< BACK Four New Directors Join CAP AIDS Board

CAP AIDS is proud to welcome four new directors to our Board. Emily Chartrand, Rainos Mutamba, Manzur Malik and Therese Edwards were elected to the Board during CAP AIDS’ 2009 Annual General Meeting, held in Toronto on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Emily Chartrand graduated from Dalhousie University ’s International Development program. She grew up in Montreal and has worked in varies fields including: community economic development, community food security and international development. She currently works for the World University Services Canada (WUSC), focussing on the organization’s Uniterra, training, communication and campaign development programs.

Emily visited Malawi in 2002 and had a chance to speak to those most affected by the HIV+AIDS in that country’s rural Zomba district.  She enjoys food, the outdoors and the company of friends, family and her two dogs.

Rainos Mutamba is a Toronto-based community organizer and social activist originally from Zimbabwe . He is currently pursuing a Masters of Social Work degree with the University of Toronto . Since 2003, he has been involved with CAP AIDS in various capacities, including: event organizer, public speaker and fundraiser. Rainos has also worked as an HIV+AIDS outreach coordinator in Toronto.

Rainos focuses mainly on HIV+AIDS, supporting the work of organizations in Africa that are working with rural communities responding to the pandemic. He believes strongly that it is through respectful grassroots-led collaborations that we can respond effectively to HIV+AIDS and other issues that negatively impact individual and community wellbeing.

Manzur Malik undertook his postgraduate studies at Bangladesh’s University of Dhaka and Canada’s York University . He is currently a Research Officer with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

Before joining OPSEU, Manzur had worked in the academia, development and labour movement in various capacities. His Masters thesis in socio-cultural anthropology at the University of Dhaka focused on the issues of micro-credit and development. During that period he interned with Grameen Bank, which, almost a decade later, won the Noble Peace Prize for its pioneering role.

Therese Edwards has 10 over years of marketing experience, having worked at Telus (formerly Clearnet), and now as Brand Director for Bell Canada . Therese is passionate about travel in general, and Africa specifically. She has spent time as a volunteer with Women in Progress in Ghana helping women learn how to set up businesses and market their products. She helped to organize the inaugural walk for Aids in Montreal – Ça Marche .