Board of Directors

 

 

 

Karen Quigley Hobbs, Chair, is a dedicated healthcare executive with 20+ years of experience mitigating health risks to the community through specialized clinic services, nursing practice leadership, community outreach, and health promotion and disease prevention strategies.  Karen looks forward to lending her robust business acumen and clinical best practices to drive impactful change through shared program purpose, unified interdisciplinary teams, and flexible and adaptable operational frameworks.  Karen serves on the Executive and Governance Committees.

 

 

 

Maissaa Almustafa, Vice Chair, is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Glendon Political Science and a Research Fellow at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University, Toronto and a professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo.  Maissaa earned her Ph.D. in Global Governance and Masters in International Public Policy at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University.  She completed her B.Sc. in Economics at Damascus University in Syria and worked in the fields of diplomacy 

and international business development at the British Embassy in Damascus.  Her research focuses on displacement and statelessness, refugee protection, and refugees' lived experiences in the Middle East, Europe, and Canada.  Maissaa is actively involved in refugees' resettlement and integration through her role on the Board at Reception House in Waterloo Region.  She serves on the Executive and Governance Committees. 

 

 

Dennis Watson, Treasurer, was an auditor for the Canada Revenue Agency for 35 years until his retirement in 2009.  Prior to joining the Board, Dennis was the community member on the Health Centre's Finance and Audit Committee for almost 8 years.  Dennis has served his faith community for over thirty years in various volunteer capacities, most notably in the resettlement of new Canadians and in feeding and sheltering those living the experience of homelessness in the Region.  As a member of the Board, Dennis is once again able to be a part of a team dedicated to building a healthy community.  Dennis serves on the Executive and the Finance and Audit Committees. 

 

 

 

Lynn Schulze, Secretary, is in her third year as a Board member and is excited to see the continuation of the Health Centre's integration journey.  She is a retired high school teacher and department head for newcomers to Canada in the WRDSB.  Lynn began her 31-year career teaching in Collin's Bay Penitentiary where she learned from the diverse group of inmates that theirs was not a level playing field. She has taught and facilitated teacher training in Haiti and taught in Peru at the Universidad de Piura. These experiences have fueled her resolve to help to level the playing field for marginalized individuals and groups in KW.  She is excited to be part of a dynamic team that ensures dignified access to healthcare and wellness for all.  Lynn serves on the Executive and Governance Committees.

 

 

Frances Fortune, Member, is a seasoned development worker and has collaborated with communities on a wide variety of issues including gender-based violence, peace and security, food  security and socio-economic development of the African continuent, and Asia.  Frances is a social policy expert with a keen interest in young people and work, earning her  PhD in Global Governance, at Balsillie School of International Affiars at Wilfrid Laurier University and a Masters in Conflict and Conflict Management at Royal Roadsin Victoria, B.C.  Based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Frances is currently self employed.  Frances serves on the Governance Committee.

 

 

 

April Postnikoff, Member, for the past 20 years April has practiced in the KW area in the areas of family law, criminal defense (as Duty Counsel) and civil litigation.  Before moving to the area, she served on the Board of Directors of Ballet Creole in Toronto, a local dance company.  She has also served on the Board of Directors of Our Place, Ontario Early Years Centre.  April holds a JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and a Masters of Science in Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University.  April serves on the Governance Committee. 

 

 

 

 

 

Kholoud Alkhaledi, Member, was born and raised in Damascus, Syria to a Jerusalemite family.  She attained a B.A. in Literature from Damascus University, as well as Education Diploma, Faculty of Education, Damascus University.  Kholoud came to Canada in 1999.  She has experience in accounting, trained for teaching ESL, worked as an interpreter for Reception House working with refugees, and has attained an Ontario Interpretation Certificate.  She currently works as a free lance interpreter Audio/Video for Medicaland Health with LSA, U.S.  Kholoud is the proud mother of two young men.  Kholoud serves on the Governance Committee.

 

 

 

 

Donna Valerie Jones, Member, serves on the Finance and Audit Committee. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Veerasammy, Member, is a passionate educator and obtained her B.A. through Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and B.Ed. through Nipissing University; she is currently pursuing her Masters of Education degree.  Lauren is an advocate for children and families, especially in the areas of literacy, mental health, reconciliation, and lactation support as a Breastfeeding Buddy.  Lauren is a proud mother to her two curious and beloved Guyanese-Trinidadian-Canadian sons.  She is a champion of mental health awareness, advocacy, and provision for babies to adults, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.  Lauren has a special place in her heart for new-to-English Language populaces and has  worked both locally in the Waterloo Region and abroad in Bradford, UK, providing English language education for immigrants.  She believes in a community where  members feel valued and worthy and where their individual strengths add to the fabric of a diverse society.  Lauren serves on the Finance and Audit Committee.  

 

 

 

Lubna Riaz, Member, is a medical doctor with a specialization in OBGYN. Lubna has worked in obstetrics and gynecology for more then 25 years, in both Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Lubna is an experienced educator teaching both undergraduate and post graduate students at a medical school as a Professor of OBGYN. She has served as a member of the Academic Council and Chair of Literary Society and Head of the Clinical Unit.  Lubna serves on the Finance and Audit Committee. 

 

 

 

 

Heather Elliott, Member,  is a Registered Nurse and has a passion for working with people who face barriers in our community. Heather previously worked in primary care at a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, where she learned first-hand about the social determinants of health, and she pursued her Master of Public Health in order to learn how to improve health at the population level using upstream approaches. After this, she worked at the Region of Waterloo Public Health in Harm Reduction, Sexual Health, and Infectious Diseases. She played a key role in the planning and implementation of the Consumption and Treatment Services site in Kitchener, and later worked as the Manager of the Infectious Disease and Tuberculosis team. She decided to get back into a patient-facing role and now works as a Patient Experience Lead at Cambridge Memorial Hospital where she focuses on patient relations and improving the patient experience in the hospital. Heather looks forward to using her passion and diverse professional background to improve the health of our community. Heather serves on the Finance and Audit Committee.

 

 

Reanne Amadio, Member,  has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Victoria with a specialty in Social Policy. She currently works for the Region of Waterloo in the Community Services department as a Social Planning Associate, and previously worked for Housing Services on the Homelessness and Supportive Housing team. Reanne has seven years of experience in the non-profit and social services sector in British Columbia, working in community development and community investment roles for United Way BC and Special Olympics BC. She is passionate about the social determinants of health and connecting them across different sectors and spaces, and helping build an equitable community where everyone can thrive. Reanne serves on the Governance Committee.