Our Youth Assisting Youth Board of Directors are community and corporate leaders who are passionate advocates for at-risk and newcomer youth. Their time, expertise, and influence ensure your donations have the greatest impact.
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Sally Spencer
CEO & Board Member
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Darrel Zehr
YAY Board Member | Newell Brands
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Kathy Bodnar
YAY Board Member | Rogers Communications Inc.
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Daniel Caplan
YAY Board Member | BMO Financial Group
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Mike Arnold
YAY Board Member | Mike Arnold Consulting Ltd.
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Dr. Erika Murray
YAY Board Member | University of Toronto Hatchery Entrepreneurship | Athena Innovation
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Sashen Guneratna
YAY Board Member | Investment at Canada Infrastructure Bank
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Robert Walker
YAY Board Member | Toronto People With AIDS Foundation
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Sheldon Mahabir
YAY Board Member | Institute of Corporate Directors
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Karen Beitel
YAY Board Member | KLB Consulting
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Arvin Minocha
YAY Board Member | Shell Canada
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Sudhir Gandhi
YAY Board Member | Institute of Corporate Directors

Darrel Zehr
YAY Board Member | Newell Brands
Newell Brands, National Account Manager
Youth Assisting Youth Board Chair
Darrel is in his 25th year at Newell Brands; with his first 8 years as a Sales Manager, followed by 12 years as a Marketing Manager and has recently returned to a sales role. He was a Big Brother for 8 years, all with the same little brother and has first-hand experience as a Mentor. Darrel has completed the Friends for Life Bike Rally for the 18th time, consisting of 6 days of cycling from Toronto to Montreal, in order to raise funds and awareness for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation. He has also participated 9 times in the Tri Adventure, a 3-day weekend event, in order to raise funds for an Orphanage / Learning Center in Uganda for 51 Children. He is also a part of a bi-weekly clean-up crew on Saturday mornings for The Out of the Cold program at the All Saints Anglican Church in the Kingsway during the winter months; Darrel Joined the board of YAY in 2011.

Kathy Bodnar
YAY Board Member | Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers Communications Inc. – Director, Corporate Strategy; CPA, CA
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Kathy has been on the Board of Directors for Youth Assisting Youth for over six years and has been a mentor for fourteen years and remains matched with her mentee today. Kathy graduated from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 2008 and obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 2011. Kathy spent five years working at Deloitte in the Assurance and Advisory practice and left Deloitte as a Manager. During her time at Deloitte, Kathy audited several not-for-profit organizations (e.g., CMHA, Southlake Hospital, Evergreen) and has previously volunteered with Endeavour Consulting, which provides consulting services to not-for-profit organizations. For the last five years Kathy has worked in Corporate Strategy at Rogers Communications where she supports the executive management team with various strategic initiatives. Kathy’s role involves performing analytical assessments and delivering recommendations to the key decision makers (e.g., the Board of Directors) about the future of the business.

Daniel Caplan
YAY Board Member | BMO Financial Group
BMO Financial Group – Product Owner, Money Management, Digital Channels
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Daniel has been a mentor with the Peer Project for over eight years and remains matched with his mentee today. He holds a BBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is currently the Product Owner for Money Management, Digital Channels at BMO. At BMO, he develops the strategy and leads a cross functional delivery team to helps customers manage their money through Mobile Banking. Prior to BMO he worked as a Senior Product Manager on global team responsible for RBC’s digital channels in the Caribbean. Daniel has spent more than eight years working in Financial Services across a variety of strategy, consulting and product management roles supporting senior executives in technology, distribution channels and products. He also spent time working in business development for a technology startup as one of the first employees.

Mike Arnold
YAY Board Member | Mike Arnold Consulting Ltd.
Mike Arnold Consulting Ltd. – Owner; CPA CA
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Mike graduated from York University with a BA (Soc.) in 1968 and an MBA in 1972. He articled with Clarkson, Gordon & Co. and became a chartered accountant in 1973. After gaining experience as a claims adjuster, teacher, financial officer and general manager of a clothing manufacturer, he entered public practice in 1982. The practice concentrated on providing advice concerning financing and corporate strategy to rapidly expanding manufacturing companies, mainly in the automotive and building industries. His business now focusses on strategic consulting. He is past president of the York Administrative Alumni Association and was a board member of YRCC 646 for over ten years.

Dr. Erika Murray
YAY Board Member | University of Toronto Hatchery Entrepreneurship | Athena Innovation
University of Toronto Hatchery Entrepreneurship – Director; Athena Innovation – Managing Principal
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Erika Murray is a PhD engineer, the founder of a technology company and law firm, is a practicing intellectual property lawyer, and Director at the University of Toronto. She is a dynamic, results oriented business leader, with 15 years of legal, technology, design, marketing and engineering roles. Erika possesses the knowledge and experience that is required to lead teams, advise key stakeholders, and deliver strategic measurable results.
She is currently a practicing intellectual property/tech lawyer of Athena Innovation and Director at the University of Toronto Hatchery Entrepreneurship where she manages a portfolio of companies and supports their market positioning, IP protection, licensing, customer acquisition and investment fundraising. Erika is also a part-time professor at Ryerson University and Humber College, where she teaches law and business, and is committed to giving back to the success of her students.
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Sashen Guneratna
YAY Board Member | Investment at Canada Infrastructure Bank
Canada Infrastructure Bank – Managing Director, Investment
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Sashen is Managing Director, Investment at Canada Infrastructure Bank. Sashen is a former Partner and leader of PwC’s Capital Projects and Infrastructure group in Toronto. Prior to joining PwC Sashen worked as a Vice President with National Bank’s Infrastructure Finance team. He has also spent 9 years in various roles at Scotiabank.

Robert Walker
YAY Board Member | Toronto People With AIDS Foundation
Toronto People With AIDS Foundation – Philanthropy Officer
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Robb is a professional fundraiser now in his with 3rd year at the Toronto people With AIDS Foundation. Robb has an extensive history as a volunteer for over 28 years working with and helping plan events for PWA, the AIDS Committee of Toronto, Sick Children’s Hospital, the ALS society, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Prior to as career in fundraising Robb worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years with an extensive background in restaurants, hotels, convention planning, and Sales. Being raised in a single parent home Robb knows first-hand the value and importance of a mentor in one’s life.

Sheldon Mahabir
YAY Board Member | Institute of Corporate Directors
The Institute of Corporate Directors – Director
Youth Assisting Youth Board Director
Sheldon is a passionate leader with a commitment to the Board of Directors community, advising directors on post executive career development, good governance, board diversity and social responsibility. He is a Director at The Institute of Corporate Directors, and a past board member with Social Planning Toronto and The Toronto Centre for the Arts. Sheldon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Windsor, Business Management from The Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and is a Human Resources Management professional. Sheldon’s work with both directors and corporate boards have resulted to the placement of a multitude of directors on For Profit, Crown Corporations, Provincial, Municipal and NFP boards across the Canada. Sheldon’s commitment to inclusion and social responsibility has assisted more than 600 visible minorities, to governance positions with Agencies, Boards and Commissions. Diverse City onboard (his project with Maytree Foundation) was a recipient of the United Nations Intercultural Innovation Award. Sheldon’s Specialties include: Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Recruitment & Selection, Alumni Relations, Board Governance, Human Resources, Social Responsibility, Organizational Development and Training.
Karen Beitel
YAY Board Member | KLB Consulting
KLB Consulting – Principal
Youth Assisting Youth Board
Karen Beitel is a public sector consultant with more than 15 years of experience working on public policy and governance initiatives and leading local, community-based strategy and planning projects. She has worked with more than 20 child, youth and family services agencies across Ontario and has a deep appreciation for organizations that work with at-risk and vulnerable youth populations. Over the last ten years, Karen has been involved in a broad range of volunteer commitments for local and international not-for-profits that have contributed to successful fundraising, recruitment and advocacy efforts.
Arvin Minocha
YAY Board Member | Shell Canada
Shell Canada – Head of Sales & Operations – Eastern Canada
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Arvin is a commercially focused, creative thinker, with more than 12 years of experience and proven track record of delivering complex projects across both local and global geographies. He is a recognised expert in stakeholder management, developing people and leading cross-functional teams through significant change to successfully meet business goals against challenging timelines. Passionate about the non-profit sector with practical knowledge of marketing, strategy planning and operations, Arvin is a dedicated supporter of youth entrepreneurship through Junior Achievement – spending 12 years mentoring high school students to help them create and manage their own small business.

Sudhir Gandhi
YAY Board Member | Institute of Corporate Directors
Institute of Corporate Directors – Team Lead NFP Chair Peer Group GTA North
Youth Assisting Youth Board Member
Sudhir is an ICD.D & DEP graduate from Rotman – Institute of Corporate Directors, Canada; and Directors Education Program from the Institute of Directors, Thailand (accredited by Australian Institute of Company Directors). Sudhir is presently a Team Lead, for NFP Chair Peer Group for GTA North for Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Canada. He also serves on the ICD’s NFP Program Committee, engaged in delivery of programs, continuous education & events encompassing governance essentials and best practices for NFP Board Directors. With over 30 years of senior management and board experience with mid to large sized international private/public enterprises and advisory boards and played an integral part at the Senior Management & Board level leadership teams. With a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and culture codes and challenges confronting organizational growth and sustainability, Sudhir has delivered over 3 decades of distilled experience and knowledge For-Profit Advisory & Not-For-Profit Boards. He has been involved in building HR performance and talent management across functional teams driving organizational sustainability, strategic planning, board governance and policies and building lasting value for stakeholders.