Our Team

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 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.

Adrienne Urquhart

Director, Fundraising and Public Relations

adrienne@goodshepherd.ca

April Kim

Manager, Human Resources

april@goodshepherd.ca

Neeran Kuni

Director, Programs and Operations

neeran@goodshepherd.ca

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.

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-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.

Brother Justin Howson, Australian by birth, joined the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in Toronto on December 1965. He did his formation training in Toronto, Ontario, professed First Vows in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 25, 1967, and final Perpetual Vows in Waterford, Ireland on February 23, 1971. Transferred to Waterford, Ireland in 1970, he was responsible for the establishment of the Congregation in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, England, returning back to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1974 where he became Director of the Little Brothers Seniors Residence in Alameda, New Mexico. In 1987, he was elected Superior General of the Congregation, re-elected to a second term serving in that capacity till 1997. He then became Founder Director of the Good Shepherd Centres Emmanuel House Hospice for the dying in Hamilton, Ontario, until re-election as Superior General in 2007. From 2007 onward, he led the Congregation in the discernment process toward Canonical Fusion with the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God in 2015, at which time he was appointed the Provincial Superior of the newly created Hospitaller Province of the Good Shepherd in North America, a post he holds till 2022.

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 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.

Mat Mehrotra leads BMO’s Digital Product Management team as part of the broader BMO Digital group. In this role, Mat works to define and execute against BMO’s digital strategy, with focus on transforming the customer experience and driving business value. This includes leading cross-functional teams to design, develop and deliver digital sales and service experiences for BMO’s 8MM+ Personal Banking customers. Previously, Mat was the Head, Sales & Service, North American Channels, responsible for defining BMO’s digital strategy and delivering on BMO’s cross-border digital sales and service migration objectives. Mat also held various roles in BMO’s strategy group, including Managing Director, Strategy for Canadian P&C Banking, Channels and Payments. In that role, he drove the strategy for BMO’s largest business and led projects focused on critical issues and opportunities. Outside of BMO, Mat sits on the Board of Good Shepherd Ministries, one of Toronto’s largest homeless support organizations. Beyond leadership from a governance, fundraising, and advocacy perspective, Mat has focused on leveraging digital to drive sustainable support for Good Shepherd’s amazing work. Before joining BMO, Mat worked as a Consultant at Monitor Group. Mat holds an Honours Business Administration (HBA) degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business. In his spare time, Mat loves to cook, eat, and travel. Along with his wife and daughter, he’s been to over 30 countries in search of the perfect meal.

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 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.”

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.

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 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 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 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 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.