Albert Lo
Chair
(Richmond, British Columbia)

Mr. Lo is a graduate of University of Guelph. He has more than 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors involving both for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations.

Mr. Lo is CEO of IFD Beneficence Corporation of Vancouver. Between 1999 and 2005 he served as a Board member of Trinity Television of Winnipeg, and held several senior positions including Director of Programming Balance and Vice President Corporate Affairs and Partnerships Development at NOWTV in British Columbia. He was instrumental in establishing strategic alliances supportive of cross-cultural cross-religious dialogue through television programming and multi-ethnic forums.

He was also a professional in the real estate industry, and held a number of positions with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation from 1978 to 1997. He was a member of its Diversity Management Committee, Rotating Chair of the Employment Equity Committee, and Regional Representative (BC and Yukon) for its Visible Minorities Advisory Group. From 1990 to 1996, he was concurrently National President of the Advisory Group on Visible Minorities.

Mr. Lo also played a major leadership role in various other organizations notably in the areas of promoting understanding, respect and harmony among the diverse ethno-cultural and multi-faith communities through television program production, multicultural workshops and seminars, as well as immigrant, youth and seniors support services.

In recognition of his contributions to the community and to Canada, Mr. Lo received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

Dr. Al-Yassini
Executive Director
(Toronto, Ontario)

Dr. Ayman Al-Yassini is the Executive Director of the Canadian Race-Relations Foundation. He has an extensive experience spanning over thirty years as professor and senior manager of key Canadian governmental and non-governmental agencies. Prior to joining the Foundation in late 2006, Dr. Al-Yassini was Member (Commissioner), Coordinating Member, and Special Advisor to the Deputy Chair at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) (1994-2006). He was also the Director of International Trade and Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Business Councils at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, with the primary responsibility for trade relations with Taiwan. At the Social Science Federation of Canada, he held the position of Executive Director, and prior to that he was the Director of Program Development at the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE).

Dr. Al-Yassini is a graduate of Loyola College in Montreal, and holds a PhD in Political Science from McGill University, with a specialization in International Relations and Politics of Developing Areas. He taught for a number of years at McGill and Concordia universities in Montreal, and was a visiting professor at the University of Riyadh (King Saud University) in Saudi Arabia. He published extensively on the relationship between religion and state in Islam, religion and development and religion and foreign policy. He participated as keynote speaker and presenter in numerous national and international conferences and meetings dealing with human rights, immigration and refugee issues, race relations, and diaspora communities. He is a frequent media commentator on race relations issues. Over the years, Dr. Al-Yassini served as board member or chair of a number of community and professional organizations, including the Camrose International Institute in Alberta. He is a member of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges and the Canadian Association of Administrative Tribunals.

Ashraf Ghanem
(Fredericton, New Brunswick)

Ashraf Ghanem of New Brunswick holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick. Currently, he is employed as Director of Settlement and Multiculturalism Branch with the Population Growth Secretariat, for the government of New Brunswick. Mr. Ghanem is the past President of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council Inc.; a provincial umbrella organization for multicultural associations from across New Brunswick. He is the past Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Multiculturalism. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic Metropolis Centre on behalf of the Population Growth Secretariat.

Mr. Ghanem currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. Over the past 23 years, Mr. Ghanem has been extremely involved in immigration, settlement and multiculturalism issues at the community level and at all three levels of government as well as internationally. In February 2005, he was appointed to the Cross Cultural Roundtable on Security, which was created to engage in a long-term dialogue on matters related to national security as they impact a diverse and pluralistic society.

Mr. Ghanem is a passionate advocate for public education on diversity and race relations issues, and has worked with various agencies to create public awareness on issues relating to anti-racism and human rights. In April 2005 he was awarded the Thérèse Casgrain National Volunteer Award, which annually recognizes one man and one woman who have contributed significantly to the advancement of a social cause and to the well-being of their fellow citizens.

Toni Silberman
(Ottawa,Ontario)

At the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ms. Silberman was co-ordinator of special programs, from 1990 to 1997, and executive assistant to the chief commissioner and director of public affairs from 1982 to 1990. Previously, she worked as a private management and research consultant, as well as a consulting associate with McKay Trost Associates. She has also served as director of Seneca College's part-time learning and TeleCollege programs.

Ms. Silberman has been involved in many community and professional organizations throughout her career. She has been on the Beth Torah Congregation's board of trustees since 2004 and on the board of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies since 2005. From 1983 to 2000, she was an officer and member of the executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress-Ontario Region and served on numerous committees. A member of B'nai Brith since 1984, she has served as chair of the League for Human Rights and in various other capacities.

Lyn Q. Chow
(Calgary, Alberta)

A professional electrical engineer, Mr. Chow was employed by Manitoba Hydro for 33 years and retired as the senior manager of the engineering systems department. Previously, he was a junior engineer with the Saskatchewan Power Corporation.

Mr. Chow has also been involved in community organizations. He was a member of the board of directors of the Winnipeg Chinatown Non-profit Housing Corporation and served as its chair for two years. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre. After moving to Calgary, Mr. Chow continued his community service as a member of the board of directors of the Wu Yi Association, vice-president of the board of directors of the United Calgary Chinese Association, member of the board of directors and member of the executive committee of the Chinese Christian Wing Kei Nursing Home Association, vice-president of the board of directors of the Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens' Association, and member of the board of directors of the Calgary Chinatown Seniors Centre Foundation.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam
(British Columbia)

Nazanin Afshin-Jam  is an international human rights activist,  singer, songwriter, actor, and co-founder of "Stop Child Executions" organization.

Ms. Afshin-Jam graduated with a degree in international relations and political science from the University of British Columbia with  scholarship exchanges to study at the prestigious Institut d'études politiques in Paris and at the International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle in England.  She became an advocate by volunteering as a Global Youth Educator with the Red Cross.  She has supported a number of humanitarian causes, campaigned for a number of issues, including women's and children's rights in the Middle East, and continues to be a spokesperson in support of human welfare.
She has participated as keynote speaker and panelist in numerous international conferences and parliaments dealing with human rights with frequent media appearances.

Ms. Afshin-Jam has received a number of awards and honours, including the Hero for Human Rights Award presented by Youth for Human Rights and Artists for Human Rights at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the "Global Citizenship Award" by the UBC Alumni Association.

Claudia Patricia Càceres
(Québec, Québec)

Ms. Càceres has more than 15 years of experience in the fields of public administration and law. She served as national director for human rights for the Colombian Ministry of the Interior, human rights counsel for the Colombian Minister of National Defence, and chief of legal information for the Colombian Ministry of Justice. She has also held various senior positions in the Colombian Government. From 2004 to 2007, she was an ecclesiastical lawyer for the Diocese of Québec City.

Kenny Blacksmith
(Gloucester, Ontario)

Kenny Blacksmith currently works as an Aboriginal management consultant providing services in Aboriginal rights, education, language and culture, as well as in management, marketing, communications, negotiations and Christian leadership training. He is the author of the Covenant of the First Peoples of Canada, which is a historic people-to-people Treaty between First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples in Canada. As an ordained Minister, Mr. Blacksmith is keenly aware of social community issues, personal, family and inner healing needs. He was raised in the Cree Community of Mistissini Lake, Quebec and is a former Deputy Grand Chief of the Cree Nation of Quebec

Hakim Feerasta
(Toronto, Ontario)

Hakim Feerasta is a senior Canadian executive with over 25 years of international experience, specifically with the Aga Khan Development Network and the Aga Khan Foundation. He started his work with the Aga Khan Foundation in 1978 as the founding Chief Executive Officer in Pakistan. Later, he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan Foundation in Tajikistan as well as a Resident Representative with the Aga Khan Development Network in Tajikistan. He has a track record of establishing and managing sustainable livelihood programs and addressing broader socio-economic development issues in challenging environments.

Mr. Feerasta has served on the board of a number of NGOs and as member of several government–donor and donors’ policy and coordination forums. He has represented the Aga Khan Development Network at many national and regional conferences on diverse subjects. Before moving to the social development sector, he worked with IBM Canada as Senior Financial Analyst.

Mr. Feerasta is passionate about promoting understanding and partnerships amongst and involving all stakeholders and helping people make informed choices about their own future and that of the communities in which they live. 

Mr. Feerasta holds an MBA and a graduate degree of Master of Professional Studies in International Development from Cornell University and currently works as a free lance consultant on social development issues, strategies and programs.