We are very pleased to have done the “Opportunity Cost of Not Investing in Interpretation” report – it is so important to have clarity on these challenges and…

Hindia Mohamoud, Director, OLIP
The WOW seminar on immigrant women’s nutrition and health was a step in the right direction towards closing the gap between academic researchers and service providers.

Josephine Etowa
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa
OLIP helps to unite and share scarce resources for greater impact by working together in the field of student education.

Walter Piovesan
Associate Director of Education, Ottawa Carleton District School Board
The City of Ottawa will continue to play a lead role in the implementation of the Ottawa Immigration Strategy, just as we did in the founding of OLIP.

Steve Desroches
City Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Ottawa
My nomination is an indication that our hard work in building Canada is recognized. All we do is to serve the community in return for embracing us when we needed it.  

Mehdi Mahdavi
Ottawa Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards Nominee
All the WOW events that I went to were great – WOW does give a sense of a community trying to improve its attraction and retention!

Caroline Andrew
Professor, University of Ottawa
In our city’s history, immigrants have always played an important role. They build our economic prosperity, diversify our culture, contribute to our social vitality.

Jim Watson
Mayor of Ottawa
The target beneficiary of the work of OLIP is the whole community. In this short period we have planted together important seeds for Ottawa’s development.  

Dick Stewart
OLIP Council
Canada has been shaped by people who came from all over the world to build this country. WOW offers a platform for us to celebrate this history and the future it will help…

Alex Munter, Chair of the OLIP Council and President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre
I was happy to see integration to Algonquin territory and indigenous culture related programming in 2014 WOW. Please continue to involve local Aboriginal organisations and…

Linda Manning
WOW 2014 participant, Senior Fellow, University of Ottawa

OLIP Secretariat

Kareem El-Assal

OLIP Senior Research Fellow

In addition to advising OLIP on policy and research, Kareem El-Assal is the Principal of El-Assal…

Kareem El-Assal

OLIP Senior Research Fellow

In addition to advising OLIP on policy and research, Kareem El-Assal is the Principal of El-Assal Insights and Founder of Section 95. He has been active in the field of immigration since 2010, working for non-profits, the federal government, and in the private sector. His research covers issues such as the economic impact of immigration, international students, temporary foreign workers, entrepreneur and investor immigration, public opinion, and immigrant settlement services. Kareem has authored over 500 research reports and commentaries which have been cited by the likes of Canada's immigration minister, Parliament, the Senate, Statistics Canada, among others. He has been interviewed by various organizations for his immigration insights such as the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Global News, Forbes, Washington Post, New York Times, CTV, CBC, OECD, McKinsey & Company, and Boston Consulting Group.

Nyamulola Kambanji

Acting Director of Finance & Operations & Project Manager, Welcoming Ottawa Week (WOW)

Nyamulola holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Electronic Commerce from the University of New Brunswick. She has 18 years combined…

Nyamulola Kambanji

Acting Director of Finance & Operations & Project Manager, Welcoming Ottawa Week (WOW)

Nyamulola holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Electronic Commerce from the University of New Brunswick. She has 18 years combined experience working in banking, research and not for profits, both in Zambia and Canada. Her expertise includes community partnership development, program management, research, creative design and photography. During the last 7 years, she has worked on key government funded projects mandated to improving immigrant integration in Ottawa. In the last 3 years, she has worked as the lead for the Welcoming Ottawa Week (WOW) initiative and played a critical role in its expansion and subsequent success. In addition, Nyamulola is a freelance photographer and her work is showcased in the photo exhibit “Faces and Stories of a Welcoming City” (2016 and 2017). She is also the founder of “Immigrants of Ottawa” a project that showcases the contributions and successes of new Canadians.  

Jean-Pierre Niyitanga

Communications & Events Officer

Jean-Pierre brings over a decade of experience in journalism and communications. He has recently led communication and marketing efforts for national associations,…

Jean-Pierre Niyitanga

Communications & Events Officer

Jean-Pierre brings over a decade of experience in journalism and communications. He has recently led communication and marketing efforts for national associations, focusing on strategy development, content creation, and social media management. Known for his strong communication skills and passion for storytelling, Jean-Pierre is fluent in both English and French and excels in both independent and collaborative settings. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Carleton University.

Moyo Aderemi

Acting Director, Partner Relations & Community Engagement

Moyo is a communications specialist with over 7 years of international experience, consulting for global brands in technology, finance, energy, manufacturing,…

Moyo Aderemi

Acting Director, Partner Relations & Community Engagement

Moyo is a communications specialist with over 7 years of international experience, consulting for global brands in technology, finance, energy, manufacturing, and hospitality, as well as public charities and foundations with a focus on development in Africa. Her expertise is in strategic communications, stakeholder relations and program coordination. Prior to this, she worked in public relations and program management in arts and culture, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. She graduated from the University of York in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and brings a multi-faceted set of skills and unique experience to her passion for enhancing positive relations and support with immigrant-serving organizations.

Ayshan Mammadzada is a PhD student at the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Prof.…

Ayshan Mammadzada

Researcher

Ayshan Mammadzada is a PhD student at the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Prof. Luisa Veronis. Her research interests cover the areas of Environmentally Induced Forced Migration; Climate Migration and Global Governance in Canada, and Canadian Experiences for Immigrants and Newcomers in the Post-pandemic Context. She has also interest in conceptualizing skilled migrants’ resilience in Canada’s post-pandemic economy: a Comparative analysis of the role of gender, occupation, and place. Ayshan has more than 10 years’ work-related experience in local, regional and international projects as an environmental project/data manager, environmental and health program consultant, technical translator in Azerbaijani/English/Russian/Turkish languages with health, and environment specifications. She has also up to 6 years’ managerial and entrepreneurial experience and managed/coordinated donor-funded research projects and capacity-building initiatives, CER (Corporate Environmental Responsibility) and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) projects, including building partnerships with the government, private sector, donors, NGOs, and multilateral organizations.  

Nadira Kulane

Program Officer

Nadira is a dedicated professional with a background in Psychology from Carleton University and extensive experience in the non-profit sector. She has…

Nadira Kulane

Program Officer

Nadira is a dedicated professional with a background in Psychology from Carleton University and extensive experience in the non-profit sector. She has a strong track record of implementing and facilitating inclusive programs that empower individuals, particularly those facing access challenges. Nadira's expertise includes managing developing inclusive programs, managing social media, and enhancing outreach strategies. In her current role as a Program Officer, she supports the planning and execution of key initiatives, assists with communications, and contributes to the organization’s operational efficiency. Driven by a commitment to creating positive change, Nadira is passionate about advancing community engagement and supporting the diverse needs of those she serves.

Yusra Osman

Equity Ottawa Project Lead

Yusra is an equity specialist, registered social worker, and researcher. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Carleton University. Yusra has…

Yusra Osman

Equity Ottawa Project Lead

Yusra is an equity specialist, registered social worker, and researcher. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Carleton University. Yusra has over ten years of experience in front-line work with diverse communities. She has worked as a mental health and trauma counsellor, social work educator, anti-racism specialist, and has facilitated a variety of events, consultations, and trainings related to the well-being and inclusion of newcomers, Black communities, and other community groups.