Board of Directors

The Rexdale Women's Centre is governed by a dedicated and committed Board of Directors comprised of volunteers who fulfill their fiduciary duties for the good of the organization. This dedicated group of individuals manages the organization's operations through policy development and service planning. The Board of Directors also ensures organizational goals are set and met and adopts and adheres to objectives and standards for effective service delivery and fiscal management.

Their commitment ensures the future success of the organization.

Chairperson-President
Sabina Filipescu, Honours B.A.

Sabina joined the board of directors of Rexdale Women's Centre in 2015. After moving to Ontario from Romania in 1998, Sabina and her family relied heavily on critical community supports in the first phase of settlement. This experience encouraged her to pursue a career in the Government of Ontario, where she has been working since 2007 on leading the design and implementation of various programs and services to benefit people across Ontario, including seniors groups and social assistance recipients. She is passionate about helping vulnerable communities and individuals thrive, both personally and professionally. Sabina has been in the role of President of the Board at RWC since 2019.

Secretary
Florentina G. Stancu-Soare, Hons. B.A

Florentina is the Director of Public Affairs and Regulatory Standards at the Canadian Marketing Association. She manages the Canadian Marketing Code of Ethics and Standards, supporting compliance and best practice guidance, and is a regulatory lead on issues impacting the marketing profession. An experienced public affairs and communications professional, Florentina is a consensus builder with a proven track record as a public policy influencer, project manager, advocacy campaign designer, and effective volunteer and grassroots mobilizer. Florentina holds a degree from the University of Toronto.

Treasurer
Abby Lee, B.Math, MAcc, CPA

Abby is a Chartered Public Accountant with experience with charities, healthcare and non-profits. She currently works at the Ontario Hospital Association who serves 140 hospital members through thought leadership, data & analytics, and advocacy. Abby focused on empowering others through mentorship, and enriching discussion and decision making with evidence and financial insights. Abby graduated with a Bachelors in Math and Masters in Accounting, both from the University of Waterloo.

Directors

Jesica Bello, LL.M

Jessica is a seasoned legal and financial professional with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. She earned her law degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela in 2008, followed by a Master’s degree in Law at the University of Toronto in 2018. Jessica began her professional journey at the Attorney General’s Office in Venezuela, where she developed her legal expertise over an eight-year tenure. In 2014, she joined Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto, holding various senior management positions during eight years. Since 2022, Jessica has served as the Director, Business Supervisory Management at UBS Canada. Her diverse experience and academic achievements underscore her deep commitment to the fields of law and finance.

Melanie Davies, Masters in Human Resources Management

Melanie joins the Board of Directors as a Global Human Resources professional and has implemented best practice strategic HR solutions at a number of organizations to deliver business improvements and alignment with organizational objectives. Career highlights to date include the transformation and re-branding of HR functions and leading high-level teams through adopting an innovative thought-leadership approach. Melanie moved from the UK to Canada with her family in 2022 and can attest to the challenges faced by new immigrants to the country. She is really looking forward to bringing both personal and professional experience to Rexdale.

Hamdi Jimale, Honours B.A, MPP

Hamdi joined the Board of Directors in 2019. She currently is an Associate at MaRS Discovery District, focused on programs and ventures capital initiatives to support the growth and adoption of Canadian technology. She brings over 5 years of experience in policy, M&A integration, and business operations. She holds a Bachelors's degree in Forensic Psychology and a Master's in Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

Tina-Marie Nairne,
B.A.(Hons.), Canadian Immigration Consultant Certificate

Tina-Marie joined the Rexdale Women's Centre Board of Directors in November 2021.

Tina-Marie is an engaging communicator and exceptional project manager with close to 20 years of experience in fast-paced, client-focused environments. Tina-Marie's passion for supporting the success of others is reflected in her previous work of managing business development content for Sun Life Canada, national women's economic development programs at the Canadian Women's Foundation and helping foreign nationals interpret Canadian immigration policies, while managing professional services firm Williams Immigration and Business Services. During a tenure with the Government of Jamaica, Tina-Marie led the strategic promotion of policy goals developed to champion the economic growth of the Jamaican small business sector, and to improve recognition of the growing social enterprise economy.

Today, Tina-Marie plays a pivotal role in driving the DE&I commitments at Sun Life. As Communications and Programs Manager - DEI Center of Expertise, she leads a global communication strategy aligned with Sun Life DE&I 2025 objectives. Additionally, Tina-Marie manages global initiatives that span diverse DEI stakeholders and business groups, ensuring seamless execution and driving impactful outcomes in line with Sun Life's DEI mission.

Tina-Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Business Administration (Human Resources) and French Studies from Trent University and a diploma in Canadian Immigration from Humber College.

Lara Roccatani,
Hons. B.A., Fundraising & Volunteer Management Certificate

Lara joined the Rexdale Women's Centre board in 2017. She is a University of Toronto graduate with over 9 years experience in the not-for-profit sector working for a variety of NGOs including NIFC, MSF, Earth Rangers, University of Toronto, the Green Party of Canada. Lara also is a volunteer with a community group sponsoring their second family from Syria. Lara has lived in Rexdale for 28 years and has a keen interest in helping improve the opportunities available for women, and their families, living in Rexdale today.

Sheba Yusufzai, Hons. B.A

Sheba joins the Rexdale Women’s Centre with over 12 years of experience in a wide range of areas, including Immigration law, Government Relations, Project Management, Policy Development and Research, Managing Stakeholder Relations, and Political Canvassing. She has honed her expertise through her professional engagements with Canada's Federal and Provincial governments, significant non-profit organizations, and prestigious law firms in Toronto. Notably, Sheba facilitated the resettlement of thousands of refugees into Canada, including the Syrian Refugee Arrival project at Pearson International Airport, demonstrating her commitment to humanitarian causes. She has also been instrumental in advocating for governmental actions in Afghanistan as part of the Canadian Campaign for Afghan Peace in 2021. In addition to her professional work, Sheba is committed to legal research and volunteers with organizations that help newcomers integrate into their communities. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Sheba enjoys spending quality time with her family. Sheba holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree in Political Science from York University and a diploma in Canadian Immigration from Herzing College.