Leadership
Meet our leadership team and Board of Directors.
Leadership
Elisha M. Laker, MSW RSW
Chief Executive Officer
Mariana Benitez, M. Ed., R.P.
Director of Clinical Services
Susan Warren B.A. R.P.
Director of Inclusivity and Community Development
Michael Prencipe, B.A.
Director of Operations
Adelle Volpone, MSW, RSW
Manager of Clinical Services
Reni Hunter
Financial Manager
Wendy Milwain
Manager of Data
Stephanie McKellar
Executive & Senior Management Assistant
Sarah Simms, MSW, RSW
HR Manager
Kerry Newman, R.P.
Clinical Supervisor
Leena Nayyar, MSW, RSW
Manager of Outreach and Community Support Services
Varenya Kuhathaas, MSW, RSW
F&ST Program Manager
Mahsa Ghayoumi, M.A., R.P.
Outreach Supervisor
Board of Directors 2023-2024
Debbie Kassirer – Chair
Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Principal of Beyond Conflict, a consultancy dedicated to resolving and preventing conflict in the workplace.
Vanessa Aguiar – Past Chair
Director, Human Resources & Occupational Health & Safety at Lakeridge Health Hospital.
Rubaiyat Karim – Treasurer
Registered Social Worker and Professor with over two decades of experience in the community social services sector.
Ghazaleh Salahi – Member at Large
B.A. in Psychology from York University, Trauma Informed Case Manager at York Support Services Network.
Ira Teich – Member at Large
M.Sc., C.A.; Author and nation-building/development strategist for governments around the world; formerly CEO of Canada’s largest global consumer growth strategy firm.
Karen Wang – Member at Large
Adolescent Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Priya Khalsa – Member at Large
JD/MSW; Faculty of Law Graduate (called to the bar in 2021); Medical Student.
John Ellis – Volunteer, Policy & Planning
Formerly CEO of Family Service Ontario