Board of Directors

2023 - 2024

Mercy Lawluvi

Executive Director

Kylie Patrick

Board Chair

Tene Knibbs

Vice Chair

Barbara Amona Purdie

Secretary

Abigail Williams-Treasurer
Abigail Williams

Treasurer

Ruth MacKenzie

Member

Seyi Okuribido-Malcolm

Member

Aia Raafat

Member

Tasha Truant

Member

Hosai Qasmi - Member
Hosai Qasmi

Member

Brenda Okorogba

Member

Veronica Dingile Mbofana-Member
Veronica Mbofana

Member

Maria Choque - Member
Maria Choque

Member

Georgette Morris-Member at large
Georgette Morris

Member at Large

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Maria Choque is originally from Colombia. She holds a diploma in Logistics Management and is completing her Bachelor's in International Business Management, having won a full scholarship for excellence in Sustainability and Innovation. Her leadership journey began as High School Class President in 2020, where she led projects benefiting over 1,000 families and earned recognition as the Best Youth Leader. She later served as a Youth Councillor in her city before relocating to Canada. Here, she is actively engaged in various youth initiatives, including the Ottawa Youth Council for Youth Ottawa, Youth Advisory Committee for YouthNet/CHEO, ambassador for Apathy is Boring and Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum.
She currently serves as a Program Officer at Incubator13, focusing on developing the first Community-based social innovation lab in the region. As a young immigrant woman her interests revolve around promoting gender equality, youth activism, and enhancing participation for underrepresented groups. She aspires to further her education with a Master's in Global Development Policy, aiming to contribute meaningfully to global social and economic development.

Veronica Dingile Mbofana is a recently licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB). She has an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.​ Veronica’s professional career began at TD Bank where she worked in customer service and later in operations before moving to join the public service as a communications officer at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. She has since moved on from the public service, opening her immigration consultancy firm VDM Canadian Immigration Consultancy Inc.​Born in Lusaka, Zambia, Veronica immigrated to Canada over 10 years ago with her family. The journey, though interesting, was a difficult one with few resources at their disposal. Getting to the other side, having adapted to the Canadian environment and having knowledge of the immigration system, it is Veronica’s goal to assist newcomers to overcome the challenges and enjoy meaningful lives.

Brenda Okorogba is a multi-award-winning Learning Experience Designer, Grants Specialist, and Facilitator with 10 years of experience ideating, designing, and facilitating outcome-based programs for diverse populations across industries, sectors, and geographies. Brenda is a strong advocate for equity in all its manifestations and is constantly looking for new ways to spark social change. She finds joy in establishing opportunities for multigenerational connections so diverse individuals can explore life-changing opportunities, accomplish their goals, and lead a purposeful life. Brenda has a passion for classroom, workplace, and community learning and a gift for creating targeted learning solutions that address relevant career, community, and business needs.

Tasha Truant is the Associate Director of World Education Services, where she works on several initiatives, from program to partnership development. She holds a Master of Arts from Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and a Bachelor (Honors) in International Development. During the past fifteen years, Tasha has worked in several organizations to support the integration of newcomers to Canada, such as the Canadian Index for Measuring Integration and the YOW Welcome Refugee Sponsorship Group. Additionally, her multidisciplinary experience has extended into workplace immigrant and refugee inclusion advocacy in the workplace.

Hosai Qasmi - Member

Hosai Qasmi is a researcher and advocate with extensive experience in gender studies, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and international development. She holds a Ph.D. in Feminist and Gender Studies and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Ottawa.​As the co-founder of Hosa Counselling and Research, an immigrant-operated organization, Hosai has dedicated her career to empowering marginalized communities. She is also a research consultant with Archipel Research and Consulting, an Indigenous-owned and women-led company.​Hosai's expertise extends to working with prominent organizations such as Amnesty International Canada and the Office of the Special Representative to Combat Islamophobia. ​Her academic contributions include publishing book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, and opinion pieces on topics such as postcolonialism, women’s empowerment, and media representations. ​Hosai is fluent in English, Dari, Pashto, and Urdu, with a basic comprehension of French.

Seyi Okuribido-Malcolm is Director of the Anti-Racism Secretariat at National Defence. Seyi has been with the federal public service for 22 years taking on increasingly progressive policy and leadership roles across a number of departments. She holds a double major in Political Science and Sociology/Anthropology and a Masters of Public Administration from Carleton University. Seyi is committed to optimizing the power of inclusion by advancing and enabling a state of equity where she can.Seyi is married with two teenagers and enjoys recreational running, hiking and photography.

Georgette Morris-Member at large

Georgette Morris holds an Honours BA in Human Rights and Equity Studies, a BA in Social Science, and an MA in Public Policy Administration and Law, all from York University. She also holds certificates in Law and Society, Public Policy Analysis, and graduate diplomas in Democratic Administration and Ethics and Public Affairs. She is a PhD student at Carleton University, in Law and Legal Studies. Her primary research interests have been in labour, policy, equity, human rights, immigration, citizenship, government, political debate, public reason, and agenda setting. ​Georgette possesses a range of experiences at all levels of government, within a range of departments and ministries. She has extensive experience in student government during her undergraduate and graduate studies, serving in roles of Communications and Vice President, steward, Chief Steward Unit 1. She has worked extensively in strategic policy and research. She has sat on several task forces regarding improvement, equity, diversity, inclusion, and modernization. ​She is also a long-time volunteer within youth, cultural, education, and immigrant non-profits.

Ruth’s career in the charitable sector spans 30+ years and the local, national and global levels. She is currently the President & CEO of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP), and Executive Director of the CAGP Foundation, national organizations that inspire and strengthen philanthropy in Canada. Prior to CAGP, Ruth was the president & CEO of Volunteer Canada. Ruth is also a committed volunteer, and has served on many boards and committees at the national and international level. She served on the Governor General’s Volunteer and Philanthropy Advisory Committee from 2012-2015, and currently is the Chair of the Board of CanadaHelps. In 2015 Ruth was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in acknowledgement of her impact on volunteerism, and received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 2020.

Abigail Williams-Treasurer

Abigail Williams is a financial and policy analyst with a background in economic theory. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in Economics from the University of Ottawa and is working towards her MA in Economics at Carleton University. Currently, Abigail serves as a Supervisor at the Bank of Canada, overseeing retail payments supervision by assessing operational and fund safeguarding risk of payment providers. Her prior roles involved critical risk analysis and resolution strategies for major financial institutions, including leading complex crisis simulations. Abigail's experience also includes policy analysis at Transport Canada and early career work in regulatory reporting and compliance. Her commitment to community service is evident from her board role at the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals and mentorship with Apathy is Boring, where she has championed youth engagement and development. Fluent in English and with intermediate French skills, Abigail brings a strong analytical background and effective communication skills to the Board of Immigrant Women Services Ottawa. In her free time, Abigail enjoys running and catching up on her never-ending book list.

Barbara Amona was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She has lived in Canada since 2008 and in Ottawa since 2009. She currently works as a Paralegal at the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary at the House of Commons. She completed her post-graduate certificate in Paralegal Studies at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario. Prior to that, Barbara earned an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in International Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Ottawa. She is currently enrolled part-time in the Master of Arts degree program at Saint Paul University. Barbara, as an immigrant Black woman, has experienced first-hand the challenges of being part of that demographic. As newcomers to Ottawa, she and her mother benefitted from the services of the Immigrant Women Services Ottawa in the past and she is proud to be on the board of directors of an organization that does great work in the community and is excited for the chance to use her learned skills to make a difference.

A partner with Deloitte’s Consulting practice, Tene Knibbs brings over 15 years of experience in helping leaders and their organizations to develop and implement
solutions focused on transforming corporate services to increase efficiency and effectiveness while improving outcomes and overall client experience. She experienced working with the public sector and private sector organizations across Canada as well as internationally. Tene has a passion for helping people to grow and thrive and has made an impact through various roles including volunteering with settlement organizations, actively leading initiatives in support of Deloitte’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and as a mentor to several professionals. Tene is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa.

As a communications professional, Aia Raafat brings solid knowledge of strategic and digital communications with over 7 years of experience in the not-for- profit, corporate, and government sectors. She leverages her skills to give back to the community. As an immigrant woman, Aia values the services offered by IWSO and aims to contribute to the success and awareness of its initiatives. Aia completed a M.A in Communications and an honours, Bachelor of Arts, in Communications from Ottawa University. As a student, she volunteered with the UN Major Group of Children and Youth, the International Federation of Medical Students Association, Rogers TV cable 22. Finally, she was an executive member (Treasurer) of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, local 2626. Aia is currently working as a Communications Advisor at the Standards Council of Canada. She also teaches video production and videography at the Digital Arts Resource Centre in Ottawa. Aia speaks English, French, and Arabic. In her free time, you’ll often find her in the kitchen making baked goods!

Kylie Patrick has worked and volunteered in the not-for-profit sector for more than 22 years, the last 15 advancing the cause of higher education at Carleton University. Currently Kylie is the Assistant Director, Donor Impact at Carleton. Throughout her career Kylie has worked in administration, volunteer management, business operations, fundraising, and in donor engagement. Kylie currently sits on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Ottawa Chapter as president. Kylie graduated in 1999 from Trent University with an honours degree in Canadian Studies/Politics and received her CFRE in 2013.