Our Team

Meet the team both here and overseas. To contact Head Office staff, email firstname-at-warchild.ca.

Board and Executive

• 

  Dr. Samantha Nutt, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC. C.M.
  Founder and Executive Director

  Dr. Samantha Nutt (Sam) is a medical doctor with more than fifteen years of experience working in war zones. Committed to peace, human rights and social justice, she has worked in some of the world's most violent flashpoints with War Child, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Burundi, northern Uganda, Ethiopia and the Thai-Burmese border.

  Over the course of her professional career and as the Founder and Executive Director of War Child, Samantha has spearheaded efforts to provide direct humanitarian support and long term programming to war-affected children and their families, and to promote greater awareness in Canada concerning the rights of children everywhere.

   Samantha’s work on behalf of war-affected communities around the world has been widely recognized. Samantha is a recipient of “Canada’s Top 40 under 40 Award” (Globe and Mail). She was designated by Time Magazine as one of “Canada’s Five Leading Activists.” CBC News has profiled her as a “Canadian Leader.” CTV National News has declared her a “Canadian Success Story” and Maclean’s Magazine featured her in their annual Honour Roll as one of “Twelve Canadians Making a Difference.” Global TV has declared her a “National Trailblazer.” Chatelaine Magazine has named her one of “Twelve Canadian Women Who Should Run for Politics”. She has been described by Hello Magazine as one of “Canada’s Top Ten Outstanding Women,” and has been featured as a guest on CBC Television’s “The Hour.” Samantha was chosen as “Personnalité De La Semaine” by La Presse and CBC Radio Canada, and as one of “200 Young Global Leaders” in the world by the World Economic Forum. The Globe and Mail has profiled her as a nominee for “Nation Builde of the Year,” and she has also been honoured as one of “Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.” In July  2011, Samantha was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the highest civilian honours in Canada.

  Samantha has written for Maclean’s Magazine covering war-related issues, is a published author and frequently appears on Canadian television and radio as an expert commentator on war and human rights issues. She is also a highly sought after keynote speaker on the impact of war, human rights, social justice and on public engagement in global issues, inspiring others to make a difference. She writes and is featured in online segments for Discovery Chanel (discovery.ca)and was also an on-air panelist in the 2010 CBC Radio Canada Reads.

  She graduated Summa Cum Laude from McMaster University, earned an MSc with distinctionfrom London University, and holds a Fellowship in Community Medicine (FRCPC) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She is further certified by the College of Family Practice (CCFP) and completed a sub specialization in women’s health through the University of Toronto as a Women’s Health Scholar. Dr. Samantha is the recipient of several honourary doctorates from universities in Canada and the USA.

  Samantha is bilingual, and is on staff at Women's College Hospital in Toronto. She is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. In addition, she is on the Board of Directors of the David Suzuki Foundation, and is an Advisor to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

  Samantha's new book, Damned Nations, will be released by McClelland & Stewart/Random House on October 18, 2011.

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• Aubrey Charette
  

  Board Member

• Kali Galanis
  

  Board Member

• 

  Lorna Read PhD, MA
  Chief Operating Officer

  Lorna Read is Chief Operating Officer at War Child, based in Toronto.   Lorna has 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian work that includes 10 years of field work in Latin America.   She is dedicated to ensuring investment in programs where children and youth are both the implementers and the beneficiaries,  as this is invaluable to capture the engagement of these future generations in their own development. 

  Lorna's experience has included program implementation, advocacy, policy development and applied research in the sector. Immediately prior to joining War Child, she was Vice President of International Programs at Right To Play International. She has led research and development projects in Latin America for university consortia and government agencies, worked for the Institute of Latin American and Iberian Studies at Columbia University, and held consultancies for Canadian Embassies, UNICEF, INSTRAW and the MacArthur Foundation. Lorna has served as an adjunct professor and taught courses related to community and global development at universities in Canada and the US. She currently holds an adjunct position at Saint Mary’s University in the Department of International Development.

  Lorna holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University, with a concentration in Latin American Political and Socio-Economic Development. She also has a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from Saint Mary’s University. She was the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship, and fellowships from Fulbright and the Tinker Foundation. She has been published in topics related to sustainable community development and international relations, with a focus on the participation of civil society in the development process and institutional capacity-building.   She frequently gives keynote addresses related to development and human rights at conferences and seminars. She has lived and worked in five countries outside of Canada and has travelled extensively for work to more than 20 countries across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
   

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• Nils Engelstad
  

  Chair of the Board of Directors

• Scott Beveridge
  

  Board Member

International Programs

• 

  Danielle Trépanier
  Operations Manager, International Programs

  Danielle has been committed to humanitarian relief activities since 2005, working primarily with MSF in various administrative, logistical and research-related capacities. Prior to working in the humanitarian sector, she worked with Health Canada in environmental health and  health policy research in northern and remote communities. She has an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Ottawa, a Masters in International Humanitarian Action from Uppsala University and is a survivor of flesh eating bugs, earthquakes and fires.

• 

  Justine Turner
  Manager, International Programs

  Justine manages a diverse portfolio of programs for War Child, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. She earned an undergraduate degree at Queens University before continuing at LSE to complete her Masters in International Development and then returning to Toronto to join War Child. Justine's interests range from conflict sensitivity to livelihoods and education and she most enjoys getting to the field to work with War Child's partners and staff. 

• 

  Richard Corbridge
  Director, International Programs

  Richard is responsible for the international programs department at War Child. Richard has worked in a number of program management, organizational development and senior executive positions within the non-profit sector internationally for the past 12 years. This includes the management of a range of community-based youth, education and HIV/AIDS programs. 

  Before coming to Canada, Richard was the Chief Executive of a development education NGO in the UK. Richard is a Peace Studies graduate and is currently studying for an Executive MBA.

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• Sarah Mikhaiel
  Research and Institutional Development

  Sarah Mikhaiel is a grant writer and researcher with War Child Canada. She has a bachelor in History and Political Science from Carleton University and a Master of Arts in Middle East and Islamic Studies from the University of Toronto. Sarah is passionate about migrant justice and grassroots organizing in Canada. Her favourite food is potato salad.

Development

• 

  Chelsea Lloyd
  Pledge and Donor Relations Officer

  Chelsea joined War Child in 2010, as Pledge and Donor Relations Officer, after spending time working in East Africa and the Middle East. She holds a B.A. (Hons) from McMaster University and completed her postgraduate studies at Humber in the International Project Management Program. Known for having a fondness for stationery products (some call it hoarding), Chelsea is always on the hunt for the perfect pen. 

• 

  Emma Cosgrove
  Manager, Stakeholder Relations

  Emma Marie Cosgrove is the Manager of Stakeholder Relations. She joined the War Child team in 2009. She began supporting War Child in high school by running her own Keep the Beat event and continued her involvement by starting a War Child Campus Club during her post-graduate degree in Fundraising and Volunteer Management at Humber College.  

• 

  Gabrielle Duchesne, CFRE
  Director, Development

  Gabrielle Duchesne is the Director of Development at War Child and a Certified Fundraising Executive.  Prior to joining the War Child team, Gabrielle worked with a number of Canadian charities and in politics. Gabrielle never shies away from a good challenge and likes to think of herself as a handywoman. She enjoys home improvement projects…some of which even work out. 

• 

  Morgan Jaques
  Manager, Communications and Human Resources

• 

  Nathan Fenn, Office Administrator
  

  As the Office Administrator, Nathan provides administrative services in areas from scheduling and keeping the office up to date with supplies to making travel arrangements for the staff that fly off to the far corners of the Earth. He graduated from Concordia University in Montreal with an Interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree in South Asian studies and also has a post-graduate certificate in International Development from Humber College, here in Toronto.

Communications

• 

  Alyson Rowe
  Senior Manager of Community Development

  Alyson Rowe is the Senior Manager of Community Development for War Child. She has worked with War Child since June of 2008. She got her start with War Child after coordinating a speaking event in support of War Child at Bishop’s University, where she completed a degree in Secondary Education and Études françaises et Québécoises, followed by an internship in War Child’s head office.

• Fiona Hack
  Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing

• 

  James Topham
  Director, Communications and Marketing

  James is responsible for North American communications at War Child, based out of Toronto. Before moving to Canada, James worked at War Child in London, England, doing much the same job but with slightly more irony.

  Before becoming charitable, James ran Brian Eno’s management company, working on projects including a David Bowie album, a fashion show, a computer program for generating music, an aborted magazine and a 3’ x 3’ representation of the dance floor from Saturday Night Fever.

  He once accidentally put the phone down on Bono. Bono was very gracious about it.

   

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Music and Special Events

• Barbara Harmer
  Director, Music and Special Initiatives

  Barbara’s previous life was that of a Television Journalist/Producer with Global TV, CBC and CHUM TV among others. She was introduced to War Child in 2004 as the Producer of the Gemini nominated documentary Rocked: Sum 41 in Congo.  Barbara returned to War Child in 2006 and is currently its Director of Music and Special Initiatives.  

• 

  Jenn Ivanovs
  Manager, Music and Special Initiatives

  As Manager of Music and Special Initiatives for War Child Canada, Jenn is responsible for maintaining and developing relationships with artists, labels, managers, promoters and all the other shiny happy fun people in the entertainment industry in North America.

  Having entered the music and special events sector at a very young age, Jenn could be considered a “Jill of All Trades” so to speak.  Prior to working with War Child Canada, she held various positions throughout the Canadian music industry including time as an assistant to the VP at The Agency Group in Toronto and as an independent promoter working in various markets throughout Southern Ontario.

  In her spare time (when she finds some) she enjoys exploring new corners and cuisines of Canada, picking up new pieces of trivia information, trying every herbal tea known to man-kind and of course checking out new bands.

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