Chris and his colleagues led a pro bono campaign for Canada’s survivors of thalidomide which received national (and international) sustained media coverage, resulting in a unanimous vote in the House of Commons (a rare feat), and a funding agreement of over $180 million to provide survivors with ongoing tax-free support for the rest of their lives.

In addition to his consulting experience, he previously served as a Senior Advisor to several Ontario cabinet ministers, including the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Finance, and the Chair of Cabinet.

Chris holds a Masters of Arts from the University of Toronto, and completed research work at the University of Bath (UK) and Katholische Universitat Brabant (Netherlands).

She founded JN Clarke Consulting in February 2021. Since founding the firm, JN Clarke Consulting has grown to a team of 4+ associates, and has provided transformative government relations services to more than 40 different organizations across Canada’s charity and non-profit sectors. JN Clarke Consulting offers strategy and retainer support in government relations to non-profits across Canada, as well as grant writing to selective clients. JN Clarke Consulting is a proudly feminist and LGBTQ+ owned firm, with a strong commitment to anti-racism, decolonization and progressive values.

Now at the head of the community foundation movement, Andrew is working closely with the Community Foundations of Canada Leadership team, Board and foundations in Canada and abroad to help the philanthropic sector transform, innovate and meet the new challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. An increasingly active public speaker, Andrew is helping raise awareness for how the philanthropic sector’s convening power, leadership and action around targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals can help Canadian communities reach their full potential.

Aline is a dynamic, multilingual leader with extensive professional experience working with equity-deserving groups. She has a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelors in Health Policy focusing on the social determinants of health from York University. She also has an executive certificate from Yale University on Fostering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Her career in the non-profit, healthcare, and public sectors has instilled in her an in- depth understanding of issues affecting francophone and multilingual communities, as well as Black, Indigenous, and Racialized 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 received the Governor General’s King Charles III Coronation Commemoration medal in 2024 for her work in diversity and inclusion. She was also 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. Aline was recognized as the 2025 Visionary Impact award-winner by the Women’s Nonprofit Network.