Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council

• Council member Abraham (Abe) Silverman was re-appointed with a term expiring April 30, 2027.
• Council members Ambreen Azim, Hyder Hassan, and Norman Poon were re-appointed with a term expiring April 30, 2027.
• Council member Norman Poon has been appointed as Co-Chair until April 30, 2027.
• Eleven new members have been appointed to the Council:
  • Dayirai Kapfunde, Cecilia Latorre, Anne-Marie Pham and Dr. Teena Starlight for a term ending August 19, 2028.
  • Janet Afonne, Francis Aranha, Madeeha Khan, Abigail JiEun Park, Imelda McLaren, Hanin Omar and Dr. Robert Opoku for a term ending August 19, 2027.

• Council members Mike Shaikh and Yusuf Mohammed were appointed to 3 year terms (January 28, 2024 to January 27, 2027).
• Mike Shaikh appointed as council co-chair for a 3 year term (January 28, 2024 to January 27, 2027).
• Council members Ayodele (Stephen) Akindipe, Abraham (Abe) Silverman, Adil Zaki Hasan, Charles Odame-Ankrah and Fariborz Birjandian were re-appointed for a 1 year term (January 28, 2024 to January 27, 2025).

• Council members Sonia Sains and Gurpreet Singh were appointed to 2 year terms (April 6, 2023 to April 5, 2025). 
• Council members Helen Agbonison and Shreekanta Aryal were appointed to 3 year terms (April 6, 2023 to April 5, 2025).
• Council member Sania Chaudhry was appointed as council co-chair (appointed to a term ending on June 7, 2025).

Mike Shaikh is a businessman, philanthropist and Order of Canada recipient.

He currently serves as Director of the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, as well as the University of Calgary Board of Governors and is Treasurer of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Additionally, Mike has more than 20 years of experience on numerous boards and committees.

Appointed to the Order of Canada in 2023 for his committed volunteerism and philanthropy across numerous sectors in Calgary and Alberta, Mike holds a Chartered Accountant designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a graduate of the University of Calgary’s BComm Accounting program. 
 

Norman Poon is currently the co-chair of Diversecities, an organization with more than 40 years of success in helping newcomers, vulnerable and visible minority Calgarians. He is the chief customer officer with BitWide, a Calgary-based fractional sales process company helping startups and SME companies to scale, with a special focus on assisting technology companies.

Norman is a chartered professional in human resources and holds a Bachelor of Commerce with distinction in human resources from the University of Alberta.

Helen Agbonison is the founder and president of Africans and African Descendants Friendship Club of St. Albert. She helps the community preserve and promote African cultures and history through events. She seeks ways to support community members settle and integrate into St. Albert. She has over 5 years of board and committee experience. 

Helen holds an MBA in Management from the Rivers State University of Science & Technology, as well as an Applied Land Use Planning Certificate from University of Alberta. She is a recent recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee award. 

Shreekanta Aryal is a social activist and community volunteer. He has been volunteering and contributing hundreds of hours to the community and different organizations for the past several years in various roles. His most recent positions have been as a board member of Nepali Pathshala (language and culture school), event coordinator, secretary, vice president and he is currently serving as the president of the Nepalese Community Society of Calgary (NCSC). 

Shreekanta holds a Master of Economics from Tribhuvan University Kathmandu Nepal.

Ambreen Azim is a lawyer practising in Calgary who works with KH Dunkley Law Group as their family law and child welfare lawyer. She has more than 13 years of litigation experience, including family law, child welfare, personal injury, criminal, appeal litigation and immigration law. She is actively involved in several community service organizations and has a wealth of understanding, experience and knowledge working with diverse cultures and communities. She holds an L.L.B honours degree from the University of Southampton School of Law.

Mr. Hassan is the Executive Director Pro Bono Law Alberta, Founder and Board Chair for Soul Strategic Ventures (UPcomer Capital Ventures, SEi Consulting, Fire-X3), Founder of Gateway Connects for newcomers, and a Co-founder of FullSoul and a fibre optics startup. He holds an MSc. Innovation & Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard.

Mr. Hassan sits on the AMA Regional board and investment committee, is District Chair of Community Assessments & Partnerships, and is a Rotary Club of Calgary Fish Creek Member. He was honored to be recognized by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and Top 40 under 40.

Yusuf Mohammed, a graduate of Royal Roads University with a Master of Global Management in 2022, holds a Graduate Certificate in Intercultural Communication and Leadership (2015) and a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communication (2012). Residing in rural Alberta for over 18 years, specifically Medicine Hat, he is attuned to the challenges faced by Black Albertans, particularly in Southern Alberta. In 2006, he founded The Connection, addressing systemic issues visible minorities encounter.

In 2018, Yusuf established Lantern Glocal Co., offering management consulting services with a focus on intercultural management and human resources. With extensive experience in management and HR, he supports Black entrepreneurs and advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion in Alberta. Yusuf's volunteer work includes immigrant settlement programs and serving on boards like Medicine Hat College's Board of Governors.

Abraham Silverman has 50 years of experience in business, restaurants, automobiles and aviation. Abraham is currently the manager of public affairs with the non-profit of B’nai Birth Canada Alberta Region. Abraham has served as president or board member of 25 different non-profits and business associations over a period of about 50 years.

Dayirai is the Founder of Journeys of Life Counselling Services Inc, and Director at African Center. She is a doctoral student with a wealth of research experience in public health and sociobehavioural sciences.

As a member of the Alberta College of Social Workers Council, Dayirai has worked extensively with racialized communities and women, and is an advocate for culturally responsive health care.

Dayirai has an extensive research and publication portfolio in the area of social work, health care, safety and wellness.

Cecilia Latorre builds equitable communities. Her DE&I advisory board experience and work as a Language Coordinator inform her advocacy. She holds a BA, plus certifications in Indigenous & Black Canadian studies.

Her experience in women's health has provided valuable insight into the importance of diverse voices and accessible resources. Cecilia is committed to leveraging her DE&I experience and community engagement skills to support the council's mission of building a truly inclusive and anti-racist Alberta.

Cecilia holds multiple ‘True North’ awards for DE&I, Innovation and Collaboration.

Anne-Marie Pham, MPA is a nationally recognized leader in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), with over 25 years of experience working with diverse communities and workplaces across Canada. She currently serves as the Vice-President of Engagement at the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), where she mobilizes research, education and strategic partnerships to drive systemic change.

Anne-Marie holds a master’s in public administration and a BA in Sociology, along with senior HR certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory and has led many equity and inclusion initiatives for organizations such as Spectra Energy, the City of Calgary and the Government of Canada.

A first-generation immigrant and passionate community builder, Anne-Marie co-founded the Calgary Vietnamese Youth Association, the National Council of Asian Canadians, the Asian Professional Network of Calgary and the Calgary Diversity & Inclusion Network. She has served on the City of Calgary’s Anti-Racism Action Committee and is a board director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

Her contributions have been recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. Anne-Marie is a sought-after speaker on inclusive leadership, allyship and anti-racism and continues to mentor DEIA professionals and youth across sectors.

Dr. Starlight is an educator and a professor of Indigenous Studies at Mount Royal University. With the guide of Elders, Dr. Starlight has created and implemented educational resources for Alberta students, teachers etc. that recognize and value Indigenous ways of knowing.

She is the National Director of Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program at Ever Active Schools and a recipient of King Charles III Coronation Award. She is a co-founder of Healing Together Powwow and founding member of Indigenous Newcomer Education.

Dr. Starlight is an advocate for Indigenous children and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Janet Afonne is an internationally trained lawyer with the City of Edmonton, specializing in providing legal counsel on municipal services and enforcement. She holds a Bachelor of Law degree and has extensive experience in adjudication. In addition to her legal service to the City of Edmonton, she actively contributes to mentoring Black Canadian youths and supports internationally trained lawyers in their professional development.

Janet is an Executive Member at Large Public Sector Lawyers and mentor to internationally trained lawyers. She is also a founding member of Black Employees of the City.

Francis has served in education boards, sustainability and constituency boards for policy making and has been awarded several accolades including the Star of Alberta and Kings Charles III medal for volunteering.

Francis possesses valuable board governance experience through their involvement with Alberta Parents Councils, health boards and sustainability boards.

Madeeha Khan is a dedicated community leader and advocate with extensive experience in multicultural engagement, anti-racism initiatives and public service which aims to build relationships, foster inclusivity and provide strategic recommendations to address systemic barriers. 

Madeeha is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion with a strong track record of empowering marginalized communities. She has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to volunteering in Calgary and collaborating with government and nonprofit organizations to drive meaningful change.

Madeeha Khan is the founder of Canadian Guidance Association, a non-profit organization that leads initiatives on anti-racism, inclusion and equitable access to services for diverse communities.

Abigail is a program advisor at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for the Prairies and Northwest Territories Regions. Abigail brings a wealth of experience in internal and external stakeholder engagement and policy development.

Abigail is currently the director at Calgary Korean Scholarship Foundation.

Imelda McLaren is a foreign-trained lawyer with a diploma in Political Science and experience in public and government relations, advocacy and community engagement. She is committed to promoting inclusion, equity and meaningful community participation by fostering collaboration between government and diverse organizations.

With experience organizing events that recognize immigrants and celebrate cultural diversity, she has led initiatives that promote equal opportunities and representation for underrepresented groups. A committed community volunteer, Imelda serves as a Director for the Sturgeon River–Parkland Conservative Association and the Mexican Society of Edmonton, contributing her leadership and vision to building a more inclusive and respectful Alberta.

Hanin Omar is a registered nurse and simulation consultant at Alberta Health Services, she works with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to promote safe and high-quality patient care. She has experience in regulatory, municipal and academic committees as co-chair and member. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Calgary and master’s degree in nursing from the University of New Brunswick.

Robert Opoku is a Marketing Instructor at Red Deer Polytechnic’s Donald School of Business, where he has also served as Chair of Business Programs and Interim Director of Institutional Research. With an academic and professional career spanning 4 continents - Africa, Asia, Europe and North America - Robert has taught, mentored, consulted and conducted training for businesses, public organizations and non-profits. His global perspective and extensive experience in diverse cultural contexts equip him with a deep understanding of systemic inequities and the challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Robert is deeply committed to community service, particularly in advocating for marginalized groups. He currently serves as Vice President on the boards of the Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association (CAIWA) and Family Services of Central Alberta, organizations dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations. At CAIWA, he led the committee to fundraise and negotiate the mortgage for their building in Red Deer and spearheaded the development of their 3-year strategic plan. Previously, he served as Vice President of the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre (CAPCC) for 4 years, contributing to fundraising efforts for the construction of their permanent home.

As a founding member and co-chair (2020 to 2023) of the Immigrant Advisory Council (IAC) of the Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership (RDLIP), Robert has been instrumental in driving initiatives that promote inclusivity and equity. He co-led the development of the IAC’s Terms of Reference and strategic plans, contributed to a study on immigrant transit needs that led to the City of Red Deer erecting new bus shelters, and played a pivotal role in implementing RDLIP’s "Proud to Be Your Neighbour" campaign (rdlip.ca/antiracism), which combats racism and advocates for safe, inclusive communities.

Robert holds a PhD in Marketing from Lulea University of Technology, Sweden.