Blog & Resources

Kevin Wilson

Director

Nancy Gale

Board Member

Nancy is an award-winning and accredited communications professional. As the Mississauga Halton CCAC’s Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and Partnership Advancement, she works to position, promote and partner for this community-based health services provider. She co-designed and co-led the Mississauga Halton CCAC Share Care Council, its inaugural patient and family caregiver advisory forum, from 2014-2017. Nancy has broad experience as a marketing communication professional in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining the Mississauga Halton CCAC, Nancy served as Marketing Communications director for Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga; communications lead for the Toronto District School Board; and held progressive roles at Bell Canada’s enterprise divisions.

Maria-Eugenia Ricote

Board Member

Maria-Eugenia Ricote is a Career and Work Counsellor with vast experience in the community services sector. As an employment and career counsellor, she specializes in mental health and vocational rehabilitation case management as well as in career assessments and mapping, job readiness and life skills training, job development, and job coaching services of persons with disabilities and multi-barriers. Most recently, Maria-Eugenia joined the Mental Health Ambassador Pilot Project, which is a network of mental health professionals in Toronto who share knowledge and experience with frontline staff of settlement professionals.

Divya Kulkarni

Board Member

Divya has over 20 years of experience across Sales & Marketing, PR, Finance, Audit and General Management. She began her career with GE where she held progressive leadership roles in Finance and Audit across Asia, Europe, Australia and North America as part of the elite Global Audit Team. Her experience spanned many GE businesses including Medical Systems, Consumer & Commercial Finance, Appliances, Power Systems, Water, and Insurance. Post GE, she created the Internal Audit Division for the global mining companies Noranda and Falconbridge and was a Board Member for a Noranda/Falconbridge Joint Venture. Divya is the Executive Vice-President at Showcase. Showcase is a national retail chain with 107 stores across Canada. Divya is also a Director of the Kulkarni Family Private Equity Group with investments in Manufacturing, Retail, and Finance across North America, Europe and Asia. Divya has been a strong advocate for the disabled over the past 12 years over which she has supported a number of individuals and their families, to improve their outcomes and significantly impacted their lives.

Dina Barazza

Chair

Dina has over 25 years experience in business, human resources, OD and learning. As a subject expert in human resources and learning she brings her leadership and business know-how to the forefront of the Coalition. Part-time Dina fosters homeless pets and is the Founder, of Avanti Women, a volunteer organization for women to move forward professionally and personally through networking, mentoring and learning. She has been canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society for 22 years and sits on the Dufferin Board of Directors as an Advisory Board Member with the Dufferin Young Professionals.

Audrey Alvaro

Board Member

Adriana (Audrey) Alvaro has been employed with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board for 23 years and is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. Adriana has taught in both the Elementary & Secondary panel and is currently in the role of Academic Consultant. Adriana works with principals, vice principals and teachers to help develop and launch school-based literacy plans. She plans and facilitates both large and small scale professional learning sessions and modules. Adriana has been a writer, contributor, reviewer, consultant and presenter for several major educational publishing houses and has worked in various capacities with the Ministry of Education and the Education Quality & Accountability Office of Ontario. Adriana is an active participant in several organizations that advocate for people with diverse needs.