A dark blue heart with the words One Woman Can inside it

One woman. Infinite impact.

When one woman can access the resources and opportunities she deserves, she can pull not only herself, but others around her out of poverty and crisis. Join us and invest in women around the world.

Our team

Meet CARE Canada’s Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors!

Made up of passionate global citizens who care deeply about a more equal world for all, our leadership team provides strategic direction and oversight at CARE Canada. Their different areas of experience and expertise bring invaluable perspectives that help ensure our work around the world has a profound and lasting impact.

Our Commitment

Board of Directors’ Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion (DEBI)
Approved by the Board: 2023-12-07

At CARE Canada, we are committed to fostering a world where diversity is celebrated, equity is realized, and belonging and inclusion are embedded in all that we do.

We believe that when diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion are systemically embedded and widely practiced in CARE Canada, and everyone feels respected, included, accommodated, connected, safe and empowered to show up and thrive as their full, authentic self, our people are able to bring the skills, strength and energy needed to fully realize CARE’s mission of a world of hope, inclusion and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live in dignity and security.

As the Board of Directors, we strive to promote belonging and leverage the varied expertise, experience, and perspectives of every member of the Board to effectively achieve our Strategic Impact. Our Board comprises leaders who bring diverse perspectives, talents, lived experiences and professional expertise.

As a Board, we strive to continually grow and evolve, including how we work together, make decisions, recruit new Directors, grow our Board leadership, gather, listen and learn. We are committed to our own capacity building on DEBI, as well as ongoing reflection and review of our policies, structures and governance in order to live up to the DEBI principles to which we are committed.

Executive Leadership Team

Barbara Grantham

Barbara Grantham, CARE Canada's President and CEOPresident & CEO

Barbara Grantham joined CARE Canada in April 2020 as President and CEO.

Before joining CARE, Barbara served as President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in Vancouver, BC. She has held executive positions with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Vancouver Foundation, and had a successful consulting practice for many years.

Barbara serves on the Board of Directors of YMCA of Canada, jack.org (a national organization changing the conversation for Canada’s young people around mental health), the Humanitarian Coalition of Canada and CanWaCH. She also serves as a Mentor with the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation, working with 2022-25 Scholars, Fellows and Mentors to consider challenges and opportunities in the global economy.

In 2016, Barbara was named one of Women’s Executive Network‘s Annual Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada and in 2019, she received the AFP Lifetime Achievement Award. She holds degrees from Queen’s and Carleton Universities. Most importantly, she is the proud mom of three wonderful young adults and takes her turn at walking her family’s aging golden lab, Rosie.

Emrul Hasan

Chief Programs Officer

Emrul Hasan has spent 20 years within the social impact sector, working with both governments and development organizations across 27 countries designing, implementing and evaluating high-impact social and economic development programs. Prior to leading the Citizenship and Sustainability practice for Hill+Knowlton’s Corporate Advisory arm, Emrul held senior leadership roles—most recently as Vice President Program Effectiveness and Quality at Plan International Canada—as well as positions with Plan International Bangladesh and within the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and UNDP-UNCDF. 

Emrul is an innovative and capable leader who is deeply committed to a feminist agenda. In addition to his program expertise, he is an experienced change manager, innovator and has helped cultivate multi-sectoral partnerships and alliances for programs and policies nationally and globally. His alignment with and excitement about CARE’s mission and increasing our impact in the world is undeniable and inspiring. 

Linda Hurdle

 

A head shot of CARE Canada's Chief Operations Officer, Linda HurdleChief Operations Officer

Linda is an Ottawan francophone and a fully bilingual seasoned finance executive (CPA, CA) with over 30 years’ experience primarily in the public/quasi-public sector. In recent years, she has served as CFO at the Canadian Museum of History, ADM Corporate Services in the Department of Natural Resources, and CFO in the Conseil des Écoles Catholiques de Centre-Est. She has also spent time in senior roles in the Office of the Auditor-General of Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Agency. Through all these roles, she has overseen and managed various functions in addition to Finance, including IT and HR, has solid familiarity with Government of Canada funding frameworks and requirements, and has worked as a member of senior management teams and with Boards of Directors, Finance Committees of the Board, etc. in both large and not-so-large organizations.

Board of Directors

Susan L. MacLaurin - Chair

Chair of the Board of Directors

Susan L. MacLaurin brings close to 40 years of business experience. She recently retired as Chief Communications Officer at QuadReal Property Group. The company, based in Vancouver, manages and develops a global real estate portfolio to support institutional, multigenerational, investment objectives. Susan works within multi-dimensional teams to achieve financial and strategic results forged for longevity while promoting the culture of a dynamic organization. Susan was formerly Executive Vice President, Portfolio Management with GWL Realty Advisors.

Susan is or has been an active Board member and has a strong commitment to working on behalf of the communities and not-for-profit organizations of which she is a part. At Bryn Mawr College, where she is now a Trustee Emeritus, she was a member of the Board for more than 20 years including its Committee on Trustees and Investment Sub-Committee. Today she is a member of Board of Trustees and campaign committee of Adler University. With a virtual campus, one in Chicago and Vancouver, this school of advanced social work degree education graduates socially responsible practitioners, focused on engaging communities, and advancing social justice.

Susan holds a BA (Economics) from Bryn Mawr College, an MBA from the University of Toronto and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. She is also a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, completing the Directors Education Program in 2007.

Hon. Lisa McCormack Raitt, P.C. - Vice Chair

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Lisa raittThe Honourable Lisa McCormack Raitt is currently the Vice-Chair, Global Investment Banking at CIBC Capital Markets, having previously worked in both the public and private sectors. Ms. McCormack Raitt’s current focus is on senior client coverage and business development with clients in the energy, infrastructure and industrial sectors, which align closely with her deep expertise.

She was elected into the House of Commons in 2008, where she went on to hold three senior portfolios serving as Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Transport. Most recently, Ms. McCormack Raitt was the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada. Prior to her political career she was the President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority. Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for women’s equality and mentor for women leaders.

Ms. McCormack Raitt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Francis Xavier University and a master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Guelph. She possesses an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario bar in 1998. In 2020 Ms. McCormack Raitt was named a Woodrow Wilson Center Global Fellow of the Canada Institute.

Lisa de Wilde, C.M. - Vice Chair

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Lisa de WildeLisa de Wilde is the Bell Media Professor in Media Management in the Schulich School of Business MBA Program in Arts, Media and Entertainment Management. She served as CEO of TVO from 2005 to 2019, where she transformed the educational broadcaster from an analog operation to an innovative, fully digital leader in current affairs and education technology. She serves on the Boards of TELUS where she chairs the Governance Committee, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada where she is Vice Chair, École de danse contemporaine de Montréal and CARE Canada. She is also a former Chair of the Board of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). She is a lawyer by training who began her career at the CRTC, was a partner at a major law firm and served as President and CEO of Astral Television Networks. Lisa is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, has received honourary degrees from Ryerson University and Brandon University, holds a Bachelor of Arts and of Laws degrees from McGill University and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Eliza Casinather

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Eliza CasinatherEliza brings over 15 years of experience in strategic consulting, program delivery, digital innovation, and human resources across technology, retail banking and capital markets in leading global financial centers. She has successfully distinguished herself as a strategic and inclusive leader, trusted advisor, and transformation catalyst with a proven ability to elevate client and employee experiences, grow competitive businesses and deliver commercial value in today’s dynamic markets.

Eliza is a strong advocate and passionate supporter of advancing women and other underserved talent segments to create a more inclusive corporate landscape. She has served with Girls E-Mentorship and the Canadian Association of Urban Finance Professionals and partnered closely with Women in Capital Markets and 100 Women in Finance. In addition to her role with CARE Canada, she currently sits on the Canadian Paralympic Games Human Resources subcommittee, advises Women in Aerospace Canada, and mentors new immigrants and young women from coast to coast.

Eliza holds a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management and the University of Melbourne, Australia along with an Honors Bachelor of Science and Economics from the University of Toronto.

A global citizen and avid traveller, Eliza has lived in 5 countries and visited 70 countries spanning 6 continents. Through her travels, she witnessed firsthand CARE’s paramount humanitarian relief and international development work and strongly champions CARE Canada’s vision and purpose. When she is not travelling, she can be found spending time with her family, speaking on leadership panels and guest lecturing at universities across North America.

Marie Lynne Desrochers, ICD.D

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Marie Lynne DesrochersMarie Lynne Desrochers is an Independent Director, Strategic Advisor and Partner with Ai Outcome, a technology start-up specialized in advanced analytics. She is passionate about creating value for clients, employees and communities and shares in CARE’s vision for a world of hope, inclusion and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live in dignity and security.

Marie Lynne is a seasoned senior executive with 30 years of building and expanding businesses in retail and commercial banking in Canada and internationally at RBC Royal Bank and National Bank of Canada. She has extensive experience in building products and services, operating models and managing risks for meaningful impact.

She has served on numerous boards including Payments Canada, Swift Corporate Advisory, Canada-US Business Council, Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Québec, Armand-Frappier Foundation and United Way. She is currently Vice president of the Board of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Director and member of the international committee of Catalyste+, formerly CESO (Canadian Executive Services Overseas). She is also a volunteer advisor for Catalyste+ in Nunavut and Africa, part-time lecturer at Ecole Des Dirigeants HEC (University of Montreal) and committee lead and mentor for the Association of Women in Finance of Québec.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing and International Business from McGill University, an MBA in Finance from HEC and her ICD designation from University of Toronto (Rotman). She has been acknowledged by her peers and clients for her dynamic, forward-thinking, innovative solution-orientated approaches.

Salima Ebrahim

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Salima EbrahimAs Chief of Staff and Corporate Lead for Anti-Racism and Reconciliation, Salima is a member of the Executive Leadership Team with responsibility for several discrete areas of enterprise-wide strategy and operations, including intergovernmental relations, executive communication, system alignment including building and enhancing corporate governance structures that are strategically aligned to drive the corporate mandate, and senior level relationship management. She also leads and contributes to shaping and executing strategic projects. As the the corporate lead for anti racism and reconciliation Salima leads the high level office for anti racism which is tasked with creating an equitable organization and working towards a City that is inclusive and welcoming for staff and Edmontonians from all communities; and developing and implementing the first ever municipal response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 calls to action and being an executive sponsor of our Indigenous Framework.

Prior to Chief of Staff Salima led intergovernmental and external relations for the City of Edmonton, which she came to after leading the Banff Forum one of Canada’s preeminent public policy forums. There she led the strategic planning/implementation, donor relations, budget development and operations of the organization as Executive Director. This built upon a successful career at Deloitte where she was a leader in the Strategy & Operations group, overseeing teams and multi-million-dollar budgets, with responsibility for delivering key strategic and operational projects for public sector clients in Ontario and the United Arab Emirates.

Previously, Salima also worked for the City of Calgary and the Government of Canada in a variety of roles, in addition to being a fellow with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She has her BA from the University of Alberta and her MSc from the London School of Economics.

An active member of the community, she currently sits on the board of Pier 21, Canada’s Immigration Museum in addition to her role at CARE Canada.

Martha Harrison

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Martha HarrisonMartha Harrison is a partner in the International Trade and Investment Law, and Retail and Consumer Markets Groups in Toronto. She is also the coordinator of the firm’s advertising and marketing practice. With industry expertise spanning retail & consumer markets, power, mining, food/agriculture, oil & gas, and the technology sector, Martha acts as a trusted business advisor to clients, balancing international trade and regulatory law, from a Canadian perspective. 

Martha offers a full suite of international trade and investment services; she also routinely appears before regulators at all stages of trade disputes. As part of her advertising, marketing and regulatory practice, Martha provides proactive and pragmatic advice on product regulation in Canada.  

An experienced and sought-after member of the trade bar, Martha is focused on results-based compliance and helps clients in regulated product markets navigate both trade and regulatory business hurdles, to optimize growth opportunities inside and outside of Canada. 

Due to her unique expertise, Martha is also known in the Canadian cannabis industry as an expert on trade, advertising, marketing and regulatory issues for cannabis products, hemp, and related products. 

A former adjunct professor of international arbitration at Queen’s University and MBA sessional instructor at DeGroote School of Business, Martha regularly speaks on matters related to trade, consumer regulation and international arbitration. She was also selected by the Government of Canada to be listed on the roster of arbitrators to serve on panels established under Chapter 19 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In 2013, she was named one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 and is recognized as a leading Canadian international trade lawyer by a number of industry and peer-review directories. 

Feisal Hussain
A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Feisal HussainFeisal Hussain is the Senior Director of Innovative Finance for the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA). He leads CCA’s efforts related to unlocking finance and investment for clean cooking, including from the emerging carbon and social impact markets. 

Feisal Hussain is an institutional economist with over 30 years of international development experience, primarily on financial sector development. Prior to joining CCA, Feisal led a boutique consulting firm helping donors, philanthropic foundations and large management consultancies develop private sector development strategies and design innovation and blended finance structures. Earlier, he held key senior executive roles in UN agencies, international management consultancies and not-for-profit organizations, including as head of UKAid’s largest financial sector reform program in Bangladesh, head of the UN Capital Development Fund in Asia and the Pacific, and head of ActionAid International’s global external affairs and partnerships division. 

Amy Jarek, ICD.D

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Amy Beth JarekAmy is a builder, partner and change leader with deep experience working internationally and across cultures. In her current role as Vice President, Communications and Engagement at the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) she is responsible for transforming the way the organization involves Indigenous peoples and stakeholders in its regulatory processes and increasing awareness of its work amongst the Canadian public.

Prior to joining the CER she worked as Group Sustainability Manager at Tullow Oil Plc in London, UK and as Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Talisman Energy in Calgary, Canada. In these two positions she established pioneering approaches to community relations and corporate responsibility from the ground up by forming the diverse relationships necessary to effectively identify and manage environmental, social and political risks associated with undertaking new business activity in over twenty countries.

Amy has acted as a director of multiple non-profit organizations and holds the Institute of Corporate Directors Director designation (ICD.D), a Masters of Communications Studies degree from the University of Calgary and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada.

Cindy Karugia

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Cindy Karugia

Cindy is a committed community leader passionate about fostering inclusivity. She brings five years of experience in the banking sector. She is deeply committed to instigating positive change and contributing to global impact.

Cindy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Honours) from Nipissing University, North Bay, ON. 

As a first-generation immigrant from Kenya now residing in Canada, Cindy channels her dual cultural background into her work, striving for equity and inclusivity. She was honoured with the Philanthropy Alumni Award from Nipissing University in December 2020, recognizing her significant contributions to community improvement through generosity, dedication, and service.

Dr. Victoria Lee

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Dr. Victoria LeeDr. Victoria Lee is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operations of Fraser Health, one of five regional health authorities in British Columbia. Over 29,000 employees, 3,000 physicians and more than 6,000 volunteers provide a wide range of integrated health services to more than 1.8 million people in 20 diverse communities on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. Fraser Health operates 12 acute care hospitals as well as community-based long-term care, home health, mental health and public health services.

Dr. Victoria Lee joined Fraser Health in 2010 as a medical health officer and held progressive leadership positions prior to being appointed president and CEO in 2018. Before joining Fraser Health, she worked in collaboration with national and international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank in the areas of comparative health systems, health policy, health financing and ecohealth.

Dr. Lee also worked as a travel physician in rural communities in Chile and Brazil. Her research activities include health equity, community-based primary health systems, health performance and ecohealth.

Dr. Lee believes CARE’s compelling mandate of reducing inequities, unleashing waves of good and instituting lasting change is more important than ever, as global relations have become tenuous and redefined with increasing geopolitical risks in the past few years. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly unveiled striking strengths and vulnerabilities of the globally connected world.

Each and every decision that Dr. Lee has made in her career has been centred around her core values of justice and equity and her desire to make a significant societal impact. CARE’s proven track record in global humanitarian work and broad reach inspired her to offer her support to the Board of Directors.

Michael J. McLaughlin

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Michael McLaughlinMr. McLaughlin is an independent consultant and President of McLaughlin Performance Management Consultants Inc. Over the past ten years, he has developed and delivered Performance Audit courses in Canada (Federal and Provincial Audit Offices, and Carleton University), the Caribbean (Saint Lucia, Guyana and Belize), Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and South Africa) and Asia (Vietnam) as well as for the UNDP Internal Audit.

Mr. McLaughlin was the Deputy Auditor General of Canada when he retired from the Office of the Auditor of Canada in 2002. He held the position of Deputy Auditor General of Canada from 1997 to 2002, where he was responsible for the overall management of the Office including Audit Operations, and was the Senior Financial Officer.

Mr. McLaughlin began his career in 1971 working as a Management Analyst for Veterans Affairs. In 1973, he joined Canada Post where he advanced to the position of Manager of Corporate Planning. From 1979 to 2002, Mr. McLaughlin worked in the Office of the Auditor General of Canada in progressively senior roles. As an Audit Principal, Mr. McLaughlin was responsible for audits of External Affairs, CIDA and IDRC. He later became an Assistant Auditor General with responsibility for the Montreal Regional Office including audits of VIA Rail, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

During 2002-2003, Mr. McLaughlin held the position of President/Executive Director at CCAF-FCVI, a private foundation dedicated to research and training in the area of accountability and performance auditing. On resigning this position he was elected to the Board of Governors and served as the Chair of the Board. CCAF-FCVI was recently renamed the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF).

Michael McLaughlin joined CATSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) on April 1, 2003 as Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. This new organization was in its start-up phase with an annual budget of $400 million and was establishing its programs and procedures. He retired from CATSA on December 31, 2006.

Mr. McLaughlin served  as a member the Audit and Evaluation Committee of the Office of Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada from December 2008 until February of 2022.

Michael McLaughlin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science, with Honours in Mathematics (1971), from Carleton University in Ottawa. He also graduated from the Certified Management Accountant Program (CMA) in 1989 and from the Advanced Management Program (CCMD) in 1992. Michael was awarded an FCMA in 2004, FCPA in 2014 and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal 2002.

Sarosh Nanavati

A headshot of CARE Canada Board member Sarosh NanavatiSarosh is an experienced capital markets professional with over 30 years in the financial sector. At a variety of firms including UBS Global Asset Management, Sun Life of Canada, Scheer Rowlett & Associates, Wellington West Capital Markets and UBS Securities, he has held a number of diverse and challenging positions including Equity Portfolio Manager, Equity Research Analyst, Institutional Equity Salesperson, and Commercial & Corporate Lender. Through his consulting firm ESG Performance Partners, Sarosh currently provides sustainability consulting services to both institutional investors and private and publicly-listed companies. In addition as Senior Analyst, ESG at the Pennock Idea Hub, he produces ESG-related investment research for institutional investors and companies.

Sarosh received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, and his MBA from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. He is a CFA charterholder, and additionally holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and the FSA Credential from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board.