Join the Volunteer Canada Board of Directors
Our board of directors is responsible for setting Volunteer Canada’s strategic direction. The board represents a pan-Canadian perspective on volunteering and civic participation. Collectively they bring a breadth of experience and wisdom that is crucial to the development of sound organizational policies and maintenance of good governance.
Gina Jordan
Chair
As Manager, Sustainability and ESG Policy at Enbridge Gina Jordan leads the development of sustainability strategies and reporting in support of the company’s transition to a more sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future. Since joining Enbridge’s Public Affairs team in 2006, Gina has held leadership roles in Corporate Citizenship, Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement, Community Relations and Communications.
Gina has nearly 30 years of public affairs experience in diverse sectors, including energy, telecommunications, healthcare and the nonprofit sector. She recently served as the Co-Chair of Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Community Engagement Council and has experience leading both corporate and non-profit volunteer programs as well as managing a large volunteer centre.
Gina holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Communications from Simon Fraser University; certificates in Corporate Citizenship Management and Corporate Community Involvement from Boston College; and a Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from University of St. Michael’s College.
Calgary is home for Gina and her family, where she is an avid gardener, foodie, and passionate community volunteer.
Lisa Mort-Putland
Past Chair
Lisa Mort-Putland joined Volunteer Victoria as their Executive Director in June 2011. Lisa holds a B.A. in Drama and a Masters in Public Administration with a focus on non-profit management. Prior to working with Volunteer Victoria Lisa was the Development Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria and spent 25 years working and volunteering in the museum and heritage sector.
Matt Erhard
Vice-Chair
Idalin McKenzie
Treasurer
Idalin McKenzie is a distinguished leader in finance, strategy, and business transformation with over 20 years of experience. As the Vice President of Finance and Asset Management at YWCA Hamilton, she provides strategic direction across Finance, IT, and Facilities. With an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a CPA designation, Idalin brings a strategic mindset, financial leadership, and analytical prowess. Her extensive experience spans diverse sectors, including public and private. She is a dedicated mentor, board director, educator, and recognized speaker. She was named one of WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in 2023. Idalin’s commitment to excellence drives her impactful contributions to the social services sector.
Ambuj Laroiya
Secretary
A public sector leader for more than 15 years, Ambuj Laroiya grounds his life and work in generosity and compassion.
Ambuj lives in Nova Scotia, where he works at the Halifax Regional Municipality. Ambuj holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (2007), a CEO award (2014), Mill’s award in marketing (2018), a Douglas C. MacKay award in academic excellence (2019), an MBA from Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University (2019), and a Board Governance certification from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University (2023).
In his spare time, Ambuj volunteers with United Way Halifax and Karate Nova Scotia, which keeps him educated and informed on the societal issues of health, inclusion, diversity and equity. He is also a facilitator of change, volunteering at the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology, where he was a participant in the testing of the COVID-19 vaccine. Ambuj loves to read African Nova Scotian history and learn about the First Nations Mi’kma’ki peoples of Nova Scotia.
Ambuj makes every day a new day. He believes that life is a journey where mutual learning, empathy, and kindness make us better together.
Louis-Philippe Champagne
Member at Large
LP Champagne is a public affairs professional with over twenty years’ experience in federal, provincial, and municipal politics. As Associate Vice-President of Public Affairs & Industry Practices at the Canadian Construction Association, he has a proven track record in government relations, strategic communications, and specializes in planning and executing successful advocacy campaigns. His diverse experience across industry associations, non-profit organizations and large corporations provides him with a unique perspective on Canadian public policies and legislative affairs.
His lifelong passion for volunteerism is deeply rooted in his own community engagement in politics, sports, healthcare, and emergency response. As a search and rescue volunteer and a medical first responder, Louis-Philippe had a first-hand opportunity to witness the profound impact of volunteers in our communities. As a champion and advocate for volunteerism and civic participation, he proudly serves as a Board member of Volunteer Canada, where he contributes his leadership and governance experience.
Brooke Cromar
Member at Large
As a senior leader in the non-profit and private sectors, Brooke strives to be a driver of positive change. Currently the Executive Director of the Randstad Foundation and corporate social responsibility lead for Randstad Canada, Brooke is responsible for driving sustainability initiatives and programs, including employee volunteerism, across Canada.
Brooke’s strengths as a big-picture thinker, strong communicator and problem solver were shaped in large part by her experiences working and volunteering on four continents. Now based in Montreal, Brooke is committed to her local community as much as to the global one.
Brooke recently served as the Co-Chair for Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Community Engagement Council, and is currently the Past-Chair. Brooke holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. Francis Xavier University, a Diploma in Environment from McGill University and a Master’s degree from Western University.
Rachel Dick
Member at Large
Tara Gilroy-Scott
Member at Large
Tara Gilroy-Scott is currently Past President of Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC), after spending seven years on its board, including a two-year term as President. Tara leads Volunteer Services for the Victoria Police Department, having previously worked in volunteer management in health care, arts, and museum sectors as part of her experience spanning over 25 years. A graduate in Technical Production from the National Theatre School of Canada, Tara is also very active in event management, including leading several national industry conference committees around volunteering and volunteer management best practices.
A native of Calgary and educated in Edmonton and Montreal, Tara now lives in Victoria, BC. She holds her Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA); completed the Community Learning Program with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre; and was Executive Director for two not-for-profit societies. Her experience includes five years as a member of the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC) and two years with the Victoria Police Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI).
Tara’s career is a testament to her deep commitment to community engagement, and has herself been actively volunteering since she was eight years old. Today, she prioritizes recruiting diverse teams, fostering a welcoming environment, and building trust and credibility with team members and stakeholders so as to drive meaningful, measurable impact.
Farah Kurji
Member at Large
Farah Kurji is an experienced leader in the Social Impact space, having worked in many diverse geographic and cultural contexts across Canada, the U.S., and Central Asia. She brings a perspective grounded in the belief that business can be a powerful force for change.
As the Senior Manager of Social Impact at TD Bank Group, Farah leads the Bank’s Corporate Citizenship strategy across North America, shaping TD’s approach to philanthropic investments and colleague engagement initiatives. Farah has held several roles at TD, spanning Marketing, Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship, and Canadian Personal Banking.
Previously, Farah was with Hill + Knowlton Strategies in New York, advising organizations on integrating social impact into their core operations. Her experience with Roshan, Afghanistan’s largest telecommunications company and part of the Aga Khan Development Network, was especially formative, providing an opportunity to learn how to foster collaboration, build trust and work in a complex and dynamic environment.
A lifelong volunteer, Farah’s commitment to community is deeply personal, shaped by her family’s multi-generational journey as newcomers. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of Together Project, an organization that supports newcomer and refugee integration through volunteer-based social support programs. Farah holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School.
Chad Lubelsky
Member at Large
Chad is the Executive Director at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom - Canada’s oldest progressive synagogue. Previously he was VP, Strategy and Impact at Volunteer Canada, Program Director at the McConnell Foundation, Executive Director at Santropol Roulant developed leadership & community engagement programs for the Millennium Scholarship Foundation, and managed internet rights advocacy for the Association for Progressive Communications. An active volunteer, Chad regularly delivers meals on wheels, is on the Board of Directors of Bread and Beyond , and is the outgoing Chair of the Board at Open North.
Chad has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Concordia University, and Master Degrees in Leadership from Royal Roads University and in Communications from San Francisco State University.
Laura Manning
Member at Large
Laura Manning throughout her career, Laura has worked in complex environments toward social and community good. As Executive Director of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation (LSHF), she led a fast-growing, place-based grant maker seeking to build the strength and resilience of children and families in Waterloo Region. Under Laura’s leadership, LSHF shifted from a primary focus on constrained program funding to supporting unrestricted operating, neighbourhood micro granting and organizational capacity.
She facilitated partnerships with government, initiated collaborative granting alongside other funders, and deepened the foundation’s relationships with the community. Laura now shares her skills through Chilligo Consulting, a specialized practice providing supports to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations including strategic advisory services, mentorship for leaders, governance and board development, and deepening grantmaking practice. Laura’s wide experience covers many aspects of the nonprofit sector, including major gift fundraising, communications, program development and change management.
Laura volunteers as a coach to a young board director through the Fora Rise on Boards program. She has served as a board member and Chair of Philanthropic Foundations of Canada. She has played an active role in numerous collaboratives, federally, provincially and regionally, including the Early Child Development Funders Working Group, the Waterloo Region Children & Youth Planning Table and the Waterloo Region Smart Cities initiative.
Alex Medina
Member at Large
With over 27 years of experience in the energy sector, Alex brings a proven track record of leadership, strategic growth, and stakeholder engagement across Canada. Currently serving as Director of Business Development – National at Entrust Solutions Group Inc., Alex is a key member of the executive leadership team, overseeing client development and strategic market expansion in both regulated and deregulated environments. His portfolio spans engineering consulting services across the Power and Industrial sectors, including Power Delivery, Renewables (Solar, Wind, BESS), Hydrogen, Biofuels, SMRs, CCSU, Co-Generation, Data Centers, and Pipelines.
Dr. Femi Ogunrinde
Member at Large
Femi Ogunrinde, C.Dir, ASC is an accomplished executive leader and community advocate based in Regina, Canada. As CEO of DAZOG Overseas Education Placement Consulting Inc since 2007, he has facilitated the recruitment of over 700 international students to Canada. Dr. Ogunrinde also serves as President/CEO of Lighthouse To All Nations, a faith-based charity focused on community transformation and refugee resettlement.
His extensive governance experience includes serving as Public Representative on the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Saskatchewan Council, President of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Saskatchewan), and Board Chair of Turning Leaf Support Services. He currently sits on multiple boards including the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, which manages $132M in assets. Dr. Ogunrinde holds a Doctor of Healthcare Administration, a PG Cert in Medical Education from Harvard Medical School.
Samantha Reusch
Member at Large
Sam Reusch is the current Executive Director of Apathy is Boring, a national, non-partisan organization that supports and educates youth to be active and contributing citizens in Canada’s democracy. She has been active in the democracy and civic engagement space for over six years, engaging as an advocate and educator to drive investment in positive and effective engagement practices and promote equitable and innovative approaches to civic participation and engagement.
She has continuously engaged a multi-sectoral network of stakeholders (including academic, civil society, private, and public) to advance new understandings of how young people contribute to change-making, volunteerism, and movement-building. Her work is rooted in the right for all citizens to have influence and access to shape our institutions and circumstances, and in the principles of democracy and of human rights for all.
Sam has contributed extensively to media commentary in Canada related to youth participation and elections, current events, policy, and democracy and has proudly published several works speaking on those issues.
Sam is also a proud Montrealer and alum of Concordia University, where she studied Anthropology, specializing in the intersection of identity, politics, and community.
Deirdra Tindale
Member at Large
Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, and now living in Montreal, Quebec, Deirdra has provided strategic communications and public affairs counsel to senior leaders for nearly two decades. She is currently Vice President at Crestview Strategy, a Canadian-owned global public affairs firm that specializes in mobilizing public opinion.
Deirdra began her career on Parliament Hill, leading communications on key files at Canadian Heritage, Industry, and Aboriginal Affairs. She moved into the resources sector, working with senior leaders in two of the world’s largest mining companies and at the world’s largest bulk export port authority. During that time, she led communications and stakeholder engagement plans for mine approvals, major infrastructure projects, and key partnerships.
A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Deirdra received commendations for her work to promote the attraction and retention of women to the resources industry in Australia at both state and national levels.
Deirdra holds a bachelor’s degree from Laurentian University and a master’s degree from Université Laval. She is fluent in French and English.
She is married to Braham and they have a young daughter, Penelope.