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.

Chair

Lori James

Making Changes Association

With over 35 years of experience empowering teams, supporting clients, and generating results, Lori’s career focus has been on the importance of people and relationships. Lori is passionate about empowering people and working to ensure all individuals are provided equal opportunities regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, or sexual identification. Over the past 20 years, Lori has held senior leadership roles within non-profit organizations, guiding and supporting strategic planning, program development, human resources, funding initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. In October 2022, she joined Making Changes Association (MCA) as their Executive Director. Since 1981, MCA has been empowering women, those who identify as women, and teen girls – helping them reach their full potential. The alignment of Lori’s passions, and the vision and values of MCA, is an exciting chapter in Lori’s life – bringing her experience and life-long focus on people and empowerment, full circle.

Vice Chair

Alphonse Ndem Ahola

Francophonie Canadienne Plurielle

Alphonse Ndem 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), and holds an executive role at the Canadian Council for Refugees. He is a member of the Premier's Council on Multiculturalism in Alberta, and a member of the National settlement and integration council - NSIC (Conseil National de l'Établissement et de l'Intégration - CNEI).

Treasurer

Amanda Goodnough, MSW, RSW

The SPEC Association for Children and Families

Amanda has served as Executive Director of The SPEC Association for Children and Families since 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit and government sectors, she brings expertise in settlement services, organizational leadership, governance, strategic planning, and community development. Amanda holds Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Calgary and is a Registered Social Worker. She has worked extensively with organizations supporting immigrants and refugees, helping strengthen access to services, build community connections, and support successful settlement and integration. Amanda is a member of the national Settlement and Integration Service Delivery Committee (SISDC), where she contributes to advancing collaboration and strengthening settlement services across Canada. She is passionate about reducing barriers, fostering collaboration, and creating inclusive communities where newcomers and all residents can thrive.

Secretary

Fion Lee

ASSIST Community Services Centre

Fion Lee has been a Registered Social Worker in Alberta since 1999, with more than 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. This 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 has successfully led the organization through significant growth and transformation, including achieving accreditation for its Settlement, LINC, and Child Care programs through the Canadian Accreditation Council and expanding the organization's budget. At the same time, she has ensured that these core programs remain 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

Eoin Murray

Catholic Social Services

Eoin Murray serves as the Vice President of Immigration and Settlement Services at Catholic Social Services. Throughout his career, he has worked in communications, fundraising, public affairs, and human rights advocacy in the Middle East, including efforts to advance women's rights. He serves on the board of the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) and the New Canadian Health Centre, and is a founding member of The WISE Charter School.

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

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

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 experience in the immigrant-serving sector, including the past four years as 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 CEO of CIWA, she leads an organization that serves 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 that the organization’s work remains aligned with the evolving needs of the communities it serves. In addition, Paula is deeply committed to the strength and sustainability of the sector as a whole. She brings a systems-level perspective shaped by extensive experience in program development, cross-sector collaboration, and navigating complex and changing environments. A strong believer in the power of teamwork, she is dedicated to building a more coordinated, equitable, and responsive settlement system.

Director

Michael Farr

EmployAbilities Society of Alberta

Michael Farr is an employment services professional with more than 15 years of 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 dedicated to helping newcomers with disabilities successfully navigate the Canadian labour market. A strong advocate for inclusive employment and accessibility, Michael is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for newcomers and persons with disabilities. He collaborates closely with community partners, employers, and service providers to foster systems-level partnerships, reduce barriers to employment, and promote greater inclusion and workforce integration.