Board of Directors

University Settlement is governed by its Board of Directors, a diverse group of community leaders and senior volunteers who provide vision, strategic leadership, advocacy, accountability, and stewardship.

Board of Directors

Dedicated to Our Mission of Helping Individuals and Families Learn and Grow

University Settlement is governed by its Board of Directors, a diverse group of community leaders and senior volunteers who provide vision, strategic leadership, advocacy, accountability, and stewardship.

Board of Directors

Chair

Hannah Riordan, Board Chair

Board Chair Hannah Riordan is the Manager of Programs at the C.D. Howe Institute. She stays informed on trends in Canadian public policy and provides strategic direction for the Institute’s policy initiatives (events, Policy Councils, Task Forces, Working Groups). She is passionate about sports equity and using recreational activities as a medium in building healthy communities. Hannah has been a member of University Settlement since 2017 and works to leverage her professional experience to give back to the community.

Vice Chair

Mark Haan, Vice Chair

Mark Haan is a passionate leader who loves to create and execute strategies that make a positive impact on people and organizations. He has over 25 years of experience in managing and collaborating with various stakeholders, such as CEOs, boards, community groups, media, and government. He is the Executive Director of the Canadian National Migration & Naturalization Association. He is an optimist and quite flexible in different capacities with operations as a strong suit.

Secretary

Jeffrey Zhu

Jeff Zhu has been a lifelong member of University Settlement from participating and volunteering across afterschool, recreation, and Music and Arts programs. He has experience in nonprofit governance. fundraising, and strategic planning. His prior experience includes volunteering as governance chair of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association, leading the Waterloo Engineering Endowment Foundation, and organizing Hack the North. Jeff is eager to contribute to the community in a new way!

Treasurer

Michelle Lin

Michelle Lin is a highly motivated and driven Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and Certified Public Accountant (US Vermont). She is currently enrolled in the UofT Rotman’s Executive MBA program, graduating in 2024. A first-generation immigrant, currently serving as the Executive Director for Finance Transformation at KPMG Canada and seeking to apply her skills and experience to help immigrants succeed in Canada.

Members

Dariusz Szypula, Board Member

With over 15 years of international experience in the financial industry, Dariusz has a strong record of risk management, strategy execution, and operational improvement. In addition to setting up a subsidiary for Bibby Financial Services in Warsaw, he has held leadership positions at RBS Bank in London (UK) and an investment firm in Toronto. Dariusz currently manages counterparty and market risk at Scotiabank. He holds MBA from Rotman School of Management in Toronto. Dariusz enjoys dancing and hiking, including great memories from climbing Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu.

John Amardeil, Board Member

John brings extensive experience in the new home industry, having founded a digital marketing agency and held senior roles at Mattamy Homes and Tribute Communities. He chaired Enerquality Corp.’s Audit Committee for 10 years and served as interim CEO in 2021. Since 2020, John has focused on residential land development and contributes actively to Muskoka’s District Housing Task Force and Attainable Housing Committee. As the proud son of immigrants, he advocates for immigration as crucial to Canada’s success. John holds a BA from Queen’s University and an MBA from York University’s Schulich Business School.

Mark Van Ginkel, Board Member

Mark is a lawyer at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP, a management-side labour and employment law firm based in Toronto. Mark has an undergraduate degree in sociology and economics from the University of British Columbia and a law degree from Western University. Mark has a range of experience advising and acting for clients in both the public and private sectors, including on issues relating to collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, civil litigation, human rights and privacy. Currently, Mark lives just steps away from the University Settlement office at 23 Grange Road and is an active member of the community.

Myriam Gafarou, Board Member

Myriam is an Associate Partner with Ernst and Young. Prior to rejoining Ernst and Young, she was a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She focuses on providing corporate clients with cost optimization solutions around their third parties. Myriam is a strong supporter of community services and has volunteered with many organizations over the years. Whether at work or in the community, she believes in the power of teaming and thinking outside the box. Myriam holds a joint honors B.A. in economics and finance from McGill University and a Master in construction finance from Cornell University.

Sagun Vaidya, Board Member

Sagun Vaidya is a senior manager with MNP accounting advisory services team. With a vast expertise in accounting, financial reporting, and governance, Sagun is a highly accomplished professional and a member of Chartered Professional Accountants in Canada and Certified Public Accountant in the United States. Sagun is a collaborative and influential leader and has a proven ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders, including executives, and stakeholders while fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within organizations.

Andrew Massey, Board Member

Andrew Massey, a Grange Park resident, is an editor and writer with expertise in East Asian studies from U of T. He participated in the JET programme, teaching English in Japan. Active in the JET Alumni Association of Toronto, he held various roles like Treasurer and Canada Representative at local and international level. Specializing in strategic communications and fundraising, he aims to enhance University Settlement’s afterschool program and rejuvenate fundraising efforts through targeted campaigns and local events. He has been a member since his son started Day Care in 2020.

Ripudaman Jagayat, Board Member

Ripudaman Jagayat is an experienced legal, risk and compliance leader. He has helped to launch new financial services at multiple institutions by building and maturing their regulatory compliance and operational risk management functions. He has a history of engaging with community groups and helping vulnerable peoples through his experiences at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, legal clinics, mentorship programs, and college programs.

Sherry McLean, Board Member

Sherry holds an MBA in Investment Management and brings over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. With solid board governance expertise and non-profit board experience, she has developed strong skills in strategy development and fundraising. Her family has long been supporters of University Settlement and truly love the sense of community it fosters. She will be actively contributing to financial oversight, strategic planning, and bringing additional funding to support and enhance our programs.

Sonya Gulati, Board Member

Sonya Gulati, a partner at KPMG Canada, specializes in economic modeling, public sector transformation, and corporate strategy. She has experience in the public sector at federal and provincial levels, the financial sector, and as a payment systems regulator. Sonya has led large-scale cost optimization and transformation projects. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and McMaster University and is a certified Management Consultant and Prosci certified in change management.

Advisor

Andrew Lam, Board Advisor

Completed three consecutive terms as a director – seven years as Board Secretary. Led the efforts to revise the By-law, develop the strategic plan and policy framework, and policy reviews. Retired Canadian diplomat, M.Sc. and MBA. Board director of various organizations, including the Counterpoint Community Orchestra and Toronto Choral Society. Past Public Service manager, college and high school teacher, laboratory technician, farm worker. Trustee of Ottawa Carleton District School Board, President Chinese Community Association of Ottawa, Vice President of Ontario Public School Boards Association. A violin player in his spare time.