MEET THE TEAM

The staff team at Fora is responsible for the implementation of the strategic plan, including the provision of excellent programming, improving organizational operations, and creating healthy revenue streams. The team works with a variety of stakeholders in Fora’s community to effectively deliver our mission of advancing the full participation of young leaders in decision-making spaces to change the status quo.

Learn more about our team below.

— LEADERSHIP—

[in order from left to right]

  • Emma Asiedu-Akrofi is a dedicated advocate for women and girls, committed to addressing gender-based inequalities. She holds a degree in political science and sociology from the University of Toronto and has over 10 years of experience working in the charitable sector. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director at the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women's Empowerment, a role she has successfully fulfilled since 2016. Emma's professional expertise includes financial and operational management, strategic leadership, governance and compliance, revenue generation, project management, risk management, stakeholder engagement, as well as program development and implementation. Her wide range of skills and comprehensive understanding of these areas enable her to effectively navigate complex challenges and drive sustainable change within an organization.

    As a Black Canadian woman of Ghanaian descent, Emma's work is deeply rooted in an intersectional, anti-oppressive, and inclusive framework. She recognizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the intersecting forms of discrimination and oppression that individuals face. Emma is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable society for all. Emma's passion lies in creating opportunities for underserved groups to access the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. Whether advocating for gender equality, empowering marginalized communities, or championing social justice, Emma remains unwavering in her personal and professional commitment to this cause.

  • Director, Programs and Advocacy

    A lifelong passion for local and international social justice has been the driving force behind Jen’s work and schooling, which include international development, community development, and economics. In the decade before joining Fora, Jen put her heart and soul into developing creative and collaborative responses to food insecurity in her hometown of Timmins.

    Jen has extensive experience with equity-focused program development and coordination in a variety of roles. As the five-year executive director of a grassroots charity, she drove effective and sustainable organizational growth. She has previously sat on boards and committees pertaining to food security, healthcare, and the arts.

    Jen loves exploring – whether that’s a new neighbourhood, hiking trail, or dish. As a Toronto newcomer, she’s excited about the endless opportunities to try new things.

— TEAM —

  • Senior Manager, Development and Operations

    Marija is devoted to promoting gender equality and advocating for women, girls and gender-diverse people around the world. A passionate fundraiser, she loves to highlight the spaces where community needs and donor interests meet, stewarding gifts to build a more equal future. Prior to joining Fora, Marija worked on superstar teams at CODE and CARE Canada to raise funds for projects supporting the education, health and economic empowerment of women, girls, and communities in low-income countries around the world.

    In her spare time, Marija loves baking, reading, and travelling to explore new destinations and return to the places that have stuck with her.

  • Communications, Manager

    As the Communications Manager at Fora, Cari relies on her knack for storytelling to create compelling content that moves audiences to action. While non-profit comms is her jam, she also brings a background in international relations, project management, and community engagement to the role.

    Cari has had the opportunity to work alongside incredible teams at organizations like FoodShare Toronto, Plan International Canada, and Transforming Faces. She has a deep love for exclamation points and em dashes (and a strong desire to use them more often than she should). She brings a lifelong passion for gender equity, social justice, and environmental activism to work each day.

    When she’s not working, you’ll find her hiking with her dog, Lando, attempting to take photos of urban wildlife, or watching reruns of her favourite shows. Her favourite accessories are a pair of hiking boots, a good book, and her camera.

  • Project Coordinator, Rise on Boards

    Sania's journey began with a passion for architecture, driven by a desire to create inclusive and gender equitable communities. Upon graduating as an architect, this aspiration led her to pursue a master’s in International Peace Studies at Soka University of Japan.

    Transitioning into the development space, Sania brings with her experience and expertise in youth-centric development, cross-sectoral collaboration, and partnership building. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to approach challenges with a systemic perspective and intentionally design inclusive solutions. Prior to joining Fora Sania worked in the non-profit sector in India, implementing educational programs with youth and adolescent girls. She advocates for the interconnectedness of design and social issues, firmly believing in the power of thoughtful design to alleviate structural violence and foster positive change.

    She finds solace in nature and long walks, and enjoys exploring local cafes and cuisines. As a newcomer to Toronto, Sania is excited to immerse herself in her new community, forging connections and growing into an empathetic global citizen.

  • Global Programs & Engagement Assistant

    Sara Abdelrida’s experiences across three continents have instilled in her a deep understanding of diverse cultures. Having faced and overcome numerous challenges, she firmly believes in the power of a resilient mindset for achieving success.

    Joining Fora: Network for Change, her mission is to contribute to the support of these young leaders, driven by her past desire for similar guidance. She looks forward to being a part of a network that supports a generation of strong minds, as our hands unite globally to provide persistent support.

  • Advocacy Manager

    Tehreem is first generation Pakistani-Canadian social impact strategist with an interest in civic innovation and peacebuilding. Having specialized in political science and minored in philosophy, Tehreem often finds herself at the intersection of politics and philosophy as a researcher, activist, and social innovator.

    As an Advocacy Manager she brings her academic, grassroots, and professional expertise in advocacy, policy influencing and knowledge mobilization to Fora, helping make powerful decision-making spaces more accessible for a new generation of leaders.

    Tehreem believes that getting gender-marginalized young leaders into spaces of power is a critical way to spark innovation and meaningful change, this belief led her to Fora.

  • Officer, Development, and Operations

    Linh deeply resonates with Fora's commitment to fostering an intersectional and 2SLGBTQIA+ feminist movement on top of empowering young women and gender-marginalized leaders. Prior to joining Fora, Linh worked as a project manager in advertising industry for 8 years. Since Jan 2023, she decided to seek opportunities to work for non-profit organizations to align her personal values with her career path. She fell in love with fundraising through various volunteering experiences and hopes to continue to raise funds for projects supporting education for youth and equity for all.

    In her free time, Linh enjoys taking care of her plants, hiking within the GTA, reading art books, and going to see theatre plays.

  • Communications Officer

    Driven by her passion for inclusive and ethical storytelling paired with her background in film & creative writing, Jenny Jay is a leader in unpacking how we tell stories to create spaces where people truly belong. With an educational background in non-fiction multimedia and her lived experiences holding multiple identities, Jenny advocates that spaces of power understand the impact of a story when it’s finally told right.

    Jenny actively uses her voice in every space that she enters to challenge intuitional structures, advocate for disability, racial, and queer justice, and to ask that private organizations & companies put their resources where their values claim — including brands like Lululemon, Abercombie & Fitch & Humber College.

    In her spare time, Jenny can be found practicing asanas (the physical form of yoga) with her Mom, laughing at memes on the internet, or road-tripping in the Mountains in her camper-converted Jeep.

— VOLUNTEERS — 

  • Julia Pereira (she/her) has been a Research and Outreach volunteer for Fora supporting the Rise on Boards program since January 2023. Julia's involvement with the Rise on Board programs has allowed her to support emerging leaders to champion gender equity and shape decision-making on governance boards across Canada.

    In addition to her volunteer work with Fora, Julia holds the position as Senior Advocacy Specialist at the Canadian Cancer Society. Her role involves working with government to bring about healthy public policies that will help prevent cancer and improve the lives of people living with and beyond cancer.