Donna Gray

General Manager of Community and Social Services, City of Ottawa

Prior to Donna’s transition to the Community and Social Services Department on May 1, 2019, Donna served in a number of leadership roles in emergency and protective services, corporate services and most recently, as the General Manager of the Service Innovation and Performance Department. Donna’s transition to Community and Social Services comes at a time in her career where she is looking to get back to her community involvement and strengthen relationships and partnerships with the social service sector. Donna’s goal as the new General Manager of Community and Social Services is to build on the department’s momentum, bring positive change to those who need help and continue to advocate and care for the community’s well-being. Donna is a native to Ottawa. She is a graduate of Carleton University with Honours in Psychology and has obtained a Masters’ Certificate in Municipal Leadership.

Elaine Medline

Former VP of Communications at Champlain Local Health Integration Network

Elaine Medline joined the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) in 2006, and has contributed to a number of key LHIN initiatives in the areas of communications, mental health and addictions, and lung health. She became a member of the LHIN’s Senior Management Team in 2011. In addition to communications and community engagement, Elaine currently focuses on improving health services for immigrants and refugees, as well as Francophone communities. She is currently co-chair of the Health and Well-Being Sector Table of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership. In addition, Elaine is now working with Indigenous partners on a number of health initiatives. From 1999 - 2006, she worked at Ottawa Public Health, developing policies and programs related to tobacco control, environmental health, youth programs, harm reduction and health-care emergencies. Elaine has degrees in biology and medicine from McGill University, and a journalism degree from Carleton University. She began her journalism career in 1991 as a reporter at the Charlottetown Guardian newspaper in Prince Edward Island, followed by a five-year stint covering health policy and medical innovations for the Ottawa Citizen newspaper from 1992 - 97.

Rashmi Luther

Retired Professor at Carleton University, School of Social Work

Over the past 30 years, Rashmi has been actively involved in social justice issues in the Ottawa community. These encompass areas such as poverty, youth, immigrants, refugees, women and violence, policing, health and social services, education, municipal government, and housing. Much of her work has focused on encouraging and assisting local agencies, institutions, organizations and boards to promote and support policy and program development, curriculum development, and changes to organizational cultures and practices that will further meaningful equity and inclusion for racialized communities in Ottawa. Her commitment to these issues has been expressed through her work as Coordinator of a local education and advocacy group known as the National Capital Alliance on Race Relations (NCARR) and as a Consultant with the Ontario Anti-Racism Secretariat. From 1991 to 2014, these issues have also been at the forefront in her teaching and research work as Lecturer and Race Equity Coordinator with Carleton University’s School of Social Work. In these various capacities, Rashmi has had valuable opportunities to work collaboratively with different local, provincial, national and international government bodies, as well as organizations/institutions, professional associations, and grassroots community groups. Rashmi has also served as a Board member with Ottawa Community Immigrant Services (OCISO), Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa, Catholic Centre for Immigrants, and as President of Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre. As well, for the past several years, she has been actively involved in a book project that will highlight the voices, experiences and journeys of racialized women in Canada. In recognition of some of her contributions to the Ottawa community, Rashmi received a Woman of Distinction award in 1994 and served as a Women of Distinction Ambassador in 2003.

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.

Carl Nicholson

Executive Director
Catholic Centre for Immigrants

Carl Nicholson is the Executive Director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants (since 1994) and Executive Director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants Foundation (since 1996), overseeing an annual operating budget of $10 million and a staff of 100 people who serve 6,000 clients per year who are immigrants and/or refugees. A graduate of Carleton University and a Certified Fundraising Executive, Carl has an extensive background (40 years) in the not-for-profit sector in leadership positions. Carl sits on several boards including Local Agencies Serving Immigrants (LASI), Vice-President of World Skills, Past-President of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, Executive Member of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership Council, Member of the Executive of Refugee 613 and member of the Ottawa Police Services Board. Carl has been recognized widely for his contributions to the community. In 2003 he was recognized by United Way/Centraide Ottawa with a Community Builder Award as part of the partnership with LASI. In 2004 he was given the Investing in People Award by the Community Foundation of Ottawa and was awarded the Diocesan Order of Merit by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa. In 2006 Ottawa Life Magazine named him one of the Capital’s 50 top people who make a difference. The National Institute of Jamaican Canadians presented him with the Lignum Vitae award in 2007. Carl was recognized by the Social Planning Council of Ottawa with the Marion Dewar Defender of the Public Good award in 2008. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Ottawa Community Leadership award bestowed by the “Dream Keepers” in honour of Martin Luther King Jr; the Mayor of Ottawa inducted Carl into the Order of Ottawa in 2013. More recently, the United Way presented him with a 2016 Community Builder of the Year award as part of a group which worked to receive Syrian refugees in Ottawa. In 2017 Carl received the Ontario 150 award for his work to improve the Ottawa Centre community. He was the recipient of an Honourary Degree from Algonquin College in 2018.        

Hindia Mohamoud

OLIP Director

Hindia Mohamoud has more than twenty years of experience with building community solutions through research, partnership development, and program design.  She is currently the director of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership, where she is responsible for facilitating the establishment and implementation of community-wide vision and strategy for improving the settlement and integration of immigrants in Ottawa.  Previously, she worked as the director of research at the Social Planning Council and as a director of impact and investment at United Way/Centraide Ottawa. Hindia’s academic background is varied - she holds a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Ottawa and various diplomas in business, management, technology, and communication.  She is also fluent in four international languages, including Canada’s two official languages.

Deborah Tunis

Acting 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.