Our Leadership
Board of Directors
Our board of Directors is a group of dedicated volunteers that meet on monthly basis to set the strategic direction of our organization.
Following the Policy Governance Model, they provide financial oversight, strategic planning, analysis of needs and trends, and linkages to help move us towards achieving our organization's mission and vision.
Meet the Board of Directors
Luc joined the IWC Board in January 2021. He is currently the Regional Director of College Boréal in Hamilton and the region of Niagara. Educator and professor, he has always been at the service of immigrants and displaced people around the globe.
Luc holds a PhD from the University of Toronto with expertise in political science and religion. He is focused in the question of political resistance against domination and the interconnection between politics and various religions. After many years of teaching and doing humanitarian work with immigrants all over the globe, he is dedicating his time in forming and welcoming newcomers and students from various parts of the world who choose to come to College Boreal.
His motto is to always dare great things (Perseverance coded message on Mars 2021) for the betterment of other and the world. He believes in succeeding together and is a great and excellent team builder with a special sense of humour.
Shalini Duggal has over 13 years of executive experience in Human Resources, Marketing, and Communications. Currently, she serves as the Chief People Officer of Wattpad and WattpadWebtoon Studios.
Before this role, she served in various leadership roles at Centrilogic, Achievers, Ontario Telemedicine Network, and SCM Insurance Services. Shalini is a member of the Neythiri Executive Women’s Council, Forbes HR Council, Canadian Learning Council Research Advisory Board, Canadian Society Training Development Board, and the Canadian Professional Sales Association.
She holds certifications as a Certified Training and Development Professional, Certified Sales Professional, and Emotional Intelligence Coach. Shalini is also currently pursuing an executive MBA in Leadership
Blake joined the IWC Board in January 2021. Passionate about workers’ rights, migrant justice, and climate change — Blake has spent the better part of the last decade supporting these issues in various capacities and campaigns.
Blake grew up in a small town in southern Alberta and moved to Hamilton for University in 2007. There, he finished with a Master’s Degree in Work and Society in the School of Labour Studies. He currently works for the City of Hamilton as bus operator. Blake’s personal motto is “a just world is possible if we want it.” Meaning a that we can make the world just and fair if we collectively do the work to change it.
Conny Lo is a professional with over 20 years of international experience in fundraising, advertising creative, marketing and communications with a specialization in strategic planning, business development and Marketing.
Conny currently works at Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF), in Toronto, as the Associate Director, Major Gifts. Prior to that, Conny worked for SickKids Foundation, where she was recruited to spearhead a brand-new fundraising initiative within the Chinese community. With her broad range of experience ranging from the private to non-profit sectors, and an extensive global background, she successfully developed and executed a fundraising strategy locally and internationally.
Conny’s for-profit experiences including her worked at Scotiabank, where she served as senior marketing manager for multicultural banking. She lightheartedly says that: “It must be a joke from God; instead of spending millions of marketing dollars for the bank, I end up being an ally to fundraisers and was given a goal to raise millions.”
Conny was born and raised in Hong Kong. Due to her trilingual capability, English and two Chinese dialects, Cantonese and Mandarin, and her capacity to understand and embrace the relevance and beauty of diversity in Canadian culture has set her on an exciting path in cross-sector business development. Conny is the award winner of Top 25 Canadian Immigrant and Outstanding Community Leader in 2020.
A little-known fact is that Conny is a serious dog lover. She was the first Chinese speaking St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Volunteer. This generated a lot of buzz in the community, so much so, that it garnered media interviews, and landed Conny and her dog on a magazine cover and they were featured on TV. Conny’s canine passion, became her freelance job – as a dog trainer. Conny was optimistic and a little naïve and believed that she could apply her dog training skills to her kids. Apparently, she was wrong, so very wrong.
Deepa Mathew is a collaborative and respectful leader with extensive experience in research and interdisciplinary projects. Deepa grew up in India and believes in doing one’s best in any circumstance. She is passionate about positively impacting lives of immigrants and students.
Deepa holds Bachelor of Technology from India, and Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science degrees from McMaster University. She is a certified Project Management Professional and is currently a Strategic Project Manager with McMaster University.
Gentiana joined the IWC Board in 2015. Gentiana was born in Albania, the Mediterranean’s hidden gem.
Her passion to support immigrants’ issues is rooted in her belief that the world is one country. She is an internationally trained professional with experience working and living in several countries. Her educational background includes law, mediation, and mental health studies. Gentiana’s international and personal life experiences have helped to her develop counselling and advocacy skills and her passion to promote intercultural awareness and the concept of unity in diversity.
She currently works for the Hamilton Public Library where she promotes services and community capacity building. Her personal motto is “to live a purposeful life, serve humanity, and let integrity distinguish her actions.”
Heino joined the IWC board in May 2023. Heino was born and raised in Denmark, moved to Canada in 2010, and now calls Hamilton home. He is energized by serving the local community and has a strong passion for a more inclusive Hamilton and Canada.
Heino is a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) and holds a MSc Economics from Copenhagen Business School (Denmark) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (USA). Heino works in finance for one of Canada’s biggest private equity firms.
Beyond work and volunteering, Heino enjoys time with his family and friends, checking out local community events, and watching live sport (go Ticats, Rock, Cardinals, Forge FC, and Buffalo Bills!). His motto is “means are ends in the making” (Mahatma Ghandi).
Rob was born and raised in the UK. He attended the University of Bradford School of Management and has completed corporate-sponsored studies at the London Business School (UK) and the MIT Sloan School of Management (US).
Rob is Freemen of the City of London (England) and actively involved in the Livery movement in the UK and across North America.
He is a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London (UK) and an active advocate for Rugby Union within Canada, including through Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club.
Vagish Sharma is a certified Project management professional (PMP) and currently working as Senior Project Specialist with Deloitte Canada . He has more than 8 years of work experience working across companies, industries, start-up’s, multilateral organizations and NGO’s .
Vagish has completed his MBA and worked on projects with UN’s, Greenpeace, USAID for which he was selected as Global Social Fellow by University of Waterloo, East Asia Future Leader by Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Young Pacific Leader by United Nations.
He has recently moved to Canada and feels passionate to counsel and teach New immigrants. He believes that counselling and early handholding to new immigrants should attract and retain more skilled workers and their families in Canada.
Learn more about us
ALL LOCATIONS
Main Site
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8 Main St. E. Ste. #101
Hamilton, ON L8N 1E8 - 905-529-5209
Rebecca Site
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182 Rebecca St.
Hamilton, ON L8R 1C1 - 905-529-5209
East Mountain
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1119 Fennell Ave. E. Ste. #234
Hamilton, ON L8T 1S2 - 905-529-5209
Hamilton East
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160 Centennial Pkwy North #7
Hamilton, ON L8E 1H9 - 905-529-5209
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- Charitable registration number: 132518192RR0001
