Our team

Chair of the Board of Directors

James Kelsey

Jim is a results-driven executive with over 50 years in the financial services industry. He is an exemplary leader with diverse experience ranging from retail at the start of his career to commercial banking and corporate finance at the C-Suite level. Jim led the startup of the Corporate Finance Division for Bank of Montreal which over time, developed into 10 lines of business with offices in 5 major centres across Canada and a team of over 600. Total funds under management was over $75 Billion. Corporate Finance is a high growth business that consistently outperformed the market.

Jim served as an integral member of the North American commercial banking leadership committee. Through Jim’s leadership, Corporate Finance Division led the bank in customer satisfaction based on Net Promoter Score for 8 consecutive years. Jim is passionate about developing others and under his leadership and sponsorship, over 25 executives came out of the division and are now dispersed throughout the bank. Consistently strong employee engagement across the organization has been a hallmark under Jim’s leadership.

As a financial services executive, Jim has built strong relationships with several prominent business leaders in Canada. He currently sits on the boards of two private organizations as well as being a Trusted Advisor to the White Owl Family Office. Effective February 2021 Jim has also joined the Board of Autism Speaks Canada. Jim has been actively involved with the advocacy for the Autism Community for many years.

Jim joined the board in January 2021.

Director of the Board

Anthony Coles

Anthony Coles has been a federal public servant for 18 years, where he fulfilled various policy roles at Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada.

While working at the Public Health Agency of Canada, Anthony played an integral part in the development of the National Autism Surveillance System and was the second author on the first national data report on autism in Canada (2018). He initiated a project to develop national clinical guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of autism in children and youth in Canada, which was published by the Canadian Paediatric Society in 2019.

Anthony has served as a national Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees and is currently the local Vice President for the federal health portfolio. Anthony holds a Bachelor’s degree from York University in Political Science with a specialization in Public Policy and Administration and a Masters degree in Public Policy and Administration from Carleton University.

He joins the Board of Directors of Autism Speaks Canada in the hopes of lending his expertise in politics, government and public policy to further the autism cause and serve as a champion for the autism community.

Anthony and his wife live in western Quebec, just outside of the National Capital Region, with their three cats and two dogs.

Anthony joined the board in September 2020.

Director of the Board

Ayala Beck

Ayala brings versatile skills and experience in operations, business development and fundraising, excellent communication skills with the ability to negotiate and influence, while building trust and engagement.

She is a self-directed, strategic thinker with the ability to execute both organizational-wide strategies and complex initiatives. Ayala has a strong commitment to learning and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

She brings years of fundraising experience from SickKids Foundation and Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation.

Director of the Board

Catherine Glorieux

Catherine brings a diverse background of professional and personal experiences to Autism Speaks Canada in hope of being an example of what being on the autism spectrum can be all about.

After achieving a Bachelor of Laws from Université de Montréal in 2005, she pursued her childhood passion and obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2014. Catherine was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 37 years old, which sparked her interest in better understanding autism, neurosciences, and putting the strengths of autism to work to better navigate its challenges.

Trilingual and working on her 4th language, she is most known for her mountaineering, cycling and running adventures, which led her all the way to the Nevado Sajama peak (6542 metres, the highest in Bolivia). In July of 2019, she cycled solo across Canada to raise awareness for autistic doctors and autism in general. She was also featured in Autism Speaks Canada’s Brighter Life on the Spectrum campaign.

Being diagnosed later in life after flying under the radar while acquiring legal and medical degrees gives Catherine a unique perspective. With strong ambition, Catherine propels her ideas forward and is dedicated to further research, awareness, understanding and acceptance regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Catherine joined the board in September of 2020.

Director of the Board

Elissa Downey

Elissa is an experienced strategic advisor with 15+ years of strategy and consulting experience. She has led a variety of large / complex projects including policy and program evaluations, market research, public consultations and facilitated boards and senior leaders through the strategic planning process.

Elissa currently serves as the Acting Director for OPG’s Isotopes Program which provides nuclear medicine products to the healthcare sector to support diagnose and treatment of illnesses. Elissa also has first-hand experience navigating the healthcare and social services systems and supports available to individuals living with autism, as a child and adult, being a sibling of an autistic individual. She has a deep healthcare background working in primary care and providing strategy development support to healthcare organizations.

Elissa has board experience serving as a community member on Sherbourne Health Centre’s Quality of Care Committee.

Director of the Board

Erin McClure

Erin McClure is a skilled change agent with extensive continuous Improvement, operations, and quality assurance experience in multiple start-Up environments.

She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Sologic Root Cause Analysis facilitator. She also brings experience in both Project Management and Product Development with over 19 years of developing and implementing effective Management Systems including ESG, L&D, ISO, GAP, GMP, HACCP, COVID, EHS, and Quality Assurance programs with a focus on practicality.

Erin spent her career influencing social impact and inclusion outcomes from her position as a stakeholder within the business and is excited to use her strategic and builder skillset to create systems with INTENTION and PURPOSE.

Erin is currently working as an Operations Director at Mrs. Dunster’s Inc. in Moncton & Sussex, New Brunswick

Director of the Board

Hugo Gatsby, MBM, MA, BA

Hugo is an award-winning designer, having been voted a top 40 graphic designer in North America. Having worked in digital media for over 15 years, Hugo leverages UX design, behavioural science and design thinking to develop AODA/WCAG compliant websites, build authentic brand stories, and genuinely connect businesses to their consumers. He has collaborated with companies such as Hamilton Health Sciences, the Bank of Montreal, Bell Canada, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Volkswagen and even Netflix.

As a Harvard graduate with a Master’s in Business Management, Hugo has leveraged his work in organizational behaviours to further drive engagement through his visual design work. As a life-long learner, Hugo is always curious to find new ways to adapt technologies to build collaborative solutions for organizations. Hugo is currently adopting design thinking principles to build a new data analytics curriculum for Hamilton Health Sciences senior leadership teams.

Being diagnosed with autism at an early age, Hugo has spent his life overcoming adversity and continuously learning new ways to interact with others and to share his views on autism. Living on the spectrum has given Hugo a unique perspective and his ambition is to help raise awareness and support for others living with autism. He is a loving husband to his best friend Nadia and a proud new dad to their adorable daughter Zaria Simone Gatsby.

Hugo currently teaches as a professor of business management at Fanshawe college and volunteers as a grant review member for the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Hugo joined the board in September 2020.

Director of the Board

James Maunder

James is a public affairs executive with over 15 years of experience in public policy, media relations, and stakeholder engagement, who thrives in fast-paced, highly visible settings.

He has earned success providing guidance on complex regulatory and operational matters across multiple sectors, while executing public affairs campaigns that get noticed and enhance brand awareness. James has a deep understanding of all levels of government and how they function, having served as Chief of Staff to three federal Cabinet Ministers. James was twice named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful and Influential People in Government and Politics by the Hill Times, and has appeared as a national spokesperson on television, radio, and print media.

One day, he hopes to see the Montreal Canadiens hoist the Stanley Cup again.

James is currently serving as a DIRECTOR of PUBLIC POLICY at Amazon Canada.

Director of the Board

Josh Hjartarson

Josh Hjartarson is National Leader for the Human Services at Deloitte Canada and Senior Fellow – Service Delivery Modernization and Commissioning at the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. Recently, he was the Lead Partner in KPMG’s Public Sector Management Consulting Practice. He has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Toronto. He joined KPMG from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, where he was Vice President, Policy & Government Relations.

He has helped numerous governments design and implement client-centered service delivery models, renew key components of the social safety net, form renewed and mutually beneficial partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors, and enhance their evidence-based policy and decision making capabilities.

At the Chamber of Commerce, Josh oversaw the policy, government relations, and communications of a large business advocacy organization with 60,000 members representing 17 percent of GDP and 400+ senior corporate partners.

He was also Policy Director at the Mowat Centre, where he helped build one of Canada’s most prolific and respected think tanks on government and social safety net transformation. He also spent two years at the Ontario Ministry of Finance in the Office of Economic Policy and three years in the Cabinet Office.

Josh joined the board in January 2021.

Director of the Board

Joshua Shymko

Joshua Shymko is a public safety professional, advocate and educator in the GTA. Joshua has a range of Canadian policing experience and community involvement with vulnerable and at-risk communities.

Since entering the field of policing, Joshua has worked hard to modernize and include best practices in work and volunteer engagements. Joshua has worked in the Greater Toronto Area, and Lower Mainland, British Colombia. Since 2018, Joshua has instructed hundreds of prospective public sector employees, and advanced the use of evidence-based methods, research and practices. Joshua has instructed in areas of Community Policing, Introduction to Criminal Justice Studies, Criminal/Civil Investigations, Justice Communications and Correspondence, Interviewing and Investigations, and Community Engagement. Joshua currently instructs at, Humber College and serves the York Region community with YRP.

Joshua previously served as a Director with Fuerza Latina in Vaughan, as a volunteer with Dr. Jays Grief Centre Toronto, and a volunteer with Badge of Life Canada. Joshua has continued with Badge of Life Canada and looks forward to working with their Corporate Relations and Event Planning, and includes time for volunteer obligations with, Teen Ranch.

Joshua is an advocate and staunch supporter for mental health and wellness. Joshua works hard to reform and support police training, tools and internal wellness to enhance member wellness and promote community-based policing. Joshua is a peer supporter and CISM member.

Joshua takes pride in his engagements, and when not working or volunteering, values family time, hikes, horse rides, skiing and the outdoors.

Joshua joined the board in January 2021.

Vice Chair of the Board of Directors

Ken Lipson

Ken Lipson has spent 30 years creating, building and leading asset management opportunities.

Ken holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario. Ken’s hands-on management style and interpersonal skills make him an asset to those he is involved with. Ken has had an extensive volunteer career as well. He founded both the Paediatric Vasculitis Research Endowment Fund and the Paediatric Autism Intervention Endowment Fund at the Hospital For Sick Children Foundation, the Out of the Blue Charity Initiative supporting genetic science and research at University of Toronto and was a Member of the Children’s Circle of Care and Sick Kids Leaders at the Hospital Foundation in Toronto.

During his personal time, Ken cherishes time spent with his wife and two children.

Ken joined the board in 2017 and has been Vice Chair since September 2019.

Treasurer of the Board of Directors

Kwesi Opoku

Kwesi Opoku is a Staff Accountant at Edmonds Professional Corporation, a public accounting firm in downtown Toronto. His primary functions include assurance engagements, corporate tax preparation, and advisory services.

Before entering the accounting profession, Kwesi was in the financial services sector, with more than 10 years of experience across several lines of business, including retail banking and group retirement services. He is a CPA candidate, and a level 3 CFA candidate.

As a proud member of the Jane & Finch community, Kwesi has been engaged in public service since he was a teenager. He was a former camp leader at the local Boys & Girls Club, a treasurer and president of the board of Directors at Black Creek Community Health Centre, and a volunteer for Jane & Finch Votes.

Literature is Kwesi’s first love. His daily inspirations continue to be Emerson, Dostoyevsky, and Nietzsche: “No one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but you yourself alone.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Kwesi joined the board in September 2020.

Director of the Board

Nimet Karim

Nimet is a versatile, well-rounded business strategist and executive with a history of delivering exceptional results in driving growth and efficiency improvements and leading turnarounds, restructure and long-term planning.

She combines strong business acumen with entrepreneurial approach to create an ambitious business vision and develops high-performing teams to drive strategic initiatives to completion. Seasoned across operations, program management and strategic marketing. Her area of expertise includes Strategic Planning, Business Development, Innovation strategy, Change Management, Policy development and many more.

Director of the Board

Sharad Goenka

Sharad is a dynamic executive with 20+ years of experience and impact spanning commercial, investment, strategy & operations roles. He has been a transformation leader at Globalfaces – provider of fundraising services to charities.

Strategizing for sustainability & growth., a start-up Leader at OYO – world’s fastest growing hotel chain. Sharad has had a progressive career from engineer to business leader at Schlumberger – a Fortune 500 technology and solutions provider. He managed large complex operations as Business & Functional Head. Delivered impact in entrepreneurial & corporate setups. Sharad has global work experience across Canada, USA, Europe, SE Asia and India. Bridges across cultures and diversity of perspective.

He is currently a CEO of Globalfaces Direct Inc.

Director of the Board

Susan Zikman Wise

Susan Zikman-Wise has extensive experience as a philanthropist and an active advocate for children with disabilities.

For the past 22 years, Susan has been the Director of Communications for KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation and acted as a liaison between KRGCCF and other children’s charities: Sick Kids Foundation, Camp Oochigeas, Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Center, Variety Village, One Family Fund, Giant Steps and Autism Speaks Canada.

Since 2006, Susan has been the founder and President of Charmz4Charity, an organization that enriches the lives of children through after-school programs. Students are empowered to work together towards a common goal, and taught the values of creativity, generosity and compassion, all while contributing to children’s charitable organizations of their choice.

Susan has been an integral part of the Autism Speaks Canada Family Services Community Grants since their inception and has overseen the distribution of over $5 million to autism-focused organizations across Canada.

In 2016, Susan received a Spotlight Award by Variety Village in recognition for her volunteerism. Susan Zikman-Wise is a Board Member of the Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Center, and has held a seat on the Board of Autism Speaks Canada since early 2017.

Director of the Board

Ugo Bizzarri

Ugo Bizzarri co-founded Timbercreek Asset Management in 1999 and is now the Chief Executive Officer of Hazelview Investments.

In his role as Chief Executive Officer, Ugo leads a team of over 600 individuals located across 19 offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong who collectively contribute towards the management of over $8.5 billion in real estate investments.

Ugo has over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to founding Hazelview Investments, Ugo was in portfolio management at OTPPB where he played a leadership role in the strategic planning, corporate transactions/restructuring and property acquisitions for the real estate group.

Ugo also sits on the Board of Directors of Cymbria and Autism Speaks Canada.

Ugo is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Ugo joined the Autism Speaks Canada board in January 2021.