Our Team
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate thought to direct the CSAWCC.
Members of the Board can be contacted at board@csawcc-cccfsa.ca.
Saminder (Sam) Bhalesar
Founder, President and CEO
ceo@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
A very active member of her community, Sam has dedicated her life to improving her community here in Ottawa and beyond. Currently working as a Senior Engagement Advisor, she has worked and managed numerous projects including Canadian energy projects, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, G7, G20, International Energy projects/conferences, and numerous other international affairs.
In addition to serving as the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CSAWCC, she also sits on the Board of Director position with the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation and the Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council where she also serves as an Adjudicator. In May of 2023, she was selected as Canada’s Chair of Negotiations and Diplomacy for the G100. Here she works alongside noble laureates, former Heads of State and Ministers, and many more all joined in a pact of purpose to create massive opportunities for women worldwide.
Sam has previously served as the Chair of the Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program, Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Council with the Ottawa Hospital (PFAC) & served as a member of numerous other committees at the Ottawa Hospital and CHEO. She has also done work with the Canadian International Peace Project and served as a Member of the National Anti-Racism Council of Canada (NARCC), as a Member of the Network of Indian Professionals, and as a past board member of the Ottawa Youth Services Bureau. In 2018 she was elected as the National Party Secretary of the Liberal Party of Canada where she also continued to serve until May of 2023.
Kaveeta Ajwani
Chair, National Board
k.ajwani@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
Meet Kaveeta, well-known as a Coach, Mentor, Rebel!
A single mother of 3, bold, passionate and an inspiration, Kaveeta has become a leader and role model in her community. She has spent many years volunteering in different capacities to help build diversity, equality, and inclusivity around her. Currently working full-time, she has also been volunteering at her kids’ school as Chair on Parent Council for the past 4 years.
Kaveeta is a coach, mentor and rebel whose passion lies with supporting men and women who feel bound by cultural, religious, and societal expectations to courageously follow their own inner wisdom so that they can create the extraordinary lives they desire. She supports international students with mentoring and mental health, a local food cupboard with annual projects, and given seminars on mental awareness and domestic violence awareness. Kaveeta has held frontline to managerial roles throughout her work life. From healthcare to financial fields, she has gained insight into the many struggles of women regardless of background.
Kaveeta thrives on helping people, be it personally or professionally and believes that women are much stronger when they empower each other. She is very excited to work with the CSAWCC team!
Rina Gill
Member, National Board
r.gill@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
A combination of passion, positive attitude and strong work ethic are the characteristics that
have allowed Rina Gill to become the dynamic community leader she is today. For almost
two decades, she has been volunteering and doing extensive community work with 80+
non-profits and organizations across Canada.
As an entrepreneur for the past 16 years, Rina fully understands the business community
and wants to make the process smoother for those who are aspiring to start their own or
interested in expanding their existing business. She runs her own full-service boutique
marketing agency, co-hosts a Health podcast and publishes a Health magazine for the
community. Rina also organizes a variety of community events including the South Asian
Health Expo, which is a FREE tradeshow that focuses on educating South Asians across
Canada on how to take control of their health and live a healthy lifestyle.
As a well-rounded individual who takes pride in being committed and connected to the
community, Rina is looking forward to working with the CSAWCC team on this exciting
initiative.
Mamta Sethi
National Board Member
m.sethi@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
Mamta Sethi is the Chief Information Officer for Group Functions Technology at Manulife. In her role, Mamta is responsible for setting, leading and executing our internal technology working with our executive leadership from global group functions technology.
Mamta has had over 18 years of experience in Banking and Consulting. Most recently, she was the Vice President of Global Technology Strategy & Transformation where she worked with Segment CIOs and executive leadership to set the strategic technology direction for Manulife. Prior to that, she worked at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) where she held multiple senior leadership roles in Application Development, Technology Infrastructure, Operations, Strategy & Transformation, Product implementation and Core Banking. Mamta was also a Management Consultant at Deloitte focusing on Risk Management, M&A, Strategy & Organizational Development, delivering these services to clients in various industries locally and internationally.
She holds a BBA from University of Toronto, and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Outside of work, Mamta participates on many boards, advisory committees actively involved with charities, has a strong passion for running and spending time with her two children and family.
Saguna Roy, PEng, Meng, PMP, CMS
National Board Member
s.roy@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
Meet Saguna Roy, a highly accomplished Mechanical Engineer and Professional Project Manager with a Master's degree from the University of Toronto. With an exceptional track record in streamlining processes, enhancing organizational efficiency, and consistently delivering measurable results, Saguna is an expert in people-centric process improvement, operational excellence, and change management.
Saguna's expertise is supported by her numerous certifications, including a Professional Engineering designation from APEGA, a Project Management Professional certification from PMI, a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and a Change Management Specialist Certification. She has applied her skills in various industries over the past 12 years, including oil and gas, retail, aerospace, and beverage manufacturing.
As a co-chair of Women at the City employee resource network, Saguna is an advocate for creating inclusive and supportive work environments that empower women to perform their best work every day. She led efforts to promote mentorship and is dedicated to fostering diversity and effective leadership. As a mother of two young children, Saguna understands the importance of balancing work and family life.
Saguna's passion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace is matched only by her enthusiasm for exploring new cultures and cuisines. She is an avid traveler who embraces new perspectives and is always looking for ways to expand her horizons.
Dr. Abha Kiran Padhye
National Board Member
a.padhye@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
Having pursued a unique career path, Dr. Abha Kiran has gained extensive experience in the fields of dentistry and healthcare management through a wide arena of leadership positions and entrepreneurial initiatives within the healthcare sector.
With a proven track record of success in various leadership roles, Dr. Abha Kiran is also an alumnus of the prestigious IE Business School and Queen's University - Smith School of Business.
Her personal and professional journey is clad with accomplishments across the geographical borders and she has an extensive experience of working with women in business on a global scale.
She is a highly motivated individual and thrives on challenges against all odds. Her motivations are rooted in the belief that each effort made through one’s lifetime should be with an intention to serve a purpose, irrespective of the scalability of it.
As she dedicates her professional life in the field of healthcare leadership, her personal goal is to support and encourage women to recognize their potential, nourish their abilities, flourish in their field of interest and to achieve milestones of success to their optimal potential.
Joshua Bell
National Board Member
j.bell@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
Always being an active member within his community, Joshua brings a strong background in youth community involvement, mental health and suicide prevention advocacy, and public policy advocacy to improve the lives of others in and around his community.
Passionate about well-being and access to care, Joshua has been a long advocate for youth mental health and suicide prevention and has worked to help not only raise awareness but also push for changes to improve the mental health of youth. This includes through multiple National Boards and Councils he a sitting member of as well as work on international, national, and local recommendation reports and policy papers that have assisted in improving access to care and ensuring better mental health policy.
Strongly believing in community partnership and the involvement of everyone, Joshua is excited to bring is passion for positive change and a collective community to the Board.
Joshua is currently attending McMaster University for a Hon. BA in Political Science with a Specialization in Public Law and Judicial Studies.
Surpreet Kaur Malhotra, LSO Candidate
National Board Member
s.malhotra@csawcc-cccfsa.ca
Bio coming soon
Staff
Our team of dedicated staff and assistant teams.
Joshua Bell
National Board Member
Chief of Staff; Executive Board Assistant to the President and CEO
Anthony Valenti
Senior Advisor to the President and CEO
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