Volunteer Canada,Paula Speevak, President and CEO

Paula has been the President and CEO of Volunteer Canada since 2014.  Her background includes applied research as the Managing Director of Carleton University’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development, and a 24-year career as a practitioner and senior manager in the non-profit and voluntary sector in both institutional and community-based settings.  She holds a Master of Management Degree from McGill University in the McGill-McConnell Program for National Voluntary Sector Leaders.

Volunteer Canada, based in Ottawa, provides national leadership and expertise on volunteerism to increase the participation, quality, and diversity of volunteer experiences.  It collaborates with all sectors and provides tools and resources on volunteer engagement.

 Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC),  Michelle Mungar Lumley, CVA

Michelle is currently the Vice President and former Advocacy Chair of VMPC.  She works as a Senior Advisor, Volunteer Programs, at WinSport which owns and operates Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, AB.

VMPC advances and strengthens the profession of volunteer resources management, connects, and empowers a network of professionals, and passionately elevates the quality of volunteerism in Canada.

  Imagine Canada, Bernadette Johnson, Director, Advocacy & Knowledge Mobilization

Bernadette has worked for 14 years in research and policy analysis, in both the public and non-profit sectors.  She holds an MA in Conflict Studies and a Master’s in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.

Imagine Canada’s mission is to strengthen Canadian charities and non-profits so they can better serve individuals and communities both here and around the world.

   Ontario Volunteer Centre Network (OVCN),  Carine Strong, Members of Leadership Team

Carine Strong is the Executive Director of Volunteer Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon since 2008.  Volunteer MBC is the volunteer centre for Peel Region, dedicated to connecting, serving, and helping people.

OVCN is a network of Volunteer Centres that provides a voice to strengthen the individual and collective ability of Volunteer Centres in Ontario to promote and develop volunteerism.

  Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN), Cathy Taylor, Executive Director

As a member of the ONN since 2012, Cathy creates an enabling policy environment for non-profit organizations. She has worked in the sector for 25 years, including as the founding Executive Director of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington. She holds a degree in political studies and history from Queen’s University, and attended the Maytree-York University Executive Directors Leadership program.

ONN is an independent network for the 58,000 non-profits in Ontario, focused on policy, advocacy, and services to strengthen Ontario’s non-profit sector as a key pillar our society and economy.

  Advocacy Session Facilitator, Reva Cooper

Reva is a consultant, trainer, motivator, speaker, supporter of volunteers, volunteer engagement and leaders of volunteers.  A long-time PAVRO members, Reva taught the Volunteer Management Certificate Program at Conestoga Collage for over 25 years.  Find her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/revacooper/.