Celebrating McMaster’s 2021 Women of Distinction Nominees & Winners

These Mac-mazing women have us feeling very McMaster proud!

We are celebrating 33 women with a McMaster connection who were nominated for a 2021 Women of Distinction Award by the YWCA. This year, the awards were leveraged to shine a light on the women and girls who have rolled up their sleeves in response to the pandemic. Learn more about each of our nominees below.

An * denotes the YWCA Women of Distinction award recipient in the category.

Community Champion

Alexis Wenzowski
Alexis Wenzowski believes that, “To be part of a community, you have to be part of a community.” This principle has shaped her current involvement with the Hamilton Jewish Community, and previous involvement with the Peoples of Amachewespimawin (Saskatchewan), as well as racialized communities in Buffalo, New York.

Alexis has a Masters of Education (Canisius University), Diploma of Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Waterloo), and an Honours B.A. in Political Science.
She is the Executive Director of Hamilton Jewish Family Services (HJFS), an inclusive organization grounded in Jewish values and traditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, under Alexis’ leadership, HJFS expanded its community supports to include dedicated case management, mental health counselling, and enhanced food security programs to help the community get through this challenging time.

Amanda DiFalco
Amanda DiFalco is a recognized leader dedicated to ending homelessness in Canada. Prior to joining the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness in 2020, Amanda was a public servant for over 17 years in community services. Amanda has led system change across the housing and homelessness sector in Hamilton. Since 2015, she has helped to provide stable housing for 900+ people experiencing homelessness. She has also been an advisor for several federal and provincial policy initiatives, ensuring local voices are amplified at higher levels of government. Amanda was selected to represent Canada in the inaugural Institute for Global Homelessness Leadership Program, exemplifying her intense and unwavering commitment to social justice, the Right to Housing, and serving our neighbours experiencing homelessness.

Ashleigh Montague
Ashleigh Montague is passionate about impacting the communities in which she lives, learns, and works. Her love for the community is seen through the initiatives and non-profit organizations she has co-founded; Janus Skills 4 Success, Operation Feed the Homeless, and Nu Omega Zeta — Canada’s 2nd black-focused sorority. Ashleigh embodies what it means to be a “True Hamiltonian.” In 2020, she co-founded BLK OWNED, a platform designed to celebrate, showcase, elevate and support black-owned businesses. In a time of instability, she used this platform to redirect traffic to black-owned businesses in Hamilton through effective and innovative free marketing. As a Connection Specialist, her life’s mission is to motivate and inspire youth through the art of connecting with self, others, and community.

Honourable Anita Anand
The Honorable Anita Anand was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Oakville in 2019. Minister Anand is a scholar, lawyer, researcher, and mother of four children. A devoted leader in her Oakville community, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Lighthouse Foundation for Grieving Children, the Oakville Hospital Foundation, and Oakville Hydro Electricity Distribution Inc.

For the past two decades, Minister Anand has been a legal academic, employed most recently as a Professor of Law at the University of Toronto where she held the J.R. Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance. As Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Minister Anand is responsible for procuring millions of Covid-19 vaccines and PPE for Canadians.

Brenda Duke
Brenda Duke’s community engagement began in 2015 when she founded a community planning team to help residents improve Gibson-Landsdale neighbourhoods. Brenda started a community newspaper, initiated pollinator gardens, adopted three parks, revitalized the local community garden, and is the visionary of Beautiful Alleys, a resident-led group that seeks to renew and promote Hamilton’s laneways and alleys as safe, environmentally sustainable public corridors that connect people, neighbourhoods and communities.
During 2020, Brenda organized volunteers to prepare planting and care of the community food garden, and distribute supplies to clean their alleys and parks.
Brenda has been the recipient of Forty over Forty recognition, a Women Who Rock Award, and the Order of Hamilton. Beautiful Alleys has also earned a Community Builder Award/Environment Award of Merit.
Brenda’s goal is to ignite passion and motivate and support the actions of residents to better their community and lives.

Also nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Gina Robinson
Gina Robinson is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and has held various leadership positions in addition to acting as a role model and mentor. In 1999, Gina joined McMaster University and was appointed the first Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (2012). She has brought vision and innovation, spearheading new programming (Women in Leadership Summit), developing new partnerships (City of Hamilton), becoming a member of the Hamilton Financial Empowerment Strategy Group, and ensuring equitable and inclusive program design. Throughout her tenure, she has served the community and McMaster on boards/committees such as Hamilton Community Living, YWCA Hamilton, Graduate Student Association, and McMaster Alumni Association. Gina is most passionate about financial literacy and has used her knowledge/skills to educate students and the community about questions around taxes and other important money matters.

Also nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Lisa Nussey*
Lisa Nussey is the Program Director for HAMSMaRT and the Co-coordinator for Keeping Six. Lisa relentlessly defends the rights, dignity, and humanity of people who use drugs (PWUDs). Lisa represents the voice for PWUDs at many stakeholder tables, attempting to manage and overcome the drug epidemic while respecting PWUDs’ right to self-determination. Throughout the pandemic, Lisa has been committed to mobilizing mutual aid projects to support PWUDs and those experiencing homelessness. Lisa is a profound example of what it means to be a fierce agent of change and a true model of what one person can achieve through influential leadership, selfless dedication, and passionate advocacy efforts that have enriched the lives of people in the community.

Lohifa Pogoson-Acker
Lohifa Pogoson-Acker was born in Nigeria and immigrated to Vancouver in 2000. She always had a passion for styling hair and at the age of 16, she was working part-time styling hair out of her parents’ garage. She went on to study Biopsychology and Economics and has worked abroad in public health roles with organizations like The Clinton Foundation, DFID, and USAID. Lohifa has traveled extensively, moving wherever her career took her, but since moving to Hamilton in 2012, she says she would not want to live anywhere else. She now has a flourishing business in Hamilton and has been recognized for her work as a hairstylist on the debut season of “Canada’s Drag Race.”

Paula Laing
Paula Laing is Kanienke’ha’ka (Mohawk) from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and belongs to the Turtle Clan. Paula started her advocacy work when she was at McMaster University in the Social Work program. She continues to speak up regarding the challenges and barriers that our Indigenous communities are experiencing. Her grandmother was a survivor of residential school and she witnessed first-hand the effect this had on her family across generations. Despite this painful history, Paula’s mother instilled in her a deep pride in her Indigeneity as a young girl, and inspired her to choose a career focused on advocating, supporting, and empowering Indigenous communities, especially Indigenous youth.

Also nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Sabrina Jaspers
Sabrina Jaspers has a passion for maternal health. She is a Clinical Social Worker with 14 years of experience in acute care and adult mental health and trauma. Sabrina’s clinical focus is maternal mental health, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety, and birth trauma. Sabrina uses a variety of ways to support the women in her community, including counselling, speaking engagements, seminars, and education on social media. Sabrina completed her BSW through McMaster University and has completed her MSW through Dalhousie University (May 2020). Most recently, Sabrina worked collaboratively with a local midwife program to bring interdisciplinary care and mental health support to women experiencing difficulties in the perinatal phase.

Serena Bufalino
Serena Bufalino is a force of nature, devoted to service through hard work, dedication, and determination. What began as a career as a teacher under the Section 23 program with Toronto’s at-risk youth, has evolved into a lifetime of service work empowering people across the globe. Serena has taught in detention centres, mental health hospitals, and group homes. In 2011, the Haiti School Building Project was born, when her Section 23 students insisted, “Miss B, you say we can do anything, so let’s build a school!” Over $100,000 was fundraised and a school in Haiti for 100 students was constructed. Today, Serena continues her development work in Haiti, while also supporting local food programs for Hamilton community members in need during Covid-19.

Dr. Soumeya Abed
Dr. Soumeya Abed is a scientist and lecturer at McMaster University, a social entrepreneur, and a dedicated wife and mother committed to the Hamilton community. Her exceptional vision and leadership skills led her to found and direct the Symbiosis Co-housing Initiative, the first intergenerational co-housing program in Ontario, pairing students and local seniors to reside in a mutually beneficial living situation. This brilliant and innovative idea resulted in increasing the social integration of elders while providing affordable housing to students in need. Soumeya is a true trailblazer who has inspired others, through national and international media coverage, to start-up similar co-housing initiatives across Canada. Her efforts have been recognized by multiple awards, including the 2020 Ontarian Entrepreneur Award for inclusive leadership.

Frontline Worker

Elizabeth Cronk
Elizabeth Cronk has been in the Social Services field for 16 years, starting as a frontline worker with Wesley. She was then involved in developing the Hostels to Homes Pilot Project through the City of Hamilton, a program that successfully housed individuals experiencing homelessness, and is now called Wesley Housing Services. In 2012, she was hired by the Mental Health and Street Outreach Program, through Public Health/Housing Help. In this role, Elizabeth did outreach work with homeless individuals and connected them to critical services. She now continues the same work with the Encampment Task Force through the City of Hamilton. Elizabeth has built strong relationships and is well respected in the community. She is a strong advocate for those most vulnerable and enthusiastically provides support to anyone in need.

Michelle Collins
Michelle Collins has been working as the Director of Operations at Kerr Street Mission (KSM) since 2019. Throughout the pandemic, Michelle continues to model unwavering courage, resilience, and grace. She has effectively led her team through many unforeseen obstacles by creatively adapting programs, and implementing new safety standards, all while thinking of the vulnerable community KSM serves. She is quick to give a helping hand, even when not asked and offers words of encouragement to reassure the team. She is first to arrive and last to leave, always putting the safety and success of the agency as her first priority. Her faith continues to guide her heart and it has been instrumental in navigating the team through the most difficult of times.

Olivia Mancini*
Olivia Mancini brings her passion, dedication, and expertise to six positions across various organizations providing housing, addiction, and harm reduction supports to Hamiltonians. Olivia is a Harm Reduction Worker at the AIDS Network, an Addiction Attendant at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Men’s Addiction Services, a Withdrawal Management Worker at St. Leonard’s, a Research Assistant at McMaster University for the school of Social Work, an Outreach Worker at Wesley Day Centre, and a Case Manager at Salvation Army Booth Centre. When she’s not on the frontline, Olivia is a strong advocate for harm reduction, affordable housing, the right to housing, and trauma-informed care. Olivia is also a Bachelor of Social Work post-degree candidate studying at McMaster University.

Health Care Hero

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson*
Dr. Elizabeth Richardson is Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health (MOH), having held the role for over 25 years. She is a graduate from Western Medical School and completed her Master’s of Health Sciences, Community Health & Epidemiology, and her residency in Public Health & Preventative Medicine at the University of Toronto. As the MOH, she provides public health expertise to support health surveillance and also leads community health planning, research, and program development. For more than two decades, she has ensured Hamiltonians are cared for through her focus on population health, health integration, and disease control initiatives. Now more than ever, as the pandemic continues, Elizabeth’s role is essential to protecting the wellbeing of our community and saving lives.

Dr. Erica Roebbelen
Dr. Erica Roebbelen consistently prioritizes holistic, dignified care of her patients, with the pandemic revealing her relentlessness in providing solutions for the elderly or under-resourced for whom technology-based consultations are impossible. Whether conducting visits to homes or encampments to conduct Covid-19 tests, or ensuring safe, uninterrupted access to her Hamilton Family Health Team practice, Erica’s initiative, compassion, and expertise are remarkable. Erica is passionate about health care for Indigenous People and new Canadians. She supports patients experiencing homelessness through Hamilton’s Shelter Health Network, where she has served as Acting Director. She was instrumental in establishing an Overdose Prevention Site and has strongly advocated for safe injection sites. Erica is invested in research, publishing, learning, and instruction, and her leadership in medical education continues to be deeply impactful.

Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar
Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar is a family physician with extra training in psychotherapy. For over 30 years, she has been a healthcare hero, dedicating her time and energy working at community health centres, while also spending 18 years in full-service family practice in Hamilton. Before that, she spent 10 years offering healthcare in the remote Himalayas. In 2017, she co-founded Body Brave, a charitable organization offering free treatment to people struggling with devastating eating disorders and where she currently volunteers as the full-time Medical Director. In just three years, she has built a small but mighty clinical team that has supported over 1600 people, as well as educating over 1000 healthcare professionals. Karen has become a lifeline for many during the pandemic.

Also nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Madison Brydges
Madison Brydges has been working as a primary care paramedic in Halton Region for nine years. From the very beginning, she has taken an active role on the Health & Safety team and has been a silent giant behind the scenes. When the pandemic hit, Madison took on the role of team lead of the Health & Safety Team. She has worked tirelessly to make sure the paramedics in Halton Region are as safe as possible and helped to start an important Covid-19 working group. Madison’s colleagues assert, “Without her leadership during the pandemic, we would’ve been lost!” Madison is also in her final year of studies at McMaster University, where she is working towards her PhD in Health Studies.

Dr. Sarah Khan
Dr. Sarah Khan is an Infectious Disease Specialist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. She is the Associate Medical Director for Infection, Prevention, and Control with Hamilton Health Sciences and lead Infection Control Physician for all COVID-19 related matters at McMaster Children’s Hospital. She represents community needs with a voice at Hamilton Public Health, Ontario Health West, and provincial committees to develop COVID-19 guidelines. Dr. Khan is a founding member of an Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC) which advocates for anti-racist and anti-oppressive systems and actions across her organization and within her community. Her advocacy for patients, families, healthcare providers, and vulnerable populations proves her to be a role-model in healthcare, public health, education, and social justice.

Vanessa Jarusauskas
Vanessa Jarusauskas graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017 and then began her career as a receptionist at Parkview Nursing Home. Vanessa had worked at Parkview while finishing her degree and learned a great deal about working with the elderly. Currently, Vanessa works with the Recreation Team at The Village of Wentworth Heights Retirement & Assisted Living Facility, where she spends her days planning events for the residents, setting up family Zoom meetings, and most importantly, offering a listening ear, and a familiar face. Vanessa is truly someone who brings so much joy to the seniors she serves, throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Pandemic Innovator

Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud
Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud is a Professor of Medicine, an Intensivist, & Director of Medical Education. She holds a BSc in Biology and Chemistry, as well as an MSc in Medical Sciences from McMaster University. She completed her MD at the University of Ottawa, followed by Internal Medicine, Critical Care, and Postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include the pathophysiology of sepsis and how evidence is transferred into clinical care. She is the Scientific Director of the Canadian Sepsis Research Network, with over 95 peer-reviewed publications, and has been the recipient of numerous awards for her work. Her medical expertise and collaboration with community, medical, and academic stakeholders have been integral to leading and standardizing therapies in critical care settings during this pandemic.

Also nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Andriana Lukich*
Andriana Lukich is the Director, Digital Solutions at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. She holds an HBSc Kinesiology and an MBA from McMaster University, a PMP certification, and is Prosci Change Management certified. Throughout her decade of healthcare experience, she has held multiple roles all focused on leading change initiatives and supporting staff through transformational projects. The digital projects she has championed include enabling virtual care between patients and providers; rapidly developing a COVID-19 screening tool for staff, patients, and visitors; creating a city-wide patient self-scheduling tool to support booking of COVID-19 tests; and supporting the implementation of COVID-19 Assessment Centres. Andriana’s commitment to digital transformation has attracted support and spurred innovation across Canada.

Elise Naccarato
Elise Naccarato is the founder and Artistic Director of Myriad Ensemble, a women’s choir based in Burlington, as well as both Artistic Director of the Hamilton Estonian Choir and Apprentice Conductor with Chorus Niagara. She is a community choral leader, quickly establishing herself as a young conductor who is innovative, dynamic, and a strong advocate for women in the arts. She is committed to raising the voices of women through the collaboration, exploration, and performance of women’s choir repertoire. Elise holds an Honours Bachelors of Music, Diploma in Voice Performance, Masters in Choral Conducting, and is currently pursuing her MBA in Innovation Leadership. Elise has been privileged to work with esteemed conducting professionals and choirs across Canada.

Dr. Frances Lasowski
Dr. Frances Lasowski is a Chemical Engineer with expertise in biomaterials and drug delivery and training in commercialization. As Executive Director of the C20/20 Innovation Hub, she manages an interdisciplinary team of trainees and scientists working on a range of research projects to treat eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. As a co-founder and CEO of 20/20 OptimEyes Technologies, Frances has entrepreneurial experience with the commercialization of technology for ocular applications. Frances is the former President of the McMaster Graduate Students Association and was the McMaster Site Coordinator for “Let’s Talk Science.” She continues this passion for science outreach and student engagement through the STEM activities for children and youth delivered through C20/20.

Dr. Karen Mossman
Karen Mossman, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Medicine and VP (Research) at McMaster University. She completed her undergraduate Honors BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph, her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and her Post-doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, both at the University of Alberta. Dr. Mossman joined McMaster University in 2001. Her research focus is understanding the interactions between viruses and their hosts, both in normal healthy cells and in cancer cells, with the goal of developing novel therapy approaches for emerging viral infections and cancer. In addition to administrative roles within the Office of VP Research, she serves as Chair of the Board of the McMaster Innovation Park and McMaster HealthLabs.

Dr. Rosa da Silva
Dr. Rosa da Silva is an Assistant Professor and Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies) in Biology and a McMaster Distinguished Teaching and Learning Fellow. She has won several awards (McMaster Student Union, McMaster President, Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities) for her dedication to post-secondary education and her innovative interdisciplinary curriculum design that enhances student learning and engagement. This innovative, visionary leader was a life-line during the COVID-19 pivot to virtual learning — she supported instructors, promoted teaching excellence, and ensured the most positive student experience possible, including creating at-home lab kits. Dr. da Silva’s passion for STEM education and incorporating cutting-edge technologies to enhance teaching and learning continually inspires and energizes her colleagues and students alike.

Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly
Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly is a visionary social entrepreneur, thought-leader, executive, and Chartered Director. Tracey reimagined how universities could serve the needs of adult learners and created the York University School of Continuing Studies, the largest and most successful start-up in North America in three decades.

She thrives on innovation and building rapidly scaling organizations. She also enjoys supporting her community and speaking with audiences on topics related to the future of work, talent development, and the future of higher education in Canada and around the world.

As a Chartered Director, Tracey currently serves on the Board and chairs two committees for Achēv, one of Canada’s leaders in developing human capital, and has led a national professional association.

Young Trailblazer

Blerina Ago
Blerina Ago is a community builder, educator, and local mobilizer in Hamilton. Blerina is unwavering in her commitment to advancing equity in education and creating meaningful opportunities for children and youth. As Founder of Backpacks for Brainiacs, Blerina is an advocate who works with local non-profits and after-school programs to equip children and youth with the resources they need to have a successful school year while breaking down the systemic and financial barriers further exacerbated by COVID-19. Each year, Blerina has developed her fundraising, strategy, people, culture, and community to reach new heights. It is her stride, her passion, and her commitment that inspires younger and brighter minds to follow in her trailblazing footsteps.

Jessica Anderson
Jess Anderson graduated in 2020 from McMaster University with a combined honours in Anthropology and Sociology with an Integrated Business Studies Certificate. Jess was elected to serve as the second female Vice-President Finance & CFO of the McMaster Students Union (MSU). Recognizing that the pandemic has disproportionately affected community members with lower socioeconomic status, Jess has focused MSU efforts around financial equity and accessibility. Most notably, Jess has saved undergraduate students over $110 in MSU fee reductions and roughly 75% on their HSR transit fee. Jess is a strong advocate for sustainable consumerism, repurposing thrifted clothing in her spare time. Jess also enjoys shedding light on local businesses via social media and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.

Negar Balouchestani-Asli
Negar Balouchestani-Asli is a fourth-year student studying Chemical Biology at McMaster University. As the recent McMaster Students Union (MSU) Part-Time Manager for Horizons — an orientation and leadership conference for incoming McMaster students — Negar surpassed expectations of her supervisors when asked to pivot her team’s planning in response to the pandemic. The MSU’s first virtual Horizons Conference welcomed 1000+ first-year students through seven webinars over two months. Negar has extended community-building into her program as Co-President of the McMaster Undergraduate Society for Chemical Sciences. Recognizing the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on Black communities and communities of colour, Negar teamed up with friends to launch an online auction that would generate $800 in donations, including $230 for Black Lives Matter Toronto.

Nicole Crimi
Nicole Crimi is a medical student at McMaster University, as well as a fine artist and writer. Nicole is passionate about utilizing the arts in knowledge translation and inspiring meaningful change around the world. Recently, she wrote, illustrated, and self-published “Patty and the Pandemic” — a children’s book which uses light-hearted rhyming verses and hand-painted illustrations to teach kids aged 3–8 about COVID-19. Receiving public support from the provincial government, and many other organizations, Patty and the Pandemic has been making waves across the country. With 100% of profits being donated to Face the Future™ Foundation, this book is a source of hope and optimism and encourages a “Pay it Forward” attitude in a time of need.

Sarah Bayliss
Sarah Bayliss is an activist and a community role model. While working in multiple shelters and volunteering with Hamilton organizations, Sarah has demonstrated a commitment to seeking justice, and consistently works to combat the inequalities that many marginalized communities, such as BIPOC, transgender and non-binary folks, disabled folk, and homeless folk, face. Sarah is a survivor who safely escaped an abusive home while also living with arthritis and CPTSD. Sarah works tirelessly to educate and spread awareness, shows up for their community by participating in marches and protests, and provides support for those in need during this challenging time.