Our Board of Directors

Ashley brings a decade of experience working at non-profits in the realms of communications, marketing, design, and events. Her academic background is in social justice and environmental science. She has served for three years on Cycle Toronto's Fundraising Committee, and co-chair the grassroots advocacy group Defend Toronto.

Arman Hamidian

Director

Arman's parents moved to Canada as Iranian refugees, which has been vital in shaping his equity lens in life. He became invested in how that journey affected their health, and generally examining the social determinants of health. He has held research and program manager roles pertaining to health equity, having worked on affordable housing projects at SE Health and as a policy researcher for the Wellesley Institute. He acknowledges the value of being part of a governance structure that sets the strategic directions of a community organization that is focused on livable cities, health, and equity. Through his experience with non-profit organizations, he recognizes the capacity that these organizations can have in amplifying grassroots movements to advance health and wellbeing. Those perspectives have been developed and amplified through his current role as a Management Consultant at Santis Health, and as the Board Chair at Access Alliance for several years. Arman also has a deep passion for public policy having worked as a policy advisor in different Minister's offices for the Ontario government, as well as having completed his Master's of Public Policy, Administration, and Law at York University.

Dana O'Born

Chair

Dana works as the Vice President of Strategy and Advocacy for the Council of Canadian Innovators. In her role, she spearheads the Council’s pan-Canadian advocacy efforts to support homegrown Canadian technology firms. She has held various public policy and government affairs roles supporting issues related to economic development, transportation and energy. Dana studied law and business abroad, acquiring a BA, an LL.B, and a Master’s of Business and Law.

Péter Sós

Director

Péter, a native of Hungary having lived and biked on 3 continents, is an environmentalist, activist for social causes, a finance professional and a social impact consultant. He has been involved in non-profits from marine conservancy to human rights and community building for many years. As his friends would gladly confirm, Péter takes every opportunity to voice his views on the importance of micromobility and designing people-centric cities.

Mark Emila

Chair, IT Committee

Mark is a life-long Torontonian having lived in suburbs and city. I’m a cyclist, of course (roadie mostly). A civil engineering graduate from U of T but with a career centred around technology, first as an IT and Management Consultant across a broad range of industries; and then in Corporate Strategy and Operations roles with one of Canada’s leading Communications and Media companies (the red one). As an engineer, I’m fond of all things mechanical including cars. And I self-identify as a bicycle nerd.

Andrea

Treasurer

Andrea has lived and cycled in Toronto for most of her life, and worked with non-profit and charitable groups invested in social justice, environmental and human rights issues. Currently, she manages finances for two non-profits. On the side, she’s often plugged into podcasts and documentaries and planning annual road trips.

Julia Langer

Chair, Fundraising Committee

Julia is CEO of The Atmospheric Fund, an endowment that advances low-carbon solutions in the GTA. Over nearly 40 years campaigning for the environment she has worked for a Minister of Environment, WWF, Friends of the Earth, Pollution Probe, Great Lakes United, and Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Julia is a year-round cyclist, avid gardener, and wilderness canoeist.

David Shellnutt

Chair, Advocacy Committee

Dave is a dedicated advocate for individuals who have suffered injuries and injustice. Dave has 8 years of personal injury and human rights law experience and is a founding member of the Biking Lawyer LLP and Toronto Bike Brigade. Aside from being a passionate and accomplished advocate, Dave is also a bike crash victim. Dave cycles year-round in Toronto and is a long-time fan and member of Cycle Toronto.

Caralyn Quan

Director

Caralyn has 15 years of leadership experience in community engagement and partnership development. Currently as the Director of Youth and Family Partnerships at Children's Mental Health Ontario, she oversees the development and implementation of CMHO’s youth and family partnership strategy, ensuring youth and family voice are at the forefront of the organization’s advocacy and system leadership work. In her time with the organization she has led the program through a period of growth and innovation, including helping to write the CCA’s Youth Engagement Accreditation Standards, consulting with the provincial government on the mental health service framework, and developing and refining TNM’s youth-led policy model, establishing TNM as a key voice in the youth mental health conversation. Caralyn has participated in numerous sector leadership initiatives, most recently sitting on the Knowledge Institute’s Advisory Group for Youth Engagement Quality Standards. Prior to her work at CMHO, Caralyn worked as a community organizer and frontline youth worker.

Caralyn was born and raised in Toronto, where she currently lives. Outside of work, she is active in her community, currently serving as Vice-Chair on a City of Toronto Community Board. She is a long-time hockey player and cyclist passionate about building healthy and liveable cities.

Lianne Black

Director

I am a fundraising professional for over 20 years, currently the Director of Development for the Jane Goodall Institute. I worked in senior level roles in both Canada and Australia, and have sat on and reported to a Board of Directors. I am an avid all year-round urban cyclist.

As part of the leadership team at JGIC, I was involved in the development of our 3-year strategic and department planning process as well budgets and forecasting. I have a strong commitment and understanding of anti-oppression work.

Graeme Deans

Director

Management consultant and business school professor with over 35 years’ experience advising clients and educating students on business strategy, budgeting, forecasting and financial management, and human resources and organization planning.

Previous not-for-profit board experience with Prosper Canada (poverty alleviation for homeless and disadvantaged Canadians) as director and member of the Governance and Fundraising committees, 2020 – present and with the Toronto French School (Canada’s largest independent school) as director and member of the Finance and Strategy committees, 2005-2012

Monish Gandhi

Director

Monish is founder-CEO at Gradient Ascent. By collaborating with talented colleagues, he builds customer-specific artificial intelligence solutions in a responsible and creative manner. He studied Finance & Financial Law (MASc, University of London) and Systems

Design Engineering (BASc, UWaterloo). As an entrepreneur, Monish brings practical experience with growth planning, hiring, partnerships, and empathetic values-driven leadership. Monish has hands-on board experiences with two organizations (chair, fundraising, governance). Monish has also completed courses to be a non-profit board member. Monish’s education and experiences span engineering (IT-software), design thinking, finance, and law.

Sarah Lamb

Director

I am a humanitarian leader who believes that being able to learn together creates teams that can respond and experiment to find solutions needed in a rapidly changing world. I have worked with communities in more than 10 countries in Africa and the Middle East and currently support running a Canadian charity.

I hold the role of Deputy Executive Director at Doctors without Borders/ Medecins sans Frontières (MSF) Canada focusing on leadership and internal operations. I am responsible for strategic planning, organizational risk management and work directly with the Fundraising, Finance, IT, Project Management, and EDI/AOAR teams.

Simon Minelli

Director

Simon has experience from the business and non-profit realms in consulting, sales, project management, management, and strategy. Living in ward 3 gives him a unique perspective on the city’s cycling and transportation needs.

Simon is currently a Director at the Canadian Urban Transit Association. He has also worked in the business realm, providing solutions to transit systems across North America, and as a logistics volunteer for Bike Brigade. He is experienced in building and executing strategy, solving problems, and understanding outcomes.

Nicole Visschedyk

Director

Nicole Visschedyk is a former journalist who currently works for the Ontario government where she is focused on governance and oversight within the Treasury Board Secretariat. Nicole is a longtime volunteer within the Ontario cycling community and races many disciplines. She has been vocal about road safety for many years. Nicole is a proud member of the Metis Nation of Ontario.

Communication, Board Governance and Oversight, Coordinating or managing a group or organization, Experience on a non-profit board of directors, Equity and anti-oppression, Fundraising, Strategic planning, Human resources, Leadership, Risk management, Community ties.

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Our Board of Directors

Ashley Quan

President

Arman Hamidian

Director

Dana O'Born

Chair

Péter Sós

Director

Mark Emila

Chair, IT Committee

Andrea

Treasurer

Julia Langer

Chair, Fundraising Committee

David Shellnutt

Chair, Advocacy Committee

Caralyn Quan

Director

Lianne Black

Director

Graeme Deans

Director

Monish Gandhi

Director

Sarah Lamb

Director

Simon Minelli

Director

Nicole Visschedyk

Director

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