Board of Directors
Executive
PATRICIA ERB,
Board Chair & Chair of Executive Committee & Nominating committee
Patricia Erb was the Interim Executive Director of Crossroads International from December 2018 to May 2019. She has worked with Save the Children throughout countries of Latin America for 23 years before taking up the role of President and CEO for Save the Children Canada in 2011 until the end of 2017. In the mid-1970s, Patricia, was kidnapped and tortured by the Argentine Junta. Patricia has been recognized by both government and human rights organizations for her contribution to the process of truth, memory and reparation in Argentina. She has also done extensive work on issues of decolonization, cultural preservation and communal well-being with Indigenous Peoples in Latin America, particularly in Bolivia and Canada. She is also known for her work with women’s grassroots organizations and gender transformation.
Vanita Varma, vice chair & chair of governance committee
Vanita is a senior non-profit executive with over 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, strategic and operational planning, change management and social innovation. Having lived and worked in over 3 countries in Asia and Middle East, Vanita is passionate about engaging diverse community stakeholders and leading multi-sectoral partnerships towards collective goals on social change. Currently, she is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at WellFort Community Health Services and is a coach and mentor at Ryerson University and University of Toronto.
Janet Riehm, Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee
Janet is Owner and Principal Consultant of Janet Riehm Consulting, advising charities and non-profit organizations internationally. A CPA and CGA, she has provided strategic and financial services to a variety of clients in communities extending from First Nations in Canada to rural development in communities in Africa. She is also a former Crossroader having volunteered in Botswana in addition to having served as a member of the Finance Committee at Crossroads. She joins Crossroads, providing over 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector.
Julianne Osberg, Chair of risk committee
Julianne is Senior Counsel in the Legal Department at Shell Canada. She is a skilled corporate lawyer with over 26 years of experience in a wide variety of commercial law areas. She currently volunteers with the Shell Women’s Network and at an immigration law clinic at the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. Julianne previously served on the board of the Alberta Seventh Step Society.
Directors
Fabien Lanteri-Massa
Fabien is an attorney specialized in Bank Financing and Project Financing at the law firm Blake, Cassels and Graydon, LLP. He has been involved in numerous financings in Canada, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Other areas of expertise include renewable energy and infrastructure projects, as well as public-private partnerships (P3). Fabien has extensive international development experience with points of focus on Africa, gender equality and sustainable development.
Jean Olemou
Jean is Co-Founder and Principal of GreenDev Inc., an impact investing firm dedicated to advancing the circular economy in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. He has extensive experience working on financing mandates in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure sectors globally. Jean is a community-minded leader with a track record of serving on boards and advisory committees to advance sustainable development goals in Canada and globally.
LAURA DA RE
Laura Da Re is Vice President, Finance at Numeris, an audience measurement company. She is an experienced executive with over twenty-five years in the field of Finance. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of industries, providing her with a vast range of knowledge and expertise. Laura is a board member of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and mentors accounting students obtaining their CPA designation.
Tara Scanlan
Tara, a seasoned Solution Engineer at Salesforce with 15 years of client-facing expertise, specializes in information management, digital transformation, and strategic business execution. She has served as a strategic advisor to major North American nonprofits, offering invaluable insights into leveraging technology to maximize stakeholder impact. Her global commitment is evident through her success as a former Crossroader, completing mandates in Bolivia and Senegal, as well as in Nepal with the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI). Tara’s diverse experiences provide a global perspective at the intersection of technology, social impact, and international collaboration.
Chelsey Smith
Chelsey Smith (M.A.) is a communications and culture consultant committed to creating positive social change. She works as an independent contractor and specializes in social and digital strategy, campaign creation, and community building. As a former Crossroader, Chelsey volunteered to combat gender-based violence in Eswatini (2013), and to rebrand a movement toward a transformative feminist society in Tanzania (2016).
ROLAND HUNG
Roland Hung is a partner at the law firm, Torkin Manes LLP. His practice encompasses all aspects of business law, with emphasis on technology, privacy compliance, cybersecurity and data management. His diverse career path includes roles as former Senior Legal Counsel and Global Privacy Officer at a large multinational, as well as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of a technology company. Roland has extensive board experience having served on various boards.
Heather Shapter, Secretary
Heather brings more than 20 years of non-profit leadership experience to Crossroads with extensive program and business development experience. Heather started her career in the development sector as a Project Manager for CARE Canada, and later served as the Women’s Economic Empowerment Advisor for BRAC in Bangladesh. She also spent two years in Haiti as Save the Children USA’s Women’s Economic Opportunity Specialist. Since then, Heather has worked in senior-level roles for Prosper Canada, Global Impact and has managed large scale volunteer team initiatives.
Leadership
Administration
Heather Shapter
Executive Director
heather@cintl.org
Philanthropy and Public engagement
Wanjiro Ndungu
Senior Manager, Philanthropy and Public Engagement
wanjiro@cintl.org
Program
Christine Messier
Program Director
christinem@cintl.org
Finance
Alex Perdue
Director, Finance and Administration
alex@cintl.org
