Anna D’Angela

Chair

Anna is a Canadian Certified Physician Assistant in Respirology. Prior to transitioning into clinical practice, she completed her MBA in Health Services Management in 2017, and spent time in various quality improvement and healthcare project management roles. As a feminist, Anna firmly believes in the mission, vision, and values of the YWCA Hamilton. When women and girls are empowered to succeed, we can do remarkable things. The YWCA Hamilton plays a critical role in our community and Anna looks forward to supporting and helping it continue to achieve its goals.’

Shaarujaa Nadarajah​

Vice-Chair

Shaarujaa is a strategy consultant that has experience working with non-profits locally and internationally within the areas of fundraising development, strategic planning, and business operations. A proud graduate of McMaster University, she spent 6 years in Hamilton before leaving the city to pursue her graduate studies at the Smith School of Business. Shaarujaa is committed to supporting the YWCA Hamilton in their mission to strengthen the voices of women and girls in order to promote and build equitable communities. She is most passionate about supporting the growth of women’s entrepreneurship programs as she firmly believes communities can be transformed by more women entrepreneurs.

Melanie Skrlac

Treasurer

Born and raised in Hamilton, Melanie continues to feel a strong connection to the greater community. A professional with many years of experience in the financial services industry – most recently as a Commercial Banker – she brings a comprehensive understanding of finance to the boardroom. She is appreciative of the opportunity and is looking forward working collaboratively with the Board to support the YWCA’s mission and values.  

Colleen Ryan

Member

Colleen is the Director of Marketing, Communications and Guest Experience at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, Colleen chose Hamilton as her new hometown in 2018. She has seen how the City has evolved over the past eight years and is eager to support its continued growth and building an even stronger, more vibrant community. Colleen attributes her own career success and opportunities to the many female leaders and mentors who supported and lifted her up along their own journeys and firmly believes in mentoring and holding space for other women and girls to excel. She sees her role on the Board as an opportunity to create such opportunities for the women and girls the YWCA serves. 

Carla Velastegui

Member

Carla is a healthcare strategist and caregiver advocate with experience spanning the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including the health technology space. A proud alumna of McMaster University, she maintains strong ties to Hamilton and is passionate about building more equitable, person-centred health systems. Drawing on more than a decade of experience as both a care partner and healthcare professional, Carla collaborates with health organizations, researchers, policymakers, and innovators to advance meaningful patient and caregiver engagement. She is honoured to serve on the YWCA Hamilton Board and is committed to advancing inclusive leadership, strengthening community partnerships, and helping create a future where women, girls, and gender-diverse people can thrive.

Shona Goel

Member

Shona is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), with professional experience in audit, reporting, and financial planning & analysis. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Shona is passionate about solving problems and collaborating to create positive change. Shona feels closely aligned with YWCA Hamilton’s mission, and is excited to work with the organization to support its critical role in the community. She has resided in Hamilton for over a decade and is excited to contribute towards the city’s growth.

Nicole Biros-Bolton

Member

Nicole is a dedicated advocate for gender equality and social justice, passionately serving on the board of YWCA Hamilton. She is the founder of Bird Bolt Law, a feminist, trauma-informed law firm based in Hamilton and is the Chair and founder of LEAF Hamilton. With over 20 years of experience working in the gender-based violence sector with trauma survivors, Nicole brings a deep understanding and commitment to her work. Her legal practice focuses on championing the rights of marginalized communities and addressing issues such as gender discrimination, wrongful termination, and disability rights. Her commitment to social justice extends beyond her professional work, as she actively contributes to initiatives that support and empower women, gender-diverse individuals and marginalized groups. 

Etana Cain

Member

Etana (she/her) is an intersectional feminist with a deep commitment to advancing equity and justice. Etana currently works for a health-care union leading a team focused on member mobilizing and government relations. Her professional background also includes leadership roles in the non profit sector and on Parliament Hill. Etana has previously served on the board of the Ontario Health Coalition and on advisory committees at the YWCA Toronto and the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Etana is very honoured to be trusted in this role at YWCA Hamilton and excited for the work ahead to advance the organization’s mission, vision and values in our city. 

Lisa Bell

Member

Lisa believes homelessness is solvable. She’s an advocate, a mom, an ally, a friend, a leader, and a foodie. As the Strategy Lead with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Lisa supports communities to measurably reduce homelessness, advocate for policy reform, and share what works across the country. She is also passionate about bringing this expertise to her own community; Hamilton is Lisa’s home. She firmly believes YWCA Hamilton has and will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing social justice for her neighbours. Lisa’s intention is to support YWCA Hamilton to weave their shared mission and vision throughout all their leading efforts for women and girls.

Dr. Dina Brooks

Member 

Dr. Dina Brooks is the Executive Vice-Dean and Associate Vice-President, Academic, in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster. From her days as a student, and throughout her career, she has made it her mission to have an impact on the emotional, spiritual, and physical health of patients through physiotherapy. A refugee of war from Lebanon, Dina witnessed a physiotherapist working with war-injured patients; the experience inspired her career choice, and a lifetime of important accomplishments that have advanced the field of rehabilitation science in Canada and around the world.  While she's received many accolades and held many different leadership positions over the years, Dina has always been, at her core, a passionate rehabilitation professional, researcher, educator, mentor and champion for equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Alison Orr

Member

Alison came to Hamilton more than 30 years ago to study engineering at McMaster University.  After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, her career led her to focus on buildings, and she now works as a consultant.  Throughout her life, she has benefited from the guidance of role models, mentors, and volunteers who helped shape her path. In turn, she remains committed to offering her time and energy to help others, as her professional and lived experiences have developed.  Alison looks forward to working with fellow YWCA board members whose diverse knowledge, expertise and backgrounds can help improve the lives of girls, women, and gender-diverse people in our community.

Dr. Deborah Sloboda

Member

Dr. Deborah Sloboda is a Professor and Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, where she holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Early Origins of Health and Disease. An international expert in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, her research program investigates how early-life factors shape maternal, fetal, and placental health. She works directly with Hamilton Public Health Services and community partners who support pregnant Hamiltonians, helping close gaps in preconception and pregnancy health support, and runs a school outreach initiative bringing science education into Dundas classrooms. Dr Sloboda also leads the Art of Creation, an arts-based research and education initiative working with pregnant participants and Hamilton artists to communicate developmental science to the public; now a travelling art exhibition that has shown across Hamilton, and nationally and internationally. Deborah has trained over 100 students and postdoctoral fellows and, in 2017, was named a Hamilton YWCA Woman of Distinction in Science, Trade and Technology. She is proud to bring her scientific leadership and community ties in Hamilton and Dundas to the YWCA Board.

Hadley Nelles

Member

Hadley’s feminism shapes how she raises her children, approaches her work, and sees the world. With 20 years of experience in the social impact and non-profit sectors, she now leads housing strategy and development at Good Shepherd in Hamilton, building safe, affordable, and accessible homes. She loves brokering cross-sector partnerships that advance mission-driven projects and systemic change, and brings a collaborative, solutions-focused approach to her social justice work.