National Ethnocultural Advisory Committee members

Elizabeth is a founding member and former Executive Director of the Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association (CANSA). Since retiring in 2022, she has remained actively involved in community development, cultural awareness and heritage preservation within Amherst, Nova Scotia’s historic Black community. 

Elizabeth brings more than 30 years of experience across municipal, provincial and federal government. She began her career with the Nova Scotia Cabinet Office in Halifax and spent two decades in federal service. Elizabeth led CANSA’s expansion through new programming and partnerships. A lifelong learner with over 25 years of volunteering, she holds credentials in adult education, Afrocentric counselling, business, and career practice, and has received multiple awards, including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Renée is a multidisciplinary professional whose work is grounded in compassion, intentionality, and connection. With a strong foundation in criminal justice, she brings a holistic, justice‑oriented approach to law, governance, and community well-being, supporting individuals and organizations in navigating complex systems with clarity and accountability. She is affiliated with the Schulich School of Law through the Indigenous, Black, and Mi’kmaq (IB&M) Initiative, where her commitment to equity, advocacy, and community engagement shapes her legal perspective. 

Renée is developing a corporate law practice focused on supporting small businesses and nonprofits, applying a critical lens to governance and institutional decision‑making. Her professional experience includes executive support, program design, policy development, and risk mitigation, alongside community‑based work in women’s health services. She also serves on advisory committees with Halifax Regional Municipality and Correctional Service of Canada, advancing equity‑ and justice‑informed change.

Active in the field of entrepreneurship since 1998, Anissa specializes in business support and financing, while coaching numerous leaders in the private sector and the social economy. In addition to being Regional Chair of the REAC, she has served on a number of expert committees, including CSC’s CORCAN Advisory Board, to promote cultural diversity, implement policies fostering inclusion, and contribute to the development of intercultural education strategies. Anissa also specializes in gender approaches and as a trainer in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Anissa firmly believes in the principle of second chances by supporting CSC in initiatives designed to promote the reintegration of incarcerated ethnocultural individuals into the community. Whether it's integrating into the workforce or launching an entrepreneurial venture, she advocates for a continuum of services designed to support each individual. She has created entrepreneurship awareness workshops that she has led in various institutions across Quebec.

With over 30 years of experience, Hubert M. Makwanda supports leaders and organizations in their strategic and human transformations, in Canada and internationally. Founder of Concilium Capital Humain, he is an executive coach, trainer, and speaker recognized for his discernment, wisdom, and skills in the fields of transformational leadership and change management.

Holding a master's degree in andragogy and graduate studies in international administration from HEC Montreal, Hubert has been working since 2012 with the École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP) as an expert, trainer, and coach for middle and senior managers in the Quebec public service, and as a speaker at the École des dirigeants at HEC Montreal. In addition, Hubert is a director on the board of directors of the Fondation du collège Montmorency de Laval and is a member of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés du Québec.

He joined the REAC because he believes in social reintegration and wants to contribute to the development of more inclusive workplaces.

Sophia began her career in the criminal justice system working with young offenders and women, and is currently the executive director at the Black Community Action Network (BCAN) of Peel. She works to advance an equity agenda to address gaps in services for marginalized people, by building connections between:

• ethnocultural communities
• non-profit agencies
• governments, and
• other stakeholders

Sophia has been at the forefront of community-led efforts to promote equity for African Canadians and other racialized groups. This has included leading the launch of a transformative, multi-sectoral system change initiative in Peel region to address racial disproportionalities in the child welfare system. She serves as chair of the Ontario REAC, which advises the Ontario deputy commissioner and the commissioner of CSC on issues affecting ethnocultural offenders.

Dr. Leo Gilling is a criminologist, educator, and public policy advisor whose work connects academic research, community engagement, and philanthropy across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. He serves as Chairman of the Caribbean Institute of Criminology & Criminal Justice (CICCJ), where he leads initiatives focused on violence prevention, youth development, education reform, and community resilience.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gilling has collaborated with diaspora organizations, educational institutions, and public-sector partners to mobilize resources, strengthen governance practices, and translate evidence into practical, community‑focused interventions aimed at reducing social inequities. His work is grounded in principles of accountability, cross‑sector collaboration, and the strategic use of data to inform policy development and enhance philanthropic impact.

Ange has been a NEAC member since 2018. He has over 25 years of management, research and development experience in five high-tech companies and provincial Crown corporations. He is president of AnKAD Consulting Inc., a consulting firm that provides services to government agencies, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized businesses in the development and commercialization of technologies in the life sciences sector, and overseas market access.

Ange has served as director of Industry Programs with Alberta Ingenuity Fund and Alberta Innovates Technology Future for seven years. In this role, he has a proven track record of managing more than $35 million funds of industrial research grant programs. He has also served on a number of steering committees and management advisory boards. He is currently the board chair of the Center of Well-being and Prevention for African-Canadians from Alberta.

Sinela is Prairie REAC Vice-Chair. She is the Diversity Education Coordinator with Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. Sinela also serves as a consultant for developing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies and educational programs for many organizations in Calgary and Southern Alberta. She holds a PhD in Adult Learning and MA in Communication and Culture from University of Calgary. Her areas of specialization include transcultural transformative learning, anti-racism education, ethnocultural studies. Sinela has published in academic journals, presented numerous sessions about cultural competency, and has participated in international academic conferences related to the topics above. Passionate about her work and academic interests, Sinela has been involved in many non-profit organizations, advisory committees, local and international community initiatives and research projects related to community development, immigrant integration and inclusion.

Patricia Woroch, Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia's Chief Executive Officer, brings over 30 years of senior-level experience leading social service organizations. She has led organizations in diverse sectors including:

• legal services
• victim/witness services
• health care
• community services, and
• children services

Over the years, Patricia has been a pro-active supporter of disenfranchised clients and has been instrumental in the implementation and development of new programs and services throughout the province. She serves on numerous boards and committees, including:

• Mayor's Working Group on Immigration
• Tenants Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC)
• Immigrant Integration Coordinating Committee, and
• Pacific REAC as co-chair

Sherman is the director of Family and Settlement Services at MOSAIC and co-chair of the Pacific REAC. He has a Masters of Science in Applied Social Studies Degree from the United Kingdom, and is a registered social worker. Sherman has worked in the field of social service for more than thirty years in:

• Canada
• Hong Kong
• the USA, and
• Britain

Sherman has extensive experience playing a leadership role in immigration matters in Canada. He has been a member of the executive and treasurer of the Canadian Council for Refugees and a member of the National Settlement Council. Additionally, Sherman has served as a member of the Transit Police Chief's Community Council, and as a director of the Board of the Pro Bono Law BC, and Board of Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies (AMSSA) of BC.