Program Advisory Council

Shireen Ahmed is an award-winning, multi-platform journalist, Senior Contributor with CBC Sports, (external link, opens in new window)  a broadcaster, TEDx speaker, a valued mentor, and an internationally recognized sports activist who is best known for her work on gender and racial equity in sport. Her work is featured globally, and her research and contributions on the intersections of justice, politics and culture in sport continue to be widely published. She is a global expert on Muslim women in sport, and is the National Ambassador of Sakeenah Canada, (external link, opens in new window)  an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence. Shireen is a co-creator and co-host of the “Burn It All Down” (external link, opens in new window)  feminist sports podcast, and teaches Journalism and Sports Media at Toronto Metropolitan University, in Toronto, Canada. She is happily married, has four amazing kids and a phenomenal cat. She drinks coffee as a tool of resistance.  

Sheryl Nestel, a founding member of Independent Jewish Voices, (external link, opens in new window)  holds a PhD from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto where she taught sociology and equity studies from 2000-2012 and was the coordinator of the Office of Teaching Support. She is the author of numerous refereed journal articles, book chapters and reports on race and racism in the health professions.

With a foundation in Sociology from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Anna has built more than 12 years of experience in insights and market research. Her career spans both the supplier and client sides of the industry, with experience at research and consulting organizations including Ipsos, Dentsu/Merkle, and Hotspex; as well as in-house leadership roles at Airmiles, and Loblaw. Her work has spanned diverse industries and clients, including leading Canadian brands and organizations, giving her a unique perspective on connecting consumer understanding, research and data to meaningful business impact.

Melissa Khachik is a public policy professional with nearly a decade of experience working in the Ontario Public Service. Known for her political acuity and project management skills, Melissa has advanced through several progressively senior roles across key ministries. Currently serving as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Melissa conducts strategic research and analysis focused on Ontario's electricity distribution sector. In this role, she translates complex data into evidence-based policy recommendations, actively contributing to the development of a modern, reliable, and safe electricity grid for the province. Melissa graduated in 2017 from Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson University). Since graduating from TMU, she has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Research Analysis (Georgian College) and a Master's degree in Public Policy, Administration, and Law (York University).  

Jeff Perera is a speaker, writer and facilitator, who since 2008 has delivered keynotes, talks and workshops for tens of thousands of people across North America and beyond about healthy versus harmful ideas of manhood, race and gender, masculinity, empathy-building, and men helping end gender-based violence. Whether in the boardroom, on campus, or the locker room, we need more examples of positive ways to be a man today. He delivers interactive talks for team leaders and groups within various organizations, conferences and community spaces, as well as grade school, high school, college and university students. Jeff discusses how society’s unattainable and harmful ideas of masculinity impact people of all genders, as well as ways forward and positive maps to manhood.  Learn more at HigherUnlearning.com. (external link, opens in new window)