Tina Thomas leads the Edmonton Community Foundation, the largest non-governmental funder of the charitable sector in Edmonton granting over $40M annually. She is proud to lead a group of passionate and dedicated staff who work with donors and community partners to build a better city. Prior to her tenure at ECF she spent over 13 years at the Edmonton Public Library, most recently as the Executive Director of Customer Experience. Before this she spent 13 years in the private sector working for Canadian Telecommunications provider Nortel. A lifelong learner, Tina has earned an executive MBA, a Masters in Library Information Science, a CPA-CMA professional accounting designation and the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D. She was an Edify Magazine Top 40 Under 40, Library Journal Magazine Mover and Shaker, IABC Edmonton Communicator of the Year and a King Charles III's Coronation Medal recipient. She was the co-chair of the Mayor's Taskforce on the Housing and Houselessness Emergency and is currently on the boards of the Edmonton Community Development Corporation, the Association of Grant Makers in Alberta, and Canada Helps.

With over a decade of senior leadership experience in human resources, organizational design, and culture transformation, Amanda Bueley is passionate about building inclusive, high-performing workplaces that align people strategy with organizational mission and impact. She holds an MBA from Queen's University, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta, and is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR).

Before joining ECF, Amanda served as an executive leader in both consulting and operating environments, building People & Culture functions from the ground up and advising organizations through periods of growth and change. She is deeply committed to community impact and previously served on the Board of Directors for e4c. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys staying active, supporting local initiatives, and spending time with family and friends.

Diane Christie joined ECF in June 2023 as the Executive Assistant to the CEO. She is a seasoned E.A. bringing with her a diverse inventory of honed skills through over 20 years of experience in areas such as finance, commercial real estate, oil and gas, sports entertainment, and not-for-profit business. Diane adds value by understanding the "big picture" and proactively developing strategies to overcome obstacles. She was born and raised in Edmonton, is a shoe lover, and enjoys a sweet glass of wine on her deck on a warm summer evening.

Noel Xavier joined ECF in 2013 and works with individual donors, families, and local charities to build endowment funds and legacy plans that provide strategic, sustainable support in our community. With over 22 years of resource development and senior management experience in the not-for-profit sector, Noel has worked with arts, social services, immigration, and health-related causes. Noel currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation and is the past-Chair of the Edmonton Arts Council. He has also served on the Boards of the Nina Haggerty Centre, Opera NUOVA, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) – Edmonton Chapter, and the MacEwan University Arts and Cultural Management Advisory Committee. Noel is originally from the greater Toronto area, but he lived in Osaka, Japan for nearly four years before settling in Edmonton in 2000. In his spare time, Noel enjoys running, hiking, camping, and gardening.

Matt Mandrusiak joined ECF in 2015 after seven years of working with organizations focused on providing support to individuals with disabilities throughout Alberta. Having witnessed first-hand the passion and generosity of Edmontonians to support local causes, Matt has had the great privilege of assisting donors and charities to enhance our already amazing community.

Away from the office, he spends most of his time with his wife and two daughters, but you can often find him on the golf course. An avid traveler, Matt can also act as an unofficial Disney Parks vacation planner…Mickey ears included.

Kerri DeLuca has worked at ECF since 2009, first as a Donor Services Assistant and then as a Grants Administrator in the Granting Department. Her role is to enhance ECF's relationships with donors and charities. She provides any information pertaining to donations as well as fund reports and assists our Donors/Fund Founders in any way she can. She is the CanadaHelps guru for setting up online campaign and donation pages as well as managing our Funds Directory which can be found on our website. Helping ECF's Fund Founders grow their endowment funds is something she truly enjoys.

In her spare time Kerri loves the great outdoors, spending time at her cabin and most of all being a "Special Grandma" to her beautiful grandchildren.

Lisa Dayanandan joins the Philanthropy and Donor Engagement team with over 17 years of non-profit experience in both the UK and Canada, working with an array of causes including healthcare, education, poverty, homelessness, and international development. An advocate for the non-profit sector, Lisa serves as a board member with the local chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). Lisa is passionate about people and their stories, and lives by the African philosophy of Ubuntu which emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals: My humanity is tied to your humanity. She is excited to join the ECF team working with donors and charities to hear their stories and contribute to strengthening our incredible community. Outside of the office Lisa is an avid reader, creative writer, coffee lover, tap dancer, and a fierce soccer mum.

Prior to ECF, Sydney Stuart was the Director of Fund Development at the Citadel Theatre, where her 15-year career allowed her to gain a deep understanding of the importance of building and maintaining lasting relationships with donors and sponsors. She is excited to use those skills at ECF to help families, charities, and businesses create uniquely tailored endowment funds focused on the betterment of the community. As a born and raised Edmontonian, Sydney is thrilled to be part of an organization like ECF, which shares her enthusiasm for enhancing the community she has always called home. Outside of the office, you can often find her and her husband chasing after their energetic young sons or enjoying some time at the curling rink.

Tracey Gleason joined ECF in 2015 as a Donor Engagement Coordinator, after spending several years at Olds College in the roles of Stewardship Coordinator, Data Base Coordinator and Project Assistant. She works with ECF's charity partners and assists fund founders in directing their grants within the community and surrounding area to the causes they hold most dear. Outside of work you can often find her planning her next adventure, working on a new craft project, or spending time with her partner and their rescue dog.

With previous studies at MacEwan in both Journalism and Public Relations, and after 20 years in a communications and fund development role at a social service agency, Laura Kugler recently pursued a new area of interest with courses in estate and trust administration through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors. Laura appreciates the opportunity to be part of the ECF team and its ability to help donors identify and support causes and issues important to them during their lifetime and/or through gifts from their estate. Laura sums up her guiding principle with the following quote from Mother Teresa, "If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." Laura appreciates solitude, silence, the wide open spaces of the prairies, and the beauty of Edmonton's river valley.

Rebekah Andrews joined the Foundation in 2023 as part of the Grants team before transitioning into the Philanthropy and Donor Engagement department. With a background in Arts & Cultural Management from MacEwan University, Rebekah has over a decade of experience working in administrative roles within the performing arts. She is passionate about building relationships and contributing to the vibrancy of the community. Outside of work, Rebekah enjoys live theatre and music, videography, and spending quality time with friends, family, and the tiny humans in her life.

Sharlene Clarke coordinates receipts and acknowledgements for the foundation's more than 1,000 endowment funds. Holding a BA from Saint Mary's University and Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing from Centennial College, Sharlene has 12 years of experience in magazine circulation and marketing; her most recent positions having been with Venture Publishing and University of Alberta's New Trail magazine. Her customer service and results-driven approach won her the Circulation Management Association of Canada's Caren King Scholarship Award in 2010. After living in Halifax, Calgary, Kingston, ON and Toronto, Sharlene is now happy to call Edmonton her home, and loves contributing to the community through volunteer work in education and publishing. She also enjoys playing basketball, running, and exploring the river valley (and beyond) with her dog.

Having worked more than 30 years in the non-profit sector at local, regional and national levels, Allan Undheim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to community impact work. Most recently, he was the Vice President, Community Building and Investment with United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, a role he held for 14 years. He has served on several non-profit boards and has devoted his entire career to supporting his community.

Joanne comes to the Foundation with over 30 years in the human services sector working with vulnerable populations within well respected Edmonton organizations - most recently as Director, Strategic Initiatives at United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. She has worked with a variety of initiatives involved in financial empowerment, food security, employability, housing and homelessness. Her favorite work involves collaboration, partnerships and innovative approaches to solving complex challenges. Joanne is most proud of being with her husband for over 22 years and mom to two amazing boys. Her passions include photography, a new love of painting, and a strong emphasis on training and development.

Cassandra Lundell joined ECF in 2011 as the Grants Administrator and now manages the Community Grants and Small Grants Programs. She started her career in the non-profit sector in her hometown of Fort McMurray, as the Executive Director of the Volunteer and Information Centre. She has served on various committees, including National and Provincial Advisory Councils, the Social Framework Community Grants Advisory Committee and Edmonton Community Adult Learning Association (ECALA). She lives in Sherwood Park with her husband; her side-bar gig consists of coordinating and keeping up with the lifestyles of two teenage bonus children with an active four year old thrown into the mix. In her spare time, Cassandra enjoys trying new food, camping, paddle boarding, curling, and craft beer.

Rob Buschmann brings over 20 years of research and data analysis experience in a wide variety of topic areas, from early learning and child care to public housing to population health. He has a particular fondness for community-engaged research, which he has done in both Edmonton and south Texas (though with very different wardrobes). In his spare time, Rob enjoys golfing, walking and biking in the River Valley, and playing board and role-playing games with his friends and family.

Sherilyn is a compassionate provocateur who deeply connects with people authentically for over two decades in public and private sectors. Her expertise spans intercultural development, inclusive leadership, and organizational change. Sherilyn's career highlights include managing multi-million dollar international projects focused on people development and systems improvement at the University of Alberta, co-founding MT Consulting Group and teaching at NorQuest, Concordia, and MacEwan University. As a daughter of two immigrants, Sherilyn is deeply connected to her roots in Edmonton and overseas. She co-founded ACT Alberta, combating human trafficking in our province, and has extensive board experience in Edmonton. Sherilyn and her husband are the busy parents of two curious and adventurous children who inspire their parents to be better people, and strive to create a better world.

With a PhD in Marketing and Consumer Studies and a background in market intelligence and research, Bianca Kato is passionate about turning data into insights that help create positive change. Outside of work, Bianca enjoys video and board games and finds relaxation through colouring.

With over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Dave Chowne has devoted his career to advancing community strategies in mental health and poverty reduction. A proud Edmontonian, Dave finds fulfillment in contributing to the well-being of the community he calls home. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his two very active kids, exploring the city's outdoor spaces, and continuing his lifelong passion for helping others.

Melisa Zapisocky joined ECF in 2023 to assist with the discretionary grant programs. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Studies focused on community-based agriculture. Before coming to ECF, she held various positions connected to growing vibrant and resilient food systems in Edmonton and across Alberta. Melisa is passionate about enabling change guided by community wisdom and local action and finds daily joy in spending time in Edmonton's River Valley, working on her bird and plant identification skills, and gardening.

Anna Opryshko joined ECF in 2013 and has worked to evolve and expedite the Students Awards Program. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. She is a strong proponent of co-operative housing and has been active in multiple co-ops in the city, sitting on boards and assisting in the development of their membership. Anna has volunteered with a number of arts and social services organizations, both in Edmonton and abroad: including the GELA (Greater Edmonton Library Association) Prison Project, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and Canada World Youth. Anna fills her free time travelling, swimming, reading, and exploring her city and province with her partner and an adorably precocious toddler.

With several years of experience teaching and working with a non-profit providing diverse services to the Edmonton community, Christelle Agahozo brings a rich and varied background to her work. Born in Rwanda and raised in Edmonton, Christelle received her first bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and her second degree in Secondary Education at the University of Alberta. Having worked in different settings, she enjoys learning from the rich cultures that populate our vibrant city, all the while sharing her own. She is passionate about working to empower people to achieve their goals. It is through the power of education and community that her own life change for the better and she aims be a positive force in the lives of others. In her spare time, she enjoys painting and discovering the world with her curious toddler and adventurous husband.

Jane Stephanie Almendras brings a strong background in student services and administration, supported by both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. A former university lecturer and product development associate at one of the largest life insurance companies in the Philippines, Jane thrives in dynamic, mission-driven environments. She brings exceptional organizational skills, along with a proactive and collaborative approach to her work.

Prior to joining Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), she served as an Executive Associate at NorQuest College, where she provided high-level operational support within senior and academic leadership. Outside of work, Jane enjoys watching movies and hockey, dining out, and exploring the city, as she and her husband are new residents of Canada.

With 15 years of experience in administration and community engagement, Serena brings a keen ability to support impactful initiatives that strengthen Edmonton's communities. Her background includes working within nonprofits, higher education, and corporate social responsibility, with a focus on fostering meaningful connections and driving positive community impact. Passionate about community well-being, Serena is excited to contribute to ECF's mission of building a vibrant, inclusive city. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, meditation, creative pursuits, travel and exploring nature.

Building upon a 20-year career dedicated to enhancing community in Edmonton, Oksana Gowin's expertise in strategic communications, campaign development, and brand building was refined during her time heading up marketing and communications at two leading cultural institutions: the Royal Alberta Museum and the Art Gallery of Alberta. In each role, Oksana led successful rebranding efforts supported by award-winning launch campaigns.

Jenifer is a marketing leader with proven success in brand development, marketing strategy, digital campaigns, and community engagement. She’s worked with global companies such as Playtex and EPCOR, regional organizations such as Alberta Motor Association and SAIT, and hundreds of entrepreneurs across North America through her previous consulting business.  

She is powered by local coffee shops, meaningful conversations, and learning about the latest tech. 

Andrew Paul is an award-winning writer and podcaster with 20 years of experience in journalism and non-profit communications. He oversees the production of the Foundation's award-winning quarterly magazine and co-produces ECF's national award-winning The Well-Endowed Podcast. He was selected as one of Edify magazine's 2021 Top 40 Under 40 for his work in Edmonton's storytelling community. In his spare time he can be found at SPILT, Alberta's first dedicated mocktail bar, which he co-founded with his partner Jo in the summer of 2024.

As ECF's Programs and Events Specialist, Lacey brings a thoughtful approach that seamlessly integrates logistics, guest experience, and creative vision. With fifteen years of experience in event management and program coordination, she has produced a wide variety of events, including festivals, workshop series, cultural programming, theatrical productions, and virtual events. Lacey worked as the Manager of Experience Development at Fort Edmonton Park and led the creative development and event strategy for signature events such as DARK. She is proud to be part of Edmonton's thriving arts community and performed with Rapid Fire Theatre for over a decade. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the River Valley with her dog and attending local events and festivals.

Ramy Abdel-Keriem holds a Bachelor of Communications and Media Studies from the University of Calgary and a Diploma in Radio, Television, and Broadcast News from SAIT. Previously, Ramy worked in the broadcast radio industry as a multimedia producer for 102.3 Now! Radio. As a multimedia producer, Ramy excelled in crafting compelling content, keeping up with the latest trends, and interacting with the community. In his free time, Ramy enjoys spending time with his dog Izzy, catching up on current events, and exploring new music.

Bringing over 10 years of progressive experience in financial management and operational leadership, Simone has overseen multi-location financial operations across Canada. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she thrives on developing high-performing teams and implementing process improvements that strengthen organizational performance.

Simone has been in Canada for 11 years, relocating from the UK on a whim. Simone spends her free time with her children and seeking out fun family events and activities in the city.

With over a decade of experience in equity research and portfolio management, Sanket Kulkarni has managed institutional capital across market cycles, employing a disciplined, fundamentals-driven approach. His expertise spans long-only and long-short hedge fund strategies, delivering actionable insights and strong risk-adjusted returns. Sanket earned his CFA charter in 2023. He excels at converting rigorous analysis into strategic investment decisions. Beyond work, he unwinds by playing guitar, capturing stories through photography, and cherishing time with family.

Gladys Dela Rosa-Bugayong has been with ECF since 2014, and worked as a Regional Accountant for ETISALAT in Dubai before coming to Canada. She is active in Couples for Christ, an international religious group recognized by the Vatican church. She also supports a number of charities to improve the lives of the young citizens of the world, as she believes that the youth are the future of the world. Gladys is originally from the Philippines and is energetic and outspoken, yet kind-hearted, hardworking, and a team builder.

Florence (Oluwaseyi) Okeola, CPA, CGA, MBA holds a Bachelor of Applied Business Administration (Accounting) degree from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), an MBA in Finance from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot Watt University, a Higher National Diploma in Accounting, and a certificate in Canadian Securities Course. She received her Certified General Accounting designation in 2013 and has over 20 years of experience in accounting.

Prior to joining ECF in 2014, Florence was a Financial Analyst with Telus Retail Ltd. In her free time, she volunteers in her church to serve in various sections and support young families. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their children.

Annie Blanquisco has over a decade of experience in accounting. Before joining ECF, she worked with the finance and administrative department of Smart Communications Inc., Telus Retails, KBR Canada, City of Edmonton, and more. She graduated from Tomas Claudio Memorial College — Philippines with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Major in Accounting. She is committed to her church in the Philippines and the seminary section of the church (Church of Christ Cardona Rizal). In her leisure, she enjoys craftwork, cooking and gardening. She lives in Edmonton with her family.

Jana holds a BA in political science from the University of Alberta. As a recent graduate, she brings a fresh perspective and an excitement to learn. With experience in hospitality from an administrative and service perspective, Jana has a strong foundation to support operations at the ECF. Outside of work, you can find Jana enjoying the outdoors with her dog, knitting, and exploring local bookshops.

With diverse experience coordinating a micro-loan fund for a community development corporation, supporting the development of employment-focused social enterprises, and directing a national network of social finance organizations, Susannah Cameron brings expertise in strategy development and using collaborative, multi-stakeholder approaches. She is committed to using inclusive, community driven approaches and is especially passionate about advancing reconciliation in our region.

Susannah has a Master's Degree in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph. Prior to settling in Edmonton in 2011, Susannah lived and worked in Brandon and Toronto. Outside of work, she enjoys trying new activities, traveling, and listening to music.

Brooks has experience in organizational leadership, business development, and community economic development, with a focus on practical, collaborative ways of addressing social and economic challenges. He's worked with Explore Edmonton, EndPovertyEdmonton, and Edmonton Unlimited, and has held senior roles with several non-profit organizations in Edmonton. Brooks has an MBA in Community Economic Development and is involved in social enterprise, inclusive innovation, and economic reconciliation across Alberta. Outside of work, he enjoys movies, good food, and exploring rivers in the Rocky Mountains.

Emma Shentaler is completing an internship with the Social Enterprise Fund, where she’s building hands-on experience in socially minded finance. She’s in her third year of her Bachelor of Business Administration degree at NAIT, majoring in Finance. Emma has a strong background in customer service and a genuine passion for supporting people in need, shaped by her own personal experiences. When she’s not working or studying, you can usually find her off on an adventure in the mountains, signing up for new classes, and looking for any chance to learn something new.