Board
BOARD
Ashley Bursey
(she/her)
Ashley is a communications leader with nearly 20 years of experience across journalism, government, and public sector communications. In her current role at Ombudsman Ontario, she provides strategic leadership and shapes communications that promote systemic fairness and accessible public services. She also leads initiatives that advance equity, inclusion, and belonging, and that integrate these considerations into both communications practices and organizational culture. Her expertise spans the full communications lifecycle, with particular strengths in public education and outreach, digital and web content, and the user centred evaluation of communications systems and products. Earlier in her career, she worked as a radio, television, and print journalist with media outlets in Atlantic Canada. Outside of work, she can often be found riding Toronto’s public transit with her energetic six year old, travelling, reading fiction, or watching live music. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Daniel Retzlaff
(he/him)
Daniel Retzlaff has worked with TD in various roles and responsibilities across multiple segments, including retail banking, wealth management, commercial banking, and risk management. Daniel currently holds the position of Managing Director with a focus on driving improvements, efficiencies and transformational change across TD Securities, Corporate and Investment Banking Credit. For a number of years, Daniel has been a passionate leader within TD’s 2SLGBTQ+ community and actively involved in numerous committees, events, and initiatives. This leadership has included mentoring and developing a variety of colleagues through different stages in their own careers. He has also served as a Community Member of The 519’s Fundraising and Philanthropy Committee since 2022 and has remained committed to driving the agency’s strategic priorities forward. He believes in the importance of raising visibility, awareness, and acceptance of those within the community. Daniel Retzlaff holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and an MBA from Queen’s University, as well as holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Elli McDine
(she/her)
Elli is a strategist, researcher and public speaker with over a decade of experience leading transformation within complex organizations. As a trans woman, parent, documentary filmmaker and Executive Director of the Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, she brings both lived experience and rigorous research to what it truly takes for people to feel seen, valued and that they belong.
Emily Heinrich
(she/her)
Emily is a Partner and the Leader of BDO Canada’s U.S. Corporate Tax practice, where she supports Canadian businesses navigating U.S. and cross-border tax matters. Originally from Florida, Emily built her early career in the United States before making Vancouver, Canada her home and focusing her practice on helping Canadian companies grow beyond borders. She is a passionate people leader known for her commitment to mentorship, coaching, and creating inclusive environments where individuals feel supported to bring their authentic selves to work. Emily serves as the Pride at BDO Pillar Lead on BDO Canada’s National Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Advisory Council and is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She is deeply committed to creating a better future by living with integrity and fostering care, kindness, and consideration for others, community, and the natural environment. She served for six years (2019–2025) on the Board of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation and continues to volunteer in support of its mission. Emily holds a Master of Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida and is both a Chartered Professional Accountant (British Columbia) and a Certified Public Accountant (Oregon).
Erin Roach
(she/her) - Chair of Thought Leadership Committee
Erin is the Director, Diversity and Inclusion at Ubisoft where she leads the equity, diversity and inclusion strategy for its Canadian studios. Previously, Erin was the Executive Director of the Diversity Institute, an action-oriented research centre at X University focused on building more diverse and inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. She has taken a leadership role on national knowledge sharing networks such as the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and the Future Skills research network. Her work focuses on multi-level system approaches to D&I, innovation and entrepreneurship, intersectionality and impact measurement. She is often found playing sports and games (especially when there's role playing involved) and would love to connect on LinkedIn.
Katia Aubin
(she/her) - Chair
Katia Aubin combines a creative mindset with a strong sense of duty. She is passionate about communities and brand authenticity, going above and beyond to help them succeed. As an expert in reputation management and brand influence, she has developed captivating, engaging, and inclusive communication strategies for organizations such as Sid Lee, RDS, Ubisoft, and Rogers throughout her career. Her campaigns have made an impact in Quebec, Canada, and have been featured in international publications like The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and The Verge. Katia has always viewed communications as a team sport, where making room for new voices is crucial. This collaborative approach has earned international recognition for several projects, including at Cannes, The One Show, and Fast Company’s World Changing Idea Awards. Katia is also the founder of Collective Pivot, an accelerator focused on elevating the entire women’s sports ecosystem, ensuring its sustained success and long-term perenity. She serves on the board of directors for Pride at Work Canada and contributes her expertise as a member of the board of Hockey Quebec.
Keith Clarkson
(he/him) - Treasurer
Keith is an experienced media professional in management for business affairs and production for multi-platform media content. Previously, Keith was Chief Executive Officer and Chief Negotiator for the Union of BC Performers (UBCP), an autonomous branch of ACTRA. Prior, he joined Xenophile Media as Chief Financial Officer/General Manager, and later Executive Producer. While there, Keith’s work earned two Emmy® Awards, two Banff World Television Awards, a Gemini, and a Rose d’Or. In 2000, Keith was recruited by Telefilm Canada as Manager of the New Media Unit to create the Canada New Media Fund and make it an engine to develop innovative Canadian interactive content. He also produced interactive content and social and cultural documentaries for Canadian and international markets. Keith was a founder of both the Vancouver and Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film Festivals and has been involved with Celebration 90 – the International Lesbian and Gay Games and Cultural Festival, Pride Toronto, St. Stephen’s Community House, EGALE Canada, and National Film Board of Canada. Keith has a Master of Business Administration degree, and Diploma in Arts & Media Administration (Schulich School of Business, York University), and a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television Production (University of British Columbia).
Myles Parlee
(he/him)
Myles Parlee is a governance, risk, and sustainability professional with experience supporting responsible business practices and culture and inclusion within the Canadian retail and telecommunications sectors. Myles offers extensive leadership experience across compliance and ethics, human rights, and internal audit, bringing a governance-focused perspective that supports organizational effectiveness and performance. He has held leadership roles in employee resource groups for national organizations, supporting culture and inclusion across the workforce with respect to women, racialized groups, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Through these roles, he has helped advance employee engagement, community-building, awareness, and practical initiatives that support more inclusive workplace cultures. He is passionate about helping organizations move beyond intention by advising on and implementing systematic changes. His work focuses on translating values into practical governance structures, measurable actions, and processes that build trust with employees, stakeholders, and communities. Myles holds CPA designation and brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to board service. He is particularly interested in the role that governance, transparency, and inclusive leadership can play in advancing equity across Canadian workplaces and communities.
Nick Ebbadi-Cook (or Chip)
(he/him, they/them)
Originally from Collingwood ON, Nick (Irish-Scottish settler descent) has been an uninvited guest living in Prince George (Northern British Columbia), the ancestral, unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, since 2017. Nick has a personal passion for supporting community members of diverse backgrounds; including community members living with cognitive impairments and physical disabilities, Indigenous community members, newcomers to Canada, and the gender-diverse, 2S and LGBTQIA+ community. Nick brings skills in advocating with community members; sharing space for storytelling and healing through narratives, voicing needs, making choices, and identifying and achieving goals. With a Bachelors of Social Work degree, and working with community, Nick applies a person-centered, intersectional, trauma-informed and strengths-based approach while fighting injustice and advocating for change. Nick currently focuses their energy in community, Prince George and Northern BC, working to build and strengthen relationships between patients and families, caregivers, and care teams, and enhance and improve experiences and outcomes at BC Cancer.
Rachel April Giguère
(she/her)
Rachel is a business advisor and lawyer with extensive experience in tech, media, and entertainment. She has worked in private practice and in-house, most recently at Netflix, where she led legal support for innovative initiatives aimed at expanding the studio’s global production capabilities. Committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, Rachel has actively lent her expertise to programs that create opportunities for underrepresented talent in VFX, TV, and film production worldwide. Rachel also served on the board of Molior, an organization focused on producing exhibitions and artistic projects leveraging technology as a tool for creation, expression, and action. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys personal challenges like cycling almost 900 km from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds in the 2024 AIDS/LifeCycle. In her free time, she skis, explores new places, or dives into a good book. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Ruth C. White
(she/her)
Ruth C. White, PhD MPH MSW RSW is a writer, speaker, and consultant in equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and mental health. Her full-time role is EDI Project Advisor at the Rotman School of Management at the University in Toronto, where she also teaches in the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work. Ruth is also a part-time therapist in private practice. In 2004 Dr. White, conducted groundbreaking research on the LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica. As an expert witness, she worked with Yale, Columbia and NYU Law Schools, leading law firms, and immigration and gay rights organizations to prevent the deportation of members of the Jamaican LGBTQ+ community from the USA. Dr. White has authored several books in mental health, and has written for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Tracy Anderson Magazine. Dr White gained tenure in social work at Seattle University, then taught in the virtual MSW program at the University of Southern California for 7 years. She has also taught at UC – Berkeley, San Francisco State, Simmons and Fordham universities. As a subject matter expert, Ruth was a mental health contributor on KRON4-TV (San Francisco) for three years, and has been a DEIB consultant for leading corporations including JPMorgan, Indeed, PwC, Premera and more. Ruth is passionate about wandering the planet and being outdoors – especially with her adult daughter, Maya.
Simon Parent
(he/him) - Vice-Chair
No matter the companies and industries he evolves in, Simon advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+ in the workplace. This expands into his line of work by implementing inclusive advertising campaigns. Simon is a marketing and communication executive with recognized leadership in developing innovative and integrated plans. Over the years, he has adapted strategies to regional dynamics and seized short-term, high-reward business opportunities. Simon’s career is marked by agency, media, and company leadership. He has worked, among others, for New Look Eyewear, Vidéotron, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Rogers, and Bell. He also occasionally lectures at Université de Montréal. His experience spans in advertising, sponsorships, promotions, public relations, digital ecosystems, etc. Simon’s management style builds accountability and capitalizes on the strengths and interests of colleagues and partners in a constructive atmosphere. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from HÉC Montréal and a master’s degree in communications with a marketing specialization from the same university. In recent years, he brought his expertise to non-profit organizations related to the arts and nature conservation.
Waqas I. Yousafzai
(he/him)
Waqas is currently a Trade Commissioner with Global Affairs Canada in Toronto and was previously a Policy Advisor in Halifax (2021), Calgary (2020), and Edmonton (2018) with federal departments responsible for economic development and diversification. He has supported senior decision makers in Syria (2011), Austria (2011), Qatar (2012), Ghana (2013), and Mongolia (2017) and was an Advisor with the Alberta government (2014-17) prior to joining Canada’s federal service. As part of Canada’s international assistance program, Waqas worked on gender inclusion and equity for Ghana’s K-12 curriculum in Accra and with the Mongolian wool and cashmere sector in Ulaanbaatar. Waqas’ passion for community development has seen him serve as: Chair of Finance on the Board of Governors of St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta, two terms as Director of one of Canada's top 100 employers and Maclean’s 100 best charities - World University Service of Canada; and past Chair of Governance and Government Relations and current treasurer of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. Waqas has completed all modules of the Institute of Corporate Director’s (ICD) Board Fundamentals Series and holds ICD’s NFP Governance certificate. He is a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®), and also holds a Bachelors in Sustainable Economic Development, an MA in Public and International Affairs, and a postgraduate diploma in Project Management. He is an avid traveler and father to three very active boys. Waqas strongly believes in every individual’s right to feel safe and be themselves in their quest to reach their full potential. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.