Katerina leverages program management expertise to champion social good. Passionate about equity, climate action, and sustainability, she leads initiatives at The Immigrant Education Society and seeks impactful opportunities to make a positive global difference.

Kreisha, an immigrant shaped by her experiences, is a leader dedicated to rooting herself in her new country and championing social justice. Committed to her advocacy, she empowers communities and uplifts individuals through research and innovative program development.

Fatemeh is an expert in research methodology and data analysis at The Immigrant Education Society. She implements data-driven strategies to support evidence-based decision-making, enhancing the quality of life for immigrant communities through community-based research.

Hamed is a historian and linguist at the University of Calgary, specializing in Eurasian Indigenousand Canadian Ethnography. His research focuses on linguistic and cultural identity formation, pluralism, and decolonial approaches, with particular attention to immigration and multiculturalism in Canada. He currently serves as a Research Associate at the TIES Centre for Immigrant Research (TCIR), where he contributes to IRCC’s Service Delivery Improvement (SDI) initiatives and policy development.

Gurleen is an experienced researcher interested in complex social issues. She has worked on program evaluations, environmental scans, and systems mappings. Currently, she is leading an arts-based study exploring newcomer 2SLGBTQIA+youth’s intersecting identities.

Nova Zeraati is a Canada-based multidisciplinary professional and community builder with more than a decade of experience leading projects ranging from civil engineering to software. Equipped with a master’s degree and certifications in project management, product management, and B2B sales, Nova works at the crossroads of technology, research, and social impact. Nova thrives on bringing people and ideas together to turn challenges into practical solutions.

Dr. Kassan’s scholarly interests are informed by her own bi-cultural identity, and include two major foci. She studies immigration experiences across different newcomer groups: youth, women, 2SLGBTQIA+. She also researches teaching and learning, and cultural and social justice responsiveness in professional psychology.

Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her research focuses on the intersection of immigration, service provision, and social justice, striving to understand and address disparities in access and quality of services for marginalized populations.