BOURSES

Sana Mahboob is a passionate advocate for inclusive philanthropy and values-driven leadership. A sought-after speaker, she has shared her voice across Canada and beyond on topics including Islam and philanthropy, values-based giving, mentorship, ethics in leadership, and anti-Black racism. Her transparent and thoughtful style resonates with professionals across the charitable, advisory, and public service sectors alike. For over a decade, Sana has helped organizations and leaders bridge generosity, purpose, and equity while serving in executive roles on local, national, and international boards spanning philanthropy, youth, sports, and technology. A proud graduate of the University of Manitoba, she continues to give back through mentorship through the President’s Student Leadership Program.

Building on this foundation of community and connection, Sana serves as a Senior Officer with the Government of Canada, where she contributes to advancing inclusive economic development and public service excellence. Sana has been invited to speak by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, academic institutions across Canada, and AFP chapters throughout North America. Her insights have been featured by CBC on International Women’s Day, CTV Canada, and international media outlets in Pakistan.

As an immigrant to Canada, Sana brings a deeply personal understanding of belonging, generosity, and the shared responsibility we all have to build stronger, more connected communities – the kind that we are proud to call home.

Nathan Chappell is a thought leader, public speaker, author, and AI inventor, recognized globally as an expert on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and generosity. Nathan serves as Chief AI Officer at Virtuous Software where he supports AI integration to help nonprofit organizations amplify mission at scale. In 2018, Nathan founded Fundraising.AI, a global advocacy organization for Responsible and Beneficial AI in the nonprofit sector. Additionally, he is author of two books, Nonprofit AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Social Good and the 2022 award-winning book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges, which has been deemed “required reading for this generation of fundraisers”. With over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Nathan is a global keynote speaker and content contributor. His work has been featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, NPR, Forbes, Fast Company and more. His podcast, Fundraising AI, is among the top nonprofit technology podcasts worldwide.

Nathan serves as an advisor for the OpenAI Users Forum, the AI for Good Foundation, the International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), and the Forbes Technology Council.

He holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge, a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT, a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy, is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE) and holds a credential by IAPP as an AI Governance Professional (AIGP).

Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba who was named by Maclean’s magazine in 2022 as one of the most influential people in Canada. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian columnist of the year (winning in 2018) and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN and on his co-hosted podcast Niigaan and the Lone Ranger. His first book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024) was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for Non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Rob was appointed Director of the Policy, Planning, and Legislation Division of the Charities Directorate in May 2022. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served within the Directorate as an Audit Advisor and as Director of Compliance from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure in Compliance, he led a significant redesign of the Directorate’s compliance approach.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University and has over 28 years of experience with the Canada Revenue Agency. Beyond his work in the Charities Directorate, he has held various leadership roles within the Compliance Programs Branch, including auditor, audit team leader, audit program manager, and Director overseeing Business Intelligence and Case Management Teams.

How can we harness technology to make a difference in the world? That’s the question Jason loves to explore with organizations. Jason serves as Chief Digital Officer of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience which aims to build a digitally-enabled nonprofit sector, where Canada’s diverse nonprofits use data and tech to advance their mission and multiply their impact. As an experienced digital executive, Jason has consistently provided leadership to help organizations stay ahead of the technology curve. He has successfully championed organization-wide digital-first approaches and has developed and implemented strategies that support operations, marketing, fundraising, and program delivery.

Jason also serves as an editor for Ledger, a journal focused on blockchain research, and has previously contributed his expertise to the boards of Ontario 211 and NTEN, promoting the skillful and equitable use of technology.

Troy McEachren is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Montréal office whose practice focuses on charities and not-for-profits, private wealth, and trusts and estates. He delivers high-value legal counsel to charitable organizations, foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, guiding clients through complex tax, governance, and succession matters in both domestic and international contexts.

Recognized by Chambers and Partners, Lexpert, and Best Lawyers, Troy is widely regarded as one of Quebec’s leading legal advisors in the charitable sector. He regularly advises charities, foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations on governance, fiduciary obligations, compliance, and charitable giving. His private wealth practice includes succession planning, trusts, cross-border tax planning, estate litigation, and fiduciary obligations, where he counsels families, trustees, and institutions on both personal and organizational mandates.

With experience across both civil and common law frameworks, Troy offers clients seamless advice in matters that cross jurisdictions within Canada and internationally. His ability to bridge different legal systems allows him to advise organizations and families with complex, multi-jurisdictional needs.

Troy is a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and an active voice in the legal and charitable communities. He frequently publishes and speaks on fiduciary obligations, planned giving, and charitable governance, and has authored the “L’administration du bien d’autrui” chapter of JurisClasseur Québec – Successions et fiducies. His thought leadership continues to shape the legal landscape for charities and private clients in Canada.

Troy is also active in numerous professional organizations, including the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.

Troy holds a BCL/LLB from McGill University and a B.Sc. from Acadia University. He was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1999 and is fluent in French and English.

Bruce MacDonald is the President & CEO of Imagine Canada. When carnivals and social good combined, it pointed to a path and for 30 years Bruce has been walking that route. From working for organizations that provide services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce’s experiences have lead him to Imagine Canada. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Masters in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University and a former record in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 2019-2023, Bruce served as Co-Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector working with the federal government. In 2025, Bruce received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements and leadership.

Nneka Allen identifies as a Black Afro-Metis woman and Momma. She descends from freedom-seeking ancestors who endured the Transatlantic Slave Trade, built North America through free and forced labour and escaped through the Underground Railroad. This legacy connects her to the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, specifically the Cherokee and Lumbee tribes. As a lover of justice, Nneka has inspired philanthropy as a Fundraising Executive in the charitable sector for over 25 years. She is the founder of the Black Canadian Fundraisers’ Collective, a community that nurtures the well-being of Canadian Black fundraisers and supports the fundraising capacity of B3 organizations. She is a celebrated author and co-editor of a bi-national book that showcases the personal stories of 15 Black leaders in the charitable sector, titled Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love. During the 2022/23 academic year, Nneka took on the role of one of the inaugural Scholars-in-Residence for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of British Columbia. Nneka considers herself a relationship builder, stone-catcher, freedom fighter, storyteller, and leadership coach. At the helm of The Empathy Agency Inc., she passionately guides clients towards finding hope, purpose, and justice in their relationship with themselves, others, and the Earth. Her mission centers on nurturing wholeness and honouring humanity by harnessing the power of empathy through individual and organizational coaching.