Manager of the Central Intake & Access Team at SHIP

Nicole Abruscato is a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) since 2009, a Community Resource Specialist (CRS) with Inform USA/Canada, and an experienced leader in access, intake, navigation, mental health, and community-based service systems. She has completed certificates in psychosocial rehabilitation, mental health, addictions, trauma-informed practice, leadership, and the Micro-Credentials in Information & Referral Coaching and Supervision with Inform USA. Nicole has been with Services and Housing In the Province (SHIP) for 18 years, beginning as a student and Intake and Assessment Community Mental Health Counsellor, then moving into supervisory leadership, and since early 2022 serving as Manager of the Central Intake & Access Team.

Through an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion lens, Nicole uses data to support more transparent, responsive, and person-centred approaches to access and navigation. This means looking beyond process and outcomes to examine fairness, representation, lived experience, and the real impact service systems have on people and communities.

President & Lead Researcher at Common Good Strategies

Steven Ayer is President and Lead Researcher at Common Good Strategies, where he helps organizations tackle complex questions using research, data and strategy. At the Summit, he’ll share insights from his current work with United Way Centraide Canada, bringing together fragmented national evidence to build a clearer picture of Canada’s nonprofit labour force and the pressures it faces. Over more than 15 years, his work has ranged from giving, volunteering and social capital to nonprofit finance, social enterprise and strategy, including work with Imagine Canada, CanadaHelps, Volunteer Canada, Toronto Foundation and YMCA Greater Toronto. Much of his work starts where the evidence is fragmented or incomplete: finding the relevant evidence, figuring out what it can and can’t tell us, filling the gaps that matter, and helping organizations decide what to do with what they learn.

Vice President, Advocacy & External Relations at Imagine Canada

Jodene Baker is Vice President, Research, Advocacy & External Relations at Imagine Canada, where her work focuses on strengthening the nonprofit sector’s voice, evidence base, and impact. She has more than 20 years of experience spanning the nonprofit and academic sectors, with a focus on research, evaluation, public policy, and social impact. Prior to joining Imagine Canada, Jodene held senior leadership roles at United Way Winnipeg and spent more than a decade at the University of Winnipeg.

Food Security Manager for the Land to Table Network

Sammy Blair (she/her) is a food systems strategist and the Food Security Manager for the Land to Table Network, where she works to strengthen regional food security across Southern Interior British Columbia by connecting and building relationships between producers, institutions, businesses, local governments, and community organizations. A lifelong advocate for sustainable, just, and community-driven food systems, Sammy holds a Master of Science in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems from the University of British Columbia and has built a career spanning food security, farming, education, and research in the food sector. Her work spans coordinating regional food hubs and supporting Indigenous food sovereignty projects to authoring provincial food system resources. Sammy lives, works, and plays in Revelstoke, on the traditional territory of the Sinixt, Secwépemc, Syilx Okanagan, and Ktunaxa peoples, where she serves as Vice President on the Local Food Initiative board and as a board director for Farm Folk City Folk.

Director of Governance and Operations Strategy, RBC Global Community Impact Team

Gillian Burt is a social impact leader with over a decade of experience designing and scaling  programs that drive meaningful change across the nonprofit, education, and private sectors.

In her current role as Director of Governance and Operations Strategy for RBC's Global Community Impact Team, she oversees RBC's community investment policies, supports strong governance of two corporate foundations, and leads the RBC Stronger Nonprofits Program - a new initiative that aims to help strengthen the capacity of Canada's nonprofit sector.  She is guided by a deeply rooted belief that a strong and connected nonprofit sector is the backbone of thriving communities.

Senior Program Manager at Open North

Hervé Boudou is Senior Program Manager at Open North, where he leads DATAide, a digital transformation and data governance program for Quebec nonprofit organizations. Drawing on 20 years of experience in instructional design, he supports teams and boards of directors in adopting digital tools and governance practices suited to the realities of community organizations, with an approach rooted in accessibility and collective mobilization.

Strategic Advisor, Strategic Communication of Charity Insights Canada Project

Kate Cornell is the Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications with the Charity Insights Canada Project. Kate earned a PhD in Communications and Culture and teaches part-time in the Arts Management program at the University of Toronto. 

VP Portfolio at the LEAP | Pecaut Centre for Social Impact

Steve is VP Portfolio at the LEAP | Pecaut Centre for Social Impact. His work focuses on supporting portfolio growth, organizational development, and strategy design. Steve has dedicated his career to non-profit work domestically and internationally, working as a practitioner, donor, and leader with organizations committed to solving dynamic social challenges.
 
Steve holds an MSW from Carleton University, an MA in Politics from the University of York, and an MBA from the Smith School of Business.

Research & Evaluation Associate at Future Skills Centre

Val Duarte is an Associate on the Insights and Knowledge Mobilization team at the Future Skills Centre, where she works at the intersection of research, strategy, and storytelling to turn evidence into knowledge that informs action. Over the past decade, across Colombia and Canada, she has designed and led research, learning, and program initiatives with mission-driven organizations. Her experience includes managing SSHRC-funded research at Toronto Metropolitan University, co-leading CivicAction’s DiverseCity Fellowship, and advising organizations independently on research strategy, program design, and knowledge mobilization. Working across the nonprofit, academic, civic, and cultural sectors, Val brings diverse perspectives together to challenge assumptions, shape new ideas, and develop thoughtful responses to change. Her work is guided by an enduring interest in how people and organizations learn, adapt, and sustain meaningful work over time.

Senior Director, Strategy & Growth, Volunteer Toronto

Cara Eaton is a seasoned communications professional and the Senior Director of Strategy & Growth at Volunteer Toronto, Canada’s largest volunteer centre. She has a decade of experience in public relations, communications, fund development, and leading data-driven projects and campaigns that influence and strengthen volunteerism across Ontario.

An advocate for the power of sector-owned data in the volunteerism space, Cara is currently bringing to life an ambitious shared data framework and vision for volunteer centres as aligned with Canada's upcoming National Volunteer Action Strategy.

Cara holds a B.A. with Honours in Media Communications, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations, and a Certificate in Data Storytelling from the University of Chicago.

Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience

Wilfreda is the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience, where she helps nonprofits build the skills and tools they need to thrive in a digital world. With a background in government and years of experience working on data, policy, and technology, she is passionate about making digital access fair and meaningful for all communities.

Director of Strategy and Public Affairs at Toronto Arts Council and Foundation

Liz Forsberg is the Director of Strategy and Public Affairs at Toronto Arts Council and Foundation. She is a bilingual arts, culture, and nonprofit leader bringing more than 20 years of experience advancing partnerships, public policy, and systems change across philanthropy, government, and community sectors. Before joining the Toronto Arts Council, Liz spent nine years at the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), leading major partnership and arts investment initiatives that strengthened nonprofit infrastructure, built sector capacity, and advanced equity-centred community development. Earlier in her career, she worked across the nonprofit sector in arts, community development, mental health, and environmental organizations, in roles spanning frontline work to executive leadership.

As Bilingual Lead, Partnership Investments, she helped design and launch OTF’s strategic partnerships program, mobilizing research, capital, and collaboration through provincial and national initiatives including Mass Culture, the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience, and OCAD University’s Cultural Policy Hub.

Program Manager, Open North

Co-Founder of Abundance Collective

Hilary Henegar (she/her) is an impact and storytelling strategist and co-founder of Abundance Collective, a women-led, employee-owned consulting firm that supports social impact organizations to clarify direction, measure and communicate impact, strengthen operations, and grow sustainable, values-aligned revenue. A lifelong storyteller and community builder, she has spent much of her career building businesses, nonprofits, and communities rooted in the principles of the solidarity economy. She and her family live in S’amunu, one of seven villages of Cowichan Tribes where the Quw'utsun Mustimuhw have cultivated abundance since time out of mind (Duncan, Vancouver Island).

Founder & Executive Director of Health Commons Solutions Lab

Sophia Ikura is the Founder and Executive Director of Health Commons Solutions Lab, a Canadian social innovation lab that partners with governments, communities, and service providers to tackle complex health and social challenges. With more than two decades of experience spanning senior leadership in the Ontario government and the not-for-profit sector, she specializes in turning complex systems into practical, community-informed solutions. Sophia has advised Premiers and Ministers, led large-scale health system transformation, and pioneered approaches that bridge policy, implementation, and lived experience. Her work focuses on strengthening public trust, improving outcomes for underserved communities, and helping organizations navigate change through collaboration, evidence, and design. 

Senior Project Lead at Health Common Solutions Lab

Zoya Jiwa is a Senior Project Lead at Health Commons Solutions lab, where she applies human-centred design and co-design methodologies within health and social care settings. Through collaborating with community partners, governments, and hospital systems, she shapes inclusive services and strategies that are designed with and for the diverse populations they serve. Zoya was a 2021-2022 DiverseCity Fellow with the CivicAction Foundation. She holds a Master of Design (MDes) in Strategic Foresight & Innovation from OCAD University, where her Major Research Project focused on health system innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Manager of Data Strategy and Solutions, Blueprint

Alberta uses her passion for data and technology to help non profit clients across numerous sectors successfully collect, understand, manage, and leverage their data to communicate impact and improve their services.

VP of Government Relations and Public Policy at United Way Centraide Canada

Anita Khanna is Vice-President, Government Relations and Public Policy at United Way Centraide Canada. She is proud to represent Canada’s United Ways and Centraides to the federal government to develop policy and program proposals that further the movement’s goals to build stronger communities where everyone can reach their full potential.

With support from the McConnell Foundation, Anita is currently co-leading a data-driven project to develop a labour force strategy for the community services sector of the care economy. An active volunteer, Anita serves on the boards of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, Ontario Nonprofit Network and Child Care Now. Anita holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Regional Manager, Employment Services,
YMCA of Southwestern Ontario

Ray Kurniawan leads a diverse portfolio of workforce development and employment programs across Windsor, Chatham, Sarnia, and London. Drawing on more than a decade of experience with the YMCA, Ray has held a variety of leadership roles spanning youth development, newcomer services, employment programs, and community engagement. His work is focused on creating innovative, client-centered services that help individuals overcome barriers, build meaningful careers, and strengthen their connection to the community.

Passionate about community development and youth advocacy, Ray believes in the power of people to create positive change when given the opportunity, support, and encouragement to succeed. As a proud alumnus of YMCA Canada's National Young Leaders Advisory Committee, he championed the importance of elevating diverse youth voices and helping shape the next generation of leaders within the YMCA movement. His leadership philosophy is grounded in continuous learning, collaboration, and fostering environments where individuals can reach their full potential.

Managing Director, Purpose Analytics

Daniel is an experienced analyst with a broad set of data science skills and subject matter expertise related to urban and social planning, health care, housing affordability, and energy efficiency. His approach to data and working with community is deeply informed by his early career as a program worker in Toronto’s community services sector. Daniel holds a Master of Spatial Analysis from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Data Scientist, Purpose Analytics

Zsuzsa is a Data Scientist at Purpose Analytics and is passionate about data-driven impact, with skills in data science and project management. She has a diverse educational background including autism research, cardiology, psychology, medical biophysics and neuroscience.  A jack-of-all-trades, Zsuzsi is deeply committed to revealing stories from data in a way that connects with everyone. Before joining Purpose Analytics, she was a senior healthcare research and data analyst for Clarivate. Additionally, she holds a PhD in medical biophysics from the University of Toronto and a BSc from the University of Florida in interdisciplinary neurosciences.

Co-Founder of Data ChangeMakers

Vanitha Lucas is the Co-Founder of Data ChangeMakers, a global community that mobilizes data professionals and volunteers to support mission-driven organizations. Her extensive experience in the private sector specializing in data and analytics has shaped a practical, results-driven approach to data. She now works at the intersection of data, storytelling, and social impact helping organizations turn data into decisions and meaningful change.  

Manager of Data, Impact & Innovation at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF)

Sabal Matter is the Manager of Data, Impact & Innovation at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF), where everyone in Canada is invited to join the collective reconciliation journey by taking action through programs, campaigns, and events that encourage people to "Do Something" to move reconciliation forward.

 Over the past six years, she has worked to transform reconciliation into measurable, meaningful data that demonstrates the impact of DWF's programs. By translating complex social change into clear, evidence-based insights, her work illustrates how DWF's initiatives contribute to reconciliation as a growing social movement throughout Canada.

President & CEO of United Way Greater Toronto

Heather McDonald became President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto in spring 2025, stepping into the role to lead the organization’s 10-year strategy focused on impact, growth, and operational transformation. A respected leader in the social and human services sector for more than 25 years, Heather brings extensive experience in change management, revenue diversification, and forging strategic partnerships that strengthen communities.

Vice President of Data Capacity and Analytics, Blueprint

Max’s main areas of focus are building data capacity in the nonprofit sector, and leveraging public sector data sets to build better policies and programs. His work revolves around the principle that better use of data in Canada by both nonprofit organizations and government decision-makers can lead to better services, policies, and ultimately outcomes for individuals and communities. Max holds a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics and Psychology from the University of Waterloo.re

Executive Director & Co-founder, Logical Outcomes

Neil Price is an executive leader, researcher, and writer working at the intersection of community health, evaluation, and social change. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of LogicalOutcomes, he leads multidisciplinary teams that design and evaluate community health and wellness initiatives with measurable impact, drawing on 15+ years of leadership across nonprofit management, higher education, and community health. He holds a PhD in Adult Education and Community Development from OISE, University of Toronto.

Director of Research & Evaluation at United Way Greater Toronto

Stephanie Procyk is Director of Research & Evaluation at United Way Greater Toronto, where she leads the organization’s work to turn evidence into impact to address poverty and unmet needs across the GTA. With nearly two decades of experience across the nonprofit, private, and labour sectors, she is passionate about driving systemic change that delivers lasting impact for communities. She was previously Vice-President at Medow Consulting, is part of the BMW Foundation Global Responsible Leaders Network and was named a Top Woman Leader in Toronto for 2026 by Women We Admire.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at SHIP

Shereen Rampersad is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Services and Housing In the Province (SHIP), where she brings more than 19 years of experience across the organization. Since stepping into the EDI Manager role in May 2022, Shereen has led work that advances equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practice within the mental health, addictions, and supportive housing sectors. A social worker by training, she applies a health equity lens to strengthen access, improve responsiveness, and support meaningful change for diverse communities.

Shereen also serves as a Board Member with the Regional Diversity Roundtable, contributing to broader efforts that promote diversity, equity, and belonging across the community. She creates and facilitates learning in health equity, data equity, and culturally responsive practice, and is recognized as a community leader and advocate for services that better reflect and meet the needs of the people and communities she serves.

Manager of Knowledge Translation and Mobilization at Volunteer Canada

Chantelle Ramsundar is the Manager of Knowledge Translation and Mobilization at Volunteer Canada. In this role, she supports with leading the Data-Driven Engagement Project, an ESDC-funded initiative focused on translating insights from the 2023 Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (SGVP) into accessible, actionable resources for the voluntary sector. Her background is in data analysis, critical qualitative methods and research, and public health. Chantelle is passionate about bridging research and practice to strengthen volunteer engagement, civic participation, and health systems across Canada, and globally.  

National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University

Zeen Qureshi is a policy researcher and data analyst who focuses on making sure public policy is backed by real, human insights. At the National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University, she spearheads NIA’s flagship Ageing in Canada Survey program, translating data into policy insights that support Canada's aging population. Over the past five years, Zeen has worked across the non-profit and international development sectors, using data to champion equity for marginalized communities, including youth, women, and people with disabilities. She holds advanced degrees in International Affairs and completed specialized training at the University of Toronto’s Data Science Institute.

Director of T&S Advisory

Bianca Wylie is the Director of T&S Advisory, a firm that provides strategic technology advice to small and medium-sized non-profits, businesses, and public sector clients. She specializes in due diligence for procurement and processes to support the adoption of new technologies. Bianca is also a partner at Digital Public, where she researches the use of novel technologies in law, medicine, and urban planning. Previously, Bianca has worked in the private sector technology industry at both start-up and multinational scale, in the public sector as a professional facilitator, and in the non-profit sector as a public-interest technology advocate and policy expert. Bianca founded the Open Data Institute Toronto in 2014, co-founded Civic Tech Toronto in 2015, and co-founded Tech Reset Canada in 2017.

Bianca is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer. Her writing and speaking on technology have been published in a range of media publications including the Boston Review, CBC, TVO, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and Toronto Life. Her work has been profiled in The Washington Post and Le Monde. She is the author of a chapter about technology in the anthology Saving Toronto: 10 City Builders Tell Us How (Dundurn Press, 2026) and sits on the advisory board of the Washington DC-based Electronic Privacy Information Centre (EPIC).  

Managing Director, Mass Culture Canada

Michelle Yeung, MBA, CFRE is the current Managing Director at Mass Culture Canada, leading the organization in building capacity and data and research infrastructure for the arts and culture sector. Further, Michelle serves as Lead of the Creative Champions Network at the Toronto Arts Foundation, Program Coordinator and Instructor at Humber Polytechnic’s Art Administration & Cultural Management post-graduate program and is an arts consultant with The Arts Firm.

She is a graduate of Dalhousie University (MBA Leadership), York University (BA) and Toronto Metropolitan University (BFA). She has also successfully completed programs through Boston University (Fundraising) and Ivey Business School (Leadership) and maintains her Certified Fund Raising Executive designation. 

Over her career, she has held positions at various arts and cultural organizations. Michelle’s involvement in the community is also extensive including current board membership at Work in Culture.

Manager of Data & Donor Operations of the Ottawa Food Bank

Saleh Nur oversees donor data, gift processing, and technology initiatives that support fundraising growth, operational effectiveness, and organizational decision-making. He brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit data management and digital transformation, including work with Oxfam Canada and international development programs across 10 countries with iDE. He also brings private-sector experience leading business intelligence, CRM modernization, and AI initiatives at Bell Canada. His work focuses on helping organizations adopt new technologies, improve processes, and strengthen data maturity and governance practices in ways that are practical, sustainable, and aligned with organizational capacity. He holds an MSc in Analytics from the University of Kent.