Our team

Dr. Joy Johnson is president and vice-chancellor of Simon Fraser University, and professor in its Faculty of Health Sciences. As president, Joy is committed to building community partnerships; enhancing student learning experiences; supporting Indigenous reconciliation; and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion across the university. Prior to her appointment as president, Joy served as SFU’s vice-president, research and international, and oversaw the evolution of cutting-edge research, innovation, and international engagement across eight faculties. Under her leadership, SFU’s achieved the fastest growth of any Canadian university research income of any university in Canada, with a focus on mobilizing knowledge to enhance the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of its communities.

Prior to SFU, Joy had a distinguished career in academics and research. She is an elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and has co-authored more than 180 peer-reviewed articles. Joy currently serves on the Universities Canada Board of Directors.

Dr. Mohamed Lachemi is president and vice-chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), first appointed in 2016 and reappointed to a second term concluding in 2026. An internationally recognized researcher and accomplished academic administrator, he has been a key contributor to the growth and development of Toronto Metropolitan University over a transformational time in the university’s history. A professor of civil engineering since 1998, he has served in progressively senior roles, including dean of the faculty of engineering and architectural science, and provost and vice-president academic. As president, he has promoted the establishment of Toronto Metropolitan University as a global university, overseen the launch of Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst – a national centre for cybersecurity – and navigated approvals for new and innovative law and medical schools.

A graduate of l’Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran in Algeria (civil engineering, with distinction) and of l’Université de Sherbrooke (MASc and PhD, structural engineering), Dr. Lachemi is the Past Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities, Chair of the Finance Committee of Universities Canada, Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and a Board member of Trillium Health Partners, Rogers Communications Inc., and DMZ Ventures. He was a member of the National Research Council from 2018 to 2021.

Dr. Rahim Somani: Vice-President of Finance and Administration at the University of Northern British Columbia

Dr. Rahim Somani is a transformational leader with over two decades of leadership experience across South and Central Asia and North America. Currently Vice-President of Finance and Administration at the University of Northern British Columbia, he oversees strategic, financial, and operational planning– driving innovation, collaboration, and organizational excellence. Previously, Rahim was the Founding Chief Financial Officer of the University of Central Asia and held senior leadership roles within the Aga Khan Development Network.

With a global vision and a commitment to advancing holistic organizational development and fostering growth, Rahim is guided by principles of compassion, creativity, and collective excellence. A CPA, CA, he combines financial expertise with a deep dedication to driving impactful change that improves quality of life in communities. Having recently completed his Doctor of Education, Rahim brings extensive governance and innovation experience to not-for-profit boards. His commitment to empowering youth and promoting gender equality aligns closely with WUSC’s mission where he aims to contribute meaningfully to global sustainable development.

Stephen de Boer has built a long and distinguished career with the Government of Canada, serving in senior leadership roles across multiple departments. From 2023 to 2025, he served as Deputy Minister and as the Prime Minister’s Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor. Prior to this, he was Assistant Deputy Minister in the International Affairs Branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada, and previously served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, as well as Ambassador to Poland and Belarus. Alongside his public service career, Stephen has a longstanding history as a lecturer, teaching business and law courses at Canadian universities. His professional and personal experience has reinforced his belief in education as a foundation for youth development, economic opportunity, and global engagement.

Dr. Joël Dickinson: President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Saint Vincent University.

Before joining MSVU, Dr. Dickinson was Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Laurentian University. She also held the positions of Acting Associate Vice-President of Teaching and Learning (2020–2021), and Chair of the university’s Department of Psychology.

A full professor of Psychology with a research focus in cognitive processing during schema violations, Dr. Dickinson has experience in developing and delivering diversity and inclusion training workshops. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a PhD in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick.

In addition to WUSC, she is an active community volunteer and has worked with many non-profit organizations and advisory boards, including the Women in Cognitive Science Canada Advisory Committee and Réseau Access Network. She currently serves as a Director on the Board of 211 Nova Scotia, is Chair of the Governance Committee on the Universities Canada Board, and is the Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (ACEDIP).

Throughout her career she has demonstrated her commitment to engaging with faculty, staff, students, and the local community and continues to be an advocate for those overcoming situations of adversity to succeed.

Amelie Fabian, MGA, MPP, is a development impact professional at British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution. She works primarily on BII’s investments in infrastructure focused on renewable energy and e-mobility.

Amelie is passionate about youth education and international development and the role that various stakeholder groups such as NGOs, the private sector and government can play to facilitate this. She began her journey with WUSC as part of the 2014 Student Refugee Program cohort. She continued her involvement by volunteering with WUSC on campus and has also represented WUSC at several events including the UN General Assembly in 2018 and on the Refugee Education Council advancing Canada’s #Togetherforlearning campaign. Amelie previously served on the WUSC Board of Directors from 2019 – 2021.

Amelie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University (2018); a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from SciencesPo Paris École d’Affaires Publiques (2020); and a Master of Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto (2021).

Christine Hogan served as Canada’s Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change from September 2019 until her retirement from the Federal Public Service in December 2022. In this role, Ms. Hogan oversaw the development of domestic and international climate change policy and advanced significant initiatives focused on biodiversity and environmental protection. Prior to her appointment at Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ms. Hogan was Executive Director for Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean at the World Bank Group in Washington, DC. From January 2015 to October 2016, Ms. Hogan was Deputy Minister for International Trade. Ms. Hogan served in the Privy Council Office from 2010 to 2015, initially as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet and then as Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister. Other senior leadership roles included three years as Vice-President for Strategic Policy and Performance at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) from 2007 to 2010. Ms. Hogan’s diverse experience also encompasses roles as a Visiting Executive in Canada’s energy sector and an Advisor to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ms. Hogan holds a Bachelor of Public Administration from Carleton University. She is a recipient of the Bissett Alumni Award for Distinctive Contributions to the Public Service from Carleton’s School of Public Policy and Administration. Ms. Hogan is a Yale University Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellow.

In addition to serving on the Board of World University Service Canada, Ms. Hogan is a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship and a Board member of the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH).

Prof. Sonia Laszlo is Professor of Economics and Associate Dean, Research and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty of Arts at McGill University, specializing in applied microeconomic analysis in economic development. Her current research is primarily focused on the microeconomics of social policies and their effects on women and women’s economic empowerment. Her secondary research interest is centered on decision-making under uncertainty, namely concerning technology adoption among subsistence farmers. She has conducted research in Peru, Paraguay, Kenya and in the Caribbean, using laboratory experiments, surveys or randomized controlled trials. She is also a researcher and fellow at the Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Organizations (CIRANO) and an external affiliated member of the Grupo de Analysis para el Desarrollo (GRADE) in Peru. She co-founded and has since been an executive member of the Canadian Development Economics Study Group (CDESG), which groups both academic and policy development economists in Canada. She was Director of McGill’s Institute for the Study of International Development between 2016 and 2019.

Dr. Stéphane Pallage is Rector of Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), a position he was appointed to in April 2023 for a five-year mandate. As Rector, he is implementing a unifying and inspiring vision to strengthen UQAM’s impact and global recognition. A native of Belgium, Stéphane Pallage began his studies at the University of Liège and later received a scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Administration (finance) and a Doctorate in Economics. From 1995 to 2017, he served as a professor at UQAM’s School of Management Sciences and held senior academic leadership roles, including Dean of ESG. From 2018 to 2022, he served as Rector of the University of Luxembourg, contributing to its strategic development and international positioning.

Dr. Annette Trimbee is the sixth president and vice-chancellor of MacEwan University, having previously served as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Winnipeg.

Dr. Trimbee brings to MacEwan a wealth of experience and knowledge as a leader in both the post- secondary and the public sector. As an accomplished academic, Dr. Trimbee holds a PhD (Ecology) from McMaster University, a M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta.

In addition to her time as a postdoctoral student at the University of Alberta, Dr. Trimbee spent over 25 years in Edmonton building a distinguished career with the Government of Alberta. During this period, she held several senior leadership positions, including appointments as deputy minister with Advanced Education and Technology and with Treasury Board and Finance.

Dr. Trimbee currently serves as the chair of the Alberta Post-Secondary Network. She also recently chaired the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, a partnership of universities dedicated to expanding digital content for the academic research and teaching enterprise in Canada. She is also a member of the International Red River Board that provides assistance to the International Joint Commission in matters related to the water management along the Canada-U.S. boundary.

Dr. Trimbee has recently been appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Indigenous Teacher Education (NACITE), bringing together First Nations, Inuit and Metis representative experts in the field of teacher education and diverse knowledge experts from across Canada to support and grow the number of Indigenous teachers. In 2022, Dr. Trimbee received the Indspire Award in Education, the highest honour bestowed by the Indigenous community, for her commitment to advancing Indigenous equality in society and in higher education.

Previously, Dr. Trimbee served on the board of Universities Canada, the voice of Canadian universities at home and abroad, chaired USports, which oversees sports at 56 Canadian universities and served on the board of Manitoba Hydro where she shared her knowledge and expertise in water management and energy policy. In 2015, Dr. Trimbee was appointed to Alberta’s royalty review panel, which studied the province’s oil and gas sector with a focus on the royalty rate structure.

Ahmad Alkosani, RPA, MBA, is a finance and accounting professional serving as Budget and Financial Analyst at St. Lawrence College and Professor of Accounting at Sault College. With expertise in financial planning, analytics, and student leadership, he drives efficiency through tools like Power BI, Sage, and PeopleSoft.

Ahmad is passionate about refugee education, youth empowerment, and mental health advocacy, leveraging his global perspective to support inclusive communities. He arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 2018 as part of the WUSC Student Refugee Program cohort and remains actively involved through volunteering with WUSC local committees.

Before Canada, Ahmad co-founded Global Education and Refugee Org (GERO) in Lebanon, training 150+ refugee youth with 25+ volunteers across five countries. He serves on the boards of Sault Community Career Centre and Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation (AWIC), and volunteers with the City Finance Committee.

Ahmad holds an MBA from Laurentian University (2024), a gold medal BBA in Accounting and Finance from Algoma University, a Business Accounting diploma from Sault College, a BSc in Mathematics from Damascus University, and certificates in Advanced Business Analytics and Data Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Ameen Alnaser is a student who is set to graduate from the University of Manitoba, having completed a commerce program with a focus on International Business at the Asper School of Business. Originally from Syria, Ameen spent five years living in Zaatri refugee camp in Jordan before arriving at the University of Manitoba in 2018 through the WUSC Student Refugee Program (SRP).

Currently serving as the Exchange Program Assistant at the International Center at the University of Manitoba, Ameen is deeply committed to supporting the student community. With a focus on topics such as mental health, student life engagement, and success, Ameen is dedicated to ensuring students thrive during their academic journey.

Ameen’s passion for student advocacy extends beyond his professional role. He volunteers as an Alumni Advisor at the WUSC Student Refugee Program Alumni Advisory Team (AAT) and previously served as President of the WUSC local committee at the University of Manitoba for three years. His global perspective and leadership skills have been developed through experiences in cultural and academic exchange programs in the UK, as well as international volunteer assignments, including the 2023 WUSC International Seminar in Ghana.

Before relocating to Canada, Ameen volunteered with various international organizations in Zaatri refugee camp, actively participating in campaigns promoting education among children and youth. Engaged in the Winnipeg community, Ameen is a dedicated volunteer, providing translation services and offering support to newcomer families, youth, and students.

Ameen’s contributions and dedication have been recognized through various awards, including the Emerging Leader Award, University of Manitoba Alumni Leadership Award, and a Bank of Canada Scholarship Award. His journey at the University of Manitoba reflects his commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally.

William is a Faculty Member and Program Quality Assurance Coordinator in the Mining and Mineral Exploration Department at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). From 2015 to present, William has been involved in the establishment of the accredited Bachelor of Engineering in Mining and Mineral Resources Program and developing and delivering courses at BCIT. He holds Bachelor of Engineering, MBA, Diploma in Water Engineering and Certificate in Occupational Health and Environment.

William has been passionately serving the BCIT Faculty and Staff Association in various capacities including member of the Board of Directors and Committees, Returning Officer, and Technical Representative. He also volunteered as a Board member for community and non-profit organization boards, locally and nationally, such as the Burnaby Girls Soccer Club, and WUSC SRP Advisory Board, ESSCA-Canada, among others.

William has a passion for training and developing others and demonstrated remarkably to get tasks done, and he genuinely enjoys serving the community for the purpose of achieving a common goal. William is humbled and honored to serve WUSC as a member of the Board of Directors and strives to advance and protect the interests of WUSC organization to achieve its vision of a better world for all young people.

Diana is a dedicated international education professional who brings to the board extensive intercultural experience, having worked in France, Canada, and Colombia. Since 2018, she has worked at Université de Montréal, where she first served as a Student Mobility Advisor and currently holds the role of Faculty Liaison and International Recruitment Advisor. In this capacity, she fosters strategic partnerships and supports international student engagement and recruitment initiatives.

Diana’s involvement with WUSC began when she served as Regional Liaison Officer for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, working closely with local committees to advance WUSC initiatives across the region. Since 2019, she has been an active member of the university’s local committee, contributing to the implementation and success of the Student Refugee Program.

Diana holds a Master’s degree in International Studies and Development from the Université de Montréal and an undergraduate degree in Cultural Studies from the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.

Ashley has worked in international education for over 20 years as an educator, facilitator, manager, collaborator, and mentor. Ashley has worked at the Nova Scotia Community College since 2009, first as the manager of study abroad and service learning programs and then as the manager of international student support and services. Before NSCC, Ashley worked at Dalhousie University as the Manager of the Global Health Education Program in the Faculty of Medicine. Ashley has a Master’s of Education degree from Mount Saint Vincent University and received her undergraduate degree from Dalhousie University. Ashley is particularly interested in supporting students in career development, community-building, settlement, and mentorship.