Item - 2023.CA10.1

Appointees' biographies:

James Lane

James Lane is a commercial litigation lawyer engaged in private practice as a partner of the Toronto firm of Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest Thomson Blackburn LLP. He has extensive board experience in the not-for-profit sector with a focus on board governance, including as founder and Board Legal Officer of Medecins sans Frontieres, Canada and Board Chair of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.

Melissa Nugegoda

As a South Asian immigrant, Melissa's Master of Business Administration level education and experience in the financial sector, coupled with volunteer work in Sri Lanka, instilled a deep commitment to heritage preservation. Melissa understands the importance of South Asian representation on the Heritage Board, where Melissa's diverse skill set can be leveraged to preserve Toronto's rich cultural tapestry and advocate for underrepresented communities.

Harmeet Singh Sandhu

Harmeet is a Chartered Accountant at Rosenberg, Smith and Partners LLP. He has over 4 years of public accounting experience serving numerous industries in Financial Reporting, Taxation and Internal controls. He has led projects involving progressing marketing strategies and value-added tax/sales Tax dispute resolutions with the Inland Revenues and capital funding for startups and small-medium sized businesses. He enjoys participating in university workshops as a guest speaker and community volunteering.

Hana Syed

Hana Syed is the co-founder of the internationally recognized non-profit organization Global Youth Impact (GYI), a platform for youth to be leaders and changemakers. She is a motivational speaker, singer, song-writer, community organizer, and advocate. Hana is a featured TEDx speaker and is regularly invited to share her expertise, deliver speeches, and host workshops for schools, community initiatives, various levels of government, international conferences, and news media.

The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that:

1. City Council appoint the following candidates to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on December 15, 2027, and until successors are appointed:

James Lane

Melissa Nugegoda

Harmeet Singh Sandhu

Hana Syed

2. City Council direct that the balance of Confidential Attachment 1 and the entirety of Confidential Attachment 2 remain confidential as they relate to personal matters about identifiable individuals being considered for appointment to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.

Candidates' biographies:

James Lane

James Lane is a commercial litigation lawyer engaged in private practice as a partner of the Toronto firm of Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest Thomson Blackburn LLP. He has extensive board experience in the not-for-profit sector with a focus on board governance, including as founder and Board Legal Officer of Medecins sans Frontieres, Canada and Board Chair of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.

Melissa Nugegoda

As a South Asian immigrant, Melissa's Master of Business Administration level education and experience in the financial sector, coupled with volunteer work in Sri Lanka, instilled a deep commitment to heritage preservation. Melissa understands the importance of South Asian representation on the Heritage Board, where Melissa's diverse skill set can be leveraged to preserve Toronto's rich cultural tapestry and advocate for underrepresented communities.

Harmeet Singh Sandhu

Harmeet is a Chartered Accountant at Rosenberg, Smith and Partners LLP. He has over 4 years of public accounting experience serving numerous industries in Financial Reporting, Taxation and Internal controls. He has led projects involving progressing marketing strategies and value-added tax/sales Tax dispute resolutions with the Inland Revenues and capital funding for startups and small-medium sized businesses. He enjoys participating in university workshops as a guest speaker and community volunteering.

Hana Syed

Hana Syed is the co-founder of the internationally recognized non-profit organization Global Youth Impact (GYI), a platform for youth to be leaders and changemakers. She is a motivational speaker, singer, song-writer, community organizer, and advocate. Hana is a featured TEDx speaker and is regularly invited to share her expertise, deliver speeches, and host workshops for schools, community initiatives, various levels of government, international conferences, and news media.

This report recommends the appointment of four public members to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.