Our Board

Leila is a leader in the nonprofit and charitable sector, with a range of experiences working with boards and a demonstrable commitment to the values of social justice, equity, and inclusion.

With nearly 25 years in the field, she’s considered a subject matter expert on issues related to gender equity, anti-poverty, equity, and inclusion. Her work is grounded in the lived realities of people and communities marginalized by systemic barriers. She’s a senior leader at Family Service Toronto, responsible for the organization’s non-partisan public policy, social action, and government relations work, and she serves as the National Director of Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. She leads the organization’s equity and inclusion work at both the operational and governance levels. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Child Care Now, Canada’s national childcare advocacy coalition. Although she specializes in governance and equity as a board member, she has a diverse skill set. She’s familiar with all aspects of board functions including financial oversight, risk assessments, auditing processes, strategic planning, fundraising, and funder and donor relations.

Michelle is currently the Executive Director of the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre. Previously, Michelle held positions as the Canada Director for Ashoka’s Youth Venture, Executive Director of Youth Action Network, and was in private practice with one of Canada’s leading labour and human rights law firms.

Michelle holds a Masters of Arts in Political Science, and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Osgoode Hall Law School. Michelle is a Loran Scholar, a recipient of YWCA Toronto's Young Woman of Distinction award, and was named by The Globe and Mail and the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She is a frequent commentator in the media on matters related to engagement of Millennials and workforce development strategies.

Dalal Abdul-Razzaq has over a decade of experience in community-based research, grants administration, and policy development. She is currently with the Law Foundation of Ontario as a Grants Manager, having previously worked with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Arab Community Centre of Toronto, and Native Children and Family Services of Toronto. Dalal brings much lauded skills in organization, collaboration, and a keen eye for procedural detail. She lives in Taiaiako'n—Parkdale—High Park.

Magdalena Acuña is an accomplished leader with nearly 20 years of experience in public policy, social services, and stakeholder management across both government and nonprofit sectors. Currently serving as Director of Services & Refugee Programs at ACCES Employment, Magdalena has consistently demonstrated her commitment to fostering equity and inclusion in diverse communities. Her career has spanned key roles such as Deputy Minister of Innovation and Consumer Services for the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Chief Communications Officer for the City of Quilmes.

Amin is a Public Policy & Sociology undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. Amin’s lived experiences have motivated him to become a social policy professional, and he will contribute lived equity perspectives to Social Planning Toronto’s core social research and policy analysis areas. Amin's governance experience applicable to the nonprofit world includes service on the Board of Trustees of the Toronto District School Board and the Federal Council of the New Democratic Party, approving budgets and leveraging governance processes to advocate for change.

For 25 years, Simon has worked in the non-profit social services sector and labour movement. Currently, working in the CUPE national research department on Toronto issues he is also a former City of Toronto worker in the Streets To Homes program. In addition to advocating for policies to advance a more equitable approach to social and economic justice in the city, Simon recently concluded six years as a director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

Mahalia Dixon is a life-long Scarborough resident who has spent the last near-decade working and volunteering at the intersection of lived experience engagement, harm reduction, equity, and youth development across health services, policy, and research. Mahalia has worked and volunteered in both hospital and community contexts and is currently a project manager on the Black Health Strategy team at CAMH. Mahalia believes strongly that the most relevant services, policy, and change comes from meaningful engagement and collaboration with communities.

Vanessa is the Director of Legal Services and a staff lawyer at West Scarborough Community Legal Services. She has over 15 years of experience providing legal services to marginalized communities in Toronto and Vancouver. Vanessa’s legal practice is focused on representing clients with respect to the Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Programs and she has represented hundreds of clients before the Social Benefits Tribunal. She brings a client-centered approach to her work developed through the joint JD/MSW program at the University of Toronto. She is a practicum supervisor with the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Vanessa has a passion for policy work in income maintenance, disability rights and inclusion, and access to justice fostered through participation in Maytree Policy School. She Co Chairs the legal clinic system’s Steering Committee on Social Assistance and works alongside lived experts and allies on social assistance advocacy work. Vanessa has completed a Non-Profit Management Certificate through Simon Fraser University and served for five years on the board of South Riverdale Community Health Centre.

Landon Sanderson is a student at the University of Toronto majoring in Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity, minoring in Indigenous Studies, Education and Solidarity. Originally from Winnipeg, Landon has served as a board member with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties. He has experience in policy development for organizations at local, provincial, and federal levels. Landon is proactive, engaged, and very passionate about bringing a youth-informed, intersectional perspective to board work.

Andrew Townsend (he/him) has worked and volunteered in community health education and advocacy for over 15 years. Currently a Health Promotion Officer with Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights, he also has been involved with Planned Parenthood Toronto, Jessie's: The June Callwood Centre for Young Women, Shelter Movers Canada, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, and East York Basketball. Coming to the SPT Board, Andrew brings experience in nonprofit leadership, board organization, strategic planning, union relations, policy development, and equity & diversity initiatives.