Kwame McKenzie
CEO of Wellesley Institute
Dr. Kwame McKenzie is the CEO of Wellesley Institute, a research and policy institute that works to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health. He is an international expert on the social causes of illness, suicide and the development of effective, equitable health systems.
As a physician, researcher and policy advisor, Dr. McKenzie has worked to identify the causes of illness and in cross-cultural health for over two decades. He is an active, funded researcher of social, community, clinical and policy issues with nearly 200 academic publications including five books.
In addition to his post at Wellesley Institute, Dr. McKenzie is Director of Clinical Health Equity at CAMH. He is also a full Professor and the Co-Director of the Division of Equity Gender and Population in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
Dr. McKenzie is a member of the Ontario Government’s Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Advisory Council and sat on the Expert Advisory Group for Ontario’s Homelessness Strategy alongside numerous other committees. He has a respected track record for setting up award winning services, training clinicians and researchers, offering clinical care to some of the most marginalized patients, and helping to develop health policy for Governments in Canada, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and United States.
Email: kwame.mckenzie@camh.ca
Debbie Douglas
Executive Director of OCASI -the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Through her work in the NGO sector and particularly at OCASI, Ms. Douglas has highlighted issues of equity and inclusion including race, gender and sexual orientation within the immigration system and promoted the creation of safe, welcoming spaces within the settlement and integration sector. Ms. Douglas worked for many years in frontline, management and executive positions with community based service agencies. As a management consultant she worked both with Non-Governmental Organizations and public institutions on organizational development and change.
Ms. Douglas was the co-founder of Zami, a political and support group for LGBTI Black and Caribbean people in the early 1980’s. She is the co-editor of Maka Juks: Writings by Queers of African Descent and co-wrote and produced Canada’s first docu-drama on women and AIDS, AnOther Love Story. She also produced and co-wrote Tama Ba, Tama Na: Enough is Enough, a film on immigrant women and intimate partner violence.
A well-known face in Ontario and across the country, Ms. Douglas is often called upon by governments to share her expertise. She was a member of the provinces’ Expert Panel on Immigration which published the report Routes to Success and led to the province’s first immigration legislation (2015); sat as a member of the provincial government’s Income Security Reform Working Group (2018); A member of the Immigration and Refugee Advisory Committee of Legal Aid Ontario and the federal government’s National Settlement Council. Ms. Douglas co-chairs the Newcomer Leadership Table at the City of Toronto and is a member of the management Board of CERIS – Centre of Excellence for Research in Immigration and Settlement.
Ms. Douglas is the recipient of several awards including the Women of Distinction from YWCA Toronto (2004); the Amino Malko award from the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (2008) and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations Anti-Racism Award (2014), among others.
Email: ddouglas@ocasi.org
Angelika Neuenhofen
Policy and Program Adviser at the Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC)
Angelika Neuenhofen is a Policy and Program Adviser at the Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC). The OFC is a provincial public agency that administers the fair access legislation and oversees licensing practices of regulatory professions in Ontario. Angelika’s role at the OFC includes leading a number of policy projects and maintaining relationships with a portfolio of regulatory bodies. She monitors and assesses the regulatory bodies’ licensing practices to ensure compliance with the legislation and to enhance access to the regulated professions in Ontario. Prior to joining the OFC, she was with World Education Services (Canada) where she had the lead for relationships with professional associations, regulatory bodies, and academic institutions. WES Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and professional goals in Canada. WES evaluates and advocates for the recognition of international academic credentials. As part of this work, Angelika was involved in several provincial and pan-Canadian projects aimed to reduce education and employment barriers for internationally trained individuals. Angelika has a graduate science degree in Physics and a Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resources Management.
Francesca Pecora
Policy Development Officer, Toronto Newcomer Office
Email: francesca.pecora@toronto.ca
Parvine Bahramian
Bilingual Senior Coordinator -Policy and Research, OCASI
Parvine Bahramian joined the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) in 2022, as Bilingual senior coordinator-Policy and Research. For almost 20 years, she has worked in the non-profit sector, in Toronto. She has been involved in social and community projects that address social, political, and economic issues related to immigrants, refugees, women and youth in Toronto and Ontario, and in particular the challenges of integration into the labor market, economic and social development. Parvine has also been involved in awareness programs on violence against women and victims of war. Additionally, she has teaching and research experience at the university level in the fields of literature and social movements.
Email: pbahramian@ocasi.org
Trisha Scantlebury
Manager, Research, Public Policy & Evaluation at United Way Greater Toronto
Trisha Scantlebury conducts research related immigration, anti-Black racism, and affordable housing. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Research, Public Policy and Evaluation for United Way Greater Toronto. Prior to this role, Trisha held the position of Research and Policy Specialist for the Peel local immigration partnership. For the last 10 years, Trisha’s career has focused on community development and newcomer settlement. She contributed to the publication of The Black Experience Project in the GTA and co-authored the 2019 Report on Peel Newcomers.
Email: tscantlebury@uwgt.org
Meaghan Symington
Policy Analyst, Immigration Policy Unit, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Ontario
Email: Meaghan.Symington@ontario.ca
Diane Dyson
Senior Director, Research, Canadian Urban Institute
Michelynn Laflèche
Vice-President of Strategy, Research & Policy at United Way Toronto & York Region
Sean Meagher
Executive Director, Social Planning Toronto
Chris Brillinger
Executive Director of the Social Development, Finance & Administration Division
Isabel Cascante
Holds a BEd from the University of Regina, a BA and MA from the University of Calgary, and a PhD in literature and cultural studies from the University of Toronto
Isabel has over 20 years of research, evaluation, and program management experience in academia and the not-for-profit sector. Currently, in her role as director of research, public policy, and evaluation with United Way Greater Toronto, Isabel is responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s research and evaluation strategies, based on a strong evidence base, a commitment to addressing systemic discrimination, and a solid foundation of partnerships and relationships. Isabel believes strongly in collaborative learning and leadership and the need to integrate the strengths and perspectives of all stakeholders involved. Isabel holds a BEd from the University of Regina, a BA and MA from the University of Calgary, and a PhD in literature and cultural studies from the University of Toronto.
Email: icascante@uwgt.org
