Leadership

Gerald Mak, (he/him) has held management roles in both the financial services and public sectors, with experience spanning risk management, technology, communications and strategy. Complementing his employment experience, Gerald serves as a community consultant with the Toronto Police Service, where he has contributed for more than 19 years, and has served six years with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. He has also served on boards and committees with the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Metropolitan University, and has taken on advisory roles in public policy and governance. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University, a Master’s degree in Communications from McMaster University, and is currently pursuing his MBA at the UBC Sauder School of Business.

With more than 15 years of experience working with youth, Gerald has volunteered for over a decade with Big Brothers Big Sisters and five years with Junior Achievement, and has supported fundraising efforts with local hospitals and charities. Gerald is dedicated to advancing the safety, well-being and long-term success of children, youth and families.

Karen Sihra (she/her) is the Founder and Managing Director of Sihra Advisory, a boutique consultancy focused on advancing equity, inclusion and people strategies that enable organizations to thrive. From 2018 to 2023, she served as Managing Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at CPP Investments, where she developed and implemented the organization’s first global inclusion strategy, embedding equity principles into business operations and culture. Prior to this, Karen spent more than two decades at TD Bank in progressively senior roles across retail banking, wealth, merchant solutions and human resources. Known for her ability to bridge business priorities with equity-focused outcomes, she has been recognized for reshaping organizational practices and fostering environments where people can succeed. Karen holds a Ph.D., Master of Arts and Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.

Karen currently serves as Chair of the International Gandhian Institute for Nonviolence and Peace. Through her governance, strategy and people expertise, she brings a strong commitment to fostering safe, inclusive and supportive environments. She believes that healthy families and safe children are the foundation of a healthy community and society.

Eugene Choi (he/him) is the Managing Partner of Blue-Mark Management Consultants, where he leads a multidisciplinary team that helps complex organizations focus on what truly matters, align leaders and processes, and implement sustainable change. Eugene has experience advising clients across a wide variety of sectors, including finance, information and analytics, insurance, technology, consumer packaged goods, real estate development and pension funds. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto.

Eugene has previously served on the board of Kennedy House Youth Services and has mentored dozens of young people through university programs. He also sits on the University of Toronto Alumni Association Board. In 2021, the University of Toronto honoured him with its Arbor Award, the institution’s highest volunteer recognition, for sustained leadership in mentorship and community engagement. Eugene brings more than a decade of strategy, organizational management and change expertise, and his commitment to child and youth well-being and success is the common thread in his community involvement.

Sanober is the Executive Director of the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH), an organization that provides strategic and evidence-based leadership for perinatal, newborn and child health services in Ontario. In her role, she oversees the implementation of PCMCH’s strategic objectives, working collaboratively with provincial partners to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities for Ontarians. Sanober’s previous leadership roles include Managing Director of Rehabilitation Operations at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she oversaw clinical operations across multiple hospital campuses, and Director of Policy and Research at the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, where she led provincial quality improvement initiatives. She holds a Master of Science in Health Administration from the University of Toronto and is a Certified Health Executive through the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Sanober recently completed her term as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Wellesley Institute and as a member of the Surrey Place Board of Directors and Quality Assurance Committee. With extensive experience in hospital operations, strategic planning and budget management, she is committed to advancing work that ensures children and youth have every opportunity to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

Robert E. Johnson (he/him) is the Deputy Chief of Police for the Toronto Police Service, overseeing more than 1,200 officers, 900 civilian members and a $210-million budget. His Command includes the Service’s investigative squads, specialized uniform units and Court Services. With over three decades of experience in community safety and enforcement, Deputy Chief Johnson has led major modernization and reform efforts within the Service, including the Board’s 81 police reform directions to address systemic racism and strengthen community trust. He also partnered with the City of Toronto’s Community Crisis Service to advance non-police-led responses for persons in crisis and has overseen Professional Standards and Area Field Command, managing eight police divisions. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, a Police Leadership Program certificate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and leadership diplomas from Humber and Sheridan Colleges.

An accomplished senior executive and trusted mentor, Rob is a visionary, ethical and collaborative leader who has been appointed a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces and awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. He is co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Counter Terrorism and National Security Committee and an active member of several professional policing associations. Guided by a desire to protect and uplift vulnerable children and families, Rob strives to create lasting positive change in his community.

Sabah Mirza (she/her) is Principal of Sabah Mirza GC Services, where she provides general counsel and business advisory services to a range of businesses. She also serves as a Board Member and the Chair of the Board’s Nomination and Governance Committee for the City Office REIT. Previously, she was Executive Vice-President and General Counsel at Corus Entertainment and held senior legal and business leadership roles at Sunwing Travel Group and Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts, where she helped expand operations across Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. Called to the Bar in both Quebec and Ontario, Sabah brings extensive experience in corporate governance, business strategy and risk management.

As a seasoned governance professional and board leader, Sabah provides valuable oversight and leadership experience. Having supported organizations navigating financial and operational change, she brings a practical understanding of how organizational pressures can shape culture, performance and long-term sustainability. Committed to advancing equity and community well-being, she strives to help ensure that children and families feel safe, supported and able to thrive.

Herman Ng (he/him) brings over 20 years of experience in engineering, information technology and operations management. He is currently spearheading the data and AI strategy for multiple global transformation programs at one of the world’s largest consulting firms. Previously, he held senior roles in some of Canada’s largest organizations in energy and utilities, telecommunications, gaming, and consumer services, successfully leading complex cross-functional programs in corporate and technology strategy, post-merger integration, productivity improvement, new business operations models, and data innovation. Herman holds Master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Engineering and is a Professional Engineer and Chartered Director. He is also a recipient of the University of Toronto’s Arbor Award in recognition of his outstanding volunteer service.

Herman has volunteered as a Board Director for Scientists in School, Adventure Place and Lumenus Community Services, and continues to mentor members of UofT as part of his commitment to giving back to the community. He also serves as a College of Electors member of the UofT Governing Council. He brings a strong commitment to supporting culturally sensitive Service delivery and child and youth protection needs through equity-driven policies and programs in a financially sustainable way.

Julie Mahfouz-Rezvani (she/her) is the Managing Director of The Orion Group, a consulting practice that partners with small and medium-sized enterprises, not-for-profits, regulators and educational institutions to design scalable people systems that enhance performance and reduce risk. A senior HR leader with more than 20 years of experience across the people lifecycle, she leads board-level advisory on governance, leadership transitions and organizational design. Julie has also held executive and teaching roles including Vice President of Sales, North America at Centrica PLC (formerly British Gas) and part-time instructor at the University of Winnipeg and George Brown College. She frequently speaks on strategic HR, organizational transformation, leadership development and AI in the workplace. Julie holds a BA from the University of Toronto, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University, and is pursuing a Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto. She is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).

Julie has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors for COSTI and is Co-Founder of Darzee, a social enterprise supporting newcomer women. She is an advocate for equitable systems and believes in culturally competent care and support that strengthen families and create lasting opportunities for vulnerable communities.

Annabella Tamburro (she/her) is the Vice President of Human and Corporate Capital at Canso Investment Counsel Ltd., responsible for all aspects of the human resources function across Canso and its affiliated companies. Her work includes developing and implementing people and talent strategies that strengthen recruitment, benefits, performance, organizational design, culture, and learning and development. Previously, Annabelle served as Senior Director of HR Transformation at Extendicare, leading strategic HR initiatives and a team of more than 25 employees with a $1-million budget. She also held the role of Associate Vice-President of Human Resources at TD Bank, where she established and led the Leadership and Executive Development function, supporting over 12,000 leaders globally. Annabelle holds a Bilingual International Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Business from Carleton University. She is a certified Prosci Change Management Practitioner and has continued her education in coaching and board governance.

For the last five years, Annabelle has been actively involved in not-for-profit boards including the York Region Food Bank, where she helped develop and implement procedures and processes related to board member development, governance and CEO assessment. She brings strong strategic thinking, good listening, excellent teamwork skills and the ability to make sound, well-informed decisions while maintaining solidarity in advancing the work of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.

Mackenzie Taylor (she/her) is a Director at Sussex Strategy Group, providing strategic counsel on public affairs, communications and reputation management. She is a seasoned public affairs strategist with a track record of advancing policy goals and managing reputation in complex, high-stakes environments. Before joining Sussex, Mackenzie held roles with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commission of New Brunswick, developing expertise in government operations, oversight, policy and human rights frameworks. Her work spans public affairs, crisis communications and strategic management. Mackenzie holds a Bachelor or Arts from St. Thomas University and Certificates in French Language from Laval University and the University of Quebec in Montreal.

She has been actively involved in civic and professional organizations including the Loran Foundation, Women in Politics and the Public Affairs Association of Canada. Her commitment to equity, protection and the long-term wellbeing of children and families aligns deeply with her values, and she is proud to help advance that mission through her leadership and public service.