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 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 Engagement Specialist
Zaahy Ali (he/him) is a Tkaronto/Toronto-based public project manager and engagement specialist with a deep commitment to social justice, equity and decolonization. His work focuses on coordinating engagement activities on the issues that matter most to equity-deserving communities and their members through managing logistics and bridging knowledge, power and priorities across stakeholders. Zaahy’s passion lies in co-creating inclusive spaces that foster knowledge exchange and promote social impact that addresses systemic inequities and challenges the status quo.
Martha Aynalem
Chief Financial Officer
Martha has over 30 years of experience in financial
leadership within the charitable sector, bringing a comprehensive understanding
of the unique financial challenges non-profit organizations face. She is
passionate about supporting their financial health and ensuring their long-term
sustainability. Martha holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, along with CPA,
CGA, and FCCA designations. Her areas of expertise include budget management,
financial planning, and reporting, with a particular focus on compliance with
charitable regulations and donor requirements.
For more than 10 years, Martha has been a key member of
Volunteer Canada, where she has played an instrumental role in ensuring the
effective and responsible use of financial resources to support the
organization’s mission. She provides financial guidance, helping to navigate
complex financial decisions while ensuring alignment with the organization’s
values and long-term objectives.
Jennilee Austria
Marketing and Communications Specialist
After working in multiple school boards as a settlement worker, public speaker, and researcher, Jennilee Austria sought to build bridges between Canadian educators, Filipino families, and over 1200 Filipino newcomer youth.This work inspired her debut novel, Reuniting With Strangers, which was longlisted for Canada Reads 2024 and shortlisted for the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Authors Award and the Toronto Book Award. Along with her work as an author and speaker, Jennilee has previously worked with refugee newcomers as the Communications and Program Outreach Specialist at Together Project, an initiative of MakeWay.
Harar Hall (they/them)
Policy and Research Manager
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 Programs 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, Advancement
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 (on parental leave)
Marketing and Communications Manager
Alyson’s expertise in communications and relationship management is built on extensive experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Throughout her career, Alyson has honed her skills in event management, community outreach, and volunteer engagement, making a significant impact wherever she goes.
Alyson holds a Bachelor of Arts 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. Her diverse educational background has equipped her with a unique blend of knowledge and skills that she applies to her professional endeavours.
Alyson is passionate about building connections and fostering empathy, believing that volunteering is a powerful tool for strengthening communities across the country. Alyson currently resides in Waterloo, ON with her partner and her busy toddler, searching for the best parks and the best coffee shops.
Chantelle Ramsundar
Manager , Knowledge Translation and Mobilization
Chantelle Ramsundar (she/her) is a public health and social services researcher, supporting research initiatives at Volunteer Canada, such as The Canadian Knowledge Hub on Giving and Volunteering and the National Volunteer Action Strategy.
Her work bridges academic inquiry and nonprofit practice, with a focus on community-based evaluation, inclusive engagement, and evidence-informed policy. Her approach is grounded in care ethics, feminist theory, and the belief that data must ultimately serve communities.
Chantelle received her BA Hons. in International Development, MA in Public Issues Anthropology at the University of Guelph and completed a certificate program in Public Policy and Advocacy at the University of Ottawa. In addition to her work at Volunteer Canada, she is also working towards completing her PhD in Public Health at the University of Waterloo, where her research looks at community health and the integral and interdisciplinary role of community health workers.
Amanda Reaume
Advisor, Outreach and Engagement
Amanda is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience advancing innovation, strategy, and equity in the social sector. Most recently, as Executive Director of Volunteer Lethbridge Nonprofit Leadership Centre, Amanda spearheaded initiatives that supported 90 organizations, grew the budget by 35%, and developed a nationally scalable volunteer management model. Her career spans leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, municipal government, and adult education, including positions with the City of Lethbridge and Mount Royal University.
Holding a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge, Amanda’s contributions have earned the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal and the 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. She currently serves as Board Chair of Volunteer Alberta and supports the Jarislowsky Network of Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership, promoting ethical governance and professionalization in Canada’s public service.
Renata Rusiniak
Advisor, Partnerships and Engagement
With over 25 years of corporate experience in social impact, HR, communications, and marketing across tech, finance, and insurance industries, Renata channels her expertise and passion into empowering purpose-driven businesses through impactful engagement programs, meaningful social initiatives, and strategic communication.
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 purpose-led businesses are sustainable businesses. 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 as part of the Strategy Committee for the Guelph Community Foundation and is a member of the Executive Committee for the International Women’s Forum – Waterloo Chapter. 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
Director of Partnerships & Engagement