Deborah is a psychotherapist, clinician and consultant in private practice in Fonthill, Ontario. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) with a faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. She has numerous publications and presents at conferences both nationally and internationally speaking on vulnerable populations. In 2018, she became the recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Victim’s Services in Ontario for her work with victims of violence and people who are marginalized and vulnerable.

Deborah is a life-long resident of the Niagara Region and has 4 amazing children. In 2019, Deborah’s beautiful son Jay lost his life to an opioid addiction. Because of the loss of her son, she brings a personal story to the table as a parent and mother. She has a passion to change and alter the stigma attached to those individuals who have a substance use disorder.

Carolyn is a resident of St. Catharines who she cares deeply about her community and giving back. Carolyn has been in healthcare for most of her career where she has led multi disciplinary teams that focus on making healthcare accessible for every community member. Carolyn has a Masters Degree in Applied Health Sciences from Brock University and most recently completed a post grad certification through York University in Human Resources where she is a member of the Human Resources Professional Association.

Corey Dutcher is a dedicated resident of Niagara, who embodies the spirit of volunteerism and advocacy within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Corey has demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership in furthering positive awareness and inclusivity across Niagara with being involved in the Welland Pride and Indigenous crosswalk creations.

Corey currently serves as the Chair of the Welland 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Board, where his strategic vision and collaborative approach have been instrumental in advancing initiatives that promote diversity and equality. He also plays a vital role as a Board Member of Positive Living Niagara, Chief of Police Inclusion Council and the Niagara Region’s 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, contributing valuable insights and perspectives to support these organizations’ missions.

Adeola Awogbemi is a Research and Development Consultant with about 2 decades’ experience working with non-profits in Africa. With a background in Political Science, her experience cuts across Health, Education, Livelihoods, Gender, and Governance. Her specialties include Monitoring & Evaluation, Project Design & Management, Advocacy & Campaign Management, Capacity Development, and Election Monitoring.

Adeola is an activist, mentor, trainer, and avid volunteer with extensive experience designing and implementing educational, gender, capacity building, leadership and mentoring programs. She has also provided strategy, capacity building and conducted evaluation studies on development projects for donors like Voice 4 Change (V4C), Christian Aid (CA), Women 4 Women International (WFWI), Encompass LLB, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Women Win), and others.  Adeola has an “M.Sc degree in Political Science” and other certificates in, “Participatory Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (PPME)”, Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen UR, Netherlands; “Building Assets and Agency for Citizen-Led Development (Asset Based Community Development)”, “Advocacy: Increasing Citizen’s Voice and Agency” and “Women’s Leadership in Community Development”, from the Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; “Meta-Evaluation” International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) and “Gender and Development, Future Learn by Deakin University.  Adeola is the immediate past National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) and currently, Director of Development, Skillcity Institute.

Born, raised, and living in Niagara, Julie Evans is a Registered Social Worker who enjoys working with some of our communities most vulnerable populations. Graduating from Sheridan College in 1999, with her Correctional Diploma, she spent some time working with youth, in group homes settings, working in shelters and completed a student placement, in the role of a Correctional Officer, with Niagara Detention Centre. Julie worked for many years with Family and Children Services of Niagara.

During her years working with FACS, she gained a passion for this work and returned to school to complete her BA in Social Development Studies, her Bachelor of Social Work Degree and graduated with her Masters of Social Work, in 2018. Julie has worked with Community Addiction Services of Niagara, and works in a relief position as a Mental Health Counsellor with CMHA Niagara’s, Urgent Support Services Program. Just over five years ago, she began working with Niagara Region Mental Health as a Social Worker, in a pilot program, within the shelter system. Julie is currently the Social Worker with Niagara Region Mental Health’s, Assertive Community Treatment Team. In her spare time, Julie loves to travel, spend time near water, further her skills and enjoy outings with friends and family.

Maggie is a life long resident of Niagara.  Having completed her Bachelors of Arts major in Women’s Studies at the University of Guelph, her Masters of Arts in Women’s Studies and Feminist Research, and her Juris Doctorate at the University of Ottawa, Maggie returned home to be close to family.  Maggie articled at O’Connor MacLeod Hanna LLP in Oakville, Ontario, and worked there after her call to the Bar in 2015.  Her practice focused on civil litigation and small claims court at that time.  Maggie then obtained a position at Martens Lingard LLP in St. Catharines, and began work in family law and child protection.  She found she had an interest and passion in child protection law, serving marginalized communities and being a strong advocate for them.  Currently, Maggie is in house counsel for FACS Niagara.  Maggie is passionate about assisting and advocating for marginalized communities, 2LGBTQIA+ rights and access to health care, and harm reduction models.  She hopes she can make a positive change in our community.

Nichole L’Hirondelle is a decendant of the Michel Nation in Treaty 6 but was born and raised in rural Niagara. Graduating from Canadore College in 2015 with a Mental Health and Addictions Diploma, Nichole has worked in the community with indigenous children and youth for the last decade. Nichole recently started working as a National Support Coordinator for Indigenous literacy programs in 80 different communities across Canada.

Nichole also works with Responsible Gambling Council at a PlaySmart Centre as a Service Coordinator in Niagara. She works at different Bingo halls and casinos to educate individuals on responsible gambling and gambling addiction.

Nichole is committed to improving accessibility to services within Niagara and giving a voice to those who might not be otherwise heard.

Adelle is an Indigenous, bilingual (French/English) Registered Social Worker with extensive experience across clinical and community settings. She has worked in community mental health, disability services, corrections, and immigration services, always centering her practice on person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approaches, particularly for equity-deserving communities.

Adelle holds a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Brock University, and is completing her Master of Social Work at the University of Windsor.

Her passion for serving on our Board of Directors is deeply personal. Shaped by her lived experience of losing her father to a drug overdose, Adelle is committed to destigmatizing harm reduction services and addressing the systemic barriers that limit access to care.

Mohammad is an epidemiologist whose research focuses on understanding and reducing substance-related harms in Canada and the United States. His work has examined the impacts of substance use at both the federal level and among vulnerable populations.

Having lost several family members and friends to substance use, Mohammad is committed to applying his expertise to reduce harms and improve health outcomes in his community in Niagara.

Narongsak (Tek) Thongpapanl is leading scholar in digital and technological innovation, strategice management and marketing strategy, and international entrepeneurship. His research explores how firms and consumers navigate the challenges of new product development, technology adoptions, e-/m-commerce engagement, and innovation management, with particular attention to value creation, value alignment, and the integration of marketing and technology competencies in dynamic global environments.

A resident of the Niagara Region since 2005, Tek has contributed locally to the business and management community through research, mentorship and industry engagement. Internationally, his collaborations across North America, Europe and Asia reflect a longstanding commitment to advancing research and education worldwide. Through visiting scholar roles at prominent universities and sustained partnerships with industry over the past two decades, he continues to support academic-industry collaboration and help shape the next generation of business thinkers, researchers, leaders and administrators.