Susan McIsaac became President and CEO of United Way Toronto on September 1, 2010. She is a widely recognized leader with more than 20 years experience in the non-profit sector. A senior executive with United Way since 1998, Susan is a key architect of the organization's strategic transformation, from trusted fundraiser to a community mobilizer and catalyst for change.
Prior to becoming President and CEO, Susan was United Way Toronto's Chief Development Officer. Under her leadership she reshaped United Way's annual fundraising campaign to become a community engagement strategy—an approach that seeks to engage donors and volunteers in community strategies to change social conditions in our city.
The resulting direct alignment of United Way's annual fund development to its community impact agenda has resulted in phenomenal growth for United Way over the last 13 years, with campaign revenue growing from $58-million in 1998 to $113.2-million in 2010. The transformation has enabled the organization to leverage enormous resources in support of a community agenda that now works to address underlying, root causes of social issues, in addition to fulfilling its historical role as a supporter of urgent community services.
Before joining United Way, Susan worked for KCI Ketchum Canada, a leader in organizational health, fundraising communication and philanthropic counsel, where she supported a variety of non-profit clients as a campaign director and later as Vice President of Educational Services from 1992 to 1998. She also led Loyalist College's first capital campaign.
Susan has spent a lifetime in service to the community. She donates much of her time to several non-profits in Toronto including the Greater Toronto Civic Action Alliance Board of Directors, and works as a mentor for United Way's CITY Leaders program, an initiative that develops the capacity of the community social services sector. Susan is also a steering committee member for the Governor General's Initiative on Volunteerism and Philanthropy.
In 2007, she received the National Award of Excellence from United Way of Canada–Centraide Canada and was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Pedro Barata joined United Way Toronto in January 2011. As Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, he leads media relations, message and brand positioning, internal communications, issues management and stakeholder relations.
Pedro has more than a decade of involvement in the non-profit sector in areas such as community development, research and policy development, communications and public affairs. Most recently, Pedro was responsible for strategic communications and poverty reduction funding programs at the Atkinson Foundation. He was also a member of the Ontario Social Assistance Review Advisory Council and has held roles with Family Service Toronto and Campaign 2000.
Pedro was a member of United Way Toronto’s Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2010 and chaired the Research and Policy Priorities Committee in 2009-2010. He has also served on boards and committees of the Portuguese Canadian National Congress, Laidlaw Foundation, the Canadian Association for Community Living, Low Income Families Together and the City of Toronto’s Access and Equity Awards.
Pedro holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto.
Louise Bellingham joined United Way Toronto in June 2006 and holds the position of Vice President of Marketing. Louise is responsible for managing the development of marketing strategies and marketing communications support for the United Way Toronto brand. This includes the development and execution of market research, mass advertising, direct mail, marketing collateral, special events, promotions, and online marketing initiatives. As an integrated part of United Way Toronto's Resource Development department, Louise and her team are focused on reinforcing the community building positioning of the United Way brand, building increased awareness and engagement with the brand, and enhancing overall resource development efforts of the organization.
Louise joined the United Way movement after leaving a 25-year career with Bell Canada. In her years at Bell Canada, Louise held a number of progressively senior positions in the areas of product management, consumer and business advertising, promotion, sponsorship, and corporate communications. In her previous position as Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility for Bell Canada and BCE, Louise championed the company's significant commitment to community investment and partnered with a large number of charitable organizations, including United Way, to advance their work in the community.
Louise holds an Honours BA in Social Science from York University and Masters of Business Administration with specializations in Marketing and Organizational Behaviour from the Schulich School of Business. She is active in the community and has volunteered for numerous non-profit organizations including the Faculty of Social Work at University of Toronto, the Board of Directors for the Toronto International Film Festival Group, the Conference Board of Canada's CSR Advisory Group, United Way, Kids Help Phone, Altruvest, and Imagine Canada.
JoAnne Doyle joined United Way Toronto in September 2011. As Senior Vice President, Community Impact, JoAnne provides leadership on United Way Toronto’s strategic initiatives, community investment and partnership building, research, evaluation, and capacity building. She also works closely with our Board Committees, such as the Community Impact Committee; Research, Policy and Priorities Committee; and Allocations and Agency Services Committee.
JoAnne first joined United Way Toronto on an interim basis in February 2011, when she led and shaped a streamlined, community-facing department. She also acted as our Interim Director of Organizational Development from 2004 to 2005. She has deep roots in the social services sector with a focus of expertise on community health. Through her independent consulting practice, JoAnne has helped numerous organizations in areas such as capacity building, strategic planning, governance, and operations. A dedicated volunteer, she has held Board and Executive Committee positions for the Welcome Inn Centre. Her previous roles include Executive Director at the Guelph Community Health Centre and the North Hamilton Community Health Centre.
JoAnne holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from McMaster University.
Ann Edmonds joined United Way Toronto in February 2011. As Vice President, Information Technology, Ann provides strategic leadership in information systems and technology focusing on relationship management and large-scale technology change projects. She oversees the day-to-day IT operations pertaining to network, infrastructure, application, and end-user support.
Ann has spent her 20-year career in the not-for-profit sector working for YMCAs across North America. Most recently as the Vice President Information Technology for the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Ann provided leadership to several enterprise initiatives, including the implementation of new systems for program, membership, fundraising, volunteer management, and finance; introducing new web technologies; and stabilizing infrastructure in a rapidly growing association. Ann is a recognized leader in the YMCA movement having held IT positions at YMCA Canada, YMCA of the USA, YMCA Edmonton, and YMCA London.
Ann holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Western Ontario.
Julia Gorman joined United Way Toronto in 1994 and was appointed Vice President, Resource Development in 2010. She is responsible for overseeing United Way's fundraising campaign, new donor acquisition and strategies related to business development.
As a member of the Senior Executive Team at United Way, Julia participates in the development and implementation of the strategic and operational direction for United Way Toronto. Julia is also a member of United Way of America's Major Gifts Staff Leadership Council, a group of professionals from twenty of North America's largest United Way major gift programs.
Prior to becoming Vice President of Resource Development, Julia was United Way Toronto's Director of Major Individual Gifts (MIG). She led a team of eight professional fundraisers and ninety volunteers to ensure the success and growth of the MIG program. In 2009, this high-growth segment of United Way Toronto's campaign represented over $30 million in annual donations over $10,000, special targeted gifts and endowment giving. Before her role as Director, Julia also helped launch The Tomorrow Fund endowment program and was a Major Gifts Officer.
Before coming to United Way, Julia worked with the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (now IMAGINE Canada) and the IMAGINE public awareness campaign for over ten years. She is an Art History and Museum Studies graduate who has found her place in the world of financial data and donor relationship management in her career as a professional fundraiser.
Michael Herrera joined United Way Toronto in August 2009. As Vice-President, Finance, Michael provides strategic leadership in accounting and financial management. He supervises the Finance Department's day-to-day operations and oversees the development and delivery of accurate and relevant reports to United Way stakeholders.
Michael has spent a career in service to the not-for-profit sector, having worked with social services, religious and arts organizations. Most recently, Michael was the Interim Treasurer at the Anglican Church of Canada. He has held similar positions at YMCA of Greater Toronto and National Ballet of Canada. Previously, Michael was a manager at Ernst & Young and, as an independent consultant, he supported arts and heritage organizations through the development and delivery of financial and governance training to a variety of organizations throughout the province.
Michael's community involvement includes past governance roles with organizations such as Community Social Planning Council - Toronto, Toronto Community Foundation, and Ontario Museums Association. He also teaches a course in financial management for arts managers at the University of Toronto at Scarborough.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ontario since 1996.
Rahima Mamdani joined United Way Toronto in 2005 and now holds the position of Vice President, Human Capital. Until 2011, she was Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development. Rahima is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership on the development and implementation of human resources and volunteer engagement strategies. She provides senior management with strategic counsel on people issues, provides advice and support across the organization and directs the development and administration of initiatives related to HR programs, talent management and organizational culture.
Rahima began her career at Bell Canada 20 years ago and has since worked for Saville Systems, Rogers iMedia and Buy Buddy Inc. Rahima currently volunteers with the Inclusion and Equity Committee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Over her career she has provided HR consulting services to not-for-profit organizations such as Right To Play and Greenpeace Canada and volunteered with the Toronto Children’s Aid Society, the Aga Khan Development Network, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Toronto Public Library and HR Council for the Voluntary/Non-Profit Sector.
Rahima holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology and a Masters of Library Sciences from the University of Toronto. She is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).
Amy Tong joined United Way Toronto in February 2009. As Chief Operating Officer, Amy is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization and leadership of the Finance, Information Services and Human Resources teams. She is also responsible for all regulatory and legal issues, risk management, privacy, change management initiatives, internal communications, and Board committee work.
Amy's professional career has bridged key roles in the not-for-profit and private sectors. Most recently, Amy held the position of Vice-President, Finance and Operations with UNICEF Canada. Prior to UNICEF, she held similar positions with the CN Tower and with the Addiction Research Foundation. Previously, Amy was a Principal with Ernst & Young and held financial roles with the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario.
Over the past five years with UNICEF, Amy was responsible for a staff of 70 people in a wide range of departments, including six regional offices across Canada, Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, Human Resources, Administrative Services, and Customer Services.
Amy served on United Way Toronto's Allocations Committee from 1995 to 2008, taking on the role of Committee Chair from 2004 to 2007. She was a member of United Way Toronto's Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2008. She has also volunteered on Boards and committees of organizations such as Invest in Kids, Women's College Hospital and Holy Trinity School.
