Mom, auntie, gardener, avid swimmer, moody without cocoa

Usha is the co-founder of the ELF and Sage Youth. She is the former Vice President of Marketing of the Trans American Trade Exchange; has served as an Advisor to the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Get Up Stand Up Project; and has served as a member for the Board of Governors of the Ottawa Community Foundation. Usha was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2010.

Mom, auntie, photographer, hobby farmer, unpleasant without coffee

Bobbie Dhar is the co-founder of the ELF and Sage Youth. She is also the founder and former Executive Director of Generation Live Green. She has served on the board of directors of Sisters Achieving Excellence and was the former Secretary-Treasurer of the National Children’s Botanical Garden of Canada.

Auntie, loud laugher, also difficult without coffee

Randi supervises the ELF’s local, Ottawa program delivery. She has a Master of Education with concentration in societies, cultures, and languages; holds a membership in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. She maintains a small garden plot in a fruitless attempt to stay true to her rural Alberta roots.

Mom, auntie, could seriously become a world-class chef

Bailey has been with the ELF and Sage Youth in various positions for 17 years. She is the Senior Advisor at Carleton University on Gender and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support; founder and former Executive Director at Sisters Achieving Excellence; former Digital Strategist at MediaStyle; and Chair of the Public Engagement Committee of the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women. Bailey is always ready for a debate about politics, food, or pop culture (and is likely to win any dispute on these matters).

Mom, auntie, community builder, can eat cookies indefinitely without stopping

Helina began volunteering at the ELF’s parent charity, Sage Youth, in the late 1990s. Since September 2013, she has assisted in French material development and workshop delivery. She is currently a Lead in the Health Research Programs Design and Delivery Team at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Daughter, sister, friend, dog-obsessed occasional adventurer, and olive-oil-on-everything enthusiast.

Christina holds a Master of Education from the University of Ottawa and brings experience across post-secondary education, social services, and human resources. She joined ELF in 2025 and is passionate about supporting community growth through literacy. Outside of work, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen (with mixed results) and soaking up the quiet joy of nature.

Baker of bread, gardener, and animal lover. She cannot live without tea and does not like crunchy foods.

Mariana began volunteering with the ELF in the spring of 2025 and is now a coordinator for the ELF’s downtown program. She has worked with Indigenous Records at Library and Archives, as well as in different child-care settings. She recently graduated from the University of Ottawa. Mariana loves baking bread, gardening, and animals. She enjoys the circus arts where she used to do trapeze dancing.

Wendy has been a foundational member of the ELF team. She began her experience as a volunteer at our parent charity, Sage Youth, in the mid-1990s. Wendy works as a client advisor with the Government of Canada’s Translation Bureau. She says, “To see the children grow and succeed has been so fulfilling and the work and support I offer the organization has rewards I had never expected.”

Tess Acton is a refugee and immigration lawyer in British Columbia. She brings a deep sense of justice and integrity to her work in helping people seek safety and build their lives in Canada. She has been with the ELF in varying capacities for 13 years.

George has an MBA and now works as a financial analyst after several years in banking and business development. George began supporting the ELF in 2013 and has done so as a literacy mentor as well as a member of our board.

Parmida is a best-selling author, award-winning speaker, educator, personal development and business coach. She holds degrees in Political Science, Business Administration & Education. She began her ELF journey in 2011 as a volunteer, then coordinator, then she joined our Board.

Noura is a leader and entrepreneur. She holds a BA in Legal Studies and has worked in the fields of hospitality, fitness, wellness, non-profit support and civil service. Whether she is coaching a class or building new programs, her goal is always the same: to help people feel strong and seen.

Noura began her journey with the ELF family as a volunteer in 2011. Since then, she been program coordinator for both online as well as in-person programming. She joined the board in 2025.

Sharon Broughton is a non-profit leader. She is the former CEO of Prince’s Trust Canada and an Instructor with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies’ Non-Profit Leadership for Impact Certificate program. Sharon has previously served as Kids Help Phone’s President and CEO, as CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Executive Director of Crossroads International, and Director of Organizational Development at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. She has supported the ELF since 2005.