Currently a Mitacs Postdoctoral Fellow with the Charity Insights Canada Project at Carleton University, Tara contributes to national research on working conditions, financial stability, and service capacity in the charitable sector. Tara also has extensive experience in the Canadian charitable sector, having worked as a front-line social worker and volunteer with local charities.

Before coming to Volunteer Canada, Sara was a Senior Director at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a Vice President at Community Foundations of Canada, and in 2021 did a secondment with the Equality Fund.

A graduate of McGill and the University of Toronto, Sara has been a frequent public speaker on philanthropy, social innovation, and social finance. She is currently a board member of Exeko, in Montreal and is the former Chair of the Circle on Philanthropy — two roles that have allowed her to live out her passion for transformation, social inclusion, and creating innovative spaces.

Sara loves cycling, playing tennis and spending time with her two teenage daughters.

Over her four years in the post, she led the organization through a significant period of growth and transition that included a national expansion, organizational rebranding, and significant expansion of its research, policy advocacy, strategic litigation and services work.

Prior to joining CERA, Alyssa served as the health, social, justice and labour policy advisor to the President of the Treasury Board of Ontario, and as Director of Policy to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure. Alyssa has also worked as a legal research and communications advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, a lawyer and policy analyst at the Ontario College of Teachers and a Lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University, and she completed her articles at Torys LLP.

Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo, a master’s degree in political science from York University, a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University.

Olga has over 20 years of experience managing fast growing, distributed, non-profit organizations, as well as operational expertise in program design, delivery, and evaluation, and a proven track record of building strategic partnerships among diverse stakeholder groups.

Olga joined MOSAIC after a long career as Chief Operating Officer at Mitacs, a national non-profit organization delivering research and training programs to graduate and postgraduate students in Canada through partnerships with the private sector and the federal and provincial governments.

Olga has a Master’s Degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, Slovakia. Prior to immigrating to Canada, she was Senior Project Manager at Management Partners, the leading HR consulting company in the Slovak market. She was highly successful in her role of recruiting personnel for international organizations opening subsidiaries in Slovakia.

Olga is the recipient of the 2009 Business in Vancouver Top Forty Under 40 Award, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and King Charles III Coronation Medal.

He’s a proud CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) going on seven years, a two time contributor to Engage Journal, speaker at the 2024 VMPC National Conference and 2024 International Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference and directed the 2025 VMPC National Forum. Adam previously also held senior roles at Volunteer Ottawa and Christie Lake Kids. He is driven by the core belief: Volunteer Engagement Leaders and the volunteer communities led by them build stronger, healthier communities for all.

Beyond Volunteer Engagement chat with Adam over coffee about live music, hiking, antropology—or parenting. Happy to connect on LinkedIn or at president@vmpc.ca.

His work has helped raise more than $1.5 billion for healthcare, scientific research, veterans and military families, youth empowerment, sport, women’s advancement and refugee support.

Michael currently serves as Chair of Engage Canada, an independent, non-partisan initiative advancing the development of a modern, voluntary and paid national youth service program designed to give young Canadians meaningful opportunities to serve, build skills and contribute to national priorities.

He is also Executive Chair of Canada’s Valour Games and Co-founder and Executive Chair of PurposeU, an AI-enabled learning platform that helps individuals and organizations define and activate their purpose. Through these roles, Michael continues to focus on service, human potential and the capacity of mission-driven organizations to create lasting social impact.

Previously, Michael served as President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, where he helped advance major philanthropy in support of world-leading cancer research and care. He also served as Chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation and led the effort that secured a $50-million gift from Myron and Berna Garron. At the time, it was the largest donation ever made to a Canadian community hospital. The landmark gift, made in memory of their son Michael, led to the hospital being renamed Michael Garron Hospital and helped accelerate the transformation of care for people across East Toronto.

As CEO of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017, Michael led the delivery of a major international adaptive sporting event for ill, injured and wounded service members and veterans. The Games elevated public understanding of the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families and supported participants on their recovery journeys. Earlier, Michael co-founded and served as the first Vice-Chair of the True Patriot Love Foundation, helping build a national network of support for military members, veterans and their families.

Michael’s business career includes co-founding and serving as President of Clearsight Wealth Management. That entrepreneurial and financial-services experience has informed his approach to charitable leadership: pairing a clear mission with disciplined governance, sustainable strategy, compelling storytelling and measurable results.

Michael has served on more than a dozen boards and advisory bodies. He was a Director of Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall and currently serves on the boards of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, the PGA of Canada and Canada Snowboard. Across these appointments, he has contributed experience in governance, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, organizational growth and community impact.

Michael has received two Meritorious Service Decorations from the Governor General of Canada. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for his role in co-founding the True Patriot Love Foundation and developing a national network of support for military members, veterans and their families. He later received the Meritorious Service Medal for spearheading the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and delivering a world-class competition that increased Canadians’ awareness of the service and sacrifice of military personnel.

His other honours include the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service, the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Michael has also received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University and was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.