Staff and Board

Staff

Fran Odette, Program Manager, Women with Disabilities

Fran is the Program Manager of the Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women’s Program, which provides training, material development and consultations with service providers who are interested in enhancing their capacity to provide inclusive services to women living with disabilities and Deaf women fleeing violence. She has worked closely with women’s services and disability related organizations on issues such as violence against women with disabilities, access to services, sexuality and body image.

Erna Opeña, Administration

Erna, BSc in Social Work, is an Administrator with Springtide Resources. She came to this position from her work with the Coalition for Visible Minority Women and the National Council of Filipino Associations where she worked on their National Conference on Violence Against Women in the Filipino Community. Her work while Owner/Manager of ASAP WordPro Services contributed to training youth and women to enter/re-enter the labour force.

Marsha Sfeir, Executive Director

Marsha is an educator and activist on gender based violence and human rights. She has worked internationally for over 42 years. She has been listed in Who's Who of Canadian Women and has received the Soroptimist International's "Women Helping Women" Award and the Mt. Sinai Hospital's Women's Achievement Award for "Promoting Awareness of Domestic Violence as a Significant Health Issue". Her publications include five volumes of curriculum for high school students on social issues and numerous manuals, study guides, essays and fact sheets on woman abuse.

Board of Directors

Josephine Ho

Josephine works as a Global Diversity Specialist at KPMG International where she collaborates with member firms across the globe on various people and change management projects. She obtained her bachelors degree at the University of Toronto and is also a certified human resource professional (CHRP) in Canada.

Ashley Lewis

Ashley works as a Global Marketing Manager at KPMG International where she develops marketing campaigns and publications to support the KPMG member firms around the world. Ashley is also an avid volunteer with the United Way Toronto, as a member of their GenNext cabinet.

Mariela Morales

Ellen Nichols

Ellen Nichols has recently retired from 25 years of fundraising in the charitable sector. Raised in the southern USA by parents who were civil rights activists, Ellen has maintained a lifelong dedication to social justice.

Maggie Panighel

Maggie Panighel works at TELUS as a Business Analyst in the Diversity and Inclusiveness Office and on the Employer Brand.  Maggie has worked and volunteered for a number of not-for-profits, gaining 12 years of experience in engagement work which focuses on diversity, anti-oppression and social justice.

Sollange Sauter Umwali, Board Chair

Umwali is the manager of Community Programs and Services at Central Neighbourhood House. She brings a wealth of personal and professional experience in woman abuse and trauma, human rights and equity issues, refugee and immigrant experiences, international development, Genocide and war studies. She has over ten years experience in the non-profit sector working with diverse communities. She is an active representative on several community organizations including Youth Assisting Youth, The Dominion Institute, the Rwandan Canadian Community and the Maytree Foundation.  Umwali has Masters in Public Policy, Administration and Law, and a Master's Diploma in Democratic Administration from York University.