Our Team

Teresa Marques

President and CEO

Teresa Marques is an accomplished fundraising executive with extensive experience leading development teams in the healthcare and post-secondary education sectors. She is interested in how giving patterns in Canada are changing, and is seeking to drive social change through philanthropy while strengthening the non-profit sector in Canada.

Our Leadership

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  Brenda Dashney, CPA, CMA

  Chief Financial Officer

  

  Brenda Dashney, CPA, CMA

  Chief Financial Officer

  Brenda is a CPA, CMA with over 25 years senior management experience in the not-for-profit / charitable sector, having been with a variety of organizations including Amnesty International Canada, the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and most recently the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Born and raised in Ottawa, and a die-hard hockey fan, Brenda shares her home with her husband, two children and rescue dog.

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  Rachel Fancy

  Director, Operations

  

  Rachel Fancy

  Director, Operations

  Rachel Fancy is an administration professional who has spent the majority of her career working in non-profit Canadian theatre. Originally from the East Coast, Rachel has lived and worked across Canada and Europe. An avid reader and traveler she enjoys exploring new cultures with her husband but also returning to her adopted home of Ottawa. rachel(dot)fancy(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca

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  Allison MacLachlan

  Director, External Relations and Public Engagement

  

  Allison MacLachlan

  Director, External Relations and Public Engagement

  Allison MacLachlan is a communications professional with over 15 years of experience, most recently as Senior Director of Corporate Communications for CBC/Radio-Canada. She is passionate about storytelling and helping to make things happen. She loves working as part of a team to grow ideas, and considers optimism to be the most important tool in her arsenal. allison(dot)maclachlan(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca

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  Charles McCulloch

  Director, Development

  

  Charles McCulloch

  Director, Development

  Charles McCulloch brings 25 years’ broad functional experience in both not-for-profit and private sectors, most recently as a vice-president with the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation and previously as director with a leading boutique search firm. Charles enjoys building strong and rewarding relationships with boards, philanthropists, business leaders and partner organizations, Canada-wide. He’s in his element near a Canadian lake. charles(dot)mcculloch(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca

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  Amy Mifflin-Sills

  Director, Innovation and Skills

  

  Amy Mifflin-Sills

  Director, Innovation and Skills

  Amy brings nearly 20 years’ experience as a federal public servant, including 8 years at the executive level. Amy has led policy analysis and framework development, program design and delivery, stakeholder relations and partnership development across a broad range of issues related to skills and the labour market. She has also served on the Board of Directors for non-for-profit organizations. Amy and her husband have two daughters, making them figure skating, hockey and soccer parents. amy(dot)mifflin-sills(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca

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  Bill Mintram

  Director, Indigenous and Northern Relations

  

  Bill Mintram

  Director, Indigenous and Northern Relations

  Bill Mintram is Métis and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to joining the RHF, he held the position of Senior Manager, Indigenous Relations with the Canadian Red Cross. He has also served as Executive Director for the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, and held many board, adjudication, and advisory positions including two terms as an executive board member for the National Association of Friendship Centres. Bill recognizes that working to improve the quality of life for Indigenous people across Canada is not possible without the love and support of his wife Marylou and son Ethan. bill(dot)mintram(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca

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  Rachel Mishenene

  Director, Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative

  

  Rachel Mishenene

  Director, Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative

  Rachel Mishenene is Anishinaabe and French originally from Mishkeegogamang First Nation and is a member of Eabametoong First Nation through adoption. Rachel's education journey includes teaching in elementary, secondary, post-secondary, and teaching classroom teachers. She is an author, scholar and a curriculum and program developer. She has her Masters of Education and has done research in parent engagement and best approaches to engaging Indigenous learners. A recipient of the 2018 Indspire Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Award, Rachel is recognized for her achievements in leading positive systemic change to education. She worked at the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario for six years and designed Indigenous education programming and resources for classroom teachers. Rachel has been working in education for 16 years and has created may learning engagement opportunities, including developing a leadership program for Indigenous women educators. She was also Executive Director for Right To Play Canada and worked with a team across Canada to delivering child & youth play-based programming with Indigenous community partners. Her most recent written piece can be found in My Best Idea: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (Rubicon Publishing, 2022). Rachel enjoys spending time with her son, mother, and friends. rachel(dot)mishenene(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca

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  Ikem Opara

  Director, National Learning Partnerships

  

  Ikem Opara

  Director, National Learning Partnerships

  Ikem Opara has spent the last 20 years engaging public and private sector partners in Canada, Tanzania, Kenya and Cuba, to build relationships and strengthen connections across national, linguistic, cultural and other borders. Following progressive roles at Pathways to Education, Canada World Youth, and Canadian Jesuits International over the years, Ikem most recently led Ontario Trillium Foundation’s strategy, grant-making and capacity building work with a focus on inclusion, and improved outcomes for Black and Indigenous youth. Ikem lives in the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Treaty area known as Toronto, from where he supports the work of the Rideau Hall Foundation. ikem(dot)opara(at)rhf-frh(dot)ca