Tamarack Institute is a remote organization, which is great for quality of life and for the environment. Our teams live and work within and around the communities we proudly serve. Please reach out directly to start a conversation.
About Danya Danya is the Tamarack Institute's President and CEO. She champions collective impact and data strategy. She's dedicated to fostering inclusive, thriving communities.
About Bobby Bobby is a collaborative leader with expertise in strategic operations, equity-driven practices, and fostering innovation to support community impact. Passionate about creating transformative change, they are committed to building sustainable and inclusive solutions through collective action.
Alison Homer
Director, Learning, Evaluation, and Systems Change
About Alison Alison builds a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement within Tamarack’s networks for change. She supports her teammates to surface and share success stories that amplify and accelerate community change. Alison enjoys mountain biking and snowboarding in Revelstoke, BC.
Christiana Iheanacho (she/her) brings a people-centred approach to Tamarack's operational strategies. She leads people and culture initiatives that support team members. Off duty she enjoys spending time with family and exploring creative projects.
Dr. Chúk Odenigbo (PhD) is the Consulting Director of Evaluating Impact with over a decade of experience in environmental activism, adult education, project management, community engagement and co-designing towards the future. Chúk’s work is not only informed by his academic background but also by his lived experiences as a Black Francophone in what is currently Canada.
About Daren Daren Okafo is the Consulting Director of Collective Leadership at the Tamarack Institute. Originally hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Daren has spent his entire 30-year career working in community development and engagement, learning alongside communities throughout Canada, Europe and Africa.
About Erika Erika holds a bachelor’s degree in International Development and Globalization and a master’s degree in Migration and Intercultural Relations. Erika is passionate about mobilizing communities towards social justice.
About Isaac Isaac supports community development, enjoys wildlife photography, and hiking, and brings his passion for the outdoors to Tamarack's initiatives.
About Justin Justin leads Public Policy and Government Relations, leveraging his expertise in research and advocacy to drive positive change and community engagement.
About Kate Kate, Community Animator in Accounts Payable, ensures smooth expense workflows and fosters vendor relationships with her accounting expertise.
Kathryn Colby
Senior Community Animator, Communities Ending Poverty
About Kathryn Kathryn (she/her) is honoured to support BC Communities Ending Poverty at Tamarack.
She holds a master’s degree in Human Security and Peacebuilding, alongside 20+ years supporting marginalized communities, cross-sector partnership development and collective impact through a social work lens.
About Laura Laura holds a B.Comm & M.A. in Global Studies. She champions climate action and social innovation, balancing advocacy with family life across continents.
About Lisa Lisa, Consulting Director, pioneers authentic community engagement strategies. She's an advocate for simplicity and creativity in community change. Off-duty, she co-owns a community café.
About Mairead Mairead is a part of the Digital Sales, Engagement, and Learning team. Their work covers themes of community building and collective practice. Mairead holds a BA in Multimedia Studies from McMaster University and an MDes (Master of Design) in Digital Futures from OCAD University.
Maureen Owens
Senior Community Animator, Communities Ending Poverty
About Maureen Maureen holds two Bachelor’s degrees, focusing on Health Promotion and Education. She advocates for equity and community involvement in poverty reduction. Outside work, Maureen enjoys skiing and hiking.
Mike, a certified Ontario teacher, provides leadership and support for Communities Building Youth Futures staff and member communities. He champions youth leadership and fosters community innovation. Outside work, he enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors.
About Natasha Natasha Pei serves as the Director of Communities Ending Poverty, leveraging her 13 years of experience in community development to promote justice and equity through place-based, community-led systems change.
About Orpah Orpah, Learning Lead, champions equity in poverty reduction, drawing from 10+ years in non-profits. She enjoys cooking, singing, painting, and volleyball with loved ones.
About Owen Owen (he/him), Community Animator, works to empower his colleagues with project management, granting, and administrative support. He strives to approach all aspects of work conscientiously and with empathy. He enjoys long-distance running and playing guitar.
About Robin Robin leads our emergent Community Wealth Building practice to advance place-based community capital and strengthen equitable access to financial resources that support communities. Her work focuses on connecting communities, social finance, and collaborative infrastructure to help communities benefit from local economies.
About Rochelle Rochelle, Director of Equity and Reconciliation, brings a background in community building, anti-racism, and creating inclusive spaces for equity-deserving communities.
About Ruté Ruté holds a BA in Global Studies and an MA in Digital Experience Innovation. She is the Associate Director for Tamarack’s communications and marketing team. She enjoys writing, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.
Savroop Shergill
Manager of Communities, Climate Transitions and Building Belonging
About Sav Sav (she/they) is a registered Social Worker and community organizer who is committed to decolonial praxis, abolitionism, and third world and Black feminist principles.
Stephanie Murray
Associate Director, Digital Sales, Engagement and Learning
About Stephanie Stephanie, Associate Director, excels in marketing, event planning and communications. With a degree in Public Relations, she enjoys thinking creatively about how brands share their stories with the world. Outside of work she enjoys staying active and being outdoors.
Stephen Ngonain
Senior Manager of Communities, Community Climate Transitions
About Stephen Stephen holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies focused on climate action and community engagement. He is passionate about supporting Community Climate Transitions at Tamarack.
About Sonja Sonja leads Tamarack's Community Innovation Area, fostering dynamic initiatives worldwide. With vast global experience, she's an advocate for community-led change.
About Sylvia Sylvia leads Tamarack’s Collaboration Area. She deeply appreciates the benefits and challenges of diverse groups learning and working together.
About Yas Yas is an Associate Director and part of Tamarack's Skills for Change team. They are dedicated to community development and engagement, prioritizing ethical co-creation and collaboration.
Colleen has been working in community economic development for over 20 years in both urban and rural communities across Saskatchewan. She has extensive knowledge of the complexity of human service systems and the intricacies of how public policy and practice indirectly and directly impact people.
Dina Al-khooly
Vice Chair
Dina Al-khooly, Team Lead, Policy Development Unit, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services of Ontario, advocates for youth voice, science literacy, and racial justice, fostering equitable STEM access.
Bill Harper
Treasurer
Bill Harper, VP at Imagine Canada, strengthens nonprofits with 30+ yrs experience in finance, governance, and strategic planning.
Nation Cheong
Past Chair
Nation, with 20 years in community development, leads United Way's initiatives for inclusive communities, youth development, and local economic strategies.
Anna Hardie
Board Member
Anna Hardie is an organizer at ClimateFast who believes in community-led innovation, local climate action, and the power of grassroots movements. She has a background in financial policy at both the provincial and municipal levels of government.
Ben Henderson
Board Member
Ben Henderson, former Edmonton City Councillor, co-chairs End Poverty Edmonton, leading initiatives in public engagement, governance, and environmental sustainability.
Danya, Co-CEO, and Director of our Networks for Change, champions collective impact and data strategy. She's dedicated to fostering inclusive, thriving communities.
Dr. Jiwei Li
Board Member
Jiwei Li, a family physician, prioritizes community, collaboration, and equity, focusing on health equity for marginalized populations, especially newcomers, through collective impact and quality improvement initiatives.
Hisham Abu-Abed
Board Member
Hisham is a Senior Vice President at State Street, leading Corporate Audit's AI transformation by embedding data, analytics, and responsible AI, drawing on prior enterprise‑scale AI leadership at RBC and a strong record of patented innovation.
Krystal Renschler
Board Member
Krystal is the Founder and Principal of the social impact consultancy, Mutatio. Through her work, she supports nonprofits, foundations, First Nations and local governments to navigate complexity, strengthen strategy, and advance meaningful social and environmental change.
Louise Adongo
Board Member
Louise is a systems-focused, values-driven leader with experience across public and community sectors. She brings extensive governance expertise from nonprofit board roles and applies public policy, mixed-methods research, community advocacy, and design thinking to help people transform their organizations to advance equity and shift power for inter-generational impact.
Marwa Suraj
Board Member
Marwa is a physician-turned-farmer working across humanitarian and community-based spaces, with a focus on problem-solving at the edges of systems. She is especially interested in how local agencies shape practical solutions in communities that are too often overlooked.
Scott Graham
Board Member
Scott is a community convener who sees the power of collective philanthropy as a force for positive change. His career has included roles at Edmonton Community Foundation and the Stollery Charitable Foundation. A longtime volunteer with a focus on social justice, he has served on multiple boards and committees in both Alberta and British Columbia.
change in action
Browse our Resource Hub to read, listen to and watch how our changemakers are making an impact. Visit our Learning Center to attend events and enroll in courses, and participate in community discussions.
resource hub
The latest thinking, tools and interactive online practice to provide inspiration and achieve success in community change efforts.
We’re happy to answer questions, discuss community issues and direct you to trusted resources. Get in touch with a specific team member or submit a general inquiry.
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