Meet the CAP/AIDS Board of Directors

BLAIR BOWEN | Toronto

Blair is a trial lawyer specializing in corporate and commercial litigation and has conducted more than 40 trials and commercial arbitrations and more than 15 appeals. Blair has appeared as counsel in matters before the Superior Courts of the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia, the Courts of Appeal for Ontario and British Columbia, the Federal Court of Canada, the Tax Court of Canada and on applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Blair has been an active supporter of CAP/AIDS for more than five years as a regular participant in Bike2CAPAIDS and as a third party fundraiser through his Golf Tournaments in Toronto.

BOUDHAN M’BEMBO | Toronto

Boudhan  came to Canada from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in early 2009. Prior to leaving DRC Boudhan had been a Policy Analyst with the office of the Vice President of the Republic and Leader of the Opposition. Prior to that Boudhan spent many years working with NGOs and within the International Sector including six years as a Delegate to UN, Coordination-Immigrés du Sud du Monde.  Since moving to Toronto Boudhan has been an active member and volunteer with the Ontario Council for International Cooperation. Given his knowledge of the impact of AIDS in the region, Boudhan looks forward to contributing to CAP/AIDS in the coming years.

BRIAN HOENIGER | Toronto (*Board Tresurer)

Brian holds a 1st Class Honours BA in International Development from the University of Guelph. He worked for the Canadian NGO CPAR from 1985-1996, including 5 years together with his wife as emergency relief and primary health project directors in Africa, followed by 7 years as co-Manager of programs in the Toronto office alongside CAP AIDS founder Kevin Perkins. He then served as Administrator and first Executive Director of the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), living in Georgia USA to oversee the construction of the International Disc Golf Centre. Today he works as a Consultant, primarily as Accountant and Tour Support for the transcontinental bicycle tour operator Tour D’Afrique Ltd, but also as International Director for the PDGA. In early 2008 or 2009 he cycled from Cairo to Cape Town with Tour D’Afrique. He and his wife live on Toronto Island and their love of Africa and its peoples is reflected in their dream of one day moving to Namibia.

CHRIS FRIESEN | Vancouver

Chris has been working in the field of refugee and immigrant settlement both in Canada and abroad for over two decades. Chris spent three years in Kenya coordinating an educational trust focused on student refugees from Northern and Eastern Africa.  Currently, Chris is the Director of Settlement Services for Immigrant Services Society of BC. A frequent speaker in Canada and abroad on issues related to the settlement and integration of newcomers, Chris was awarded the TOESL International Advocacy Award in 2000. Chris co-authored the Simon-Fraser University report titled “A System in Crisis” - the first comprehensive overview of the current state of immigrant settlement and language programs in Canada. A founding member of CAP AIDS, Chris served as President from 2003-2010 and, after this hiatus, has once again joined the Board of Directors.

HILARY FERGUSON | Toronto

Hilary has an MA in Geography from the University of Toronto and an MA in Public Policy and Administration from Ryerson University. She has published articles in academic journals, several of which are based on fieldwork undertaken in Uganda. Hilary has also worked and volunteered for various development organizations, including CAP/AIDS and End Poverty Now (EPN). Currently, she is a policy analyst at the Ontario Public Service.

JENNY FRANCIS | Vancouver

Jenny Francis is a community activist and researcher in Vancouver BC. She has over a decade of involvement in a wide range of projects with local African communities, including serving on a number of boards of directors.  Her research projects have examined the housing situation for African refugees as well as services for African youth in Metro Vancouver.  In addition, Jenny lived and travelled extensively in Africa over a period of several years. She is currently a PhD student in Geography at UBC. Jenny participated in CAP AIDS’ Vancouver Bike-a-thons as a rider for four years before taking on the role of co-coordinator in 2011.

KAMLYN NG-SEE-QUAN| Ottawa

As a social worker and researcher Kamlyn has worked in the area of reproductive and sexual rights and health for over 15 years. Her interest developed while studying at the University of Calgary as she worked with Planned Parenthood affiliates and AIDS Calgary. Later, she completed her Master’s in International Social Work, with a placement at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) during the ICPD+5 review process. Later, Kamlyn worked with Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) as a researcher examining the integration of HIV/AIDS and reproductive and sexual rights and health. Kamlyn has also worked in the area of international migration, the labour market, urbanization, and corporate philanthropy and volunteered with University of Toronto’s Sexuality & Education Centre and Canadians for Choice. Kamlyn has supported CAP AIDS since its inception and is active in coordinating the Ottawa Bike to CAPAIDS event. She continues to work as a Research Analyst, currently with the University of Ottawa.

KEVIN PERKINS | Ottawa (*Board President)

Kevin Perkins is the Founding Executive Director of CAP/AIDS. His interest in creating CAP/AIDS goes back to his days as a Senior Program Manager for a Canadian charity that implements integrated community development programs in Africa. While serving as program manager, Kevin witnessed the terrible unfolding of the AIDS pandemic. Kevin left CPAR in 1997 in order to work on local economic development initiatives in his own community of Riverdale, Toronto . Yet, the terrible reality of the AIDS crisis in Africa was never far from his mind, and Kevin felt that he had to devote his time, energy, skills and knowledge to doing his small part to help. The illness and death of several friends from AIDS - in Canada and Africa - heightened Kevin’s desire to dedicate himself to fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Kevin brought together a group of his friends and colleagues, and together they decided to establish CAP/AIDS. On December 1, 2002 , the first meeting of the founding group launched this new NGO. Kevin left his job at Riverdale in January 2004, and became the founding Executive Director of CAP/AIDS on a part-time basis. In the spring of 2006, Kevin became the Executive Director of the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network, and adopted a new role as CAP/AIDS’ President of the Board.

OLIVER MARTIN| Toronto

Oliver Martin is Director of Global Development at GlobeScan, a leading international research consultancy specialising in reputation and CSR management.  The firm works with leadership companies, multilateral institutions and global NGOs, including Amnesty International, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Oxfam to providing evidence-based insight and advice to help them manage relations with stakeholders and define their strategic positioning. GlobeScan is also the global pollster for the BBC World Service.From 2007-2009, Oliver took a sabbatical from the firm to act as the Associate Director of the Pacific Asia Travel Associations’ Strategic Intelligence Centre. Headquartered in Bangkok, the Centre focuses on trend analysis for the Asia Pacific tourism industry. From 1999-2003, he worked in progressively senior positions in marketing and research at the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canada’s national tourism marketing agency.Oliver studied international politics and economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, and participated in the 52nd WUSC International Seminar at the University of Zimbabwe. In addition he holds a graduate certificate in marketing from University of Toronto.

NATALIE LAPIERRE | Ottawa

Natalie comes  from a background rich in public affairs, communications, administration, project coordination and management, high profile event planning and in fundraising for the not-for-profit sector.  Natalie is fluently bilingual and also spent eight years working for DFAIT in London. She is a long-standing advocate for human rights and community health and wellness and has been an active volunteer with CAP/AIDS this past year as a lead organizer of both IceCAPAIDS and Bike2CAPAIDS events in Ottawa.

ROSEMARY FORBES | Ottawa

Rosemary has been involved in development work for the past two decades. She worked in Botswana as the Field Director for the World University Service of Canada and in South Africa as the Program Coordinator with INTERFUND, an international fundraising consortium.  Her involvement with CAP/AIDS began soon after its formation when, as the Program Manager at the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD), she coordinated the inclusion of  CAP/AIDS interns into our CIDA-funded internship program. When CAP/AIDS received support under the CIDA-funded Small Grants Fund, a program administered by ICAD and CSIH, she monitored and evaluated its activities in Malawi. Rosemary has just completed a contract as the acting Executive Director with the Canada-Africa Community Health Alliance.

SHARLENE BOURJOT | Toronto

Sharlene first got involved with CAP/AIDS as a member of the Young Professional Committee in 2005.  Since then, Sharlene has involved with planning of many CAP/AIDS events including World AIDS Day Celebrations and the Bike-A-Thon in Toronto.  Sharlene’s international experience includes working as a Curriculum Advisor on a Right To Play/UNICEF project for a year in Rwanda (2007-2008).  Sharlene also spent time in Kenya with Right To Play coordinating a sport for development project in Kakuma Refugee Camp, with World Literacy training special education teachers in India and with the Canadian Teachers Federation training primary math teachers in Ghana.  Sharlene currently works for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) as a Special Education Consultant working with elementary and secondary schools and is a member of the Inner City Advisory Committee for the TDSB.  She is also working towards her Masters of Adult Education and Community Development with the Collaborative Program in International Development in Education at UofT.