Board of Directors

Stephen Toope, Chair
Stephen Toope is the President of the University of British Colombia (UBC) and former president of the Trudeau Foundation. Also a former Dean of McGill's Faculty of Law, Professor Toope is a scholar who specializes in public international law, human rights and legal theory. He has been a member and chair of the boards of several civil society organizations that promote human rights and international development.

Maureen O'Neil, Vice-Chair
Maureen O'Neil, President and CEO of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, is the new Vice-Chair of WUSC. Ms. O’Neil recently completed 11 years as President of the acclaimed International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Ms. O’Neil’s past board appointments include the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Digital Divide Supervisory Committee.

Alastair Summerlee, Past-Chair
Dr. Alastair Summerlee is President of the University of Guelph. His career as a scholar, professor, researcher and administrator spans nearly 30 years. His research in biomedical sciences is recognized internationally, and he has been an invited lecturer at universities and colleges around the world. Dr. Summerlee was awarded a prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowship in June 2003 for outstanding leadership in teaching, education and academic program development. In 2004 he received the Doctor of Laws (Honoris causa) from the University of Bristol.

Rani Dhaliwal, Treasurer
Rani Dhaliwal is the Vice-President of Finance and Administrative Services and the chief financial officer for Humber College in Toronto. A self-described high-energy financial professional, Rani holds two B.A.'s from York University in Economics and Business Administration respectively, is a CMA, and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Leadership at the University of Guelph. An active member of her community, some of Rani's commitments include; member of the (national) Board of Directors of UNICEF Canada, annual volunteer for the Canadian Paraplegic Association, and Vice-President of International Punjabi Chamber of Commerce.

Ahmed Khan, Regional Member Atlantic
Ahmed Khan is a PhD Candidate in Natural Resource Management at the Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. A former government sponsored refugee from Sierra Leone, Ahmed was also a recipient of WUSC-UBC funding for his Masters program at the UBC Fisheries Centre on international fisheries policy. He served as a United Nations Volunteer fishery specialist with the Food and Agricultural Organization in the Gambia. Ahmed’s current doctoral research focuses on recovery options for Newfoundland’s Northern Gulf Cod fisheries. A strong believer in the ‘Medici Effect’ and in the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’, Ahmed aspires to connect Memorial University’s resources towards WUSC Ottawa objectives.

Séverine Garnier, Regional Member Quebec
Since 2007, Séverine Garnier has been involved with WUSC Laval University's committee, in Québec. In the summer 2007, she participated in the International seminar, in Burkina Faso and Ghana, on HIV and gender issues. Back to Québec, she became the chair of Laval WUSC committee, for two years and now, secretary. She is actually completing her Ph. D in community psychology, at Laval University, doing her thesis on the adaptation of Latinas refugees, in Québec City.

Michael Barutciski, Member-at-Large
Michael Barutciski is an associate professor at York University's Glendon School of Public Affairs where he also chairs the Department of Multidisciplinary studies. He has worked at Oxford University and the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He earned a Doctorate of Law from the Université Paris II in 2004. A prolific researcher and writer, Professor Barutciski's work on refugee issues in Asia, Africa and the Balkans are used by academics, students, government and non-governmental organizations worldwide.

David Hornsby is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Having recently completed his PhD in International Studies at the University of Cambridge, UK, David’s research interests relate to international political economy, the regulation of risk, and the science-policy interface. Previously, he completed a BA (Hons.) and MA at the University of Guelph in Political Science.  In 2005, David was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research from the Fletcher School, Tufts University.  David has been involved in the development of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology.

Marangu Njogu, Member-at-Large
Margangu Njogu is Executive Director of Windle Trust Kenya, a non-profit organization that implements education programs for refugees and internally displayed people, and an important local partner in WUSC's Student Refugee Program. Previously he held various positions with CARE Kenya and the Kenya Institute of Special Education. A graduate of the University of Manchester, Mr. Njogu also served as a teacher in regular and special schools in Kenya.