Tom Spence

Chair

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Tom has served on the Board of Management of The 519 since 2018 and is currently Vice-Chair of the Board. Tom holds a Master’s Degree in History from McMaster University and currently works in the Division of People Strategy, Equity, and Culture at the University of Toronto in communications, event management and engagement and supports the University’s Institutional Equity Offices. He was a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Premier of Ontario under Kathleen Wynne, and he has worked as a Senior Tour Lead on two provincial campaigns for the Ontario Liberal Party and as Director of Tour in the 2023 Toronto Mayoral Election.

Tom has called Toronto home for 15 years and has consistently volunteered in leadership roles across 2SLGBTQ+ communities. He has served as a volunteer co-lead at Pride Toronto in multiple roles over many festivals and on the Board of Directors for Forte – Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus. He has frequently participated in the annual Friends For Life Bike Rally and the Pride & Remembrance Run and he plays dodgeball in multiple leagues and is a member of Toronto Frontrunners. A proud former member of the Canadian Forces-Army Reserve, Tom resides in the Church & Wellesley Village with his husband, Mith.

Zoe Robinson

Vice-Chair

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Zoe Robinson has a CPA, CMA accreditation and is the Director of Corporate Services at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. She worked in amateur sport for most of her 30-year career as an executive with a national sports organization. Zoe has served on multiple boards of directors over her career most recently with the Canadian Mental Health Organization – Vancouver/Fraser Branch, Parachute Canada, and The Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Services Agencies of BC (AMSSA). Zoe has spoken publicly in the amateur sport community about her transition after she came out at 54 years of age in November 2018. She lives in East York, runs, reads historical fiction and business strategy, enjoys Taylor Swift, and has two adult children.

Erika Voaklander

Secretary

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Erika Voaklander is a lawyer at an Aboriginal law firm in Toronto, where she focuses on the negotiation and implementation of modern treaties and governance agreements. She grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and is a descendant of the Swain and Gunn Métis families who relocated to the Sioux Lookout area from Red River.

Erika received her JD and a Certificate in Aboriginal Legal Studies from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. At law school, Erika was Co-President of the Indigenous Law Students’ Association and Out in Law. She received the Dean’s Leadership Award and the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award for her contributions to student life at the faculty. Prior to law school, Erika earned a BSc in Mathematics with an embedded Certificate in Indigenous Governance from the University of Alberta. During and after law school, she worked at a leading national law firm in Toronto where she completed her articles.

In her free time, Erika enjoys playing tennis and ultimate frisbee, working on her beadwork skills, and visiting Toronto parks with her dog Gus.

Vanshika Dhawan

Treasurer

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Vanshika  is a lawyer who represents survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault, often against institutional defendants. She is passionate about helping people better understand and navigate the legal system. Vanshika earned her JD from the University of Toronto.

While at law school, Vanshika volunteered with Advocates for Injured Workers and helped to provide legal support for clients in need. Vanshika also holds a Bachelor of Medical Sciences, in which she studied the neurobiology of trauma, and a Master’s in Professional Communications, in which she researched sexual assault and survivor discourses in the Canadian criminal justice system.

In her spare time, Vanshika enjoys writing, reading fiction novels, going to the theatre, and being by the ocean.

Brett House

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Brett House is Professor of Professional Practice in economics at Columbia Business School and a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum, the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and Massey College. He lives in Regent Park/Cabbagetown with his partner.

Previously, Brett was Deputy Chief Economist at Scotiabank, Chief Economist at Alignvest, and Global Strategist at Woodbine Capital Advisors. Brett also served as an economist at the IMF, UN, and World Bank. He currently sits on the boards and board committees of The 519, the Canadian Association for Business Economics (CABE), Pearson College, Massey College, and the Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation. Brett received the 2014 Québec Notable Award in Finance, the 2015 Good Citizen Award from his hometown of Lincoln, Ontario, and the 2018 Professional Leader Award from Start Proud. Brett was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (Davos) and one of 100 top global LGBT+ executives by INvolve & Yahoo Finance.

Brett is also a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and holds the ICD.D designation from Canada’s Institute of Corporate Directors. Brett’s analysis appears regularly in the Globe & Mail and Financial Post, while his segment “Dollars & Sense” is featured weekly on Toronto’s NewsTalk 1010 radio station.

Juan Camilo Rendon Ocampo

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Juan Camilo Rendon Ocampo is Manager, Social Impact, North America at Intact Financial Corporation. In his role, he leads the development and implementation of the company’s social impact strategy. Prior to Intact, Juan Camilo was an engagement officer and analyst for the Government of Canada where he supported enterprise-wide transformational initiatives with the Canada School of Public Service and the Department of Public Services and Procurement Canada. Juan Camilo is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is actively involved in raising awareness and promoting efforts of inclusion at the workplace and in the community. He was selected to join Civic Action’s DiverseCity Fellows Program (2019). He holds a Masters of Arts in sociology and a Bachelor’s Degree (Joint Honours) in communications and sociology from the University of Ottawa.

Natalie Miller

Member of the Board

Pronouns: She/Her

Bio

Natalie is an articling student at a law firm in Toronto, where she works on corporate transactions with a focus on fund formation and mergers and acquisitions. Natalie received her JD from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. At law school, Natalie was Co-President of Out in Law, a Pro Bono Students Canada Volunteer, and a researcher with the International Human Rights Program. Outside of school, Natalie worked as a caseworker at Downtown Legal Services and as an analyst in the community legal services division of Legal Aid Ontario. Prior to law school, Natalie earned an HBA from Ivey Business School.

Aaron Hewitt

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Aaron Hewitt is the Senior Administrator for the Strategy department of Rainbow Railroad, working to advocate for and engage with key stakeholders around the issues of LGBTQ+ forced displacement around the world. Aaron is formerly a front line healthcare worker with decades of experience working with community members and non-profit organizations on key issues. Aaron also serves on the Board of Directors at Family Service Toronto and is excited about the connection and allyship of these two amazing organizations. Aaron is currently completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Administration with a Project Management certification from Toronto Metropolitan University. Aaron is deeply committed to Equity and Justice work and seeks to provide his lived experience as a Black, queer man to the spaces he works and lives in.

Dennis Yu

Member

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Dennis Yu is a consultant with the global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder. Prior to joining Egon Zehnder, Dennis held multiple leadership and executive advisory roles, where he worked with leaders on strategy and planning processes, cross-functional alignment, and culture and team-building. At Chime Financial, Dennis was the VP of Program Management and Country Manager, where he helped scale the company’s team and culture through 20x growth. Prior to Chime, Dennis was the Chief of Staff at Betterment, worked for the President & CEO of Bloomberg LP, and was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. Originally from Houston, Dennis earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, Dennis is passionate about 2SLGBTQI+ causes and testing new cooking techniques. He lives in Toronto with his husband and corgi.

Victor Huynh

Member

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Victor Huynh is a registered social worker and passionate mental health professional with a focus on supporting marginalized communities, especially 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and refugees. With experience at Access Alliance and Sherbourne Health Center, Victor has helped newcomers, refugees, and immigrants navigate the challenges of resettlement and integration through case management and mental health therapy. As Co-Executive Director of Regent Park OUTLOUD, Victor drives initiatives to foster social inclusion and cohesion within 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Regent Park. His dedication to mental health led to the creation of a community therapy practice clinic for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees, offering trauma-informed care through the Interim Federal Health Program. This clinic has grown to include eight practitioners serving diverse communities across Ontario. Through all his roles, Victor is committed to advocating for equitable access to services, empowering communities, and promoting social justice. Outside of work, Victor loves spending time with his dog, Pah, who is the ultimate nap enthusiast and a champion at stealing the coziest spots on the couch.

Jaris Swidrovich

Member of the Board

Pronouns: He/They

Bio

Jaris Swidrovich is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. He is a queer, Two Spirit, disabled, Saulteaux, and Ukrainian pharmacist from Yellow Quill First Nation.

Jaris is the first and only Indigenous faculty member in pharmacy in North America. Their mother was a 60s Scoop Survivor, and both their grandmother and great-grandmother were residential school survivors. They received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan and a postbaccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto. Their primary areas of research and practice include pain, HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, 2SLGBTQ+ health, and Indigenous health.

Jaris is also a PhD Candidate in Education at the University of Saskatchewan, where he is studying Indigenous Peoples’ experiences with pharmacy education in Canada. Heh recently founded and is the chair of the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada, which is the first national organization for Indigenous pharmacy professionals in the world. He has been recognized with several awards and honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to the community and the National Patient Care Achievement Award from the Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Chris Moise

City Councillor, Ward 13

Pronouns: He/Him

Bio

Chris Moise (he/him) was elected the City Councillor for Ward 13 – Toronto Centre on October 24, 2022. Chris is the first Black and openly gay Toronto City Councillor, and chairs the 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, and the Board of Health. Chris has spent over two decades living and working throughout communities in Ward 13 and is committed to improving safety, transit, housing affordability and social services while fostering equity, fairness and inclusion in all aspects of city life.

Chris has a depth of knowledge about how social services and education can make the most powerful impacts in peoples’ lives and he is committed to ensuring positive outcomes for everyone in his communities. Chris has served as a Toronto District School Board Trustee for six years and an addictions counsellor at St. Michael’s Hospital for 22 years, he brings his lived experiences and considers the impact on the most vulnerable members of the community. Chris is honoured to have been elected to serve Toronto Centre and he is committed to making Toronto more liveable.

Contact Chris Moise