Board of Directors

Mary Desjardins-Therrien

CHAIR

Mary is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and marketing leader with expertise in designing innovative strategies that drive brand consideration, employee engagement and social impact. Most recently, Mary was the AVP of Corporate Citizenship & Sponsorship at Manulife where she was responsible for global strategies guiding community investment, sponsorship and sustainability. Previously, Mary was the Executive Director of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and oversaw corporate environmental donations and sponsorships for TD Bank Group. She has also held several senior marketing positions with companies in Canada and the U.S. Mary graduated from the Western University with a B.A. in English Literature and subsequently received her M.B.A. from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She grew up in a family bookstore in Trenton, Ontario where she developed her lifelong love of books and reading.

Sujin Son

TREASURER

Sujin is a finance leader with experience in corporate strategy and investment management, partnering with executives to drive next level performance goals and investment returns. She is currently responsible for prioritizing and optimizing $3 billion in annual infrastructure and product development investments as a member of the corporate capital investments team at TELUS. She has been recognized as an innovative leader and courageous trailblazer. Previously, she has held senior roles in management consulting and capital markets. Sujin has a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from Queen’s University, and is a CFA Charterholder. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking various keto recipes, plotting her next surfing adventure, and weightlifting whilst listening to her favourite audiobooks.

Ceta Ramkhalawansingh

Director

Ceta Ramkhalawansingh is a feminist city builder and community activist, a specialist on community engagement and diversity management, an experienced board/committee member in the non-profit and institutional sectors, a university lecturer and has served on several government boards and committees. During Canada’s Centennial year, Ceta’s family moved from Trinidad and Tobago and settled in Toronto, completed high school and attended the University of Toronto. She worked to establish the Women and Gender Studies program at the University of Toronto. Ceta serves and has served on several non-profit boards. Presently, she is the National Chair, The Word On The Street Canada, President, LEARNXS Foundation; Chair, Harold Innis Foundation; and Honorary President, Grange Community Association. Ceta is a board member of the Toronto Foundation, Diaspora Dialogues and the Grange Park Community Council. While serving on Toronto City Council, she initiated the establishment of the Toronto Book Garden. Ceta’s contributions have been recognised through numerous awards.

The Board

As a registered charity and a national arts service organization, Diaspora Dialogues is governed by a dedicated volunteer board of directors.