artists, and volunteers as an advisor to multiple other non profits.
Mahboubeh (Ala) Hojjati
Director
Mahboubeh (Ala) Hojjati is a dedicated Registered Physiotherapist and Clinic Director, with over a decade of experience serving the diverse communities in Toronto and the GTA. Working in the private sector of healthcare has allowed Ala to develop a deep understanding of the gaps in healthcare and the impacts of social determinants of health on immigrants and refugees. Moreover, being born in Iran and immigrating to Brampton, Canada at the age of 14, her personal journey has also provided her with firsthand insight into the challenges faced by newcomers. Academically, she published two articles based on her Master’s thesis which sought the impact of colonialism on health equity, and ways in which Rehabilitation Providers in Canada can be trained to provide equitable care regardless of race, age, gender, etc. She has served on the executive team of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, as Co-Chair of Research & Knowledge Translation at the Global Health Division, where she led initiatives to expand the global role of physiotherapists and establish ethical collaborations in resource-poor countries. In addition, she served as the Health Promotion Co-Chair at the Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood Environments (IMAGINE) Clinic, where she developed tailored health programs for Toronto’s homeless populations.
Shurouq Hijazi
Director
Shurouq is a Cybersecurity Director at KeyData Associates, with a focus on identity and access management consulting. She advises organizations across the industry on designing long-term information security strategies and sustainable roadmaps. Her prior experience includes Big-4 security and privacy consulting in New York, where she advised clients on cyber transformation initiatives from assessment and design to implementation and integration. An advocate for social justice, gender equality, and LGBTQ2S+ rights, Shurouq has over 10 years of not-for-profit volunteer experience. Shurouq holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Gulshan Allibhai
Director
Gulshan Allibhai, BSW, MSW, has been practicing social work for 33 years. Gulshan attended the University of Texas and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work. She also completed a diploma in Natural Nutrition in 2007. Gulshan has worked as an educator, psychotherapist, and case manager in many social work settings such as mental health, long-term care, women’s organizations, family health teams and settlement of newcomers. She worked at the Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto in the area of diversity, mental health promotion, and community engagement, and teaches in the Internationally Educated Social Work Bridging Program and teaches at Seneca Polytechnic in the Mental Health Bachelor’s Program and works as a Social Worker on a Family Health Team. Gulshan was born in Uganda, Africa, and came to Canada as a refugee in 1972. Due to her own and her family’s experience as refugees, Gulshan’s main focus and interest is in the area of mental health, trauma and resettlement stress.
Souvik Adhya
Director
Souvik Adhya is a transformational business leader with 20+ years of experience in Banking, Management Consulting, and Oil & Gas. He has led global businesses and cross-functional teams in 4 continents / 12 countries.
Souvik leads BMO’s Treasury & Payments Solutions’ (TPS) Strategy, Product Analytics, and B2B Liquidity Solutions across US and Canada. He joined BMO in 2017 in the Enterprise Strategy & Transformation team. Prior to BMO, Souvik worked with Boston Consulting Group, helping setup their Calgary practice, and with Schlumberger Limited across the world.
Souvik has held key national leadership roles in BMO Pride and has led several community giving initiatives throughout his career. He is an active volunteer with animal rescues across Ontario. In his spare time, he loves to travel to discover new places and cultures.
Souvik holds an MBA from Queen’s University, Canada and Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
Adriana Beemans
Director
Adriana Beemans has over twenty years of experience working with community, non-profits, government and philanthropy, designing and implementing systems-level strategies to advance social and economic justice. Bringing extensive experience in community development, capacity building and program innovation, Adriana joined the Metcalf Foundation in 2013 as its Inclusive Local Economies Program Director, where she works with the non-profit sector to enable policy-driven and community centered solutions that address structural inequities in our labour market and economy. In 2023 she was awarded the Bousfield Distinguished Visitorship in Planning by the University of Toronto in recognition of her contributions to community planning. She holds a graduate degree from the University of Toronto in Political Science and an undergraduate degree from Trent University.
Mariam Abdel-Salam
Director
Mariam is a healthcare leader and registered nurse who is deeply committed to building healthier, more connected communities. Her work spans governance, strategic planning, regulatory practice, clinical research, and frontline care, shaping a thoughtful and compassionate approach grounded in service and collaboration.
Alongside her professional experience, Mariam has contributed to initiatives focused on patient safety, community learning, cross-sector dialogue, and food security, reflecting a strong belief in shared responsibility and the value of diverse voices. She is especially motivated by opportunities to improve access to services, strengthen trust, and support environments where individuals and families feel respected and supported.
Mariam holds a Master of Health Management from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Toronto Metropolitan University. She brings a deep appreciation for partnership, cultural humility, and community-driven solutions in advancing health and well-being for all.
Suhail Hafiz
Director
Suhail Hafiz is a strategic finance executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record of helping organizations scale efficiently through robust financial management and targeted corporate acquisitions. He brings a strong background in financial governance and complex problem-solving to his leadership roles. Currently, Suhail serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Fig, a digital lending platform backed by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Fairstone Bank, where he develops scalable financial strategies and drives organizational profitability.
Prior to his role at Fig, Suhail honed his expertise in capital markets at CIBC and served on the investment teams at Gluskin Sheff and Crimson Asset Management. Deeply passionate about education and mentorship, he is an Adjunct Professor at York University’s Schulich School of Business. In this capacity, he teaches Advanced Corporate Finance to MBA cohorts, successfully bridging the gap between economic theory and real-world global finance.
Suhail’s approach to governance is rooted in sound risk management, innovation, and a long-term vision. Outside of his professional pursuits, he is an avid sports fan who proudly supports all of Toronto’s hometown team
Axelle Janczur
Ex officio member
Axelle has been working in the not for profit sector in Toronto for over 30 years. She is an experienced trainer and public speaker, and a committed volunteer. With an M.A. in political science and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, as Executive Director, she has led Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services through a transformative process, prioritizing capacity building to enhance services for immigrants and refugees, developing a community-based research agenda, and advocating for improved access to the determinants of health for individuals and communities facing discrimination and marginalization.