Breaking925  —  Founding Board Leadership & Governance
Leadership

Founding Board of Directors

Our founding board brings together diverse expertise in finance, law, human resources, project management, humanitarian work, and lived experience — united by a shared commitment to dismantling career barriers for professionals with disabilities.

§ 01  —  Board Chair

Chair of the Board

Aima Waheed, Board Chair Board Chair

Aima Waheed

MBA, MPM, M.A., BBA (Hons.), B.Sc.

Board Chair · Board of Directors

Aima is a strategic humanitarian and crisis response expert with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of refugee protection, human rights, and international development. With a background in international relations and crisis management, she has led multi-country programs and high-level advocacy initiatives across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia.

Aima has held senior leadership roles at international NGOs, where she oversaw global emergency response strategies, built cross-sector partnerships, and advanced inclusive protection pathways for displaced and marginalized communities. She has worked extensively with governments, grassroots organizations, and multilateral institutions to shape policy and deliver life-saving support to those in crisis.

She is passionate about equity-driven, locally led humanitarian responses and believes in the power of strategic collaboration to challenge structural injustice. Her involvement with Breaking925 stems from a commitment to dismantling workplace barriers for professionals with disabilities, using dialogue, diplomacy, and research to deliver durable, equitable solutions.

Education & Credentials
  • MBA / Master of Project Management (MPM): University of the Sunshine Coast
  • M.A., International Relations: University of Peshawar
  • BBA (Hons.) & B.Sc.: University of Peshawar
  • Grad. Dip., Migration Law & Practice: Australian National University
  • Diploma, Counselling: Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors
  • Certificate, Gender Analytics: University of Toronto (Rotman)
  • Certificate, Refugee Studies: York University
  • Postgraduate Researcher: Refugee Protection and Forced Displacement
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§ 02  —  Our Team

Board Members

Sanjay Mohanta, Chief Financial Officer

Sanjay Mohanta

BA, CPA, CMA

Chief Financial Officer

A highly accomplished CPA/CMA with over 25 years of financial and audit experience across the Federal Government, private consulting, and non-profit sectors. Sanjay brings a strategic perspective honed by leading complex financial operations and managing multimillion-dollar contracts.

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Throughout his career, Sanjay has specialized in audit, financial policy, and risk mitigation. His background includes significant roles at Indigenous Services Canada, where he conducted audits for the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business on contracts exceeding $2 million, and at various branches of Statistics Canada, where he headed financial monitoring and policy creation.

A committed leader in governance and community, Sanjay currently serves as the President of the Asian Heritage Month Society and is active on the boards of three national non-profits, including his work as a founding member of organizations like Blueprint for Life.

His robust understanding of financial integrity, governance (including completing the Director’s Guild of Ontario’s Accounting courses), and deep regulatory experience make him an invaluable asset to the Breaking925 board. He is also conversationally fluent in French.

Credentials

  • B.A. in Accounting (Honours), University of Waterloo
  • Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), CPA Ontario
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA), CPA Ontario
  • Director’s Guild of Ontario Accounting Courses
  • Candidate: Certified Forensic Investigator (CFI) designation
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Lisa Beere, Director at Large

Lisa Beere

CCIP™, RPR

Director at Large

Lisa brings lived experience combined with multi-sectoral expertise in Human Resources, management, and diversity leadership. As a Founding Director, she provides a vital bridge between the organization’s mission and its operational execution.

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Her diverse background spans the government, non-profit, and education sectors, with a career journey that includes the Department of National Defence, Health Canada, McMaster University, PACE 2000, and Winnipeg Child and Family Services. As an entrepreneur and researcher, she offers our Board a high-level perspective on organizational health.

In her capacity as Director at Large, Lisa leverages her certifications as a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP™) and Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) to guide board governance on equity and talent acquisition. Her knowledge of HR law, research methodology, and performance management allows her to provide expert oversight on organizational design and compliance.

By applying her training in Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), Leadership and Diversity (Centennial College) and Disability Studies, she ensures the board maintains a rigorous focus on intersectionality and systemic reform within the Canadian employment landscape.

Lisa’s academic background in Psychology and Gerontology also informs her holistic approach to board governance, particularly regarding the social and economic impacts of aging on career longevity.

Credentials

  • B.A., Psychology — University of Manitoba
  • B.A., Gerontology — McMaster University
  • Human Resources Management Certificate — Algonquin College
  • Leadership and Diversity Certificate — Centennial College
  • CCIP™ (Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional) — CCDI
  • RPR (Registered Professional Recruiter) — Institute of Professional Management
  • Osgoode Certificate in Human Resources Law — Osgoode Hall Law School (York University)
  • Fundraising Capacity Accelerator Program — The New School of Fundraising
  • International Defence Resource Management Program — DRMI, Naval Postgraduate School
  • Middle Management & Leadership Development Program — Royal Military College Saint-Jean
  • Certificates in Addictions, Suicide Prevention, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Indigenous Awareness — Department of National Defence
  • Truth and Reconciliation & Indigenous Inclusion — Professional Development
  • Certificate, LGBTQ2+ and Workplace Inclusion — Pride at Work Canada
  • Certificate, GBA+ (Gender-Based Analysis Plus) — Government of Canada
  • Certificate, Episodic Disabilities and Employment Summit — Realize Canada
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Riya Cheema, Treasurer

Riya Cheema

B.Sc., RPR

Treasurer

Riya brings a unique blend of strategic Human Resources and financial acumen. With over five years of experience as an HR Business Partner and Talent Acquisition Specialist, she understands the crucial link between human capital, organizational health, and long-term financial sustainability.

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In her professional career, Riya has managed complex departmental budgets and led retention strategies where fiscal responsibility was paramount. As Board Treasurer, she translates this experience into diligent financial oversight, ensuring that Breaking925’s resources are managed with transparency and precision.

Her expertise in People Analytics allows her to provide data-driven insights that support the organization’s budgetary goals and strategic growth. Riya’s deep commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable workplace cultures aligns perfectly with Breaking925’s mission.

Credentials

  • B.Sc. (Medical): Guru Nanak Dev University
  • Post Graduate Certificate, Human Resources Management: Mohawk College
  • Post Graduate Certificate, International Business Management: Mohawk College
  • Reconciliation Certificate: First Nations University of Canada
  • RPR (Registered Professional Recruiter): Association of Professional Recruiters of Canada (APRC)
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Khuraman Haziyeva, Board Secretary

Khuraman Haziyeva

MBA, M.A., PMP

Board Secretary

A seasoned project manager and customer relations leader with over eight years of experience supporting engineering, construction, and nonprofit organizations. She specializes in building strong client partnerships, coordinating complex projects, and delivering consulting support to nonprofit teams.

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Khuraman’s professional journey includes roles as Senior Document Control Specialist with Saipem Contracting Netherlands, Technical Documentation Specialist with Azerbaijan State Oil Company, and Project Manager at DF Systems Inc. In these positions, she ensured compliance with quality standards, streamlined document management systems, and facilitated collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

Her leadership extended to managing documentation for landmark projects such as the Baku Olympic Stadium and Caspian Waterfront Mall. Currently serving as Customer Relations Manager at Vectors Group in Ottawa, she specializes in building strong client partnerships.

Fluent in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and Turkish, with proficiency in Korean, Khuraman brings a global perspective to her work. Driven by a passion for precision and inclusivity, she treats every task with care and every person with respect.

Education & Skills

  • MBA: Swiss Montreux Business School
  • M.A., Screen Dramaturgy: Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Fine Arts
  • Graduate Certificate, Project Management: Algonquin College
  • PMP (Project Management Professional): Project Management Institute (PMI)
  • ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Certification
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Dr. Natalie Snow, Director at Large

Natalie Snow

PhD, MSc, BSS

Director at Large

Dr. Snow brings a powerful lens of social justice advocacy, rigorous strategic analysis, and deep commitment to systemic equity. She holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and is a recognized expert in victimology, legal studies, and complex social movements.

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This expertise directly informs her approach to governance and oversight and is uniquely suited to guiding an organization focused on removing systemic barriers.

Dr. Snow will leverage her academic rigor and extensive policy affiliations (including the International Commission of Jurists Canada and the Canadian Law and Society Association) to ensure Breaking925’s strategy is intersectional, trauma-informed, and data-driven.

She specializes in analyzing system-level failures, ensuring our organization operates with maximum integrity and impact as we advocate for mid-senior career professionals facing disability and chronic health condition-related employment barriers.

Credentials

  • Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  • M.Sc. in Criminal Justice Administration, Niagara University
  • B.S.S. in Criminal Justice, Humber College
  • Post-Graduate Certificate, Child and Youth Advocacy, Humber College
  • Indigenous Knowledge & Reconciliation Training, Humber College
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M. R. Perron, Director at Large

M. R. Perron

 

Director at Large

Lived Experience

M. R. Perron serves on the Breaking925 Board of Directors as a Director at Large, bringing the invaluable perspective of lived experience with disability and career barriers to the organization’s governance and strategic direction.