Dr. Kenneth Chau is an associate professor at the School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia who has spearheaded various initiatives to promote technology and social entrepreneurship in the university ecosystem.

In 2017, he co-founded a social enterprise (happipad.org) that has developed a scalable platform that is helping communities across Canada address the housing affordability crisis through home-sharing. Home-sharing provides one of the most direct ways to increase housing supply by tapping into the estimated 12 million empty bedrooms across Canada. Happipad collaborates with provincial governments, non-profit organizations, and universities and colleges to provide turn-key housing solutions tailored for seniors, students, and refugees (including those from other countries and those displaced by climate disasters).

Aline Nizigama is CEO of YWCA Canada since March 20, 2023. Aline is a dynamic, multilingual leader with extensive professional experience working with equity-deserving groups. Her career has instilled in her an in-depth understanding of issues affecting diverse and continuingly marginalized communities; how these complex issues intersect to produce varying degrees of inequities in the Canadian and global contexts; and how to address such challenges. 

Aline joined YWCA Canada from Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, the largest francophone multiservice charitable agency in the Greater Toronto Area, where she served as Director of Strategic Projects, Communications and Partnerships. In this role, she led the development and implementation of key initiatives, including the establishment of a new affordable housing department, strategy, and associated services. She has extensive experience in providing services for women, delivering affordable and supportive housing for women, grassroots organizing for feminist solidarity, and intersectionality. 

As a leader deeply rooted in her community, Aline chaired the Board of Directors of Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services for over 8 years, where she actively supported the Executive Director and the rest of the Board in championing  the redevelopment of 2 heritage properties into 35 new apartments for women with mental health challenges, new housing acquisitions and a merger with a small feminist housing charity. Aline was inducted to the 2016 Wall of Role Models as part of the annual Black Canadian Awards by the Diversity Advancement Network, a celebration of success and inspirational stories of Black Canadian community builders and outstanding achievers.

Alia Abaya is a highly collaborative and strategic leader with expertise in the areas of community development, social finance, and cross-sector and stakeholder engagement. Ms. Abaya is passionate about improving social and economic inclusion through initiatives that capture emerging opportunities while maintaining operational integrity.

Her work is currently focused on Affordable Housing as the CEO of Circle Community LandTrust. Ms. Abaya comes to Circle with over a decade of leadership experience acquired in both the not-for-profit, and financial services sectors.

Graham Singh is Founder / CEO of the Trinity Centres Foundation, a Montreal-based charity established to transform faith properties into community hubs and new housing. TCF has released more than $75 million of property financing and has launched a pre-development fund aimed at investment from the Federal Social Finance Fund. TCF's impact is measured in affordability and equity for the thousands of charities and non-profits who are so often excluded from religious narratives.

Graham is a graduate of the London School of Economics, guest faculty at the Saïd Business School at Oxford University, ordained Priest in the Anglican Church of Canada, professional member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and Board Director at the Table of Impact Investing Professionals.  

Shannon VanRaes is a veteran multi-media reporter based in Winnipeg, whose work has appeared in national and international publications. As Future of Good’s news and features reporter, she covers any and all developments in the world of social impact, from new social policy to changes in the charitable sector’s workforce to global development and grassroots initiatives.