June 19, 2026 – Toronto, ON – Following the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto’s (CAST) 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, June 18, 2026, we are pleased to share updates regarding our Board of Directors, leadership transitions, departures, and the appointments of new Directors.
Julie Mafouz-Rezvani has been appointed CAST’s new Chair of the Board of Directors for a two-year term. Julie is a senior HR leader with more than 20 years of experience across the people lifecycle, and she leads board-level advisory on governance, leadership transitions and organizational design. She has served on CAST’s Board for more than 3 years and most recently led the Board’s Governance and Nominating Committee.
“Julie’s leadership, governance expertise, and deep commitment to our mission position her as the perfect leader to guide the Board into its next chapter and the Agency in year two of our Strategic Plan,” said Lisa Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. “Her continuity on the Board and clear understanding of our priorities will help sustain momentum at an important time for our organization.”
We extend our sincere thanks to our outgoing Board Chair, Salim Zulfikar Somani, who concludes his term after nine years of dedicated service to our Agency, including the past two years as Chair. Under his leadership, the CAST Board of Directors advanced key strategic priorities and strengthened the organization’s role as a trusted community partner.
CAST is grateful to the following Board members who have recently completed their terms:
- Iqbal Ali
- Catherine Dutt
- Sophia Ikura
- Deputy Chief Robert Johnson
- Shruti Paul
- Mackenzie Taylor
Each of these individuals has made meaningful contributions through their expertise, leadership, and commitment to supporting children, youth and families across Toronto. We thank them for their service and the lasting impact of their work.
We are also pleased to welcome the following individuals who were elected to the Board of Directors at the AGM:
- Gigi Dawe
- Ryan Duquette
- Robert Fowlie
- Amin Remtulla
- Eadit Rokach
These newly elected Directors bring diverse perspectives and professional experience that will further strengthen the Board’s capacity to provide strategic oversight, governance, and community leadership.
“As we thank our departing Board members for their service, including Salim Somani as past Board Chair, we welcome our new Directors to the Board,” said Tomlinson. “Together, their leadership will play an important role in guiding the implementation of our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and ensuring we remain focused on our priorities as we continue advancing service excellence, equity, and meaningful outcomes for children, youth and families.”
We look forward to the continued contributions of our Board of Directors as we advance our Strategic Directions and deepen our impact in the community.
To learn more about CAST’s Board of Directors and leadership team, please visit our Leadership page here.
