Governance
The New Canadians Centre is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Any inquiries for the board can be emailed to board@nccpeterborough.ca.
Policies
Anti-Discrimination, Access & Equity
Accessible Customer Service Policy
Board members for 2012-2013:
Chanda Kaziya (Finance committee)
Chanda Kaziya is a member of the Board of Directors and its Finance Committee. He is originally from Zambia, Central Africa. He moved to Canada with his wife who recently completed a Masters Degree in Material Science in the department of Physics at Trent University. Prior to coming to Canada, he worked in the Education sector for six years and as Principal Labour Standards Officer in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for four years. These positions helped him develop strong organizational and communication skills and gave him the opportunity to deal with dynamic issues and situations in the Public Service. A positive attitude helped him face the challenge of moving to a new country. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Psychology from the University of Zambia and a College Diploma in Secondary Teaching (Geography and Physical Education) from Nkrumah University College. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management at the University of Regina while working with Christian Horizons in Peterborough and at Friends Peterborough as one of their community resource persons. He hopes to bring a wealth of international experience in organizational management to NCCs team.
Javier Bravo (Fundraising and Outreach Committee)
Javier is a member of the Board of Directors and Fundraising and Outreach Committee. Originally from Mexico City, Javier immigrated to Peterborough eleven years ago. He has an Honors degree in Business from Universidad Anahuac, experience in public relations working for IBM Global Services in Mexico and, also graduated from Fleming College as a web developer. Javier believes that understanding your own roots is a step towards accepting others. He currently runs his studio, “b9 Web Design and Development” and works at GM Financial, offering his expertise to the NCC. He lives with his wife and two beautiful daughters.
Gabriele Zeh-Abramsky (Treasurer, Chair of Finance Committee)
Gabriele Zeh-Abramsky has been on the Board of Directors since 2010. She is also the Chair of the Board’s Finance Committee. She has an Executive MBA from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Spanish from Trent University, and a degree in Commerce from Industrie und Handelskammer in Germany. She has been a business consultant for the Peterborough DNA cluster, an owner of a real estate and property management company, a co-owner of Charlotte Jewelers, and Director of Business Development at Vectorsoft limited in Lindsay. As a volunteer, she has been, on the Underwriting Committee for the Festival of Trees, and the funding review committee of United Way as well as the local president and national Board member of Hadassah WIZO, and the Kawartha Montessori School. She hopes to lend her financial expertise to the NCC Board. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Peterborough YWCA and is a past Director of The Board of Directors for Hospice Peterborough. As an immigrant herself, Gabriele knows what it is like to make a new start in a new country with no support system and a foreign language.
Janet Hunter (Chair of Fundraising and Outreach Committee)
Janet is a member of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Board’s Fundraising and Outreach Committee. Janet Hunter has been working with newcomers to Canada since 1993 as an ESL teacher and curriculum consultant. She designs resources for professionals working with newcomers and programs to assist newcomers with their integration in Canada. She has presented numerous workshops on settlement issues, and also provides services in program evaluation and funding development. She has three years of experience as a program manager for a Canadian federal government agency, four years working with newcomers to Canada, over three years abroad, and fifteen years in consulting. Janet recently completed a research project which mapped the multicultural organizations in Peterborough. Janet is a member of the Integration Strategy Committee of the PPCII. Janet believes that everyone benefits when newcomers find their place in Canadian society, and that we can all play a role in opening doors and breaking down barriers.
Laura Walker
Laura Walker was born and raised in Peterborough, but has spent time living in Australia and Portugal. She graduated in 2010 from Trent University with a degree in Political Studies, and has been working at the Ministry of Natural Resources since then. Laura loves travelling and has also completed a number of language immersion programs. She knows how stressful a new place and a new language can be and wants to help ensure that newcomers to the community feel welcome and supported.
Linda Wong (Fundraising Committee)
Linda Wong has served on the Board since 2008. As a member of the Client Outreach Committee, she helped establish the new NCC website. Since 2011, Linda has also been a member of the Board’s Fundraising and Outreach Committee. Linda Wong moved to Canada with her daughter in 2003. Prior to coming to Canada, Linda worked for eight years as a call centre supervisor. The position helped her develop strong organizational and communication skills and gave her the opportunity to deal with dynamic issues and situations. A positive attitude helped her face the challenge of moving to a new country. Linda graduated from Fleming College in 2008 and in 2010 from Trent University with a Business Degree and specialization in Human Resources. Linda has been an active volunteer with many organizations over the last several years and welcomes opportunities to help others and to participate in community activities.
Maryam Monsef
Maryam Monsef has been a part of the NCC family for the last 16 years and is joining the Board for the first time. Her family’s integration in Peterborough continues to be facilitated by the good work of NCC staff and volunteers. She was one of the young entrepreneurs at the Building Common Visions Conference in 2007. In 2011, she had the privilege of serving as Interim Outreach Coordinator for the NCC and PPCII. During that time, her appreciation for the NCC mandate and its people grew. Maryam has an Integrated Arts diploma from PCVS and a Bachelor of Science degree from Trent University. She is the cofounder of the Red Pashmina Campaign and also serves on the Board of the YWCA of Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton. Serving on the NCC Board provides her an opportunity to align her values and experiences to make Peterborough a more welcoming community.
Mary Ladky (Chair of the Board, Governance Committee)
Mary Ladky served on the NCC board as Vice-Chair in 2007 and 2008 and as Chair since 2010.
In 2007 she helped develop the Building Common Visions Conference, which was/is the root of many initiatives of the NCC. She is an educator with over 25 years of experience at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
Wilco Overink
This is Wilco’s first term on the Board. He has been a member of the Finance Committee since 2011 and has attended Board meetings as a non-voting attendee. Wilco moved to Canada in 2007 together with his wife and two daughters. Wilco is from The Netherlands and prior to his move to Canada he spent 23 years working as a tax manager (personal, corporate and international taxation) for, amongst others, PriceWaterhouseCoopers. In Canada he worked briefly in income taxes again before pursuing a career in real estate. Since November 2010 Wilco has worked as an independent real estate consultant with Century 21 United Realty in Peterborough. As an immigrant, Wilco can relate to the challenges and difficulties newcomers face. He hopes the NCC can benefit from his financial background.
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