Directors

Meet the dedicated team of directors behind AAISA.

Our Board of Directors consists of leaders from various organizations who bring a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to supporting newcomers in Alberta.

Director

Alphonse Ahola

Francophonie Canadienne Plurielle

Alphonse Ahola's engagement in Canadian community life began upon his arrival, initially as Secretary General of the Cameroonian Association of Edmonton. He later served as Vice-President External of the Graduate Student Association at the University of Alberta, and subsequently took leadership roles as President of La Francophonie Canadienne Plurielle (FRAP) and Chair of the Réseau d’immigration Francophone de l’Alberta (RIFA). Alphonse is dedicated to justice, fairness, and excellence, aiming to improve community living conditions through advocacy, awareness, and mobilization efforts. Recognized for his contributions, Alphonse received commendations from Alberta's Legislative Assembly in December 2017 for his work in advancing human rights and inclusion. He currently serves on the National Advisory Committee on Francophone Settlement (CCNEF), holds an executive role at the Canadian Council for Refugees, and is a member of the Premier's Council on Multiculturalism in Alberta.

Director

Amanda Goodnough

The SPEC Association

Amanda became the Executive Director of The SPEC Association in 2021, bringing with her over 20 years of experience navigating both non-profit and government sectors. With a dynamic blend of experience spanning the settlement sector, human resources leadership, non-profit governance, financial competency, and risk management, she is a seasoned professional with a strong commitment to cultivating inclusive communities and driving organizational excellence. Amanda completed her Bachelor’s Degree in social work in 2018 and is in her final year of the Master’s program through the University of Calgary. Amanda has worked collaboratively with various programs and organizations aimed at supporting immigrants and refugees in their integration journey. She has facilitated access to essential services, education, and employment opportunities through strategic partnerships and innovative initiatives, empowering newcomers to thrive in their new environment. An advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Amanda is passionate about dismantling barriers and fostering environments where all individuals feel valued and respected.

Director

Danielle Barnes

NorQuest College

Danielle Barnes is a Program Manager in the LINC program at NorQuest College where she leads with a focus on collaboration and innovation. She has worked with newcomers to Canada in a variety of roles over the past 20 years. She brings a background in education, faculty development, and in developing programming that meets the needs of diverse learners.

Director

Eoin Murray

Catholic Social Services

Eoin Murray is the Vice President of Immigration and Settlement Services at Catholic Social Services. He previously worked in communications, fundraising, and on human rights in the Middle East and women's rights. In addition to the AAISA Board, he serves on the boards of The WISE Charter School in Edmonton and the New Canadians Health Centre.

Director

Esdras Ngenzi

Centre d'accueil des nouveaux arrivants francophone (CANAF)

Esdras Ngenzi, PhD in Geography from Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, immigrated to Canada in 1997. For 15 years, he contributed to Ontario's college system, holding roles from teacher to administrator at Collège des Grands Lacs, Niagara College, and Collège Boréal. He actively supports French-speaking minority communities in Ontario and Alberta, focusing on francophone immigration. Esdras has served on boards including Niagara Training and Adjustment Board, Employment Help Center, and ACFO-Régionale Niagara. His interest in French health services led to a five-year tenure on the board of Community Care Access Centre-CASC Erie St Clair and leadership roles in health planning entities. In Alberta, Esdras was General Director of the French Canadian Association, Calgary Region, and currently leads Centre d'accueil pour nouveaux arrivants francophones (CANAF). His expertise spans adult training, employability, community development, and governance of public and non-profit sectors. He also oversees the Alberta Health Network and facilitated the establishment of a French-speaking clinic in Calgary.

Director

Hervé Stéclebout

Cité des Rocheuses

Hervé Stéclebout has been the CEO of the Cité des Rocheuses since 2012. Born in France and a Canadian citizen since 2015, Hervé is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Hervé graduated from a French business school. Back in France, Hervé used to work in the banking sector. In Canada since 2011 and in Calgary since 2012, Hervé has given new impetus to la Cité des Rocheuses. After leading a primary renovation phase of the community centre, Hervé has developed settlement services for newcomers. Hervé is fully committed to ensuring that Francophiles and Francophones in Calgary and the surrounding area can access services provided in French, take part in French classes and experience artistic, cultural and community events in French.

Director

Lori James

Making Changes

Lori has over 30 years of experience in empowering teams and supporting clients. She joined Making Changes as the Executive Director in October 2022, focusing on empowering women and promoting equal opportunities.

Director

Fion Lee

ASSIST Community Services Centre

Fion Lee has been a Registered Social Worker in Alberta since 1999, with over two decades of experience in the non-profit and settlement sectors. She began her career as a frontline social worker, where she developed a deep appreciation for the resilience and strengths of newcomers, as well as the challenges they face in building a new life. That experience continues to shape her people-centred and compassionate leadership style. For the past 13 years, she has served as the Executive Director of ASSIST Community Services Centre. During this time, she successfully led the organization through significant growth and transformation, including achieving accreditation for the Settlement, LINC, and Child Care programs through the Canadian Accreditation Council and expanding the organization's budget. At the same time, she ensured that these core programs remained strong and responsive to community needs despite an evolving funding landscape. She brings a solid understanding of immigration trends, the evolving needs of newcomers, and the complexities of the settlement sector, including experience working within IRCC funding models.

Director

Kate Price

Immigrant Services Calgary

Kate Price is a non-profit executive with extensive experience in governance, financial oversight, and organizational leadership. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant Services Calgary, where she leads a diverse team dedicated to helping newcomers build their new chapter in Canada. Previously, Kate served as Executive Director of the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking (ACT), where she now serves as a Board Director and member of the Finance Committee. Her career includes executive leadership roles with The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary), senior fundraising positions with the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society, and consulting work through Bespoke Social Profit Solutions. She previously served on the Board of the National accessArts Centre, Canada's largest disability arts organization. Kate holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Director

Paula Calderon

Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association

Paula brings over 20 years of work experience in the immigrant-serving sector, including the past four years as a CEO of the Canadian Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA). As a newcomer herself, Paula’s work has always been grounded in a deep commitment to supporting newcomers as they build their lives in Canada. As the CEO of CIWA, she is leading an organization serving more than 20,000 immigrant and refugee women and their families each year. Her focus has been on strengthening organizational effectiveness, building clear and accountable systems, and ensuring work remains aligned with the evolving needs of the communities. Additionally, Paula cares deeply about the strength and sustainability of the sector as a whole. She brings expertise in systems-level perspective shaped by experience in program development, cross-sector collaboration, and navigating complex and changing environments. She is a firm believer of teamwork to build a more coordinated, equitable, and responsive settlement system.

Director

Michale Farr

EmployAbilities Society of Alberta

Michael Farr is an employment services professional with more than 15 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities and over 11 years of experience in Edmonton's employment sector. For the past six years, he has coordinated an employment program focused on supporting newcomers with disabilities as they navigate the Canadian labour market. Michael is passionate about inclusive employment, accessibility, and systems-level collaboration. He regularly works with community partners, employers, and service providers to promote greater integration, reduce barriers, and create equitable opportunities for newcomers and persons with disabilities.