Meet Our Board

meet our board

NISHA ANAND

Bio coming soon

Michelle Bashir is a Senior Director with Strategy & Transformation Services under the CAO group. Michelle is accountable for the delivery of consulting services across RBC to ensure project outcomes are aligned to business objectives and achieved. In addition to her role as Secretary of the Board with NLS, she is also a Board Member and an Impact Committee Member at Capitalize for Kids, a not-for-profit organization that works with children mental health service providers to build capacity and reduce waitlists so that more children are able to access care.

Michelle holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the Schulich School of Business and Bachelor in Administrative and Commercial Studies (with a specialization in Finance), from the University of Western Ontario.

MICHELLE BASHIR

MARY BOUSHELL

Mary Boushel is Manager, Strategic Initiatives in Health Services at the Region of Peel. Mary started her career as an in-house lawyer working in social housing and has since moved into leadership roles in social services and health care in Toronto and at the provincial level. Her focus has been on building partnerships to improve services in the community and she is excited to be able to support NLS in providing access to justice and legal services for those who need it. Mary joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and currently serves as vice-chair.

Lana Frado is the Executive Director of Sound Times Support Services. Sound Times is funded to provide community mental health and addiction supports and is entirely staffed by users and former service users. The majority of their services are provided to support individuals who are also involved in the criminal justice system. Lana has worked with her community for almost 30 years and has served in many government and community initiatives and advocacy efforts in the disability community. She has a keen interest and considerable experience in service user participation in the design, delivery, implementation and evaluation of services and supports as the means to ensure quality and accountability, and to ensure accessibility and accommodation for individuals with social disabilities.

LANA FRADO

HAYLEY MACPHAIL

Hayley MacPhail has been a Board member with Neighbourhood legal clinic for 3 years.
Hayley has worked in the east end of Toronto as a Child and Family Therapist, Family Support and Youth worker for over 20 years. Hayley is an accredited Family Mediator and believes in a social justice perspective. Hayley earned a Master’s degree in Psychology from University of Toronto, and background in Family systems and Child development. Hayley draws on her knowledge of families and individuals who are stressed and struggling with issues related to legal, finance, psychological and navigating different systems to support the initiatives of the Board

Bio coming soon

LESA MCPHERSON

AADIL MANGALJI

Aadil Mangalji is a partner at Long Mangalji LLP, a downtown Toronto immigration law practice. He is an active advocate for immigration and refugee rights in Canada and appears regularly at Federal Court, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Refugee Board. He has been Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Citizenship and Immigration Law as well as a Specialist in Refugee Protection Law, a prestigious list of which only approximately 15 lawyers in all of Canada belong. Aadil is passionate about ensuring access to justice for vulnerable people, and volunteers his time with many community group.
Aadil is passionate about immigration law because of the direct benefits not only for individuals today, but also for future generations. He graduated with a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with Dean's list distinction from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Diana Mavunduse sees herself as a communicator for social change and social justice. Her career spans three continents (Africa, Europe, and North America), where she worked as a Journalist and Communications Specialist for various international NGOs. She has spoken globally on communication competence and freedom of speech as a foundation for civic engagement in developing democracies. Currently, she works as a Community Development Coordinator for Dixon Hall Neighbhourhood Services that advocates for and addresses the challenges faced by low-income families and individuals living in disadvantaged neighbhourhoods in downtown Toronto.

DIANA MAVUNDUSE

MATT SAVELESCU

Bio Coming Soon

Josh Vandezande is a seasoned public sector manager who has led communications and community engagement in several provincial human service ministries. A changemaker and champion for people who live at the margins of our society, Josh creates opportunities for collaboration that give everyone a voice. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ community and long-time resident of the Church-Wellesley Village with a passion for creating a more inclusive, sustainable future.

JOSH VANDEZANDE