Our People

Jenny is a social worker by training, having received her Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Her focus has always been on community and organizational development. She has served on the boards of several community legal clinics in Ottawa and Toronto, which are non-profit organizations providing access to justice for low-income Ontarians. Gullen has been with CAWI for more than a decade. She has been co-Chair of the Women’s Action Committee and has helped to organize many of our Women’s Action Forums, enjoying and learning from all of them.

Delores is of the Three Fires Confederacy, which is Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi from Wiikwemkoong located on beautiful Manitoulin Island. She is currently employed with the Gignul Non-Profit Housing Corporation as a Tenant Relations Officer. Delores had been active within the Indigenous community since arriving in Ottawa in 1997. She has volunteered her time on various committees and boards such as Minwaashin Lodge and Odawa Native Friendship Centre. Delores has been very active in organizing events such as the Ottawa Aboriginal Family Festival (Children & Youth Pow Wow) and Odawa’s Food for Friends Christmas Hamper Campaign. At CAWI, Delores brings her Indigenous perspective to a table of diverse women to create a more inclusive city for all.

Mary is the Senior Director of Operations at Skate Canada, having already served the term maximum as a Director on the Skate Canada board. She has been volunteering in skating since she was a pre-teen. Mary is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA). She has worked in industry for three decades since completing her articling period at KPMG. Mary’s career gave her the opportunity to travel and live in Europe, where she worked on mergers and acquisitions for a Winnipeg-based manufacturing firm. She also worked for the Winnipeg Airports Authority as the Director of Finance, as well as its subsidiary, WASCO, as Director of Corporate Development. Working internationally has allowed Mary to see the world through a more diverse lens. She has been thrilled to be able to match her passion for volunteering with her professional expertise at CAWI.

Darlene is from the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. Her first language is Ojibway. As a strong Indigenous woman, Darlene’s mission in life is to protect, preserve and promote Indigenous culture, traditions and language for those coming behind her, such as her three grandsons. Darlene works tirelessly to ensure Indigenous people are visible and their voices are heard. She currently works for the Gowling Law Firm on the Federal Indian Day School Class Action file. She’s the Board Chair for Photographers Without Borders (Canada & United States) and a member of its Indigenous Advisory Group, which brings awareness of Indigenous issues internationally through pictures. Darlene is also the Board Chair for Weengushk Film Institute’s Enaaknagezhig, Board of Directors.

Nayeli is an experienced communications professional. She’s passionate about inclusive and accessible content that can be enjoyed by all. Nayeli has worked for the public service since the age of 18. She’s an active member of her department’s racialized and Indigenous employee network, women’s network and Pride network. She’s also on a committee that advises executives on equity, diversity and inclusion. Nayeli strives to advocate for more representation in her organization, to bring awareness to the realities of marginalized folks, and to foster safe spaces. She was drawn to CAWI because she believes in the power of women coming together to create change. Nayeli was born in Cancun, Mexico but grew up in Ottawa. She’s proud of her Mexican and French Canadian heritage. She speaks three languages and loves to travel. Nayeli enjoys baking in her spare time, as well as taking care of her cat, Margot!

Deborah is a communications professional and Professor who holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Political Science from the University of Ottawa, and a Master of Communication from Carleton University. Deborah's professional experiences encompass digital communication strategy, digital accessibility, and political communications, including a background in academic research. She has been a spokesperson for Democracy Watch Canada and a member of the communications team for civic engagement advocacy organizations. When she’s not working she enjoys traveling, reading, and attempting new hobbies.

Claudia is involved in community work related to inclusion, including intergenerational relationships, cultural diversity and mental health. She’s a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Claudia is also an author – her novel about social problems lived by teenagers is due to be published in November 2022 at the Éditions David. Having previously worked in academia, Claudia holds both a master’s and doctorate degree in social work. She also has a certificate in community organizing and a baccalaureate in management. Claudia has extensive international experience. She lived in New York City for 10 years, London, U.K. for 6 years, and Cameroon for 6 months. While living in London, she was a board member at Migrants Organise for her three year mandate. Claudia uses her invaluable experience in social and community work to help CAWI advocate for people experiencing inequality, injustice and oppression.

Nene Salimatou Barry has been a CAWI activist for several years and has learned a lot from the great personalities she's worked with during her time at CAWI. As a board member, she intends to make her modest contribution to the smooth running of CAWI's activities and the well-being of it's participants.

Andrea is involved with two of our programs – Making Voices Count and Maamawe: Women Reducing Poverty Together. She serves on our Women’s Action Committee and is part of our Facilitators’ Network. Andrea facilitates civic engagement sessions with residents, encouraging them to influence election results and city decision-making. She also supports capacity building initiatives by facilitating the Creating the Change We Want workshop. She continually inspires others to learn and take action. As a board member of the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard, Andrea is also able to network with partners and stakeholders.

Sado is a Community Health Worker at the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre. Her responsibilities are to deliver health promotion and community development programming to local communities. Sado is passionate about advancing human rights, community development and gender equity. Sado has been an active CAWI volunteer for more than a decade. She has served on the Steering Committee for the last two years, facilitated several of our workshops, and co-organized events. She has also been involved with our Facilitators’ Network. Sado is committed to advancing CAWI’s important work regarding civic engagement, poverty reduction and women’s leadership.

Sawsan is an ex-officio member of the board representing the City of Ottawa. She has a master’s degree in health policy, planning and financing, as well as a postgraduate degree in population studies. Sawsan has spent most of her professional life working with the United Nation agencies in several regions in the world. She managed and provided technical support on several international development and humanitarian programs based on gender and human rights. Sawsan is the specialist on women and gender equity for the City of Ottawa. She’s leading the city’s first Women and Gender Equity Strategy. Sawsan joined CAWI’s board in 2020. She’s excited to see how she can leverage her skills to support our mission and make an impact.

Rasheedaht Sulaiman is a feminist and an advocate for social equity and community empowerment; she embodies a diverse identity as a Muslim woman, an immigrant, and a member of the black community. Rasheedaht holds a degree in Health Education and a master’s degree in School and Community Health Education. She works as a Health Promoter at Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre, where she leads a project that focuses on supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour in the city of Ottawa, including youths from these groups. This project addresses the prevention of hate crimes, curbing violence and gang-related issues, conflict resolution, and a staunch focus on equitable access to healthcare, education, and resources. In her leisure time, she enjoys sewing, photography and using social media to create positive awareness.

Meet Khrystal Sturridge, a versatile professional with a knack for HR, organizational consulting, and community engagement. She has worked in a wide range of roles in HR: revamping policies and processes; talent acquisition and recruiting; learning and development; and performance management. She has been a champion for diversity and inclusion and worked with Employee Resource Groups to make the workplace more equitable. In their role as an Organizational Consultant, she has teamed up with non-profits, developing smart strategies, tracking results, and making a real impact, structuring budgets, raising funds, and landing grants. With her background in Communications and Political Science from the University of Ottawa, they've also racked up certifications in Total Rewards Compensation and Payroll.