Meet Our Board
Nora Ursulescu is a marketing specialist with over 7 years of experience, currently working with clients in the wellness, food, beauty, and education industries. She earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, in Sociology and Canadian Studies.
Her extensive professional experience ranges from public relations, corporate communications, social media, digital marketing, to in-person and digital event planning. This wide range of capabilities allow her to focus on driving results through approaches that integrate unique needs and objectives, while the cumulative experience from various roles in an in-house, agency, and freelance capacity allow her to understand and deliver work at a strategic and executional level.
Nora is also familiar with the work involved in a non-profit setting. Throughout her
academic and professional careers, she has had the opportunity of working on fundraising efforts, and events for SickKids Foundation, YWCA Toronto, and more. She is both honoured and excited to contribute her skills to help amplify the incredible work being done by the Breast Cancer Support Fund, and the efforts to provide financial support to patients who are undergoing breast cancer treatment.
In her role at BMO Capital Markets as the Senior Advisor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Olivia Weir prides herself in being a champion of change. As the lead DEI advisor for Canada’s top Investment Bank, Olivia develops the firm’s DEI strategy and advises its leadership team on the strategic priorities to support the diversity, equity and inclusion of BMO’s clients, colleagues and communities. Prior to her role in Capital Markets, Olivia was Bank of Montreal’s Diversity Recruitment Advisor where she developed and implemented strategies to ensure the bank provided equitable and inclusive career opportunities to diverse job seekers across Canada and the U.S. This is Olivia’s second time with BMO after previously working within Capital Markets as an Executive Assistant from 2014-2015.
Before returning to Bank of Montreal, Olivia spent five years in the Events Industry where she worked for third party agencies planning conferences,
incentive programs, fund raising events and celebratory functions for a Top 3 Bank as well as various not-for-profits and associations. Her event’s career took her around the world including Cannes, Pebble Beach, Cancun, Whistler and more before deciding to return to financial services.
Olivia is a member of BMO’s Alliance for Women, the Veterans Advisory Council and is an advocate for the employment and career development of the both Women and members of the BIPOC community within financial services.
Olivia has a degree in International Development from York University and currently lives in Toronto, Canada.
Afshin Vandaei, (Ash) has extensive professional experience and significant leadership accomplishments in energy sector and philanthropy. With a holistic approach to cultivating relationships and building consensus among diverse individuals, Ash has helped identifying needed organizational change, creating a vision to guide the change, and inspiring people to achieve remarkable results executing the change. Ash received a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MBA focused on Leadership and Organizations from the University of Manitoba.
He developed a strong sense of devotion for non-profit sector by helping local organizations with their strategic planning and developing social and economic initiatives for over 7 years. Similar experiences gave him a deep appreciation for how non-profits help our society to achieve a more sustainable alternative for addressing social and economic challenges and improve the quality of life.
Interior design and brand professional, Glenn Dixon has been a leading name since 1999. Specializing in residential and commercial design, Glenn has garnered much acclaim through media in print, radio and television. With a design philosophy of “approachable luxury”, his vision incorporates timeless pieces with contemporary design, resulting in an inviting and aspirational environment. Glenn is often called upon to articulate trends and is known as a specialist in home décor and design and often speaks at home shows across the country and in various national media outlets.
As host and Interior Designer of “Take this house and Sell it”, a show that garnered W network’s #1 spot in original programming, Glenn fashioned himself into the hearts and homes of audiences from Canada, to United States and beyond for 8 memorable years. The show showcased Glenn’s design expertise, sense of humour and propelled him into the spotlight.
Glenn teamed up with his brother David Dixon to help form and brand David Dixon Inc. – a successful fashion design firm with international recognition that today is regarded as one of Canada’s top fashion design houses.
In 2009, to celebrate Barbie’s 50th birthday, Glenn was commissioned by Mattel to develop a home line including furnishings and accessories to promote the occasion and sold at Hudson’s Bay. In 2014, Glenn came back into the living rooms of his Canadian fans whereas he launched his home line of products on The Shopping Channel, which is continuously evolving and growing – all to compliment his philosophy of providing high-end designer looks at approachable pricing.
A member of Canada’s philanthropic community, Glenn believes in “giving back” and supports several charities and non-profit organizations including Breast Cancer Support Fund, Scrubs for Hospital for Sick Kids, Ovarian Cancer Society, Osteoporosis Canada, Fife house, Act Toronto, CAFA, Healthy kids international, Casey House, Herbie Fund, Children’s make a wish, Toronto Fashion Incubator and One X One to name a few.
Dina Nikitina is the Sr. Regional Digital Strategy Manager with Henkel Professional Beauty Care. She holds a MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Queensland. Prior to Henkel, Dina was the COO at a medical device start-up Trexo Robotics and held various roles with the Creative Destruction Lab, Ernst & Young and Women’s College Hospital (WCH).
While managing research projects at WCH, Dina led a multi-disciplinary team to secure $6M of funding and implement a pan-Canadian initiative to study breast cancer in young women.
She is passionate about digital innovation, social entrepreneurship and strongly believes in leveraging novel technologies for the betterment of society.
Jill Voisin is a retired finance executive from TD Bank. Her career was in Finance and Technology. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) who enjoys helping non-profit organizations. Jill has been on the Board of the Breast Cancer Support Fund since inception and is very encouraged to see that donations continue to grow each year. Thanks to generous contributions from individuals, third party events and corporations, BCSF is able to fill an important and not well understood need of financial assistance for people undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Donna Sheehan, business woman and entrepreneur changed careers after the first breast cancer diagnosis and eventually established the Breast Cancer Support Fund, a national charity that provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients who are facing a financial crisis while in treatment.
Donna was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 when she had two young teenagers and subsequently was diagnosed three more times before finally having a bilateral mastectomy in 2021.
Donna now dedicates her time to managing the Breast Cancer Support Fund - helping women, and their families, who need it the most.