Board of Directors

Colin has spent 30 years in entrepreneurship and his current chapter is all about helping others navigate the tricky waters of starting and growing a business. As the owner of several of his own businesses in diverse industries including building materials, renewable energies, social enterprise, and technology, he has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs around the world raise millions of dollars and, in many cases, bring their families out of poverty and create better options for themselves, their communities and the world at large. Including developing ecosystems internationally paired with microlending platforms, he currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at MacEwan University.

Charles is a former business reporter, writer, and cross-functional team leader with a track record of leading communications and external relations teams in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East over the last 15 years. A lifelong learner with a passion for youth education, leadership training, community, and entrepreneurship development, Charles brings his strategic communications experience, intercultural and non-profit sector knowledge, and perspectives to the AHC Board. He also chairs the Board of Junior Achievement Africa, which prepares over 900,000 young people each year through hands-on training in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. As a valued community member, Charles volunteers to support causes promoting social and economic equity for underserved community members.

Carmel has more than a decade of global experience in Marketing and Business Management in various industries such as Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and Personal Care. She has also served as teacher and research advisor to young women and has been involved with organizations that promote economic empowerment.

Rajiv works in the legal department of Jobber, a leading field service management software provider. His developing practice includes advising Jobber in relation to a variety of corporate and commercial matters. He is a member of the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association. He is passionate about supporting his community and has previous experience teaching math, science, coding, and Hindi

Zedingle is originally from Eritrea and came to Edmonton as a government-sponsored refugee with my family about 40 years ago. After arriving in Canada, he became interested in human sciences and received his program diploma from MacEwan University, and then earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Calgary and later a Master of Science from the Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, US, in Community Economic Development. Early in his career, he worked with the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers as a community development coordinator and then worked with the City of Edmonton for 26 years as a community social worker and social planner.

Nikki is a CPA, CA with over 15 years of experience in public practice and industry. She is currently working on her Professional Master of Education from Queens University. She works with students in the CPA program as well as in the field of accounting education developing materials for the CPA program. She has volunteered for several organizations in the past and looks forward to working with AHC and learning from this experience.

Adana is a mission-driven bricoleur with expertise in Project Management (PMP) and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). She has a BA in History and specializes in One Health, addressing complex issues involving human, animal, and environmental health. With 20 years in international development, she focuses on climate change, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. She currently works in applied research in the Caribbean and partners in Eastern and Southern Africa. Adana is passionate about community empowerment and advocating for women in STEM, while also addressing neocolonialism, racism, and sexism.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she moved to Canada with her enthusiastic family.

Catherine is a business owner, workshop facilitator and leadership coach. She believes that literacy is the foundation that helps people realize their full potential and has been a volunteer literacy tutor with newcomers over the past eleven years. Catherine delights in helping learners raise their writing, reading comprehension and speaking levels.

Petchphilin (Pauline) has a bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta in secondary education. She has 6 years of experience teaching both teenagers and adult academics English and ESL courses in addition to social studies and art at the high school level. She enjoys working with and volunteering her time to support diverse communities.

Ben has a Bachelor of Arts from the King’s University, and has spent the last 3 years raising funds for non-profits throughout Edmonton. Ben has worked with local and international non-profit organizations to advance economic and social development within his community and in the global south. He is deeply passionate about helping build pathways out of poverty and is actively involved in the community to advance similar efforts.

Mohamed is the President of Negmax Industrial Innovations, a leading company in robotics automation and industrial innovations. With over 15 years of experience, Mohamed has established himself as a serial entrepreneur, founding and successfully running several hardware automation companies. His extensive expertise in entrepreneurship and engineering has been instrumental in driving innovation and efficiency in the industrial sector. Mohamed holds an MPhil in Manufacturing Engineering from Cardiff University, which has provided him with a strong foundation for his professional expertise. As a respected industry leader in his field, Mohamed has authored numerous scientific publications and has frequently contributed to recognized and notable scientific conferences and journals.

Navneet is a strategic, innovative, results-driven chartered human resource professional with extensive employee relations experience in a full range of functions, as well as success in simultaneously managing multiple projects. She brings in a wealth of experience as a human resource expert during her time with multiple non-profit organizations, where she honed her skills and contributed to their missions. As an employee relations expert, Navneet has a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances of human resources management. She is continually developing her wealth of knowledge in human resources and employee relations and is a certified Chartered Professional for Human Resources, SHRM Certified Professional, and a Registered Professional Recruiter.