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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.