Our Board of Directors

Director & Founder

Jonathan has over a decade of leadership experience working in the poverty reduction sector both in public and private environments, with a significant focus on youth development. He is committed towards co-creating meaningful, supportive and relevant opportunities in support of positive youth and community development. 

Jonathan believes that everyone has a role in creating healthier and vibrant communities, while also working towards preventing poverty for future generations.  He is committed towards ensuring young people feel safe and inspired as they engage with YRA services.   

Chairperson

 Meet Asif Zulfiqar, a business professional with over 20 years of global experience in the field of Human Resource Management. With a strong background in people side of business, Asif is passionate about fostering positive and productive workplace cultures. 

Throughout his career, Asif has excelled in talent management, employee development, and strategic HR planning. His commitment to aligning organizational goals with human capital strategies is evident in his track record of implementing innovative and effective people solutions. We are thrilled about the prospect of Asif contributing to our board's deliberations and decisions, as he brings a unique blend of experience and dedication.

Director

Chris has gained extensive leadership and business experience by leading diverse teams across Canada in the retail sector. With a passion for business growth and innovation, he has pursued various ventures and continues to seek opportunities to drive meaningful impact. 

Having overcome personal challenges in his youth, including struggles that shaped his resilience and perspective, Chris deeply understands the value of community support and is passionate about empowering young people to reach their full potential. Over the course of his career, he has been fortunate to coach and mentor many team members, helping them achieve both personal and professional growth. Chris is excited and honored to have the opportunity to contribute his leadership expertise, strategic insight, and passion for community building to Youth Rising Above, supporting the creation of opportunities that enable youth to thrive.

 Director 

Agapi Mavridis is Crown Counsel with Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General, Criminal Law Division. She also teaches Trial Advocacy at Lincoln Alexander Law School, and coaches their Arnup Cup Moot Trial Competition team. Agapi is President of the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers' Association. From 2019-2025, Agapi volunteered as the Scholarship Chair for the Cretans' Association of Toronto "Knossos", implementing the Association's scholarship program. Prior to law school, Agapi worked in the Government of Ontario as a policy analyst, and is a graduate of the Masters of Public Policy and Administration program at Toronto Metropolitan University. 

Director

Shelly is a finance and operations leader with more than 15 years of experience supporting organizations across the private, non-profit, and entrepreneurial sectors. Throughout her career, she has partnered with executives, boards, and operational teams to strengthen financial performance, governance, internal controls, and long-term sustainability. Shelly is also the founder of IntiEdge Partners Inc., a consulting firm focused on finance transformation, operational improvement, and purposeful growth. She holds an Executive MBA from the Ivey Business School and the CHRL and PCP designations.  

Shelly calls London, Ontario home and enjoys spending time with her family and pets. She values continuous learning, community involvement, and leadership grounded in kindness and purpose. Shelly is honored to serve as Treasurer of Youth Rising Above and looks forward to applying her experience in financial leadership and governance to support YRA’s sustainable growth and help create meaningful opportunities for young people to build confidence and thrive.

Director

Seemi Marwaha is a Senior HR executive with more than 20 years of experience leading people strategy, organizational transformation, talent, employee relations, and culture across large and complex organizations. Throughout her career, she has partnered with senior leaders to navigate change, build strong teams, develop leaders, and create inclusive environments where people can thrive.  

Seemi is passionate about helping people realize their potential and is proud to bring her leadership and HR experience to the Board of Youth Rising Above, supporting its mission to create opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop their skills, and thrive.

Director

 Paul Bobier, CNE, CDE, CNC, is a distinguished Certified Executive-Nonprofit Consultant with a proven track record of fostering organizational growth and operational excellence. With extensive leadership experience, he specializes in strategic fundraising, board development, and building powerful community partnerships. As a trusted advisor to executive teams and boards, Paul excels at crafting comprehensive strategies that expand service offerings and enhance organizational impact. His triple certification underscores his commitment to nonprofit excellence and his dedication to advancing the missions of the organizations he serves.  

Director

Tammy is a seasoned marketing and communications leader with more than 35 years of experience, driving growth across the telecom, media, and consumer electronics industries. She brings strategic insight, collaborative leadership, strong business acumen, and a deep commitment to community impact to the Board.

Tammy is passionate about supporting youth, education, and community-focused initiatives. Her involvement has included university guest lecturing, high school mentoring programs, non-profit work supporting vulnerable children and communities, and volunteer efforts to improve community health care experiences for patients and volunteers. Outside of her community work, she enjoys spending time at the cottage with family and friends, staying active at the gym, and following sports as an avid enthusiast.

In honour of her late daughter’s legacy as a passionate educator, Tammy is proud to support Youth Rising Above’s mission to encourage, inspire, and enable youth to dream big and reach their full potential.