Fiona Green

Fiona is a long-time advocate for seniors, community health, and long-term care, with post-graduate training in gerontology and education. She is a former program manager for the Toronto Central CCAC; Manager, Adult Day Program for SPRINT Senior Care; and board chair for Ewart Angus Homes. Her experience includes human resource management, social service programming, policy development and implementation, and international development.

Shamim Hawthorne

Shamim has a BA from Loreto College and is certified in Medical Administration Hospital Nursing. She has worked in the Hill Stations of Darjeeling, educating villagers about health hygiene and with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team, deployed to natural disaster areas such as hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and flooding in Iowa. She has also worked or volunteered in hospice care, respite, and senior home settings with organizations such as Second Mile Club, Better Living, Circle of Care and the Alzheimer Society. She has more than 10 years of experience as a private senior care giver.

Nazrawit Gebeto

New to Canada from Kenya, Nazrawit is currently pursuing Canadian CPA designation. She has experience working with NGOs and charities in Kenya providing nutritious food, eye care, and sustainable housing for community seniors in Isiolo, Kenya. Her education is in finance and accounting, including a MBA, Finance, from The Netherlands’ Nyenrode Business Universiteit.

Gail Thompson

Gail’s exerience spans various health care settings, beginning at the University of Toronto, where she helped manage health services research projects. She became involved with services for seniors while at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, where she worked with the GTA LHINs on obtaining approval for their “Aging at Home” initiatives. At West Park Healthcare Centre, she has participated in planning the Geriatric Functional Enhancement Service and Acquired Brain Injury Day Program, developing a strategy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and working with clinical service managers on their annual goals and objectives.

John Bagnall

Educated in political science and recently retired from a community-based non-profit agency, John has a life-long interest in government policies, including those affecting seniors. He understands the needs of older Ontarians experiencing chronic health challenges, as well as the need for affordable, accessible, high quality, community supports to age safely in their homes and communities. He sees reform of supportive housing and community services, including increased funding and application of CHA principles, as priorities.

Jessica Hogle

Since 2020, Jessica has worked in public policy and advocacy for the Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO), a non-profit organization leading in care and research to help and support people living with dementia, their care partners and families in Ontario. At the ASO, her primary focus is to advocate on behalf of people living with dementia and their families and to support them through policy reform of Ontario’s health system. Much of her work has focused on visitation rights for families in long-term care, financial distress, and the development of ASO’s Roadmap Towards a Renewed Ontario Dementia Strategy. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health and Gerontology. She is also an active member on the research and advocacy committee for the Ontario Caregiver Coalition.

Arash Masoumi

Holding a master’s degree in Public Policy, Administration and Law from York University, Arash has always been interested in research, strategic thinking, and policy development. With over a decade of experience in both public and private sector environments, he has assisted with shaping a number of public policy files such as enhancing disaster insurance protection for homeowners, addressing employment barriers for interprovincial movement of professionals, and provincial/municipal negotiations on affordable housing. He has participated in University Settlement’s volunteer programs focused on providing services to youth and newcomers and has a passion for thinking and learning about how to advance sound public policy positions that benefit Canadians.

Robert Schenk

Robert has a BA from the University of Guelph, an MSW from the University of Toronto, and belongs to the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Notwithstanding a period of seven years spent as caregiver with his two sons, Robert has worked in the community with organizations devoted to caring for seniors and the vulnerable for twenty years. He has worked with Toronto seniors in a number of capacities including as a PSW/respite care worker, coordinator of a meals on wheels program, and as a social worker. Robert has worked with grassroots and local agencies such as VHA Home Health, North York Seniors Centre and Senior Peoples Resources in North Toronto as well as Ontario’s home care services. He has a particular interest in seeing that home care clients and staff are treated with respect in a truly user-friendly system.

David Sider

David Sider is the part-time Administrative Coordinator for Care Watch. He has worked in the social services field with a variety of non-profit organizations including Community Living Toronto, Easter Seals, Safehaven Project for Community Living, and Frontier College. David has also worked with several environmental non-profit organizations in Canada, Malaysia, and India. When not at Care Watch, David teaches the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto.