Barb MacQuarrie is the Community Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women & Children at Western University. She develops and promotes evidence based education and prevention initiatives involving both community-based and university-based partners.

Barb coordinated the first Canadian study on the impacts of domestic violence on the workplace. Her recent research and education initiatives have focused on sexual violence on campuses and workplace education on domestic violence . She is proud to support the mission of the MRCSSI to provide culturally integrative services that build capacity to help individuals, families and communities to overcome challenges, manage conflict and ensure safety and well-being.

Barb is a recipient of the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest official honour, recognizing individual excellence.

Mihad Fahmy is a local human rights and labour law lawyer. Mihad conducts workplace investigations and provides consultancy services regarding HR policies and procedures. In her human rights practice, she represents individuals before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and regularly advises individuals, not-for-profits and small businesses regarding their rights and obligations under human rights legislation and policies.

Mihad is also a part-time adjunct professor at Huron, Western University, teaching a course on Freedom of Religion and Accommodation in Canada.

Mihad has always been actively engaged in her community. She has served on the Board of Directors of the London & Middlesex Children’s Aid Society and the City of London’s Diversity and Race Relations Advisory Committee.

Moe Zeidan is a principal consultant at Bluenose Business Solutions, assisting small to medium-sized enterprises with their accounting and financial management needs. Moe spent over seven years in the financial services industry with the Royal Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. His experience is in relationship management, market strategy, pricing, community outreach and sharing of best practices for commercial clients in South Western Ontario.

Moe is also Treasurer for Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a community partner organization with MRCSSI. Moe is passionate about economic development, youth empowerment, and newcomer/immigration integration.

Saleha Khan is a human rights and social justice educator with more than 15 years of experience in training with law enforcement and the public service sector working with diverse communities in Ontario, Canada and abroad.

Saleha is currently employed with the City of London as their first Diversity & Inclusion Specialist.

Sohail Makhdoom is currently Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics at Victoria Hospital and works as a Staff Psychiatrist at the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI). Sohail is originally from Pakistan and came to the US in 2000 with his wife to do his residency training. He completed his training in Psychiatry with sub-specialization in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the US and moved to London with his wife and three children in 2007.

Sohail is very active in the community and volunteers with a number of organizations. He also served as a board member with Western Area Youth Services from 2009-12.

Bonnie MacLachlan is a retired professor from the Classics Department at Western University. She has published books and articles on ancient Greek religion and poetry, and on gender relations in the ancient world. She also published the writings of one of her students, a young woman from Iran who was abused by her father and ultimately committed suicide. While active on campus she joined or led several initiatives addressing inequity and discrimination experienced by marginalized groups.

Mohamed Hammoud is a TEDx speaker and seasoned facilitator with over 20 years expertise working with organizations to help them identify their purpose, align teams and develop leaders through Emotional Intelligence.

As a leadership and diversity consultant, Mohamed believes in the mission of the MRCSSI and its outstanding service to the community. In the past, he has worked with the MRCSSI on the Reclaim Honor project and was one of the keynote speakers.

Irv Augustine came to MRC at the invitation of Dr. Baobaid. His emphasis on the well-being of the family, facilitation of cultural adaptation as honouring where we come from as well as where we are becoming belongers, resonated with Irv’s own values.

Further, supporting families where transitions into a new culture and context are challenging, without condemning or demoralizing, is so life-giving! Finally, the ability of MRC to bring the main players that support successful cultural and family integr ation is wonderful.

Zeba Hashmi is a community activist, mother of three children, wife, and a life-long learner. She believes in a strong community and has been involved in various volunteer initiatives over the past 18 years.

She is an Administrative Assistant by profession. She recently completed the Bachelor of Arts program in Sociology in Family Studies at Brescia University College and hopes to pursue research at the Master’s level.

Zeba has served on various community boards and committees in Regina, Saskatchewan and London, Ontario. She served on the London Muslim Mosque Board, an elected body, for six years and has been involved with the Muslim Outreach Committee (MOC) at the LMM for the past nine years, and sits on the boards of the London Heritage Council, Islamic History Month and Caring Canadians Society. Additionally, Zeba is serving a second term on the City of London’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Oppression Advisory Committee (DIAAC).

Zeba was recently elected to the Pakistani Canadian Association of London and Surrounding Area (PCA). She has volunteered her time at Hutton House, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Salvation Army (Centre of Hope), and Heart & Stroke Foundation. She has received awards from Muslims for Peace & Justice, Regina Huda School, NCCM Community Builder’s Award, MAC EMAAN award and recognition from the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan.

Melikie Joseph , MSW, RSW, served as Board Chair for the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration from 2016-19. As a social worker, she has conducted court-ordered custody and access investigations/assessments, provided victim services for the London Police, and more recently, provides counseling services for families of the ill, injured or deceased members of the Canadian Armed Forces through the Southwestern Ontario Military Family Resource Centre.

Melikie is qualified as an Expert Witness in the area of Custody and Access, Ontario Court. In 2017, she was appointed to the Ontario Judicial Council to review and investigate complaints about the conduct of provincially-appointed judges and determine appropriate dispositions.

Melikie is a founding board member of the Association to Eliminate Hate and Bias Crimes and she has been effective at facilitating communication between a representative from the broader Canadian Society and the Muslim community. Her contributions were formally recognized by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women in 2016 as a recipient of the “Women Who Inspire” award.  Melikie believes in the importance of building strong and healthy communities through the elimination of violence and oppression and embraces the Mission and Vision of MRCSSI.