Dominique Dennery

Chair, OLIP Council

Born in Haiti, Dominique came to Ottawa at the age of three. A Black Canadian fluently bilingual in both official languages, she grew up immersed in immigrant communities in the city, where she has lived, aside from a few years overseas, for sixty years. 

She has 25 years of experience working with groups and organizations to help them reach their goals and potential.  Her work in recent years included leading high-level consultations across the country on topics such as immigration, housing, gender-based violence, and racism. Dominique holds degrees and diplomas in French literature, management, leadership coaching, change management and facilitation. Her commitment to meaningful equity and anti-oppression work spans her entire career. 

In addition to her work as a facilitator and coach, Dominique is a sculptor, and her work has appeared in places like Gatineau City Hall, Parc Toussaint Louverture in Montreal, and private collections in Canada and overseas. As a former board member of the Ottawa Art Gallery, she worked to explore the intersection of artmaking and a sense of community, particularly in marginalized communities. 

Well recognized for both her art and her mediation, facilitation, and coaching work, Dominique is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including the Key to the City of Montreal, the Gold Facilitation Impact Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Regroupement Affaires Femmes, and a Mosaique Intercultural Award for her work as a trailblazer. In 2018 she was selected as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada.

Saint-Phard Désir

Executive Director, Conseil Économique et Social d'Ottawa Carleton
Co-Chair, OLIP's Socio-civic Integration Sector Table

Born in Haiti, Saint-Phard Désir came to Canada in 1990. He completed his education at the University of Ottawa where he obtained a Master in Business administration. In 2004, commissioned by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, Saint-Phard was the author of the guide "Finding a job, practical guide for the French-speaking newcomers" to help French-speaking immigrants find work in their fields of expertise. Then he left Canada to work in different organizations including Lutheran World Relief in the United States. In February 2007, he returned to the Conseil Économique et Social d'Ottawa Carleton (CÉSOC). He was the Project Coordinator of the  Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone de l’est de l’Ontario for five years and since July 2012 he has assumed the general management of CÉSOC.

Brigitte Duguay Langlais

Coordonnatrice
Réseau de soutien à l'immigration francophone de l'Est de l'Ontario

Brigitte has been working for the past 20 years in community development to defend the rights and interests of Francophones in minority situations in Canada. Originally from New Brunswick, this Acadian woman holds a bachelor's degree from the Université de Moncton and migrated to French Ontario in 2000.  She has been supporting the immigration of Francophones in minority situations for several years now, including the issue in the priorities of the organizations she has managed over the years. A woman of action, Brigitte is a fervent advocate of winning practices, resource sharing opportunities and the provision of services "by and for" Francophones.  

Clara Freire

Director, Employment and Social Services, Community and Social Services Department
City of Ottawa

Clara began her 28-year career starting on the front lines in community non-profits. Her front-line experience included supporting residents who were homeless or at risk of homelessness, and serving adults facing significant social, economic and emotional barriers to social services. Through her 18-year career at the City, Clara has worked in Housing Services, on corporate programs and most recently in CSSD, leading client service initiatives and strategic plans as the Manager, Partner and Stakeholder Initiatives. In this role, Clara managed funding, social policy, community engagement and strategic initiatives such as the City's Municipal Immigration Strategy, Woman and Gender Equity strategy, the Integrated Neighbourhood Service Teams, Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan, Community Funding Framework Review, Youth Futures, and the Mayor’s Somali Community Task Force. In March of this year, Clara took on the temporary role of Lead of the City’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Human Needs Task Force focused on responding to immediate, medium and long-term community needs, for example: food security, homelessness and sheltering, and outreach and social services. Clara has a Master's degree in Social Work and is a passionate ally in contributing to structural and systemic change and advancing equity and inclusion for all.

Dorra Gdoura

Assistant Director
Collège La Cité

Dorra Gdoura holds a Master's degree in English and a diploma in French as a Foreign Language, a Project Management and an Essential Skills Practitioner Certificates. She is currently the Assistant Director of the Adult Career Transition Centre at La Cité.  She develops, implements and oversees several programs and projects (regional, provincial and national) for Francophone newcomers to Canada to better support them in their integration process and ensure successful inclusion in Canadian communities. Dorra has worked and taught French and English for several years in different countries and continents. Arriving in Canada in 2009, Dorra launched her career in a non-for-profit organization to anchor it in 2012 at La Cité where she held various positions: project lead, manager and now assistant director. Dorra is more than ever committed to promoting the integration, inclusion and development of Francophone and Francophile newcomers in Canadian society in general and in the Francophone community in particular. In her spare time Dorra enjoys volunteering by helping those in need find free furniture, mentoring newcomer women through the Empowering Newcomer Women to Succeed in the Canadian Labour Market program, and travelling to explore other countries and cultures.

Gina Grosenick

Project Manager
Connecting Ottawa

Gina Grosenick is the project manager of Connecting Ottawa, a project funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario to enable access to justice for individuals that do not speak English or French or have language barriers as a result of a disability or sensory impairment. Gina Grosenick has 20 years’ experience working in the non-profit and community sector, as a lobbyist, communicator, executive, and project manager.   She has extensive experience working with and advising Boards and committees, managing government-funded projects and research, cultivating relationships with government officials and other stakeholders, navigating and communicating within the political process, and working with volunteers. Gina Grosenick holds a Ph.D. from the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University in Ottawa and a M.A. and B.A (Hons.) in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary.  Her ongoing teaching and research interests explore strategic communication and advocacy practices to achieve social and political change. Dr. Grosenick is an avid volunteer and advocate for vulnerable populations in Ottawa.  She is currently a Board member on the Western Ottawa Community Research Centre, was the project manager for Broadening the Base, and was a long-standing member and Chair of the Management Board for Centre 454 in Ottawa.

Abdirizak Karod

Executive Director, Somali Centre for Family Services

Abdirizak Karod has been the Executive Director of the Somali Centre for Family Services since 1995. Abdirizak believes without employment, integration will be difficult for newcomers because communities are not intermingling and sharing their unique cultures; and this will create isolation for both the immigrants and host community. Therefore, through his work at the Somali Centre for Family Services, he has built a very outstanding network of different organizations and has advocated on behalf of the community to employ immigrants. While working full-time and raising his family, he went back to university to achieve his Masters of Project Management. He is also certified change management professional.

Marianne Kayed

Manager, Continuing and Community Education, Co-Chair, OLIP Language Sector Table
Ottawa Catholic School Board

Marianne Kayed is the Manager, Continuing and Community Education at the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB). This role targets lifelong learning opportunities for everyone in a family. The portfolio includes overseeing the largest provincially-funded adult English as a Second Language (ESL) program in Eastern Ontario, the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program, the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) program, International Languages (elementary) program, summer camps and fee-based programs. She delivers innovative non-credit programming for immigrants, including several ESL/Skills classes (e.g. ESL for Building Interiors, ESL for Home Support Worker, etc.) and LBS work-preparation programs (e.g. landscaping, retail and custodial preparation). With degrees in modern languages, applied linguistics, and certificates in database and risk management, she has spent much of her career in ESL and literacy of adult immigrants and refugees, both in southern Ontario and Ottawa. She is a recognized national expert in the area of Canadian language benchmarks, essential skills and occupational use of language and has worked on several projects to set national standards for both regulated and non-regulated professions in Canada. She was the Senior Program and Partnerships Manager at the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks for over a decade. During that time, she lead national and provincially funded projects/resources and research with various sectors including nursing, physiotherapy, audiology/speech language pathology, engineers, the IT sector, trucking, tourism and red seal trades. The work produced fair, valid and reliable language assessments and professional standards to help newcomers meet defined, clear communication expectations for professional licensure and safe workplace practice. From 2011-2013, she worked at the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada where she was Senior Manager, Policy, responsible for accreditation, risk management and educational programming. Currently she is a director on the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks Board (member of the risk management/auditing and official languages advisory committees). She sits on the OCSB leading and learning committee. Marianne is a member of Hire Immigrants Ottawa (public sector table), the Ottawa Community Coalition for Literacy and the Eastern Regional Partnership for Adult Educators.

Armand Kayolo

Program Director
Rideau Rockliffe Community Resource Center

Armand Kayolo is currently the Program Director at the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Center. Before graduating in social work from the University of Ottawa in 2003, Armand had a university degree in psychoeducation from his home country and studied communication at St Paul University in Ottawa. He immigrated to Canada in 1995 and worked at St Paul University as an educational consultant. He worked for many years as a community organizer at the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Center before serving as program director. In 2010, he received the Community Safety Award from Crime Prevention Ottawa. His passion is to help members of his community.

Kenny Leon

Marketing Director
Canadian Construction Association

Kenny Leon is the Marketing Director at Canadian Construction Association. He is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of International and local experience as a management, marketing and communications professional for profit and not-for-profit organizations. Under his leadership he has introduced various programs to advance innovation in the industry including scaling up a national mentorship program. In his previous role, he was the Director Communication and Advocacy at the Ottawa Board of Trade (Chamber of Commerce), Ottawa’s largest and leading independent voice for business. During his tenure, the Ottawa Board of Trade introduced various new programs and communication vehicles to highlight the Board action in the local community, which also included a complete reintroduction of the brand, The Ottawa Business Growth Survey, and CAPITAL magazine to advance Ottawa’s business community and its diverse stakeholders. Kenny holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom and is a Chartered Marketer.

Myriam Mekni

Executive Director, Catholic Centre for Immigrants Ottawa

Myriam Mekni is the Executive Director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants, Ottawa. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Rising Tide Community Initiatives and as the former Executive Director of MAGMA, the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area. Before immigrating to Canada from her home country of Tunisia, Ms. Mekni worked for Apple, the British Council, and the U.S. Embassy. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Ms. Mekni studied mathematics and literature in Tunis. In her recent role, Ms. Mekni brings more than a track record of leadership experience. Dedicated to empowering new and established Canadians alike, Ms. Mekni’s vision is informed by a spirit of inclusion that is friendly, informed, and enduring. Ms. Mekni served as Chair of Greater Moncton’s Local Immigration Partnership. Recently designated one of the most inspiring immigrants in the Maritimes, and one of the Top 20 Under 40 in the Greater Moncton Area, Ms. Mekni is also a passionate advocate for women’s rights and proudly sits on the governance committee for the New Brunswick Women’s Council, where she also acts as interim co-chair. In August 2021, Ms. Mekni was appointed to be a member of the Human Rights Commission of New Brunswick. She also co-chairs The Community Task Force on Homelessness and Downtown Security, which has been created to mobilize stakeholders and resources to meet the challenge of homelessness and social issues.

Kelly Mertl

Director, Community Initiatives
United Way Ottawa

Kelly joined United Way Ottawa in the role of Director, Community Initiatives in 2013 where she works with volunteers and key community stakeholders on strategies for labour market inclusion of people with disabilities and newcomers in Ottawa.  Her portfolio also includes working with partners to help reduce social isolation of seniors. Kelly leads the Employment Accessibility Resource Network which includes over 105 organizations, all focused on helping people with disabilities find employment through employer education and other activities.  She also convened the sector around United for Refugees, a partnership with key community organizations including the City of Ottawa, who all worked together to raise and allocate funds for the sponsorship and settlement of people affected by the Syrian crisis. Kelly has over 25 years of talent acquisition, people management and training and facilitation experience in the private sector.  Her breadth of experience and expertise, particularly in recruitment, diversity and inclusion initiatives, has been driven by her passion and desire to help make change happen in our community.  

Michael Molloy

Citizen

Michael Molloy is the co-author of “Running on Empty: Canada and the Indochinese Refugee Movement 1975-80” and has 40 years of experience in international and refugee affairs. Mike was Ambassador to Jordan (1996-2000) and Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (2000-03).  As Director of Refugee Policy, 1976 -1978, he led design of the refugee provisions of the 1976 Immigration Act, including the Convention Refugee and Designated Classes, the private refugee sponsorship program and the WUSC refugee student program. In 1979 and 1980 he coordinated the Indochinese refugee program that brought 60,000 refugees to Canada. He was directly involved in the Czechoslovakian (1968) and Uganda Asian (1972) refugee movements, was Counsellor for Humanitarian Affairs at the Canadian Mission in Geneva 1981-84, and managed immigration and refugee operations in Jordan, Syria, East Africa and Ontario. He is President of the Canadian Immigration Historical Society.  

Dragana Mrdjenovic

Manager, Settlement and Integration Program
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Dragana Mrdjenovic has worked for over 10 years in the immigrant-serving sector in language training and employment and recently as the Manager of the Settlement and Integration Program at the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization. She is an avid advocate for personal and economic empowerment of immigrants through effective and timely interventions of community programming. As a relationship builder with innovative approach, she draws upon her professional and personal experiences as an immigrant and continuous learning from front line workers to improve how the sector engages and supports immigrants. Dragana has participated in numerous working groups, conferences, initiatives and encouraged creative dialogues in order to go beyond the status quo.  Dragana has a BA in Linguistics and Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from Carleton University.

Ravi Pendakur

Professor, University of Ottawa

Prior to joining the University of Ottawa in 2006, I spent 18 years as a researcher in a number of federal government departments including, The Secretary of State, Multiculturalism and Citizenship (one of the shortest-lived departments in history), Canadian Heritage, and, Human Resources and Social Development.  During that time, my work unit and department were reorganized out of existence twice.  My primary research focus is on diversity, with a goal toward assessing the socioeconomic characteristics of language, immigrant and ethnic groups in Canada and other settler societies. My current research interests lie in linking social capital attributes to outcomes for minorities in Canada, the United States and Europe. My goal is to explore the interrelationships key to social inclusion – those of social separation, social interaction, and social and economic outcomes.  I am interested in the consequences of a series of key social choices: living and interacting within or outside an ethnic group (social capital), living within or outside a residential ethnic enclave and the impact these interactions have on social outcomes such as wellbeing and occupational success. Another area of interest relates to labour force outcomes as they relate to minorities and immigrants in Canada.

Mary Roman

Executive Director, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)

Mary Roman is an accomplished professional with over 15 years of leadership experience in the settlement and integration sector, serving immigrants and refugees to integrate into their new communities, in North America, EU, and MENA region As a first-generation immigrant to Canada, Mary understands the unique lived experiences of OCISO’s clientele, and she is committed to honouring those differences as she leads her team and the services OCISO delivers While in Metro Vancouver for the past eight years, Mary worked with ISS of BC, as well as DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, in multiple leading roles. She also served as an advisor on several boards, committees, and councils that support racialized communities. Mary brings to her new role at OCISO- Ottawa, which started in 2022, a fresh and innovative vision to our community. She hopes to foster an inclusive workplace that embraces multiculturalism, anti-racism, equity, and justice. She is passionate about activism, advocacy, and policy change. Mary has a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCH), and a Post Graduate Diploma – Family Medicine & Psychology from Cairo University, Egypt and she is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.

Sandra Saric

Founder and Managing Partner
Inclusive Path Inc.

As founder of Inclusive Path Inc., Sandra works globally across industries, governments, not-for-profits, and academia to offer insights and solutions on strategic growth and innovative initiatives to incite systemic change, bridge learning, build capacity, enable collaboration and promote inclusivity in digital disruption. As a collaborative and authentic leader and inclusion advocate, Sandra is focused on creating positive, action-driven outcomes and systems-level changes, and sharing her knowledge and expertise across audiences and platforms, always with a lens on inclusive innovation. For over 20 years, Sandra has created and implemented successful, strategic initiatives and led diverse teams through organizational growth and disruption. Prior to launching Inclusive Path in 2019, as an executive at the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), Sandra built extensive experience working to accelerate the integration of women, persons-at-risk, newcomers and refugees, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities and youth into the digital economy. Sandra currently serves as the co-chair of OLIP’s Economic Integration Sector Table.

Dennise Taylor-Gilhen

Vice President, Community Impact, United Way of Ottawa

As Vice President of Community Impact, Dennise Taylor-Gilhen is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that support effective planning, resource investment, and partner and community relations that respond to Ottawa’s most pressing and complex social issues. Dennise first joined United Way Ottawa’s Community Impact team in 2003 where for four years she worked closely with community partners on issues related to Mental Health and Addiction, Poverty, and Crisis, returning in 2015 to join United Way Ottawa’s senior management team. With many years of experience working in the social services and health charity sector, she believes that it is only when we hold important conversations with our diverse and inclusive community that we are able to work better together and achieve positive change. Dennise has a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Ottawa, along with a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan and in 2018, she became the first Canadian to graduate from United Way Worldwide’s Advance Leadership Program.  

Mengistab Tsegaye

Executive Director, Co-Chair, OLIP Economic Integration Sector Table
World Skills

Mengistab Tsegaye has worked over 25 years in the newcomer’s settlement and integration sector, and he was an immigrant himself.  He has a Social Work background and extensive experience in employment issues and the challenges newcomers face. Mengistab's past and present settlement and community involvement includes:

• Board member, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI),
• President of the Eritrean Community of Ottawa,
• Member of the Ontario works monitoring committee,
• Board member, Ottawa Carleton Housing Authority,
• Chair of settlement .org,
• Chair of Algonquin College Community Collaboration Committee, and
• Member of the Employer council of champions in Ottawa.

Mr. Tsegaye is co founder and Executive Director of World Skills,  an organization that provides employment services to newcomers in Ottawa.

Deborah Tunis

Vice-Chair, OLIP Council

Ms. Tunis brings over 40 years of leadership experience in the Canadian public service in a variety of policy areas, including immigration, international trade, social development and housing. In 2015, Ms. Tunis was named Special Coordinator for Syrian Refugee Resettlement, helping to lead the initiative that welcomed tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada. In this key role, she coordinated provinces, municipalities, settlement agencies, donors and others to provide supports to Syrian refugees.