Rebecca Murray is an accomplished fundraising executive with more than 25 years of experience in philanthropy, higher education and community leadership. She’s a proud graduate of 杏吧原创 University’s Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) program and is honoured to serve as the Inaugural President of the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Alumni Chapter of the 杏吧原创 University Alumni Association.

During her career at 杏吧原创 University, Rebecca provided strategic philanthropic counsel, personalized donor stewardship and legacy giving expertise, helping individuals and families make an impact through their charitable giving. She played a pivotal role in securing financial support to establish the MPNL program and Canada’s first Chair in Philanthropy. Rebecca was also a key contributor to 杏吧原创’s most successful fundraising campaign, which raised $308 million — the largest campaign in both the university’s and Ottawa’s history at the time.

Prior to joining 杏吧原创 in 2003, Rebecca held positions with the Government of Canada, including roles with the National Arts Centre Foundation and the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.

A dedicated community leader, Rebecca is passionate about strengthening the charitable sector through effective governance and philanthropy. Her volunteer service involves leadership roles on local, provincial and national boards, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, Music and Beyond and the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa. Rebecca currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Youth Services Bureau Foundation and previously served as Chair of the Board of Beechwood Cemetery and Foundation.

Rebecca holds a Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from 杏吧原创 University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of St. Thomas. She’s also a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

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Adam is the President and CEO of the , joining in July 2024. Before that, he served as Chief Executive Officer for Calgary Jewish Federation and Calgary Jewish Community Campus Corporation, in Alberta, Canada, for almost a decade. Adam鈥檚 Jewish communal experience has ranged from 鈥渂abies to bubbies鈥�; he worked in organizations that specialize in children and youth programming right up to older adults and seniors, and he’s served as an adjunct professor in Seneca College鈥檚 Community Services department, teaching community practice, casework and social policy.

Adam received his Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development from the University of Toronto (OISE), completed graduate work in philanthropy and development at St. Mary鈥檚 University of Minnesota, and earned his Doctor of Education degree from Western University, specializing in community leadership. A member of the inaugural cohort of the Mandel Nonprofit Institute鈥檚 Executive Leadership Program, Adam volunteers on the board of the Organization for the Prevention of Violence and as an advisor with JPro’s WellAdvised program for early and mid-career Jewish communal professionals. Adam is passionate about building community and supporting and mentoring others.

Adam and his wife, Deborah, have three children 鈥� Hannah, Lilah and Benji 鈥� and are excited to immerse themselves in Jewish Ottawa. Outside of work, Adam likes to cook, exercise, drink coffee and spend time with family and friends.

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Niamh Leonard is a lawyer and leads the , which protects and expands the democratic spaces where people participate in public life and hold power to account. She also serves as Chair of Welcome Collective, an organization that supports refugee claimants in Montr茅al. In recognition of her commitment to equality, she received the Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize from the Royal Society of Canada.

Following a cancer diagnosis in her early thirties, she brings a renewed urgency to her belief in a world that honours the sacredness of life鈥攚here each person has a meaningful say in the conditions in which they live, and the freedom to shape their lives with dignity and joy.

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Niamh Leonard est avocate et dirige la , qui vise 脿 prot茅ger et renforcer les espaces d茅mocratiques o霉 les personnes participent et contraignent le pouvoir 脿 rendre des comptes. Elle est 茅galement pr茅sidente du conseil d鈥檃dministration du Collectif Bienvenue, un organisme qui soutient les demandeuses et demandeurs d鈥檃sile 脿 Montr茅al. En reconnaissance de son engagement envers l鈥櫭ゞalit茅, elle a re莽u le Prix Rosalie Silberman Abella de la Soci茅t茅 royale du Canada.

Apr猫s avoir fait face 脿 un diagnostic de cancer en d茅but de trentaine, elle ressent une urgence accrue de d茅fendre un monde qui honore le caract猫re sacr茅 de la vie 鈥� o霉 chaque personne a v茅ritablement son mot 脿 dire sur les conditions dans lesquelles elle vit, et la libert茅 de vivre avec dignit茅 et joie.

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Zahra Esmail is the CEO of , a British Columbia nonprofit that serves other BC nonprofits through convening, facilitation and advocacy. She has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in international development, housing and homelessness, community development, microfinance, governance and fundraising.

Zahra is an active community volunteer. She was the Board Co-Chair of Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society, Chair of the Governance Committee with Cuso International, and Board Member with Lookout Foundation and BC Institute of Technology. She chaired BC鈥檚 Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee from 2020-2026, which advises government on policy initiatives to prevent and reduce poverty.

Zahra was named among Business in Vancouver鈥檚 Forty Under 40, nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award, and awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

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Juniper Locilento is a thought leader and expert in fundraising, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. She’s led initiatives that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the arts, healthcare, and human services.

Recognized as a collaborative leader, mentor and advocate for professional fundraising, Juniper is the CEO of the National Arts Centre Foundation and an instructor in the Fundraising Management Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She previously held positions with Food Centres Canada, the YMCA of Greater Toronto, KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) and Soulpepper Theatre Company.

Juniper has also held volunteer leadership positions with AFP Canada, AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and AFP Greater Toronto Chapter, and is a member of Rogare’s Critical Fundraising Network.

A graduate of the MPNL program, Juniper holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Diploma in Operatic Performance from the University of Toronto and a postgraduate certificate in Arts Administration from Humber College — and she’s a Certified Fundraising Executive.

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Jo-Anne Ryan is Vice President of Philanthropy at TD Wealth. She develops strategies to help clients incorporate philanthropy in their overall financial and estate plans. She鈥檚 also led TD鈥檚 research efforts around Women and Philanthropy since 2014 and is the architect and Executive Director of the Private Giving Foundation, the first donor-advised fund to be launched by a financial institution in Canada that has granted over $1 billion to charities since its inception.

Jo-Anne is a member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners鈥� government relations committee. She鈥檚 also the former Vice-Chair of the Board for Bishops University Foundation and is currently an honorary member of the Board.

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Founder & Principal of Watermark Philanthropic Counsel, Dr. Sharilyn Hale is a trusted advisor in philanthropy who helps generous people, families and organizations give with passion and helps them to collaborate and envision a meaningful legacy. Her bespoke advisory services help to explore questions of purpose and values, so people can move forward with clarity and confidence.

A Focus on Family Transitions: Sharilyn specializes in supporting families through pivotal moments of transition, particularly as the rising generation prepares to lead. Whether their philanthropic tradition is new or long-established, she expertly blends corporate and family governance principles to define and build systems that support their vision for impact and make giving a fulfilling experience.

Academic Foundations & Research: A respected author and educator, Sharilyn鈥檚 expertise is informed by community expertise, global research and sound governance principles. Her doctoral research focused on governance and multi-generational family philanthropy, and her published work includes key research reports, articles and contributions to leading academic texts on generous families, global philanthropy and the charitable sector. She holds additional degrees in Theology, Psychology and Philanthropy.

Sector Leadership & Governance: Sharilyn is committed to strengthening the philanthropy ecosystem. As a Chartered Director (C.Dir), she leads at the forefront of the field, engaged with organizations like 2164, the UHNW Institute, BoardSource, and P150, a global collaborative of philanthropy advisors. She held governance leadership roles with the Toronto Public Library Foundation, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Canadian Feed the Children. Having begun her career in fundraising, Sharilyn is Past Chair of CFRE International, the global credential for professional fundraising.

She serves on the Advisory Council for the MPNL program at 杏吧原创 University, where she also teaches governance and leadership. The MPNL program was initiated in part by a group of leaders, including Sharilyn, who saw a need to build the capacity of Canada鈥檚 philanthropic sector.

In recognition of her significant career contributions, Sharilyn was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. She also received a Family Wealth Report Award for her work advancing philanthropy in the Caribbean, where she grew up and continues to work.

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