AANGEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Voting Board
Julie West, Board President
Julie West is an industry-leading conference and events producer. She specializes in reinventing and revitalizing experiences, from conception to completion on a wide variety of events including: fundraisers, high profile events, public stunts, conferences and galas. Her innovative strategies help organizations attract more attendees, more sponsors, more media and more vendors.
Alana Jones Mes
Alana Jones is a collaborative Professional, Director and Author with over 22 years of experience in talent acquisition, change management, community outreach, and recruitment. She has a background in risk management, client relations, succession planning, and leadership and is currently an Instructor at the University of Toronto, where she facilitates the Community Engagement and Housing and Homelessness course with excerpts based on her published book, Behind the Frontline. Alana is the founder of Border Place INC., where she leads the transformation of a personal care rooming house to supportive housing for vulnerable populations in Toronto.
Kim Curry
Human Resources - Business Development
Most of my working career has been in the field of human resources and career development, which has led to many successful and rewarding experiences. I have also been involved with various business initiatives, chambers, boards, and other strategic alliances all throughout my career. My formal education is from the University of Calgary specializing in HR and Business Management, as well as from Psychometrics Canada as an MBTI Certified Practitioner.
Professional strengths are found in human resources, training and development, project administration, business development and optimization, and other collaborative type initiatives.
Having been a recipient of a few business awards has contributed to my success as a whole, while knowing how much more there is still to learn in this very dynamic and every changing industry.
Lauryn Bodde, Board Secretary
Lauryn Bodde finds joy in supporting positive change, storytelling, highlighting women entrepreneurs & changemakers, and travelling the world. She is so honoured to be a member of Aangen's advisory board. She currently works as a Community and Outreach Coordinator for EPICentre, the entrepreneurship hub at the University of Windsor. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Co-op Education from UWindsor and a diploma in Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing from IBAT College in Dublin Ireland. Through her various roles, international travel, and work experience she's developed skills in design, event management, hospitality, logistics, advertising, copywriting, and project management. Entrepreneurship is also one of her many passions and is wondered by those who create something that was only once imagined. She believes that each person has a story to tell and if we keep our minds and hearts open, nothing will fall out.
Jessica Turner
Jess Turner is a visionary entrepreneur, dedicated to maximizing human potential and fostering thriving communities. With a decade of leadership experience, she co-founded ThriveON, where she directs international settlement and retention services, safeguarding employers investments and empowering employees for peak productivity and retention. As CEO of Turner Gregory Management, Jess leads a diverse portfolio of initiatives spanning international retention services, health and wellness programs, leadership consulting, and sales expertise.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, Jess is the founder of Jess Turner Intuitive Nutrition, Wellness, and Happiness Coaching, where she passionately advocates for holistic health and wellbeing. Through her infectious energy and deep understanding of the human mind and body, Jess guides individuals towards resilience, positivity, and fulfillment in every aspect of their lives. She is a fierce advocate for self-care, mindset mastery, and personal empowerment, inspiring others to unlock their full potential and thrive in all areas of life.
Rubeena Singh
Rubeena brings over 11 years of expertise in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, research, and fostering innovative partnerships to drive collective success. Her diverse background and passion for social impact initiatives, diversity and inclusion, and environmental harmony position her to offer synergistic strategies.
With a Master's in Health Sciences and eight years of experience as a Speech Language Pathologist, Rubeena's early career laid a strong foundation in understanding community needs and fostering inclusivity. She further honed her skills through a second Master's in International Development, solidifying her commitment to creating positive change on a local and global scale.
Rubeena is deeply passionate about community engagement and the economic empowerment of marginalized groups, recognizing their crucial role in fostering inclusive, equitable, and just societies. Her leadership style is characterized by a strong emphasis on building and nurturing relationships, coupled with a track record of effectively planning and executing programs.
She is adept at conducting research and identifying key metrics to monitor and evaluate progress, with a knack for translating insights into detailed and visually engaging reports.
She is a published author and advocates fervently for women's economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, and inclusive education systems for students with disabilities.
Noah Mussay
Noah Mussay brings a rich tapestry of experience and insight to the Aangen Board of Directors. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Arts, Noah's academic foundation empowers him with the tools necessary to craft compelling narratives that drive social change. As an individual living with Spina Bifida, a spinal cord disorder, Noah's journey is one of resilience, determination, and advocacy. His personal experience with physical disability deepens his commitment to fostering inclusivity and dismantling obstacles faced by minority groups. Joining Aangen was a natural progression of Noah’s lifelong mission to champion causes that ensure equal opportunities for all, reflecting his belief in the transformative power of collective action and compassionate leadership. Through his work, Noah aspires to create spaces where voices from all walks of life are heard and valued, making significant strides towards a more equitable society.
Carla Leon
Carla Leon is President and CEO of Just Like Family Home Care and spearheaded the first social acquisition by charities in Canada. With her vision, JLF has been transformed into a Social Enterprise, with the majority of profits going to charities. She strives to make a social impact, transforming home care across Canada for franchise owners and the families they support. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from University of British Columbia.
Carla is a natural innovator who believes success comes from collaboration. Her greatest sense of satisfaction comes from using her skills to make a positive impact on those whose lives she touches.
Omar A Butt
Omar is an advisor and entrepreneur to assist global and regional organizations in strategizing and achieving their digital, data and tech agenda. His roles include program delivery, business development and digital innovation. Omar leads cross-sector business development and program delivery roles for his public, private, and nonprofit clients and his philanthropic ventures. Omar has built a reputation of managing agile transformations, delivering complex programs, and bringing innovation centred around digital, data and AI. Omar is the founder of Infāque, a startup that enables digital outreach and donor engagement through an integrated platform.
Sarah Boyes
Sarah Boyes is a seasoned professional with a proven track record in client services, team leadership, and market analysis. As the Residential Leasing Manager at Onni Property Management Services Ltd, Sarah adeptly directs and organizes residential lease-up initiatives, collaborating closely with marketing teams to optimize online outreach strategies. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, she ensures that every interaction, from conducting tours to negotiating legal documents, is executed with professionalism and enthusiasm, fostering trust and rapport with potential clients.