A Community Rooted In Care

Andria Barrett is a Toronto-born, Brampton-raised Community Advocate with over 20 years of experience volunteering and supporting non-profits. Andria sits on several boards & committees, including the Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education, the Culinary Tourism Alliance and Humber’s Program Advisory Committee. She is also an entrepreneur and the founder of The Diversity Agency, a women-led social enterprise connecting Speakers and Consultants with conference organizers, Wellness, & EDI training to companies that want to communicate with and better understand Black communities. She was a member of Brampton Mayor's COVID-19 Economic Support Task Force and an active investor supporting women entrepreneurs. Andria was named one of the Most Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders in 2021 & 2022 by Canadian SME Small Business Magazine. Andria also won the 2022 Rotman Family Entrepreneur of the Year. “I believe that menstruation should be dignified and without shame. No one should miss a school day or work lacking supplies or sanitation. We must remove all social and financial constraints.”

Elaine Forrester was born and raised in Jamaica. At age 11, she immigrated to join her parents in England, where she became a registered practical nurse (RPN) and practiced for three years. She then completed a Bachelor's in Social Science and Social Work (the equivalent of a BSW) from Middlesex University in 1982. She then worked as a social worker specializing in Education, subsequently changing specialties to adoption.

She became an adoption social worker at the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children, before immigrating to Canada in 1989. After relocating to Canada, she was employed by the Catholic Children's Aid Society, where she devoted her time and expertise as a beloved member of the organization for twenty-eight (28) years before retiring in 2017.

As a social worker for over two (2) decades, she has a vast range of experience with families dealing with poverty and victims of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and many other hardships. When asked about her passion and inspiration, she recalls that her ability to enhance families' lives and being of service to children in need were her greatest motivators. Elaine joined forces with HAGO as a volunteer in 2021. Her intimate understanding of the impact of poverty on the mental and physical health of individuals and families motivates her to work with HAGO to
address these needs.

Lyse is a retired faculty member at York University’s School of Translation, where she taught translation practice and theory until 2024. During the 1980s and 1990s, she worked as a professional translator, including as co-owner of a translation firm. She currently translates scholarly works between English, French and Spanish. Among her recent publications: La migration forcée au Canada (French translation of Forced Migration In/To Canada, edited by Christina Clark-Kazak).
Lyse is passionate about cross-cultural and cross-linguistic communication and firmly believes that translation plays a crucial role in ensuring that knowledge and information are accessible to all people. She is also committed to working toward equal and equitable access to full participation in society for women and girls.

Anne Pringle is a global program and partnership leader with expertise in social impact, gender equity, health. As Director of Programs & Impact at Lucky Iron Life, she has led international initiatives to combat iron deficiency, partnering with NGOs across Tanzania, Benin, Peru, Guatemala, Senegal, Uganda, and India. She also oversees the company’s BCorp certification and UN Global Compact Membership, ensuring social and environmental accountability.

With a strong background in cross-sector partnerships, advocacy, and capacity-building, Anne has co-founded Local Buttons, an ethical fashion enterprise supporting artisans in Haiti, and managed Toronto Metropolitan University’s SocialVentures Zone, where she developed structured programming for social entrepreneurs. She holds a BA in International Development and an MSc in Environmental Applied Science, bringing a strategic, equity-driven approach to her work.

Laurence is a seasoned business leader with 20 years of experience spanning strategy, analytics, product, and project management at top companies such as Capital One, Expedia, and RBC. Her diverse career has equipped her with a deep understanding of how to drive growth, optimize operations, and deliver impactful solutions. With a sharp analytical mindset and a passion for problem-solving, she has successfully led teams and initiatives that create lasting value. Highly organized, she excels at creating structure out of chaos, ensuring clarity and efficiency in complex environments.

Beyond her professional career, Laurence is dedicated to advancing the causes she cares about, particularly empowering women and young girls to thrive. She has been actively involved in mentorship and community initiatives, volunteering with organizations such as Girls E-Mentorship (GEM), Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), and YWCA. Born in Belgium and raised in Canada, she has also lived in the UK and the US, giving her a global perspective that informs both her work and advocacy. She is fluent in English and French and currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters, aged 11 and 8, balancing a fulfilling career with family life and her commitment to making a difference.