MPP Cohort 2019-20

Having moved to Canada at the age of six, Omar has always been infatuated with the implications of policy on the lives of people. A recent graduate from the University of Alberta with a double major in political science and sociology, his interest in global policies stems from his travels around the world that have exposed him to vivid cultural and political dynamics, that have fueled his advocacy for inclusive, just and collaborative policies.

Omar has extensive experience in the policy-making process due to his time with the government of Alberta, as well as volunteering with newcomer and immigrant settlement organizations. He was also a part of the Edmonton World Health Organization, an annual conference simulation that immerses high-school and post-secondary students into the policy-making process while addressing global health issues in a mock-WHO setting. He is an avid technology user, enjoys reading and is a passionate about hip-hop and rap. 

Matis is a 24 years old Montreal native who nurtures particular interests for social movements, social lobbying, and collective action. His own involvement is mainly directed towards what he considers to be the key element for social equity: education programs. Always keeping up with the latest news update, he nourishes passions for sports, travels and outdoor activities.

Personal interests apart, Matis holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and Politics from the University of Montreal. After completing his degree, oriented towards political marketing, public relations and electoral strategies, Matis got involved for two full-time years in the Quebec student movement as executive officer for the Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal. His student involvement led him to sit on the board of governors of multiple youth organizations, such as the Quebec Student Union, Force Jeunesse and the Montreal Youth Forum.

Mauricio Horn is a Science Policy Advisor at the National Ministry of Science and Technology in Argentina. He is also a part-time Professor at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Lujan where he lectures on Sociology of Education and Pedagogy. Before diving into public administration in 2013, he was focused on a “traditional” academic path: carrying out research, teaching, and writing, receiving grants and scholarships -such as prestigious Fulbright.

However, a major preoccupation on the social impact of knowledge drove him to make a significant career shift. As a result, his interests have now synthesized with a focus on the interface of science and policy, and he has been advocating for incorporating evidence-informed decisions in public policies in his home country, leading high-level initiatives and designing mechanisms in this field. With a background in Educational Sciences, he is currently pursuing McGill’s MPP to leverage his skills to undertake more impactful roles and performance in the near future. When he is not working, he can be found traveling, exercising, cooking or boating with friends. 

Kayli Avveduti is Nēhiyaw from the Treaty 6 Territory. She has recently completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Macewan University in Edmonton. Her interests in politics and Indigenous issues have fueled her drive to become a change agent for her People. She was born and raised in the Alexander First Nation alongside her three siblings. She shares a strong connection to her family and community and that connection has kept her grounded during her educational pursuits.

Her work experience includes various positions within her community as well as a short stint in the office of the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada. When you can’t find her tuned into Question Period you can probably find her tuned into SportsCenter.

Ana currently lives in her home town, Brasília capital of Brazil, and has been working with socially vulnerable communities for the past five years. After creating the corporate volunteering program at the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry, Ana is in charge of articulating the company’s interest, the community’s needs and the government’s challenges to create and coordinate the execution of volunteer projects with social impact. She has been a member of the Brazilian Corporate Volunteer Council for four years and has been part of the management committee for two years.

She is also co-founder of an NGO that promotes placemaking by its own community with urban interventions. Dealing with the government from an outsider’s perspective and noticing various flaws in the daily application of policies, Ana has the urge to better understand how to create policies that tackle Brazil’s every growing inequality efficiently. Having taken basic classes, Ana’s also very interested in photography and the way it can translate life into art.

Benjamin Dooley is a young journalist who has worked in a variety of international settings, as well as in Canada, with a particular interest in the topic of conflict. He began his career as a freelance reporter overseas and has worked in the Middle East, China, and Europe.

He has since completed a Communication internship at the United Nations in New York and Ecuador, as part of the Habitat III Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, worked a Communications Director for the Ali Ehsassi Federal Liberal Nomination Campaign, and acted as Journalist-in-Residence at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) at Concordia University.

In 2018, he was selected as one of eighteen global scholars for the Study of United States Institutes (SUSI) scholarship, with a focus on media.

Ruhee is a public affairs strategist based in Calgary, Alberta and has spent most of her career in government relations in the energy sector, focused on market access, sustainability, and innovation. She is deeply involved in her community, currently serving on the YMCA Canada Board of Directors, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Board of Governors, and the Equal Voice Alberta Advisory Board.

Ruhee holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen’s University. Ruhee enjoys being outdoors and is an avid runner, triathlete, and fitness instructor. Ruhee is engaged in her community and is passionate about building strong communities where everyone feels a sense of belonging. She loves good food, politics, and travel. 

Sumaiya Kabir Talukder started her career as a researcher at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University after getting her Bachelors (BSc. Hons.) in Economics from Kingston University, UK. She uses both qualitative and quantitative methods (mixed methods) and her research area includes- land and labor market, corruption, e-governance, and urban issues.

She has also worked at Katalyst, one of the largest and most successful market development projects in Bangladesh, where she has gained field experience. Sewing patterns and knitting relaxes her. She enjoys traveling and participating in almost all kind of sports or games.

Riad Katkhoda is from a beautiful country in the Middle East called Jordan. He has lived there for most of his life and moved to Toronto during his adult years. Music plays an integral role in his day to day life as it holds the power to bring people from different cultures closer together. The key to his heart is Popeyes chicken. He is legally blind without his glasses and describes himself as terrible at dancing and writing personal bios.

He completed an undergraduate degree in Economics and International Development Studies at the University of Toronto in 2012 and worked in a variety of fields ever since. He started with HSBC Canada where he assumed multiple roles in retail banking. PwC Jordan with the corporate governance line of service, and most recently the World Bank Group. He specifically worked in social protection and jobs practice.

Jasmine's fascination with the influence of policies on the development of cities was escalated during high school when she equipped herself with different Government interventions like policies programs. This led to her inclination to understand the impact of policies on the cities and public welfare. Her policy interest center around urban and social issues such as health care, housing, social exclusion, education; governance, law and ethical dimensions of policy. She is also very interested in the impacts of globalization and rapid technological changes on policies.

She graduated from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi with a bachelor’s degree in Planning. The intensive curriculum inculcated her in skills like policy analysis and urban infrastructure management. After graduating, she joined as an Analyst in IPE Global Ltd, a multidisciplinary international development consultancy. Her experience working in the urban development sector with a focus on project management, capacity building, urban governance, policies reforms motivated her to pursue further studies in the field of public policy.

Abdullah completed a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University in April 2013 with majors in Economics and Political Science. Later on, he completed a Masters in International Economics and Business from Utrecht University in Utrecht, the Netherlands in September 2015. Since April 2016, he has been working in his native country, Pakistan with the United Nations Development Programme. The team he is a part of is supporting the Government of Pakistan in implementing historical governance reforms in the northwestern region of the country.

He comes from the Pakistani city of Lahore, located in the east near the Indian border. After which he went for higher education in Canada and The Netherlands. Recently, he has found himself shuttling between the capital Islamabad and the north-western city of Peshawar where he is working on a project to support the most marginalized communities in the country. Two of his key interests are football (known as soccer in Canada) and world history, although recently he has developed an interest in data analytics and its use in public policy.

Sta is a Zimbabwean-Canadian interested in the intersections of technology, economic development in Africa, media and public policy. She attended McGill University where she studied African Studies and Economics. After graduating, Sta interned at the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit where she focused on international policy and trade. Most recently, she worked in public policy development at Airbnb Canada.

Kathryn Lemieux is an Account Manager in the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada based in Ottawa, Ontario. She graduated with distinction from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Social Sciences Joint Honours History and Political Science degree in 2016. With a passion for environmental and gender policy, she looks forward to continuing to work on programs that have direct, positive impacts on everyday Canadians across the country.

Outside of work, Kathryn is interested in public history and looking at how to utilize modern mediums such as podcasts and YouTube to inspire people to continue learning about history. You can often find her working on knitting projects or continuing her search for the best gelato place in town.

Sarah grew up on the Wirral, in the UK. She lived in Cambridge for 3 years whilst studying and then spent a year gaining work experience and traveling in Australasia and Asia. She has now lived in London for three years. Whilst here, she has enjoyed volunteering with charities. She studied Law at the University of Cambridge, which was a broad course including papers such as international law, intellectual property, and employment law.

She is currently completing a 3-year accountancy graduate scheme at a big financial services firm. She has primarily been working on external audits and assurance projects for asset management and insurance companies. She has also gained exposure to ‘public sector’ clients - considering the processes in place at local councils and tertiary education providers. She likes spending her free time running, sailing and hiking with friends. She is excited to explore Montréal and Canada (having never been before!). 

Born and raised in a small city in Mexico, Eunice strongly believes that open and collaborative environments are the most effective way to solve the most complex problems. Over the last 7 years, she has been a passionate advocate about openness regarding government, data, and science. The questions she is most passionate about: Which are openness success factors? What leads institutions into openness? 

Eunice holds a major in International Relations and International Development master studies. She has collaborated as a researcher within the AidData Research Lab, the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, and has some academic publications in regard to Open Government Data and Open Science. Since 2015 she works for the National Council of Science and Technology in Mexico coordinating the National Open Science Policy.

Momanyi was born and raised in Kenya in a small town called Limuru. He was fortunate enough to begin studying Economics at a time of global recession. Whilst most people were worried about their waning job prospects, he found it absolutely fascinating to be a student at such a critical time and learn about how we got where we are today. During his time as a graduate student, he developed an interest in econometrics, developmental economics, and public policy. This experience has made him strongly believe that today’s world needs a new generation of leaders who are driven to find the best data-driven policies to help solve society’s problems.

The multicultural experience he has received while growing up in a small town, to pursuing a B.A in Economics at Keele University and subsequently an M.A in Economics at McGill University changed his perception of how a country should be governed, and what every citizen should expect from it. In 2018 he started a new project with the World Bank and the Kenyan judiciary with McGill Professor Matthieu Chemin, which entailed randomization of the Kenyan court system and providing feedback reports known as a “One- Pager” in efforts to improve the resolution of cases. Concurrently, he also worked as a Project Manager at ELIMU Impact Evaluation Centre in Kianyaga, Kenya.

Erika Moyer was born in San Jose, Costa Rica to an American father and a Costa Rican mother. She moved to Paris, France at the age of 13 and completed her high school education at the International School of Paris. She enjoys traveling, trying new fitness endeavors, and spending as much time as possible with her chocolate lab, Kalú. She speaks English, French, and Spanish.

Erika received her Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies from McGill in 2014. After graduating, she moved to Washington D.C. to intern at the Organization of American States. Following that, she worked in Inter-American Affairs at the International Committee of the Red Cross for three years, before continuing on to work in environmental policy in Latin America at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Originally from British Colombia, Sebastian is a multi-disciplinary community organizer and policy professional. He is interested in international affairs, research into public policy, and working in communities of practice at the local level. Sebastian is a public speaker, and an organizer of professional development and public policy discourse events. Locally, he represents the Ottawa Chapter of DemocracyKit, is the Coordinator for the local Loran Foundation Hub, and has volunteered with Civic Tech Ottawa, Frontier College, and through the GAC Young Professional Network.

After several roles within the public service, Sebastian currently works for the International Economic Policy Bureau of Global Affairs Canada. He has represented Canada on several international delegations and speaks three languages. As a 2013 Loran Scholar at the University of Ottawa, he previously completed an Honours Degree in Political Science and Public Administration, in French and English. He has additionally completed an exchange at Sciences Po Aix, and worked for a sub-Saharan NGO for 4 months.

Since he grew up in Ottawa, public service has always been an important part of François' life. He has represented Canada internationally in the sport of fencing, which allowed him to travel extensively and taught him to appreciate different perspectives. He loves talking about history, foreign affairs, and industrial policy. In addition to preparing for the program, his summer plans include going to Brazil to learn Portuguese and over-analyzing the Habs’ every off-season move.

He earned a B.Com in international management at the University of Ottawa, with a minor in cross-cultural business skills from Hogeschool van Amsterdam. As an undergrad, he worked at DND and Industry Canada, where he analyzed defense offset policy. After graduation, he spent the summer working at a tech start-up in Argentina. He then moved to Montreal to work in technology consulting at Deloitte, and since November he has been working at a local start-up. 

Born in France and raised in Canada, Charlotte holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Political Science and Management from McGill University. Since graduation, Charlotte began her career in the non-profit sector, in areas of public health, sustainable development, and women empowerment. In her positions as a Development Analyst for the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and as a Consultant for The Climate Reality Project Canada and other environmental associations, Charlotte has fused diverse and dynamic engagements to address the complexities involved in building a more inclusive and resilient society.

From a young age, Charlotte has been volunteering in organizations that share her values and commitment, such as most recently, Climatable, The Lise Watier Foundation and The Foundation for Environmental Stewardship. Charlotte believes we need to bridge the divide between disciplines involved in sustainable development and aspires to play a leading role in helping the public, private and non-profit sectors collaborate through policies, thereby incentivizing environmental stewardship while empowering those most affected by climate change.

After completing her undergraduate degree in economics at Queen’s in 2013, Claire traveled, studied public health issues at Toronto General Hospital’s immunodeficiency clinic, worked for a financial institution and volunteered with a mayoral campaign in Toronto. She is currently working as an economist with Statistics Canada in Ottawa. Her team uses firm-level financial statements to study everything from financial stability to the activities of multinational enterprises in Canada.

Her favorite part of her work is having opportunities to apply the statistical techniques she learned as a student to work with micro-data, but she is hoping that the MPP teaches her to convert insights from this kind of research into sound, evidence-based policies. She is especially interested in affordable housing and social policy.

Nirushaa Senthilnathan works for the Honourable Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, as a Project Coordinator at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. In 2019, she and her colleague developed and launched an education initiative focused on empowering and mobilizing youth across Quebec, helping to combat hatred and develop young leaders who are grounded in empathy.

In 2018, she as part of a team of young Tamil leaders helped launch Main dans la Main Montreal, a non-profit which aims to destigmatize mental health within the South Asian community. In 2016, she was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper and is now the Curator of the Global Shapers Montreal Hub, running the Montreal Chapter of the organization which mobilizes thirty young leaders under projects that focus on creating positive impact within the spheres of women’s empowerment, refugee integration, combatting discrimination and responsible AI, to name a few. She completed McGill University’s Graduate program in Human Resources Management (2017) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in Education and Behavioural Sciences (2015), also from McGill.

Lina graduated from McGill University with a B.A. in International Development Studies and International Relations in 2012. She has also completed coursework in development economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science and gender-based analysis through the Government of Canada. Since graduation, Lina has worked in Madagascar, Mexico and France, driven by her passion for gender equality and women’s empowerment through innovative public policy and social initiatives.

She currently represents the Government of Québec in multilateral organizations based in Paris and Geneva, with a focus on democratic consolidation, girls’ and women’s empowerment, LGBTQI+ rights and sustainable development. Lina starts each day with the New York Times crossword puzzle.

This is Jameson Voisin. Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario he grew up in a family deeply embedded in the public education system. He credits them with first exposing him to the importance of thoughtful policy creation, which has motivated him to pursue a master in public policy. In 2009 he graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with a double major in Political Science and History.

Jameson has been building a career in non-profits ever since. First, as a Director for the Canadian non-profit WE, which included 4 years living in Ecuador where he worked on projects to increase access to education in the Andes and Amazon regions. In 2017, he joined the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders which first brought him to Afghanistan, then South Sudan where he has come to learn the challenges of governance in fragile settings.

Janoah grew up in Waterloo and currently lives in Ottawa. She graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2017 in International Economics and Development. While in school, she started working at the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, a public policy think tank affiliated with the University of Ottawa. After graduation, she continued to work at IFSD on a major project for the federal government and the Assembly of First Nations, conducting a cost analysis and proposing a program reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services program.

She has played flute most of her life and has been part of a flute choir this past year. She also likes the outdoors, running and rock climbing. She is looking forward to checking out the rock climbing gyms in Montreal.

Aria is from a family of two immigrant parents from Iran. Being born in Canada, he got to experience the likes of many different cultures from his diverse community background. This upbringing has driven his primary interests in travel, learning languages, and experiencing different cultures. Traveling through over 25 countries, he has been granted the opportunity to exercise these hobbies. When he is not traveling, he spends his day to day free time exploring the city, going on hikes, and enjoying the atmosphere of local cafés.

As for his academic and work background, he has just finished his undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University with a Bachelors of Business Administration. Throughout his studies, he participated in numerous internships with CMHC and Global Affairs Canada, whilst also taking on a leadership position with a business urban development club at school. These experiences have shaped his desire to create policies that will work for the benefit of everyone.

Matthew has lived in Ottawa for the last several years and developed a passion for federal policies. His research interests include Canadian immigration and refugee reforms, as well as international security issues. He is also interested in growing his understanding of Indigenous relations in Canada, especially when it comes to questioning and improving how nation-to-nation, government-to-government, and Crown-Inuit relations are conducted with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, respectively.

He graduated from Carleton University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Humanities and a minor in Political Science. For one year of his Bachelor’s degree, he studied abroad at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, focusing on Theology and Politics. He worked with the Canada Border Services Agency for over 3 years, most recently as a Senior Program Officer. In this role, he provided written reports with recommendations for Canadian immigration officials based on a range of federal legislation.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Shirley later moved away for her undergraduate studies at McGill (Class of 2016). In her current role as a Policy Analyst at the Public Service Commission of Canada, she has gathered experience in providing strategic policy advice and recommendations on complex issues, including engagement and consultation with international and intergovernmental partners. Prior to her indeterminate appointment as a Policy Analyst within the Canadian federal government, Shirley was working full-time within the Canadian Armed Forces where she had the opportunity to embark on a High Arctic expedition.

Shirley has long been committed to a career in the public service, and her personal career plan is to continuously look for better ways to integrate interdisciplinary practices in order to serve the Canadian public. This passion was fostered through her prior participation in city youth council, British Columbia Youth Parliament, Western Canada Youth Parliament, as well as the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. During her second year of university, Shirley made the decision to enlist in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces. It was important for her not only to serve the country but also to demonstrate her strength as a woman in performing all of the expected tasks.

Enkhjin “Enzo” Zorigtbaatar came from Mongolia at the age of nine to Canada. Since he was a child, he always had an immense interest in politics. Growing up in the National Capital Region allowed him to be near all the political and governmental action. Enzo is also passionate about music and sports, his favorite teams are the “Habs” and the Raptors. Enzo graduated from the University of Ottawa with Joint Honours in Public Administration and Political Science.

During his undergrad, he was involved in student life by organizing the 8th edition of the Political Science Games, which brought together nine universities and also contributed to the 3rd uOttawa Public Policy Conference. Enzo interned at the Parliament of Mongolia and Canada and he is currently working as a Policy Analyst for the federal government at Employment and Social Development Canada.