Dr. Megan Conway
President and CEO
Megan Conway loves sparking creativity, curiosity and capacity across teams, organizations and networks to mobilize social change. With twenty years of diverse leadership roles in government and the charitable, voluntary and academic sectors, Megan has been recognized for her ability to scale innovation, to use evaluative thinking to build and adapt programs, and as a systems change champion.
Dr. Conway earned her PhD at the University of Waterloo in Urban Planning with a focus on community development and scaling social innovations across sites and scales. Megan is most proud, professionally, of her efforts to create systems that enable youth participation, equity and achievement. Starting as a volunteer in Regent Park, she spent over a decade as a senior leader within Pathways to Education—launching the Kitchener program and then becoming the National Vice President of Programs and Research. She is also the Co-Founder of the Laurier School in the Community, a unique service-learning offering option at Laurier. Megan spent eight years as the Academic Chair of Health and Community Programs at Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley where she launched a Rural Enterprise Hub and managed a diverse professional team of 100 faculty to enable student success.
Currently Megan serves as an Executive in Residence at Capacity Canada and as a Fellow at Carleton University’s School of Public Administration and Policy where she leads international research on charitable sector capacity building and place-based change. Megan loves the snow and any chance she can to get on to a bicycle. She lives with her husband and two young children in the Ottawa Valley.
Zaahy Ali
Programs and Events Coordinator
Zaahy Ali (he/him) is a Tkaronto/Toronto-based public engagement practitioner and community organizer with a deep commitment to social justice, equity and decolonization. His work focuses on planning and executing engagement activities on the issues that matter most to equity-deserving communities and their members. Zaahy’s passion lies in co-creating inclusive spaces that foster knowledge exchange and promote social impact to address systemic inequities and challenge the status quo.
As the Programs and Events Coordinator at Volunteer Canada, Zaahy leverages his experience in public engagement to support programs and events by managing logistics, supporting stakeholder relationships, and building community using intersectional and equity lenses. He is looking forward to developing his skills and knowledge as he continues to support colleagues and members at Volunteer Canada.
Aruna Ambalavanar
Finance and Database Administrator
Aruna is an accomplished accounting and finance professional with over a decade of international experience across the healthcare, banking, and finance sectors. Holding a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Colombo and completing the Global Business Management graduate certificate at Humber College with honours, Aruna possesses a strong academic foundation. As a Passed Finalist of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Association of Accounting Technicians in Sri Lanka, Aruna showcases exceptional expertise in financial reporting, tax preparation, and business management.
With proven skills in bookkeeping, tax preparation, reconciliations, and payroll management for diverse industries, Aruna’s contributions extend beyond the workplace. As a dedicated volunteer, Aruna participated in the Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Program, assisting individuals with personal tax filings. Highlights of Aruna’s career include successfully restructuring financial processes during crises, mentoring team members, and implementing accounting software to enhance operational efficiency. Focused on continuous professional growth, Aruna aspires to leverage their expertise to achieve a leadership role in finance.
Martha Aynalem
Chief Financial Officer
Harar Hall (they/them)
Policy and Research Coordinator
Harar v.a. hall (they/them) is a researcher, policy specialist and facilitator raised in Tkaronto/Toronto and currently living in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. They have a Masters in Conflict and Conflict Management from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Over the last several years they have honed their expertise at navigating the complex intersections of policy, equity, and social justice, with a focus on co-creating transformative strategies that redefine the status quo.
Sara Lyons
Chief Strategy and Advancement Officer
Sara Lyons is based in Montreal and has worked in the not-for-profit and charitable sector for over 20 years. She has spent many years working on large-scale, national projects that bring together multiple sectors around new ideas. Before coming to Volunteer Canada, Sara was a Senior Director at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a Vice President at Community Foundations of Canada, and in 2021 did a secondment with the Equality Fund.
A graduate of McGill and the University of Toronto, Sara has been a frequent public speaker on philanthropy, social innovation, and social finance. She is currently a board member of Exeko, in Montreal and is the former Chair of the Circle on Philanthropy —two roles that have allowed her to live out her passion for transformation, social inclusion, and creating innovative spaces.
Sara loves cycling, playing tennis and spending time with her two teenage daughters.
Heather Montgomery
Vice President, Membership and Engagement
An accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, partnership development, and community engagement, Heather currently serves as the Director of Membership and Programs at Volunteer Canada. In this role, she provides overall stewardship to the work Volunteer Canada does to engage and support members, foster corporate citizenship, build pathways to participation, and mobilize knowledge. With a strong background in grant-making, public relations, and stakeholder engagement, Heather has a proven track record of building strategic relationships that advance organizational goals. Passionate about social change and community impact, she previously held leadership roles at grassroots non-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, and a local funding organization, contributing to initiatives in governance, resource mobilization, and volunteer development.
Alyson Olsheski
Marketing and Communications Manager
Alyson has over 13 years in communications and relationship management throughout the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Her education, work and volunteer experiences have taken her from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, the Ottawa Valley and Toronto with a focus on event management, community outreach and volunteer engagement.
Alyson has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology from St. Francis Xavier University, a Post-graduate Certificate in Public Relations from Humber College and a Graduate Certificate in Sport and Event Marketing from George Brown College.
She currently resides in Waterloo, ON where she enjoys exploring the local markets and trails. Alyson understands the importance of building connection and empathy and loves to see how volunteering strengthens communities across the country.
Judith Oviosun
Farrah Rooney
Manager, Corporate Citizenship
Farrah Rooney is a social impact strategist driven by a passion for building resilient communities through meaningful corporate partnerships. With a diverse background in business development, non-profit leadership, and corporate social responsibility, Farrah is positioned to lead initiatives that connect companies with the communities they serve. Her 15 years of experience span consulting roles with hundreds of charities across North America, where she developed and executed strategic programs that have significantly increased both impact and revenue.
Before joining Volunteer Canada, Farrah served as the Chief Operating Officer at a technology company dedicated to the non-profit sector. In this role, she oversaw business operations, driving organizational growth through strategic planning, process optimization, and data-driven decision-making.
Farrah holds a BA and a BFA from Simon Fraser University, along with a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability from the University of Toronto. A lifelong volunteer, Farrah is deeply committed to empowering others, whether through her work on the board of an animal rescue organization or as a mentor with The Scotiabank Women Initiative Mentor Program, where she helps women grow their businesses, advance their careers, and invest in their futures.
Originally from Vancouver, she engages actively in her local community in Toronto, combining her professional expertise with her personal passions. When she’s not driving social purpose projects, Farrah can be found advocating for animals, exploring the arts, or enjoying the vibrant cultural landscape of her city.
Renata Rusiniak
Renata Rusiniak is an employer brand builder fueled by a desire to foster connected corporate cultures and extra-engaged employees. With a blended background in human resources, marketing, communications, and environmental social governance (ESG), Renata is well-positioned to engage audiences with authentic storytelling about people, programs, and social impact. With over 20 years of corporate experience, Renata has worked across multiple business sectors including cybersecurity (eSentire), finance (Manulife), technology devices (BlackBerry and L3-Harris), and food (Cadbury-Schweppes) within Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Renata holds an honours BA from the University of Waterloo and a Certificate of Community Involvement from Boston College Centre for Corporate Citizenship. She is a certified Corporate Social Responsibility Practitioner and believes that investing in people and the planet paves the way for profits. Originally from Hamilton and currently residing in Guelph, ON with her husband and two sons, Renata is active in her local community. She currently advises on the Strategy Committee for the Guelph Community Foundation, and mentors social enterprises at Innovation Guelph. Previously, Renata has served as the Board Chair of the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, held Board Director roles with Leadership Waterloo and the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, mentored with Women in Communication and Technology (WCT), served as a member of the University of Waterloo Alumni Council and volunteered her time in the equine community with Equine Guelph. Renata is an avid skier, equestrian, and general advocate of all things outdoorsy.
Jason Shim
Chief Technology Officer
Jason Shim brings 18 years of experience in the digital and technology sector to Volunteer Canada. Jason has led multiple organizational digital-first strategies that bolster operations, marketing, fundraising, and program delivery.
Jason has previously served as Director of Digital Strategy and Transformation at Pathways to Education Canada, where he led technology and innovation. He led Pathways to become one of the first charities to issue tax receipts for cryptocurrency donations and co-authored the book Bitcoin and the Future of Fundraising with Anne Connelly. Jason’s passionate about helping organizations harness technology to make a difference in the world.
David Vandenberg
Manager, Corporate Citizenship
David Vandenberg is a community builder and social impact specialist focused on strategic partnership development that drives actionable results for stakeholders. David has held roles at Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Burlington’s Emergency Meal Program, and Crestview Strategy.
David is experienced in non-profit management, government relations, strategic planning, and DEI best practices. He has advised and consulted elected officials, various levels of government, and organizations on a wide variety of community engagement strategies, major projects, policy design, and fundraising campaigns.
David is presently a Director of the Halton Women’s Place, an Advisory Board member of the Compassion Society of Halton and advising the City of Burlington on their Housing Task Force.
David holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McMaster University, a Not-for-Profit Leadership and Management Certificate from Mohawk College, was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 2021 and was awarded the Platinum Jubilee Medal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the Government of Canada in 2022 for community service.
Charitable Registration Number: 898232343 RR0001