Our Leadership.

Justin Wiebe is a Métis citizen from Saskatoon in Treaty 6 and Métis Territory. He joined the Mastercard Foundation in 2019 where he serves as Head, Partnership Development. Through his role, Justin is focused on building and supporting meaningful partnerships focused on improving the lives of Indigenous youth and their communities. He is passionate about rethinking philanthropy, systems change, and building movements of solidarity across different communities. Prior to joining the Mastercard Foundation, Justin worked at the Ontario Trillium Foundation in the Youth Opportunities Fund supporting grassroots and systems change initiatives led by Indigenous and Black youth. He is also a Board Member at Philanthropic Foundations Canada, a WEF Global Shaper, and a co-founder of The Mamawi Project. Justin is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and the University of British Columbia, and holds the ICD.D designation. 

amanuel melles (aman) is the Executive Director of the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC). He brings more than 28 years of management and senior management experience in various sub-sectors of the non-profit sector: settlement and immigration, community health, social services and community development, and funding & sector capacity. aman was on the Senior Management Team at United Way Toronto and the Director of Programs & Capacity Building where he led the development of the Organizational Capacity Building Unit and was responsible for leading the introduction of several innovative and creative leadership, capacity building, evaluation and granting programs aimed at building various capacities of non-profit agencies and communities in Toronto. Prior to his role at United Way Toronto, aman held various roles at OCASI, Lawrence Heights Community Health Centre and Family Service Toronto.

Over the years, aman has contributed to the vibrancy of the non-profit sector and communities as a Board member, executive officer and civic leader: Distress Centres Toronto, Social Planning Toronto, Ontario Council for International Cooperation, Inclusive Cities Canada’s Toronto Civic Panel, Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, African Canadian Social Development Council. In 2018, aman was appointed, for a two-year term, by Toronto’s Mayor to sit on the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit’s, City of Toronto, Partnership and Accountability Circle. Currently, he’s the President of InterChange Community-Based Peacebuilding International Institute, sits on the Board of Social Innovation Canada and chairs the Board of Institute of Change Leaders. aman is an alumnus of the Maytree Foundation Leaders for Change and the Maytree-York University Management programs. As a former marine ecologist, aman often brings ecosystem thinking to his work with organizations and communities. aman is the recipient of the Jane Jacobs Prize, the New Pioneers Award, the African Canadian Leadership Award, and the Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride – Community Service Award.

Brendon Hunt brings to the Board of Directors his extensive knowledge and experience in capital and financial management, business development, mergers, and acquisitions. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree majoring in law in 1978, he joined a small insurance firm originated by his father. Here, he was responsible for expanding the business through organic growth, acquisitions, a joint venture, and the incubation of several startup firms. Mr. Hunt transitioned ownership to the next generation prior to negotiating the sale of multiple businesses to the Canadian arm of a large international company, where he was retained for four years as vice president of acquisitions. He has published numerous articles and has taught at both St. Lawrence and Algonquin colleges. Mr. Hunt is currently the managing partner of a private equity and investment company and sits on the boards of both corporate and non-profit organizations. A focus of his charitable activities has been working with youth. In addition to serving as a Big Brother for more than two decades, he is a former Chairman of Laurencrest Youth Residence and has coached various levels of minor hockey and football. He has also spearheaded and raised funds for local charities. Mr. Hunt is a graduate of Carleton University and has earned the designation of Canadian Certified Insurance Broker and the title of Chartered Insurance Broker.

Bill McCrea’s career has taken him through private-sector business leadership positions to senior-level public service roles. He co-chaired the Mutual Policy Holder Committee in negotiating the Economical demutualization agreement. He has proven results in the areas of corporate governance, legislation and regulation, finance, compliance, privacy law, mediation and negotiations, communications, and leadership. In his volunteer life, Mr. McCrea has led community-based organizations which included chairing a local Scouts Canada parent advisory group. He has been heavily involved with the United Way, being responsible for the largest division in the Region of Waterloo campaign for many years. Mr. McCrea oversaw the Ministry of Finance Provincial Employees Community Services Fund for the Province of British Columbia for several years. Under his leadership, these organizations saw improvements in how they were run and, more importantly, the success they achieved, growing year over year and assisting their communities in even more ways. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, he is a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of Canada.

Innes Dey is a financial services executive with more than 23 years of professional experience, and more than 18 years in advisory and senior management positions within the financial services sector. A lawyer by background, Mr. Dey has been Senior Vice-President, Legal and Strategy of Economical Insurance since February 2018, where he provides stewardship over legal and corporate governance matters, strategic initiatives, government relations activities and corporate strategy development. For the past ten years, he has led the development and execution of Economical Insurance’s demutualization agenda. In his volunteer life, Innes has worked with Habitat for Humanity to help local communities address a variety of housing needs. Mr. Dey holds a B.Sc. (Hons) from Western University, an LL.B. from Queen’s University at Kingston and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

John Bowey is an experienced financial executive and is the current Board Chair of Definity Financial Corporation (formerly Economical Insurance). John joined the Economical Board in May 2011 and served as the Chair of the Special Committee on Demutualization of Economical. He was appointed Chair of the Economical Board in January 2016. He is a retired partner of Deloitte LLP, where he held many leadership roles including Managing Partner of Deloitte in Southwestern Ontario, Chairman of the Board of Deloitte Canada, and was a member of Deloitte’s global board of directors. He has served on the boards of Simpson Seeds Inc, Waterloo Brewing Ltd. and Kognitiv Corporation. He is a past Chair of the board of directors of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and a past Chair of the board of Governors of Wilfrid Laurier University. He has served many charitable organizations over the years, including Cambridge Big Brothers, Cambridge Family Crisis Shelter, the Sunbeam Centre, and the Victorian Order of Nurses. Mr. Bowey has a BA in Economics from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Governor Award from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Fellow of both the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Katie has extensive experience working in responsible investment, community development, Indigenous rights recognition, and environmental sustainability. Today based in Montreal, Quebec, Katie serves as Head of Canada for the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), which unites responsible investors to work towards sustainable markets that contribute to a more prosperous world for all.

Previously, Katie directly supported asset owners in developing and furthering their approach to responsible investment governance while at SHARE. Prior, she led the award-winning Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative, which collaborates with Indigenous and non-Indigenous investors to build capital markets that advance reconciliation goals and respect for Indigenous rights. This was informed by earlier direct work for First Nation governments in Western Canada to uphold their rights and title. Katie has also published peer-reviewed literature on Indigenous rights recognition, human-nature interactions, and oil sands governance.

Katie holds a BA in Joint Honours International Development and Anthropology from McGill University and an MA in Environmental Anthropology from the University of Saskatchewan. In 2022, Katie was recognized by Corporate Knights as a Top 30 under 30 Sustainability Leader in Canada.

For much of his career, Marcel Lauzière has headed national nonprofits: Founding Executive Director of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences; President of the Canadian Council on Social Development; and President and CEO of Imagine Canada. He has also been a senior public servant in Canada and abroad: Special Advisor to the President at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Deputy Chief Executive in the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development. Most recently Marcel was President and CEO of the Lawson Foundation.

He has been an active volunteer on numerous boards including the International Council on Social Welfare, the Accounting Standards Oversight Council, and the Public Policy Forum. He is a Past-Chair of the Board at YMCA Canada.

He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and the Governor General’s Cross for Meritorious Service (2016) for his work in philanthropy, as well as the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) for his contribution to YMCAs in Canada. He holds an MA in History from the University of Ottawa as well as an honorary degree from George Brown College.

Marcel lives in beautiful Cantley, Québec.

Over the past decade, MJ has helped deploy over C$400M through private-market impact investing, and another C$500M through responsible investment strategies for several family offices, foundations, and financial institutions. MJ is also the inaugural Chief Investment Officer of the $500M BC Rental Protection Fund that finances the acquisition of existing affordable housing across British Columbia.

MJ is a Board Director and Treasurer for Definity Insurance Foundation; a Board Director for Philanthropic Foundations Canada, Tapestry Capital, and MakeWay Foundation Canada; and sits on the Impact Investment Committee for the Laidlaw Foundation.

MJ’s passion for social change is complemented by his prior experience in Capital Markets, Corporate Strategy, and Global Health, and his degrees in Computer Engineering and M.B.A.

Nicole is a proud member of the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, born and raised in Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation. With over two decades of experience spanning public policy, philanthropy, and governance, she has dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous well-being and self-determination.

Nicole’s philanthropic leadership began at the McConnell Foundation as Director of Indigenous Initiatives, and continued at MakeWay, where she served as Director of National Programming. In both roles, she championed Indigenous-led solutions and cross-sectoral collaboration. In 2024, she co-founded Indigenous Philanthropy Advisors (IPA) to strengthen trust-based relationships between funders and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.

Her earlier work in the federal public service included contributions to major national programs such as the Indian Residential School Resolution, the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, and Canada’s Initiative on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Now living in Quebec on Anicinape territory, she is guided by the strength of her community and the inspiration of her five grown children.

Zeina Osman is an ambitious changemaker with a lived understanding of social impact. Having attended Carleton University in Ottawa, where she studied Communications and Political Science, Zeina’s academic background enriches her commitment to advancing social change.

Currently serving as the Director of Impact at the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), a global INGO, she plays a pivotal part in leading impact initiatives and has a proven track record of securing substantial gifts, implementing comprehensive impact reporting through data analysis, and establishing strategic corporate partnerships for international and domestic humanitarian efforts.

Before her role at IDRF, Zeina spent over a decade working in Ottawa, focusing on digital access and literacy in Canada; championing initiatives to bring devices, programming, and internet access to Indigenous communities in remote and urban areas. In 2018, she successfully launched the first-ever Digital Access Day. Zeina’s efforts in this domain align with her belief in the transformative power of technology as a catalyst for social inclusion. In addition to her professional experience, she served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of FreeGeek Toronto, an organization dedicated to promoting digital inclusion through the reuse of technology. Furthermore, Zeina held the position of Director of Events for Fair Trade Ottawa Équitable, a local initiative that advocates for fair trade principles in the nation’s capital.

Zeina’s proficiency in strategic planning allows her to contribute valuable insights to organizational development, ensuring a robust framework for achieving long-term goals.