Previously, as Director, Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, she spent more than a decade developing partnerships, resources, and programs focused on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and belonging at the University of Toronto. She has worked collaboratively to support the annual U of T Pride Pub, Trans Day of Remembrance, and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, among many other events and initiatives. Burgess has also championed process improvements and educational initiatives that have fostered equity and inclusion across the University, including leadership on washroom accessibility, institutional name change processes for members of the University community, strategic educational events, and multiple speaker series. She is a mentor in the Rose Patten Mentorship Learning Program.

She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, a Master of Arts from Brock University, and a doctorate from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the Graduate Collaborative Program in Women and Gender Studies. Her research focused on claiming particular spaces and subjectivities through public events that contribute to discussions of queer women’s visibility, representation, and queer activism in Canada. Prior to joining the equity portfolio, she taught in Canadian Studies and Sociology at Brock University and the University of Toronto.

In 2017, Glean-Mitchell was the recipient of the Leadership in Learning Award from the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in Higher Education and in 2020, she received the Harry Jerome Diversity Award. She co-developed and is a course instructor of the Transformative Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leadership Certificate Program at Humber College. She currently serves as the Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (on leave) at the University of Toronto.

Pereira also served as Researcher, Equity, Diversity & Success in the Office of the Vice-Dean Faculty Affairs, Equity & Success at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he led pandemic-related research projects on microaggressions in student evaluations of teaching and the impacts on faculty life and work of various institutional responses to COVID-19 in the post-secondary sector. He completed his doctorate in Social Justice Education at OISE and has taught courses in the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies and York University’s Faculty of Education.

As AODA Officer, Poynton works to help members of the University community understand our legal obligations, how accessibility is broadly defined, and how we can create an institution that values disability and the changes in perspective it brings. He does this, in part, by facilitating workshops and training, providing consultation, and listening to feedback across the institution related to accessibility in all areas of the life of the University. Ben holds a Master of Laws from the University of Warwick in International Development Law and Human Rights and sat on the provincial committee establishing new AODA standards in the post-secondary sector.

These initiatives include creating Reflection Spaces to support wellness practices, such as quiet reflection, meditation, relaxation, and prayer; installing a Mamava Pod to support the needs of breast- and chest-feeding parents; and establishing regular conversation spaces for students and employees on current equity-related topics, among many others.

Baker completed her Master of Social Work at the University of British Columbia and worked with women survivors of trauma and marginalized youth prior to working in human rights services at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and York University. Personally and professionally, she is passionate about anti-oppression and decolonization, dedicated to listening and educating herself about all forms of marginalization, and works in solidarity for social justice and community wellness.

With more than 21 years in education with a focus on inclusion and the removal of systemic and instructional barriers, she continues to support organizations in building inclusive environments for all. Scobie Edwards holds a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, and a Master of Education (Educational Administrative Systems) from Brock University. She also completed the Principal’s and Supervisory Officer’s Qualification Programs from the Ontario Principal’s Council.

Amoah has worked internationally to advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights, good governance, and gender equality in Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Namibia, and as a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Trinidad. She is a graduate of McMaster University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Cape Town. She also serves as a part-time Commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and is a member of the McMaster University Research Ethics Board.

“I am excited to see how the fields of architecture and design merge with human rights frameworks to build and sustain just and equitable communities,” she says.

Together with his team, Bowden implements strategies to improve pathways for students, staff, and faculty from underrepresented communities to participate in all aspects of life at the School; enhances EDI awareness and education initiatives for the Rotman community; and collaborates with faculty to bring various facets of EDI into the curriculum and research activities. His team also works towards aligning Rotman’s equity efforts with recommendations from the University of Toronto’s task forces on anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Asian racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism.

Previously, Bowden held the position of Executive Director of the Office of the Vice President/Vice Provost, EDI at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). In that role, he provided a range of consulting services for Faculties and departments through education initiatives that addressed systemic barriers among the University’s academic and administrative functions. For 15 years, he orchestrated the Viola Desmond Day Ceremony recognizing and celebrating the success of Black women in the TMU community. Moreover, in 2018, he and his team managed the Canadian debut of the White Privilege Conference Global, a four-day event bringing together 650 delegates participating in six keynotes, 21 preconference institutes, and 65 concurrent sessions exploring challenges with privilege and oppression in Canada.

Bowden completed a Master of Education in Critical Anti-Racism Studies in Education at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 2007. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dalhousie University and an Honours Diploma in Career and Work Counselling from George Brown College.

Burke recently joined the Division of Student Life (SL) as the new Manager, EDI Initiatives, Student Life. The focus of the role will include providing strategic advice to the Division regarding EDI-related issues and supporting the progression of recommendations advocated by Student Life staff through the St. George SL-EDIA Advisory Committee Summary Report.

Dhrodia received the Jill Matus Excellence in Student Services award in 2021. She is actively involved in governance, serving on the University Affairs Board for two years, the board of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations since 2014, and the Leonard Foundation since 2020.

Douglas is particularly passionate about issues of race, gender, and culture. Douglas has several years of experience working in the field of anti-racism, anti-oppression, and equity, diversity and inclusion, including at World Vision Canada (as the organization’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist), and at the University of Toronto Mississauga (as Program Coordinator for UTM’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office).

Gardiner has led EDI strategy and policy development across the University including program design and implementation and has provided direct support and guidance to students, faculty, and staff on accessibility, anti-racism, and mental health and wellness. His work has focused on equity and inclusion as practice and human capacity building. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Education from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. He has taught in undergraduate and graduate programs and facilitated community training and learning experiences.

Gardiner served as co-chair of Queer U of T Employees (QUTE) and currently chairs the Hart House Board of Stewards. He received the 2021 Chancellor’s Distinguished Leader Award for contributions to University-wide initiatives and commitment to the University community.

Hinds previously worked as Community Engagement Lead at Ontario Health Toronto Region (formerly the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network), where he set and executed strategies to integrate the perspectives of patients, families, caregivers, and communities into all Ontario Health (Toronto) strategies and operations. In this role, he also served as the lead for Health Equity and Indigenous Engagement, working with Black and Indigenous communities, among others, to identify specific needs and achieve better service and health outcomes.

Before joining the Faculty of Law, Maxwell-Alleyne was senior counsel and equity lead at the Law Society of Ontario, where she designed strategies to address barriers faced by racialized lawyers and paralegals. She also served as the head of policy for the provincial medical association and Ontario’s retirement home regulator.

Saini has been working in the post-secondary sector for more than a decade. Prior to joining U of T, he served as the Manager, Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion with the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion at Humber College. In this role, he managed the Human Rights Program and provided strategic guidance on human rights and EDI related matters. He led the College’s Employment Equity Program and co-chaired the Equity & Inclusion Committee as well as the EDI Taskforce Access & Equity: Employees working group. Saini has also held roles with Osgoode Professional Development at Osgoode Hall Law School, OCAD University, and York University. He strongly believes in the importance of community work and engagement. Since 2008, he has had the privilege to serve on the Board of the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in Higher Education. In addition, since 2020, he has been serving as a Director on the Board of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians, and during Summer 2022 became Chair of the Board.

Saini studied at York University, where he earned two undergraduate degrees: an Honours Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education. He remained at York for his Master of Education degree, focusing on human rights, equity and inclusion, competing rights, disability and academic accommodations, policy development, inclusive pedagogy, and universal instructional design. Saini has extensive training in Alternate Dispute Resolution as well as workplace investigations focused on human rights and workplace harassment. He is also an Ontario Certified Teacher. He is committed to changing systems to advance anti-racism, equity, and inclusion and foster belonging for all.

Samuel has spent over 10 years working in community development and post-secondary settings; training, advocating, and developing culturally appropriate programming and services for marginalized youth and adult learners. Additionally, she has provided strategic planning, consultations, and training to community service providers on topics related to EDI and anti-racism.

In 2017, Singh joined LDFP as Director, Education Programs and Administrative Services. This role is central to strategic planning and process implementation for the Education Office, a central hub that oversees program development and delivery, accreditation, and program evaluation. In 2023, Singh was appointed to a second role, the inaugural Director, EDI at LDFP. She works collaboratively with academic, administrative, and student leaders to develop and implement initiatives aimed at advancing EDI within the learning and working environments across the Faculty.

In 2023, Singh was awarded the Chancellor’s Leadership Award, Emerging Leader and the Exemplary U of T Ambassador Award. She is currently completing her Master of Education in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Sterling’s extensive strategic and operational stewardship to improve the lives of Canadians was recognized by the Engineers Canada Meritorious Service Award for Community Service. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry from the University of Toronto.

Weaver is committed to being a transformative leader with a focus on education, understanding, and removing/addressing systemic barriers in the pursuit of authentic inclusion. She is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), and holds an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor School of Law, as well as a Leading Transformational Change certificate from Being First, Inc.

Weaver is thrilled to be joining the School of Continuing Studies at this time, with a focus on infusing EDI principles in everything SCS does for its learners, instructors, associations, collaborators, and partners. SCS is on an exciting journey of transformation, as it works towards implementing a new strategic plan, while striving to drive impact through upskilling and lifelong learning opportunities for individuals, communities, and organizations.