Board of Directors
Nicole Brown-Faulknor
Nicole is the Founder of Wounds 2 Wings Trauma + Psychotherapy Services, a Yoga Instructor, Registered Psychotherapist, Child and Youth Counsellor, Trauma Consultant, Author and Trauma Survivor. She is also a member of both the Colleges of Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario and the Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy with over 18 years of professional experience working with marginalized, vulnerable and oppressed communities, individuals, families and children.
FOUNDER AND CEO
Kristina Snjaric
Kristina is a freelance digital marketer and copywriter with a passion for connecting. While completing her studies in marketing, she was involved with non-profit sport organizations in both the event and digital spaces that focused on using sport to promote mental wellness as well as uplift Indigenous youth.
DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP AND ADVISORY
Angela Lombardi
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTAngela Lombardi is a strategic communications leader with over 15 years of experience working with some of the world’s biggest brands across financial services, retail, corporate real estate, and professional services, including senior roles leading global internal communications, employee engagement, executive messaging, and change management. Her work centres on helping organizations tell their story with clarity and intention—building the messaging, partnerships, and infrastructure that turn mission into momentum. She is also fluent in emerging AI tools, designing workflows and architecting systems for her creative projects.
A woman of mixed heritage raised by a single mother, Angela grew up near Toronto Pearson Airport, watching planes soar overhead and believing that one day she would soar too. From a young age, she learned that storytelling was a form of survival. Books gave her what her circumstances couldn’t: refuge, courage, permission to name what couldn’t be named, and the comfort that she wasn’t alone in her struggles. This understanding shaped everything that came later: her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, her Master’s in English Literature and Theatre Studies, and her conviction that communication is never neutral. How we speak—and who gets to speak—matters profoundly, especially for marginalized communities.
That love of story continues today. Angela writes a Substack newsletter exploring what literature teaches us about being human in a technological age, and how perfectionism can become a way of coping with rejection. The 17th century philosopher Baruch Spinoza gave her a deeper appreciation of embodiment—the understanding that the mind and body are united, and that healing must involve both. It’s a perspective that draws her naturally to TEAO’s mission.
With TEAO, Angela is dedicated to building the relationships and collaborative partnerships that help to extend trauma-informed care to more communities across Ontario, ensuring the organization’s growth is grounded in the same values of dignity and connection that define its work.
Amanda J. Edwin
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Amanda immigrated to Canada with her family in 2008. She was an Educator in Trinidad and Tobago for over 21 years and ended her tenure as a Head of Department. Over the years, Amanda has worked as a Litigation Paralegal and gained a significant amount of administrative and courtroom experience in Small Claims, Provincial Offences and Landlord and Tenant matters, experience she now brings to Amicus Paralegal Services.
Website: kwnotary.ca
PARALEGAL & NOTARY PUBLIC
Daniella Maylor
Daniella Maylor brings over four years of experience in finance, administration, and operations across multiple sectors. Raised in a marginalized neighborhood, she was inspired by leaders who reflected her identity and modeled equity-driven leadership. Her lived experience, together with studies in feminist, Black and Indigenous, anti-racism, and anti-oppression frameworks, continues to shape her commitment to healing justice and community impact. Daniella also serves as Director of Finance at StartProud and Chair of Governance at Leeds & Grenville Interval House. As Treasurer of TEAO, she is dedicated to ensuring that the organization’s financial and governance practices reflect its mission to support marginalized communities across Ontario.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE / TREASURER
Rachel Evans
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONSRachel is a strategic communications and nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience across the education, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. She holds an MBA from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee and has lived in eight countries, bringing a global perspective to governance, stakeholder engagement, and community leadership.
Rachel brings five years of post-secondary teaching experience, where she developed and delivered curriculum in strategic communications and digital marketing to diverse cohorts of international students. Her work in higher education strengthened her commitment to inclusive learning, effective communication, and empowering others through education.
As Director of Communications & Development for a major nonprofit serving vulnerable youth, Rachel led communications, fundraising, marketing, and community engagement initiatives. She managed a multidisciplinary team, developed strategic partnerships, coordinated sponsorship activations, and led community engagement events that advanced the organization's mission and visibility.
Through her consulting practice, Rachel provides strategic communications support to clients navigating complex legal and organizational challenges using a trauma informed approach. This work has reinforced her commitment to dignity, psychological safety, equity, and culturally responsive practice.
Rachel is passionate about strong governance and believes effective boards create the conditions for organizations to thrive through strategic oversight, thoughtful stewardship, and accountability. She is committed to contributing her expertise in communications, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership to support TEAO's mission, strengthen public trust, and help advance equitable outcomes for the communities it serves.
Anthea Ryan
DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION (SECRETARY)Anthea is a governance professional and board director with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, regulation, and the non-profit sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and is passionate about advancing strong governance, equity, and organizational excellence. Anthea holds the Accredited Board Director (Acc.BD) and Governance Professional (GPC.D.) designations.
Through her board service, she is committed to strengthening access to equitable, trauma-informed mental health care and advancing positive change across Ontario and Canada.
Victoria Lewis
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INNOVATION & ACCESSIBILITYVictoria Lewis is a software developer and accessibility advocate with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Her work centers on designing digital tools that meet both the practical and emotional needs of the people who use them. She has developed software for holistic task management that supports students by acknowledging the realities of stress, overwhelm, and the nervous system. Her background also includes web development, Android and Windows software engineering, and the ongoing creation of education and productivity resources for neurodivergent learners.
As a black woman who grew up being talked over and minimized, Victoria witnessed the ways that marginalized voices were often misunderstood or outright dismissed. These early experiences shaped her commitment to justice, accessibility, and community care. They also inform her belief that digital spaces should be designed with compassion, intention, and an understanding of how exclusion impacts the body and mind.
As Director of Digital Innovation and Accessibility at TEAO, Victoria is dedicated to building technology that expands access to mental health support for marginalized communities. She brings both her technical skills and her lived experiences into her work, ensuring that every resource she creates supports dignity, autonomy, and care for those who have too often been left out of traditional systems.
Website: https://www.eduaccessible.com/
Meerub Rashad
DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONSMeerub Rashad is passionate about advancing equitable, community-centered systems that create meaningful social impact. Guided by a strong interest in public policy, human rights, and organizational development, she is committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen communities, reduce barriers to care, and promote inclusive, sustainable change.
As a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, Meerub earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Religion and Culture. Her academic research explored issues including humanitarian intervention, systemic inequality, and displacement. These experiences strengthened her passion for systems-level change and evidence informed approaches to supporting marginalized communities.
Alongside her academic work, Meerub has built experience in event coordination, organizational support, customer engagement, fundraising, and communications, where she developed strong skills in collaboration, operations, and relationship-building.
Through her work with TEAO Canada, she is committed to supporting sustainable organizational growth, strengthening governance, and advancing trauma-responsive, culturally responsive approaches to mental health and community care.
The governing Board of The Wounds 2 Wings Trauma and Embodiment Association of Ontario (TEAO) will provide effective and ethical governance leadership on behalf of its stakeholders’ interest to ensure that the organization focuses on its purpose and outcomes for the persons served, resulting in the organization’s long-term success and stability. Click HERE to read more and download the TEAO Board Manual.
TEAO Board Manual
International Resource and Advisory Team
Iona Sky
Iona Sky (she/her) is an Indo-Canadian social worker, consultant and educator. She has worked in the social services for over 20 years and is a consultant and leader in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (with a particular focus on transfer to practice/action), leadership and organizational development. Iona is also part-time faculty in the Social Work department at the University of Waterloo. In all her work, both personally and professionally, Iona brings her lived intersectional experiences as a queer immigrant parent with invisible disabilities. This self-reflexive journey as a dually marginalized and privileged woman in the Canadian landscape has provided Iona with different experiences of oppression as well as privilege, which she uses to inform her advocacy and social justice work.
Website: ionasky.ca
VISIONARY, LEADER, CONSULTANT & EDUCATOR
Hina Brinkworth
Advisor, Marketing, Communications & TechnologyHina Brinkworth is a hands-on MarCom, digital transformation, and strategy consultant with over 15 years of experience supporting associations, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations. As Principal Consultant/Founder of e-Designz, she helps small teams strengthen their communications, modernize digital systems, build strategic campaigns, and improve engagement across web, social, email, events, and member services. Her work includes website and CRM implementation, brand and content strategy, executive communications, digital storytelling, and practical technology support. Hina brings a people-first, mission-aligned approach to every project, helping organizations turn ideas into clear strategy, stronger systems, and meaningful impact.
Gabrielle French
Gabrielle French (she/her) is deeply rooted in the stories of her community. Growing up in the GTA and now living in Cambridge, she has witnessed firsthand how government safety nets often fall short, leaving individuals without the support or safe spaces they need to heal, grow, and stabilize. Hearing friends, peers, and community members share their struggles to access therapeutic care or supportive coaching has shaped her belief that systems must do better — and that people need each other to move forward.
A recent graduate of the University of Guelph with a BAH in Psychology, Gabrielle was inspired by professors, mentors, and frontline professionals who model what compassionate, informed care can look like. Their influence sparked her commitment to pursue tools for systemic change and contribute her energy toward building more accessible, embodied pathways to healing.
Her passion for trauma-responsive, person-centered support is what drew her to TEAO. Gabrielle believes that communities transform when people are willing to reach out, lift one another, and create environments where healing is a shared responsibility. As TEAO’s Youth Care & Community Liaison, she is dedicated to strengthening accessibility, amplifying youth voice, and helping shape systems where care, safety, and collective healing are not optional — but foundational.
YOUTH CARE & COMMUNTIY LIASONVolunteer Outreach Team
DANIELLE ALLEN
With a degree in psychology, Danielle is passionate about trauma-informed, holistic mental health care. She has a decade of experience in environmental advocacy, community-centered conservation, and mobilizing action for systemic change. Currently preparing for graduate studies in psychotherapy, she is committed to integrating body-centered healing practices to support recovery. As Volunteer Coordinator, she focuses on strengthening TEAO’s volunteer network to better serve the community and increase access to support.
FUND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORPeer Support Team
Christie Lee
Christie is passionate about supporting mental health and ensuring that everyone has access to spaces where they feel safe, included, and valued. She believes that healing should be accessible to all, regardless of background or experience, and that community plays a vital role in that process. For Christie, TEAO's spaces are important because they give people an inclusive place to come as they are, without barriers or judgment, and feel supported in their healing and growth. She hopes to contribute to an environment where people feel genuinely welcome and supported as they explore their own paths to healing.
She believes that everyone is the expert in their own journey and experiences, and that healing begins when people feel heard and empowered to make choices for themselves. Honoring someone’s voice means recognizing their perspective as valid and important, and creating space for them to express it freely. To her, supporting mental health also means helping others reclaim that sense of agency, so they can move forward with confidence and self-trust.
Zainab (Zayn) Dikko
Zainab (Zayn) Dikko is a certified Peer Supporter and Trauma-Responsive Care practitioner with TEAO Canada. She also serves as TEAO’s Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator, helping lead outreach initiatives, community partnerships, and trauma-informed programming across Ontario.
As a Black immigrant woman with lived experience navigating cultural change and faith transitions, Zayn brings empathy, openness, and a deep understanding of how identity, belonging, and systemic barriers shape healing. Her approach blends professional training in peer support, crisis response, and counselling skills with a grounded, relational practice rooted in compassion and cultural humility. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s in Social Development Studies at the University of Waterloo, where she focuses on mental health and community wellbeing.
Zayn believes trauma-responsive care is essential because many people move through life carrying experiences that were never acknowledged or supported. In our communities, unaddressed trauma often shows up as isolation, anger, or silence. Trauma-responsive care helps create spaces where people feel seen, safe, and empowered to rebuild trust both in themselves and in others.
Emma Mukkadan
Emma Mukkadan (she/her) is an Indian-Canadian woman who has graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in psychology. Her experience in research and client-care focuses on promoting the mental well-being of marginalized groups, especially racial, gender, and sexual minorities. As a result, the value of TEAO that most resonates with her is equity and belonging. As someone who has experienced culturally incompetent care and lack of support from mental health service providers, Emma believes effective, trauma-informed care should include all voices and experiences. Within TEAO, Emma aims to create this safe space for minorities to feel uplifted and validated through her role as a trauma responsive care personnel.
Apurva Sugenthiran
Apurva is passionate about supporting others, which began through her own healing journey and her experience with TEAO. She expresses her love for the organization through their collective care practices in creating warm, inclusive, and safe spaces.
She is dedicated to making support more accessible and building genuine connections within the community. Inspired by TEAO’s commitment to inclusivity, she strives to create environments where all individuals feel empowered to openly share their stories and explore their resilience. They value recognizing and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices to ensure mental health is inclusive of individual needs.
Through her involvement, she hopes to make a meaningful impact by helping others develop self-agency as they progress along their personal journeys of growth and healing.
Varsha Gobin
Varsha Gobin is a dedicated trauma-responsive care personnel and peer support volunteer whose work is rooted in compassion, nervous-system-aware practice, and community care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biology and brings both academic insight and heartfelt commitment to supporting others on their healing journeys.
Varsha has long been passionate about mental health, particularly understanding how trauma lives in both the body and mind, as well as how trauma can be passed down through generations as intergenerational trauma. Her approach blends evidence-informed cognitive perspectives with somatic and embodiment-based practices that honour lived experience and nervous system regulation. She is currently training to become a Trauma Centre Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator, deepening her capacity to create relational safety and embodied support.
Driven by a belief that healing happens in connection, Varsha strives to walk alongside individuals—offering presence, attunement, and dignity rather than judgment. Her work centres agency, respect, and the ability for people to feel seen and supported at their own pace and in their own strength. Varsha believes trauma-responsive care is essential because many people carry experiences that shape their nervous systems long before entering support spaces. By meeting individuals where they are and centring safety, dignity, and connection, trauma-responsive care fosters healing that is human, relational, and accessible.