Board of Directors
Martin Ferreira Pinho
ChairPartner,
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Shamsa Jessa
Vice-ChairFaculty of Science and Technology,
Douglas College
Donna Shum
Past ChairCognitive & Analytics Delivery Lead,
IBM Canada
Aaron Cheung
TreasurerSenior Manager, Advisory Services,
Deloitte Canada
Zoe Strazza
SecretarySenior Human Resources Business Partner,
University of Fraser Valley
Shawn Miner
DirectorDirector, Operations Canada,
Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd.
Executive Director: Monika Verma
For the past 20 years, Monika has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills and a proven track record of serving our community, especially women and children. Monika served as Executive Director of SARA for Women Society, where she managed 9 facilities and 100 employees serving women and their children in need. While working as Health Director at Lookout Society, Monika established a non-profit dental clinic for the marginalized population and pioneered NARCAN training for staff and clients. As CEO of SEEDS, she established self-employment programs for Indigenous and immigrant communities. Monika has been recognized receiving many community awards including Shakti Award for leadership and empowering women, SEEDS Life Time Award, Times of Canada Social Services Award and many others.
Manager of Operations and Services: Claire Kalfon
Claire has been working in the field of Violence Against Women for 12 years. She has been with Dixon Transition Society for over 10 years working in different roles. Claire started out as a casual Women’s Support Worker and she now holds the position of Manager of Operations and Services. She feels grateful to be involved in this journey to eradicate all forms of violence against women and children. Claire has a Master’s degree in Social Work.
Transitional Housing Programs Coordinator: Allison Bota
Allison has been working with Dixon Transition Society for 6 years working in different roles. Allison started out as a casual Women’s Support Worker, then becoming Coordinator of our Second Stage program, and then Coordinator of all Transitional Housing Programs. Allison holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work and continues to work towards building up the organization, the team of staff and the women and children we serve.
Communications and Development Coordinator: Simar Saini
Simar has been working with Dixon Transition Society for 2 years, taking on various roles. She began her journey as the Inter-Community Support Coordinator, simultaneously working as a Casual Woman Support Worker. She later assumed the role of Project Coordinator for Dixon’s Equity in Education program, a three-year project aimed at exploring possible gender-based discrimination within the school system through student experiences. She now serves as the Communications and Development Coordinator and deeply appreciates the opportunity to support women and their children in fleeing domestic abuse. Simar has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies.
