Board of Directors 2026-2027
Nermin Foda
Chair Person
Nermin Foda, OCT (certified, Ontario College of Teachers) is an educator with extensive Canadian and international experience. She holds Bachelor Degrees in Commerce and Education. She is a teacher with the Peel District School Board for over 20 years in the areas of Special Education and English as a Second Language. She was a member of OnBoard Canada and completed the Not For Profit Governance Essentials program at the Rotman School of Management by the Institute of Corporate Directors. She joined MIAG as a Board Member in 2017 and is currently a Board Member and Treasurer.
She has served as a member of the board for the Council for the College of Early Childhood Educators of the Ministry of Education as an Order in Council appointee by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, cooking and sewing.
Shivani Parshad
Vice Chair
Shivani Parshad, brings over 15 years of experience in the Human Service sector and specializes in Training and Development, project management and community development. She has led diverse projects such as women empowerment, employment, Diversity and Inclusion for employers, and capacity building. Her global and local experience ranges from being a Consultant, Project Manager to Facilitator with City of Mississauga, City of Guelph, PwC, Nissan and many other non-profit organizations in GTA.
Shivani holds a Master degree in Human Resource Management and Post Graduate in Psychology. She believes in continuous learning, building a resilient society through education and community collaboration. To achieve her personal and professional goals she partners with organizations and people with common community development goals. Outside of her work, she practices spirituality and teaches Human Values (Truth, Love, Peace, Right Conduct and Non-Violence) to children of all faiths on Saturdays.
Jessica Bryant
Member at Large
Jessica Bryant, is a nonprofit leader with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of brand, marketing, fundraising, and advocacy. She champions bold, equity-centered storytelling and communications strategies that mobilize communities, influence policy, and inspire action. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice, anti-racism, gender equity, and youth empowerment.
Jessica is the Head of Brand and Communications at Save the Children Canada, the world’s leading independent child rights organization. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Human Rights and a BA in Sociology and Criminology from Roehampton University, UK. A proud resident of Peel and devoted mom of four, she is passionate about creating a more just and inclusive world—both professionally and personally.
Fauzia Khan
Director
Fauzia Khan, has 13 years of experience in the social services sector, with a focus on settlement and women’s empowerment. She is currently the Settlement Manager at the Afghan Women’s Organization in Mississauga, where she has been since 2009.
Fauzia has been involved in a variety of different organizations including Victim Services of Peel, MIAG, and Interval House of Hamilton. Her work has been focused on the settlement needs of newcomer and refugee women and families, including a special focus on Violence Against Women (VAW). An advocate of women’s health and wellness, and lifelong learning, she engages and guides community members to realize their full potential as they transition into life in Canada.
Susan Lee
Director
Susan Lee, is a Talent and Development professional with over 15 years of experience in a broad range of industries including financial, telecommunications, IT, retail, education, government, and management consulting. She holds a dual MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston and Cornell University in Ithaca, as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from Concordia University in Montreal. Susan is currently the Director of Education at IFSE Institute.
Varu Jawa
Treasurer
Varu Jawa, is a seasoned Software Procurement professional with over 15 years of experience in enterprise software sourcing, strategic vendor negotiations, and IT cost optimization. She has led high-impact procurement initiatives at leading institutions including the Royal Bank of Canada, Manulife, and American Express, where she managed multi-million-dollar projects and secured strategic vendor partnerships that enhanced operational efficiency.
Varu holds an MBA and a diploma in Leadership. Throughout her career, she has taken on diverse roles, demonstrating adaptability and a strong commitment to growth. Beyond her professional pursuits, Varu is also a certified spiritual healer, passionate about connecting with individuals and supporting them on their soul journeys.
Trisha Gangwar
Secretary
Trisha Gangwar, is an educator and community advocate with over ten years of experience supporting children, youth, families, and adults throughout the Greater Toronto Area. She holds a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Trisha has served in various educational and community roles, including as an instructor, mental health educator, youth program coordinator, and clinician working with neurodivergent children and youth. Her professional practice focuses on designing culturally informed programs, advancing mental health initiatives, and establishing equitable spaces for all learners, especially within racialized and newcomer communities. Dedicated to holistic support and strategic program innovation, Trisha prioritizes accessible, community-led solutions that elevate underserved populations.
Diana Jalloul
Member at Large
Diana Jalloul
is a seasoned finance professional with over 20 years of experience in audit, financial policy development, governance and financial modelling both in the private and public sector.
For the last decade, Diana has been dedicated to public service, leading funding policy work to support the financial specific needs of school boards and colleges and universities in Ontario. In her current role, Diana leads Internal Controls reviews of financial reporting and management at Canada Border Services Agency, overseeing the sound financial stewardship of Canadian taxpayers’ money.
Diana also dedicates time to be involved in workplace and local community and charity events, advocating for women empowerment and fundraising for United Way, the Terry Fox Institution, SickKids as well as supporting misplaced families in times of international crisis. In 2026, Diana received the CBSA’s President Award for her contributions to the workplace wellness in the GTA region.
Hasbiyallah Ahmed
Member at Large
Hasbiyallah Ahmed, is a cross-sector management consultant working at the intersection of agriculture and food systems, international development, social and behavior change, and organizational governance, with over a decade of experience turning donor strategy into measurable change in communities, clinics, and boardrooms across Nigeria, West Africa, and Canada. As Principal Consultant at ACE NORD Associates Consulting Limited, she leads strategy, governance, HR, and program advisory engagements across agriculture, healthcare, and international development. She has led initiatives funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with UC San Diego's Center on Gender Equity and Health, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and M&C Saatchi. She also led the delivery of a nutrition-sensitive agriculture consultancy under an EU ECHO HIP 2026 humanitarian project in Katsina State, Nigeria, focused on community gardens, women's economic empowerment, and food security.
Lei Cai
Member at Large
Lei Cai, is a senior executive with over 15 years of experience in project delivery, organizational transformation, and business leadership across the public, healthcare, and private sectors. She is currently Vice President, Enterprise Project Management Office & Business Services at Maximus Canada, where she leads enterprise project management capabilities and provides executive leadership for strategy, business reporting, marketing/communications and procurement. Throughout her career, Lei has led complex transformation initiatives and built high-performing teams focused on turning strategy into meaningful results.
Lei holds a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Toronto. She is passionate about contributing her experience in strategy, governance, transformation, and organizational leadership to support MIAG’s mission and strengthen its impact within diverse communities
Purkha Qadermal
Member at Large
Purkha Qadermal
is a digital leadership and administration professional with experience in project coordination, accounting, administrative operations, and community volunteering. With a strong ability to organize priorities, coordinate tasks, and support teams, Purkha brings a practical and collaborative approach to achieving organizational goals. Her areas of expertise include project coordination and administration, financial and accounting support, digital tools and data analysis, team collaboration, and community engagement. Purkha is committed to continuous professional development, with training in project management, Power BI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and workplace communication, strengthening her ability to contribute effectively to
technology-enabled, efficient, and well-organized workplaces
