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Leadership

Meet our leadership team and Board of Directors.

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Leadership

Elisha M. Laker, MSW RSW
Chief Executive Officer

Mariana Benitez, M. Ed., R.P.
Director of Clinical Services and Organizational Development

Susan Warren B.A. R.P.
Director of Inclusivity and Community Development

Michael Prencipe, B.A.
Director of Operations

Wendy Milwain
Manager of Data

Sarah Simms, MSW, RSW
Manager of Human Resources

Stephanie McKellar
Executive Assistant

Leena Nayyar, MSW, RSW
Manager of Outreach Services

Kerry Newman, R.P.
Clinical Supervisor

Melissa Tolman, MA, R.P.
Clinical Supervisor

Jennise Fortner, MSW, RSW
Clinical Supervisor

Mahsa Ghayoumi, M.A., R.P.
Outreach Supervisor

Board of Directors 2026-2027

Debbie Kassirer – Chair
MSW, MBA; Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner and is the Principal of Beyond Conflict, a consultancy dedicated to resolving and preventing conflict in the workplace.

Vanessa Aguiar – Vice Chair
Executive Director, People, Wellness & Talent, York Regional Police.

Diana Polakow – Treasurer
MBA, CPA, CMA; Diana is a finance professional with over 19 years of experience in financial management, planning, and reporting. She currently serves as Global Finance Director at ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks. She brings her financial experience to FSYR as Treasurer, supporting the organization’s financial oversight and community-focused mission.

Karen Wang – Secretary
Adolescent Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

Ira Teich – Member at Large
M.Sc., C.A.; Author and nation-building/development strategist for governments around the world; formerly CEO/Principal of Canada’s largest, Harvard-acclaimed, global consumer strategy firm; formerly, executive head of strategy for a fortune-50 multi-national corporation.

Mark Lau – Member at Large
Inspector, Community Services, York Regional Police.

Sheila Zahraei – Member at Large
Former Senior Manager at Bell Canada, with extensive experience in leadership, management, and professional development across the technology and telecommunications sectors. Currently serves on various boards and committees, including with the City of Markham.