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.

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

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.

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.