Rohini Arora

Rohini Arora is a political strategist who specializes in field organizing on campaigns at every level of government. Rohini works as the Director of Campaigns and Organizing with the BC Federation of Labour. Savvy communications and stakeholder relations skills are at the heart of winning campaigns and Rohini has an impressive track record of success working in the political sphere. She has supported community organizations in petitions with thousands of signatures of support which directly led to notable provincial policy changes such as the turban helmet exemption policy and scattering of ashes in waterways in Alberta.

At every opportunity, Rohini is a champion for racial equity and diversity work to create a more safe, inclusive, and equitable workspaces.

OIivia Chow

For over thirty years, Olivia Chow has been an effective and well-known public figure, serving in Toronto’s municipal politics and on the national stage as a Canadian Member of Parliament. In 2015, Olivia Chow established the Institute for Change Leaders (changeleaders.ca) at Toronto Metropolitan University. Since then, Olivia and her team of 40+ trainers have taught community and political organizing to over 10,000 organizers.

Olivia Chow has thirteen years of teaching experience and two certificates from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education. She is the author of the best selling memoir “My Journey”.

Melanie Matthews

Melanie Matthews is a registered social worker with both a Bachelor and Master’s degree in social work. She has worked in social services for more than 12 years. Most recently, she has held the position of Research Manager at a Canada wide addictions treatment centre and runs her own private psychotherapy practice on the side. She has been a facilitator with ICL since 2019. Melanie also has lived experience with homelessness, addiction, and domestic violence. She uses her experience to ensure that she is taking a person centred and equity focused approach in her work.

Andrea Reimer

Andrea Reimer started her public work as a community organizer on issues of social, economic and environmental justice. Andrea has been a strong public voice in Vancouver for over two decades, as a Vancouver Councillor, Metro Vancouver Director, and a school trustee, with a focus on making government easy to access and giving people the tools to hold power accountable.

After leaving public office in 2018 she was awarded a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in recognition of her civic leadership and now teaches about navigating power structures at UBC, SFU and the Public Policy Institute. In addition, in 2020 Andrea founded Tawaw Strategies, a consultancy that advises local governments, First Nations, non-profits and mission driven local businesses willing to take courageous action on bold policy initiatives.

Ange Valentini

Ange Valentini is a political advisor, strategist, and community organizer. She brings 25 years of experience building creative solutions to complex challenges that drive social change and public good, bringing together stakeholders and decision makers to build stronger communities. Ange is an activist at heart and she has worked on more than 50 campaigns to change policy outcomes and elect progressive leaders. She has also worked inside 3 orders of government in Canada and is a trusted advisor.

Ange is the founder of Strategic Impact Collective, a consulting practice focused on advancing social and economic justice goals. Ange is a mom and step-mom raising 5 kids with her partner in Vancouver. Her lived experience includes surviving violence, precarious housing, and raising kids on her own.