MEET OUR BOARD
The Board’s role is to provide direction to the Centre on behalf of the community. Board members provide leadership and support the Centre to ensure it meets its goals. They oversee the organization and work with the Executive Director who performs operational duties. The Board extends its support for collaboration by working in partnership with staff and the community to carry out the Centre’s mission.
Kilian McCormick, Chair
Kilian grew up in rural Ontario, and has a BA in Political Science and History, with a focus on religion and social policy, an MA in Religion and Public Life, and 3.5 years of PhD study in Linguistics and Ancient Near Eastern religion and culture with a focus on gender and race in Ancient Near Eastern languages.
She has been working in social policy as a policy analyst, focusing on external relations, for over 5 years.
In her spare time, you can find her with her two dogs and cat, watching bad tv, and spending time with friends (especially those with dogs).
Andrew Parker, Vice-Chair
Andrew grew up in rural Ontario, moved to Ottawa for school, fell in love with the city and never left. He has a degree in Health Sciences and has practiced law with the federal government for the last 15 years. A member of Ottawa’s queer community, Andrew strongly supports accessible health care for all. In his spare time, when he isn’t cooking or in a spin class, he’s probably hanging out with his cat and friends watching trashy tv.
Brent Leonard, Treasurer
Brent Leonard is passionate about improving the experience of those navigating the health system and health services, Brent has completed a Master of Health Administration degree and works with not-for-profits to support service delivery, strategy, and fundraising initiatives.
Mariline Jean Louis, Secretary
Mariline is a graduate of the University of Windsor and McGill University. She is passionate about community service and committed to improving the well-being of the community. As part of her role at a non-profit corporation, she provides collaborative leadership to jurisdictions in addressing road safety priorities in Canada and internationally. Driven by values of integrity, collaboration, and accountability, Mariline is committed to ethical decision-making and advocating for access to social determinants of health, aiming for long-term community benefits.
Joelle Walker, Director
Joelle Walker currently works as the Vice President of Public and Professional Affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association, where she leads the advocacy and policy initiatives on behalf of pharmacists. As a longtime resident of Centretown, she is passionate about the community and improving health policies and services for all. Joelle holds degrees in Law and Political Science from the University of Ottawa and is fluent in English and French.
Olamide Akintomide, Director
Mide is a Black queer community advocate and graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Sociology at Carleton University. With a Bachelor’s in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Windsor, Mide brings a strong foundation in anti-racism and anti-oppression frameworks.
They have worked extensively with marginalized communities across Ottawa through organizations such as John Howard Society, Youth Services Bureau, Elizabeth Fry Society, and Cornerstone. Mide’s professional background includes frontline experience in harm reduction, housing, and shelter systems, as well as program development and curriculum design focused on anti-Black racism and equity. Their previous role with the City of Vaughan’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department involved developing community engagement projects and organizing events that centred Black voices.
Lucas de Faria, Director
Lucas de Faria is a multilingual registered nurse with fluency in English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and Finnish. A gay Latino man born in Brazil, Lucas brings a deep commitment to equity, social justice, and cultural sensitivity.
He has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities, racialized and newcomer populations, and individuals facing mental health challenges. With a strong background in healthcare and social services, Lucas is dedicated to bridging gaps in access and providing holistic, person-centred support.
Timeea Enache, Director
I am fully trilingual (French, English, and Romanian) with a basic knowledge of Spanish. I hold a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from the University of Ottawa and a master’s degree in health services management from the University of Montreal. I worked for four years as a nutritionist before taking on roles as a clinical manager at various healthcare institutions.
I worked at a community health center in Montreal, then at Sainte-Justine Hospital, and since May 2025, I have been working at CHEO in the Department of Neurodevelopmental Health. I have frequently worked to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable populations (immigrants, low-income individuals, and children with neurodevelopmental health conditions such as autism).
Mo Kaswari, Director
Mo is a trilingual socio-educational programs director based in Ottawa, whose background also includes school administration, community engagement and partnerships development. His work is focused on the intersections of newcomer services, education, governance, settlement and queer community, where he works, organizes and collaborates with local non-profit organizations in Ottawa.
Furthermore, his experience in policy-making combined with his lived experiences has deeply shaped his passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected. He is continuously involved in organizing and coordinating community development spaces for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, using the magic of art and food to bring people together around conversations and shared cultural memory.
Obey Albaini, Director
I was born in Syria and grew up in Lebanon. As a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, my lived experience shaped my commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally safe care. I completed my medical training in Lebanon before immigrating to Canada at the age of 26, an experience that deepened my understanding of barriers faced by newcomers and marginalized communities in accessing health services.
I later completed a Master of Public Health at McGill University, where I developed strong skills in population health and research. My research background includes hepatitis C screening and care in Canadian prisons, providing me with experience working with incarcerated populations. I am currently in my third year of residency in Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Ottawa.