The Directors
Wendy Beckles, CPA, CGA
President
Wendy Beckles is an accomplished executive with over thirty years of experience in corporate operations and financial services. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant, (CPA, CGA) and a graduate (alumni status), of Harvard Business School - Advanced Leadership Program.
Wendy is currently the President & CEO of Shepherd Village Inc., a seniors’ organization offering accommodations and a continuum of care related services. Wendy continues to have a passion to serve, youth and seniors in her role as the Executive Director.
Nicole T. Baxter, M.ED., OCT
Vice-President
Nicole Baxter is a compassionate secondary school equity advocate and anti-oppression educator with the York Region District School Board.
Over the course of her career, she has relentlessly sought to empower all students by disrupting hegemonic discourses that have traditionally marginalized communities attributed to settler colonialism.
Additionally, through her Masters of Education graduate studies focusing on leadership, policy, and change with an equity lens at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), Nicole continues to create strong curriculum for youth building their self-worth in her role as Research, Development and Innovation Director.
Cathy Joseph, M.ED., OCT
Treasurer
Cathy Joseph is an educator whose passion for seeing young people achieve success drives her professional and volunteer work. She currently works as a Vice Principal for the Peel District School Board where she works with students, families and educators to help students achieve the best possible result. She is committed to equity in education and works to identify and disrupt barriers to success.
Catherine holds a Masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she focused her studies in designing and implementing progress for students at-risk of school failure. Catherine brings a vast knowledge of the education system and youth programs to her role as the Director of Programming.
Juliet Daniel, Ph.D
Secretary
Dr. Juliet Daniel is a passionate advocate for gender equity & diversity in Science and Academia. Dr. Daniel is a Professor and Cancer Biologist at McMaster University where she serves as a faculty mentor for student members of Women in Science & Engineering, Black Aspiring Physicians and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Juliet is also actively involved in the Hamilton and GTA community and serves on the Board of the African Caribbean Cultural Potpourri Inc. (ACCPI) Scholarships Organization, the YWCA Hamilton Campaign Advisory Board. Dr. Daniel brings her wealth of expertise in academia and community service to her role as Community Relationship Director. Juliet strives to inspire youth and raise awareness of the possibilities; benefits and impacts they can have on their community by pursuing post-secondary education.
Astrid Breedy-Smith, CPA, CGA
Director
Astrid Smith-Breedy is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with thirty years’ of experience working in the Public Sector. She is very passionate about working with youth and being a mentor.
