Leadership Team
Gladys Ahovi
President & CEO
Gladys Ahovi is an award-winning workforce strategist, organizational development professional, community development leader and master connector who thrives leading complex change processes.
A Ghana-born Canadian who understood at a young age that investing in Black youth in underserved communities was the key to unlocking the vast potential of Black excellence in Canada.
Her career spans over 20 years of service to the community, cementing her well-deserved reputation as a trusted and reliable partner and leader in the social service sector. Since 2001, she has held senior positions with key non-profits across the city, including YMCA of Greater Toronto, WoodGreen Community Services, Community Economic Development for Toronto Community Housing, First Work: Ontario’s Youth Employment Network. Community involvement is at the very core of her values.
Finally, she joined FFBC in October 2022 as President and CEO bringing her considerable vision and innovation to the Foundation and putting her at the forefront of Black female leadership in Canada. With her extensive experience, impressive people skills and savvy networking abilities, she is poised to make this groundbreaking and unique organization reach new heights.
A Ghana-born Canadian who understood at a young age that investing in Black youth in underserved communities was the key to unlocking the vast potential of Black excellence in Canada.
Her career spans over 20 years of service to the community, cementing her well-deserved reputation as a trusted and reliable partner and leader in the social service sector. Since 2001, she has held senior positions with key non-profits across the city, including YMCA of Greater Toronto, WoodGreen Community Services, Community Economic Development for Toronto Community Housing, First Work: Ontario’s Youth Employment Network. Community involvement is at the very core of her values.
Finally, she joined FFBC in October 2022 as President and CEO bringing her considerable vision and innovation to the Foundation and putting her at the forefront of Black female leadership in Canada. With her extensive experience, impressive people skills and savvy networking abilities, she is poised to make this groundbreaking and unique organization reach new heights.
Jennie Hall
Executive Administrator
Jennie has worked with Toronto-based non-profit agencies specializing in providing culturally sensitive services to immigrant and refugee women children/youth impacted by domestic violence. She has coordinated and implemented provincially funded social service programs targeting women and children, including Women in Conflict with the law. Her key areas of expertise are program coordination and implementation, advocacy, outreach, communications, counselling, case management, group facilitation and government and community liaison/referral.
Winy Bernard
Director of Communications & Marketing
Winy Bernard, a creative multi-hyphenate who focuses on the intersectionality between diversity, culture and tech. Winy’s fluency in English, French and Haitian Creole has allowed her to gain a keen understanding of cultural nuances and challenges. She has in-depth knowledge of Canada’s Francophone minorities, especially in a linguistic minority setting. Her areas of expertise are digital marketing, connecting individuals and organizations and strategic communications. She has developed a particular affinity with working with startups. She’s been a regular contributor to CBC Radio and the host and executive producer of the Ice Podcast, which profiles leading innovators, creators and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities worldwide.
Ngozi Enyi, CPA, CMA
Director of Finance
Ngozi Enyi is a certified accountant (CPA, CMA) with 15 years of finance and management accounting experience across a broad range of industries, with a focus on non-profits and charities. She started her accounting career with a large general contractor, where she led and managed all operational accounting aspects of a multi-year, $560
Million project. Since moving into private practice, she has supported many companies and organizations in establishing, maintaining, and expanding their accounting structures through all growth phases.
Raised in and by the Nigerian community in Calgary, Ngozi has learned firsthand the power and necessity of community-led initiatives. Her work is grounded in a commitment to service, accountability, and belief in the abundance available through collaboration and meaningful support.
Ngozi joined FFBC in 2021, and operational excellence has been her focus. Through responsible, transparent, and diligent management of financial resources, Ngozi and the finance team ensure FFBC’s financial activities align with strategy and deliverables get to stakeholders.
Raised in and by the Nigerian community in Calgary, Ngozi has learned firsthand the power and necessity of community-led initiatives. Her work is grounded in a commitment to service, accountability, and belief in the abundance available through collaboration and meaningful support.
Ngozi joined FFBC in 2021, and operational excellence has been her focus. Through responsible, transparent, and diligent management of financial resources, Ngozi and the finance team ensure FFBC’s financial activities align with strategy and deliverables get to stakeholders.
Board of Directors
Liban Abokor
Liban is a non-profit executive and a fellow at Carleton University's School of Public Policy.
Abdi Aidid
Abdi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law where he researches and teaches in the areas of civil procedure, torts, and law & technology. Professor Aidid is a Faculty Affiliate at the Centre for Ethics and a member of the Ethics of AI Lab.
Djaka Blais-Amare
Djaka brings over 18 years of experience in philanthropy, government and community mobilizing. Djaka is also a board member of Philanthropic Foundations Canada and a Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue fellow at Simon Fraser University.
Francis Boakye
Dr. Boakye is the Executive Director of Action Dignity Society in Calgary. He currently instructs at the University of Calgary's Social Work Faculty and was the Calgary research coordinator for a national study on racism, violence, and Black men's Health.
Judith Bosire
An economist, Judith provides research, analysis and strategic advice to governments, private sector and Indigenous communities on policy, and socio-economic development. Judith works at the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Alex Coleman
Alex is the Chief Information Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Children, Youth and Social Services Information & Information Technology Cluster. He is a technology and business executive with over 25 years of strategic leadership experience.
Rebecca Darwent
Rebecca is a social entrepreneur and philanthropic advisor on a mission to activate philanthropy for good. She is Vice President of Laidlaw Foundation, a Women Leaders for the World fellow and a Canada Millennium laureate.
Elizenda Jean-Claude
Elizenda is a strategic leadership, communication, business transformation, change management and human resources advisor.
Marlene Jennings
A former Member of Parliament and lawyer, she is the first Black Quebecer to be elected to the Canadian Parliament. Marlene is well-regarded as a conciliator and mediator, as well as for her expertise in governance and ethics.
Shad Kabango
Shad is an acclaimed and award winning Rwandan-Canadian recording artist. In addition to his work as an artist, Shad has hosted CBC Radio One's "q" and Netflix's Emmy and Peabody Award-winning docuseries Hip-Hop Evolution.
Tisha King
Dr. King is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA). She enjoys learning about why taxpayers make the decisions they make, and how they rationalize ethical judgments.
Sylvia Parris-Drummond
Sylvia is President of SVPARRIS CONSULTING and the CEO of the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute. Her work in education, strategic facilitation and the community is rooted in core Afrocentric principles.
Kimahli Powell, LL.D.
Kimahli is a longtime advocate for social justice, having spent over 20 years advancing the rights of youth, the African/Caribbean/Black community, people living and affected by HIV, and the LGBTQI+ community. Currently the Executive Director of Rainbow Railroad, he’s also the 2019 recipient of the Steinert & Ferreiro Award and was listed in Out Magazine’s Out 100 profile of influential LGBT people.
Joseph Smith Jr
Dr. Smith is an award-winning educator who's currently a high school vice principal, co-founder and Executive Director of Generation Chosen. A passionate volunteer, Dr. Smith is also a board member of Operation Black Vote Canada.
Nomusa Taylor-Dube
Nomusa is the Global Food Advisor at The Rockefeller Foundation and has extensive experience in strategy, partnership development & resource mobilizing in the philanthropic, private and public sectors across North America & Africa.
Advisory Committees
Governance Advisory Committee
Community Engagement Committee
Fund Development & Partnerships Committee
Investment AdvisoryCommittee
Grantmaking Advisory Committee
Government Relations Advisory Committee