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OUR TEAM
AKLILU WENDAFEREW
MSW, RSW, Executive Director
Aklilu Wendaferew, RSW, MSW, Executive Director, has been with Good Shepherd Ministries since 2000. He provides leadership, direction and guidance in the development and management of organizational structure, activities and programs serving homeless and marginalized individuals. Aklilu earned his BSW from University of Western Ontario, and MSW from the University of Toronto, a Post Graduate Diploma in Ethnic and Pluralism Studies from University of Toronto, and a Certificate in Non-profit Management from the joint program of Maytree Foundation – York University, Schulich School of Business and a Certificate in Negotiation and Influence from MIT/EMERITUS Management Executive Education.
GLENN MORGAN
CPA, CMA, Assistant Executive Director
Glenn Morgan, CPA, CMA, Assistant Executive Director at Good Shepherd Ministries, where he joined in 2019. Prior to his role at Good Shepherd, Glenn served as the Director of Program Support for the City of Toronto’s Shelter, Support, and Housing Administration from 2006 to 2019. With over a decade of experience in this capacity, Glenn possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the operation and financing of social housing and shelter services.
Glenn is a seasoned professional accountant, having earned his CPA, CMA designation in 1996. His extensive financial background adds valuable insights to the organization’s management and planning processes.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ROB GRAHAM
CHAIRMAN
Rob Graham works in financial oversight, analysis, and governance. He holds an MBA in finance, and ICD.D designation, and five certifications in governance. He is an experienced board director serving in a variety of governance-leadership roles. His community involvement and not-for-profit board experience have been in the areas of homelessness, mental health, post-secondary education and conservation. Rob has worked in the financial planning and budget approval processes in the airline industry and mass transit, in large municipal governments, and private business. He now works in real estate investment. In the spirit of continuous learning, he studies public policy and leadership at the Kennedy School through which he is part of a global community of public policy practitioners.
STEPHEN HWANG, MD, MPH
VICE CHAIRMAN
Dr. Stephen Hwang is the Director of the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital, where he holds the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital Chair in Homelessness, Housing, and Health. He is known internationally for his research on interventions to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness and to interrupt chronic homelessness itself. Dr. Hwang is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a practising physician in general internal medicine.
GINA DI LORENZO
DIRECTOR
Gina Di Lorenzo-Burry has been honoured to serve on the Good Shepherd Board since December 1998, as well as on the Fundraising Committee for the Good Shepherd Golf Tournament and Annual Gala since 1997. Gina is an experienced real estate professional. She has worked in residential high-rise sales, pre-construction sales and marketing, and resale real estate across the GTA with Royal LePage and prior with private builders and developers. Goals and interests include bee-keeping and organic and sustainable agriculture. Her passion is to improve the lives of all those in need, the cause and care of our homeless, with a focus on Toronto and the work of the Good Shepherd.
RICHARD MACPHEE, OH
DIRECTOR
Brother Richard MacPhee, OH, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, is Chief Executive Officer of Good Shepherd Centres and Good Shepherd Non-Profit Homes in Hamilton and Toronto. Good Shepherd is one of the largest health and human services agencies in the Greater Hamilton Area. Brother Richard became a registered nurse and joined the congregation of the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1980 and studied in Chicago, Illinois at The Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd Novitiate. He came back to Canada in 1983 to be Assistant Director of the Good Shepherd Men’s Centre in Hamilton. In January 1987, he was named Executive Director of Good Shepherd. As the organization grew, his title changed to Chief Executive Officer. He now oversees an agency that employs 600 co-workers in Hamilton and Toronto. Good Shepherd’s dedicated volunteer team logged 68,282 hours in 2019. Brother Richard lives and promotes St. John of God’s inspiring motto: “Do good for yourself by doing good for others.
GORDON J. MANION
DIRECTOR
Gordon J. Manion established Manion Wilkins and Associates, a national employee benefits firm providing consulting and administration services for group insurance, pensions and financial management of the programs, in 1972. The firm specializes in these services for corporations, associations, charitable organizations and jointly-managed programs negotiated by management and union. During his business career, he was active in volunteering and raising funds for community organizations including Catholic Charities, ShareLife, Toronto Family Services, and Good Shepherd Ministries. He is a graduate of Loyola College and Concordia University, where he majored in Economics. He retired in 2008 as Chairman and CEO of Manion Wilkins and Associates.
PETER PROSZANSKI
DIRECTOR
Peter Proszanski has over 30 years of practical legal experience and is a founder of Himelfarb Proszanski and head of the Corporate Real Estate/Commercial departments. He has a diverse institutional and entrepreneurial client base. Mr. Proszanski’s experience in real property matters includes representing lenders on financing transactions. He has represented clients on purchases and sales of commercial properties, as well as participating in development related transactions and also represents several title insurance companies. He has also acted in countless transactions and provides general corporate advice to his clients. Mr. Proszanski is actively involved in community endeavours, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Good Shepherd Ministries. The firm has provided pro bono legal advice to many charitable institutions, such as the Myelin Project, the HOBY (a youth leadership organization), the Canadian Muslim Association, Canadian Friends of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Inc., the Church of the Street Connection Inc. and other charitable organizations. He is also Chairman of the Centurions Cricket Club and works closely with the Pikangikum Working Group providing support for Indigenous youth. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of several publicly traded companies. Mr. Proszanski graduated from the University of Windsor where he earned his LL.B. and MBA. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1987 and has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario.
STEPHEN CHU
DIRECTOR
Stephen Chu is a property investor who has more than 25 years of international real estate experience, including senior posts with a number of Real Estate Investment Trusts in Hong Kong and Singapore. He is currently involved with several community charities and non-profit organisations focusing on cancer research and cancer care. Stephen enjoys spending time keeping fit (or at least trying to), making family/friends happy, and adding value to society. He believes in the quotation “A civilization is measured by how it treats the weakest members.”
DAVID LYNCH, OH
DIRECTOR
Br. David Lynch, OH, has more than forty years of experience working with the homeless in Europe, Haiti, and Canada. He served as Executive Director of Good Shepherd Ministries from February 1995 to July 2022. He currently serves as Provincial Superior for Hospitaller Order of St. John of God’s Province of the Good Shepherd in North America. During his tenure in Toronto, Br. David launched a variety of innovative programs to address underlying causes of homeless like the DARE (Drug and Alcohol Recovery Enrichment) Program, which helps homeless men who are seeking treatment for addictions; St. Joseph’s Residence, a 24-hour supportive residence for frail seniors 55+ who have a history of homelessness and may need a managed alcohol program; services that address the growing trend of homelessness among homeless Veterans.
KIARAS GHARABAGHI
DIRECTOR
Dr. Kiaras Gharabaghi is the dean of the Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University. Previous to this position, he was the John C. Eaton Chair of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Director of the School of Child and Youth Care, both at Toronto Metropolitan as well. Dr. Gharabaghi started his career in human services in the 1980s, working directly with young people facing adversity, managing not-for-profit youth-serving programs in child welfare, child and youth mental health, and youth homelessness, and providing family support services to newcomer families. His background is marked by both forced and voluntary migrations spanning three continents, multiple languages, and engagement with multiple faith groups.
CATHERINE K. HUTSON, MBA, MMSC
DIRECTOR
Catherine K. Hutson is a health care executive and works for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) with a vision of an equitable cancer system for all people in Canada. Before joining CPAC, she had leadership roles at several hospitals (plus a start-up company), and long-term care homes including Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care and Baycrest Health Sciences. She has served as a Board of Director on several condominium boards, Toronto Metropolitan University Ted Rogers School of Management’s Program Advisory Council, and volunteered with St. John Ambulance Brigade. Catherine is passionate about helping the most vulnerable, and the work at Good Shepherd aligns well with her humble beginnings. She enjoys ballet, skiing, and spending time with her husband and children in Toronto.
ALISON NANKIVELL, MSC ECON
TREASURER
Alison Nankivell is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She is an experienced Investment professional with over 25 years of experience in global trade, financing, venture capital, and private equity investment, mainly in Asia and Canadian corporations, including 11 years in Beijing and 2 years in Hong Kong. She is presently the Senior Vice President of Fund Investments and Global Scaling at BDC Capital. She serves as a vital member of BDC Capital’s senior management team, primarily overseeing all areas of the Fund Investing program. She leads BDC Capital’s strategic initiatives and reporting frameworks for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Environmental, Social & Governance, including the creation and launch of new venture capital funds to address climate change and underserved communities such as Indigenous and Black entrepreneurs. Alison currently serves as Chair of the Institutional Limited Partners Association’s Board of Directors, a global investment organization. She served as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board Committee of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and a Founding member of the Private Equity Women’s Investment Network Canada. Alison is a University of Toronto graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce and Economics with Honours. She also has an MSc Econ from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
BRUNO MANDIC
DIRECTOR
Bruno Mandic has been a prominent figure in the construction industry for over two decades. He began his career as a Drywall Finisher, working in the trade for ten years. From 2001 to 2016, he held several leadership positions with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), including Business Representative from 2001 to 2016 and Political Director of IUPAT, District Council 46 from 2011 to 2016. Mandic currently serves as the Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of IUPAT, District Council 46, and the President of the Ontario Council of Painters. He also serves as a trustee for several industry funds, including the IUPAT Ontario Health and Welfare Fund, IUPAT Ontario Pension Fund, and IUPAT Industry Pension Fund (Canada). Mandic has been actively involved in his community outside his professional roles. He has been a Knights of Columbus Council 5523 member in Mississauga, Ontario. In 2006, he served on the Finance Committee for Croatian Martyrs Catholic Parish, also in Mississauga. Mandic completed his studies at the University of Osijek in Croatia, earning a Diploma in Engineer/Agriculture from the Faculty of Agriculture. His experience, dedication, and leadership have been instrumental in advocating for the rights of skilled workers and advancing the interests of the trade union movement.
ANTHONY SIMONE
DIRECTOR
Anthony Simone is a skilled instructor with over 17 years of experience teaching comprehensive programs for Interior Systems Mechanics at the Interior Finishing Systems Training Center, Ontario, Canada. Anthony holds several certifications, including Level One and Two Instructor certification from the Carpenters International Training Center. He also earned his Red Seal Interior Systems Mechanic certification from the Ministry of Training College and Universities in 2005 and his Architectural Design Technologist Diploma from Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology in 1993. Anthony was featured in an article titled “Infection Control Construction Training Helps Trades Prepare” by the Daily Commercial News on December 3, 2012, for his expertise in infection control methods for construction on hospital renovation sites. Anthony began working at Local 675 Interior Systems as a Business Representative in 2022. He has been appointed as Financial Secretary and also sits on other committees within the union.
GREGORY BROWN
DIRECTOR
Greg Brown is a dynamic leader specializing in digital sales, marketing, and product management, with a proven track record of driving business results through data-driven and customer-centric digital strategies. As VP of North America Digital Product Sales at BMO Financial Group, Greg is accountable for driving market-leading digital acquisition and share of wallet growth, and personalized customer experiences across digital touchpoints. His leadership has propelled BMO to the forefront of digital sales in Canada and the U.S.
Before joining BMO, Greg led digital product and performance marketing for GoEasy Ltd., Canada’s largest alternative lender. He was instrumental in driving double-digit growth in online lending sales and increasing same-store sales in GoEasy’s retail business.
Greg holds an MBA from Ivey Business School at Western University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. He is also BMO’s executive lead for its partnership with the Black Professionals in Technology Network (BPTN).