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From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Judyannet Muchiri Policy and Research Officer Inter-Council Network About Judyannet Judyannet Muchiri (she/her) is a feminist scholar–activist with experience in Canada’s international cooperation sector and the non-profit sector in Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Uganda working on, researching and writing on gender equality, digital advocacy and civic participation. Currently, she is completing a PhD in Sociology, overseeing policy work at the Inter-Council Network (ICN), and co-leading the Africa Community Engagement (ACE) Hub.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Paul Farran Director of Policy and Advocacy Cooperation Canada About Paul Paul Farran is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Cooperation Canada, where he leads efforts to advance an impactful international cooperation agenda. He has deep experience in government, NGOs, multilateral organizations, and academia—driving impact on political, development, and humanitarian fronts. He’s worked in crisis and development contexts across Africa and Asia, bringing both global insight and field-tested expertise. A natural collaborator, Paul works to unite diverse stakeholders to solve complex, high-stakes challenges. His core experience span diplomatic engagement, partnership building, strategic planning, and program execution. He’s developed hands on experience in advancing peacebuilding, climate action, and development effectiveness, while advising high level leaders.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Elder Joe Michael Elder in Residence Acadia University About Joe Joe Michael is a respected Mi’kmaw Elder, Pipe Carrier, and Sacred Fire Keeper from Sipekne’katik First Nation, known for his lifelong commitment to advancing Indigenous knowledge, ceremony, and leadership. With over 27 years of experience as a police officer and security professional, he has helped shape national approaches to Indigenous community policing and continues to support conflict resolution and leadership development across sectors. Joe is the creator of The River Stone Journey and a trusted advisor, educator, and speaker who brings Mi’kmaw teachings to institutions, youth, and community spaces. He is also a co-producer of L’NUK 101: Finding Common Ground , using storytelling and media to foster deeper understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Through his work, Joe creates space for reflection, healing, and connection grounded in Mi’kmaw values and ceremony.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Wayn Hamilton Board Member Connecting to Africa About Wayn Wayn was born in what he calls the Republic of Beechville; a small Black community established in the late 1700s on the outskirts of metro Halifax. He attended Dalhousie University and received a Bachelor of Arts in African Studies and a Bachelor of Education with a major in Language Arts. Wayn also has a Master’s in Planning and Development from the University of Guelph’s School of Rural Planning and Development. Wayn has worked and lived in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone. His overseas assignments focused on organizational and strategic planning as well as program design and resource analysis. While working in West Africa he supported a variety of civil society groups involved in grass roots community development. In November 2005, Wayn was selected to develop a framework and strategic plan for the province of Nova Scotia to address longstanding issues in the Black communities. He created the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA). He led ANSA’s ongoing work in the core business areas of government relations, negotiations, outreach, and communication. He guided the mandate and provided the leadership for community capacity development and relationship building between government and community. He was responsible for the overall planning, coordinating, managing operations and the legislative mandate of ANSA. He stayed on to work at ANSA until the fall of 2022 as the Executive Director. He plays with a percussion ensemble called Drummers From Home and is also a board member for Connecting to Africa (CTA). CTA is a non-profit, pan African group seeking to increase awareness, advocacy and action partnerships with African Nova Scotian organizations and like-minded groups in Africa. Over the years CTA has organized more than 8 Connecting to Africa Learning Projects to West Africa. His inspiration is Dr. Marie Hamilton (his Mom) and anyone with a genuine passion to make positive changes in their life…the life of their community and beyond.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION DeNel Rehberg-Sedo Professor Department of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University About DeNel DeNel Rehberg Sedo is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She teaches critical media literacy at the undergraduate and graduate levels and is known by her students for her engaging and participatory teaching style. As both a professor and a researcher, DeNel believes in the power of stories and storytelling.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Jennifer Elms Regional Gender Equality Advisor Aga Khan Foundation North America About Jennifer Jennifer Elms (she/her/elle) is a global gender specialist with 15 years working within East Africa, Southeast Asia, Australasia and North America. She is currently the Gender Equality Advisor at Aga Khan Foundation North America. Jennifer is passionate about working with partners to create innovative, intersectional, and sustainable gender-transformative change, with particular focus on women’s economic empowerment, gender-responsive learning systems, climate resilience, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Jennifer earned a Master of Human Rights and Democratization at University of Sydney (Australia) and a Bachelor of Arts (Joint Majors Psychology and English Literature) at Memorial University of Newfoundland. When not working, Jennifer can be found playing basketball or telling cheesy jokes. Jennifer shares her journey with her white-water rafting and life partner, Hassan, and their two children.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Ashley Rerrie Program Officer Equality Fund About Ashley Ashley Rerrie (she/her) is a Program Officer at the Equality Fund. With a decade of experience with grants management and international development work focused on gender equality and social justice, Ashley is passionate about building relationships for transformative change. She has been a part of Equality Fund’s Global Programs team for four years. Ashley is a Cooperation Canada Emerging Leader and participates in the broader sector policy and advocacy work around issues like localization, direction and control, and the Grants & Contributions Transformation Initiative. She lives in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, with her dog Mango.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Eliza MacLauchlan Restorative Justice Facilitator Government of PEI About Eliza

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Kirsten Larson PhD Researcher Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), University of Galway About Kirsten Kirsten Larson is a second-year PhD researcher at the Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), University of Galway. She previously served as a research assistant to Siobhán Mullally, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. Kirsten holds a BA in Human Rights and Social Justice with a minor in Law from Carleton University, Canada, and an LLM in International Human Rights from the ICHR. Her doctoral research focuses on child trafficking in the context of armed conflict, with a particular focus on Northeast Syria.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Janice Hamilton Executive Director Manitoba Council for International Cooperation About Janice Janice has been with the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC) since 1987, serving in a variety of roles before becoming Executive Director in 2000. A committed leader in the international cooperation sector, Janice has served at the national level as a Director of Cooperation Canada for many years since 1996. She is also an active member of the Inter-Council Network of Provincial & Regional Councils for International Cooperation. Provincially, she has participated in several Roundtables and most recently was on the Curriculum Advisory Panel for Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning. Janice received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Manitoba) in 2022. Janice is passionate about Public Engagement. She is dedicated to creating meaningful and creative ways to involve more people in international cooperation and seeing the connections between global and local issues, with the goal of nurturing engaged, informed Global Citizens. She has participated in several committees, both nationally and provincially, regarding Public Engagement. MCIC has earned a reputation for delivering innovative and engaging programming in the formal education sector and the larger community. Outside of her professional work, Janice is a strong supporter of the arts. She is an enthusiastic patron of Winnipeg’s cultural scene and holds season tickets to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

From Aid to Action. ACIC Symposium 2025 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY & GLOBAL COOPERATION Gabrielle Bardall Assistant Professor of Politics Canada Research Chair in Women, Democracy, and Power in the Francophonie, Université Sainte-Anne About Gabrielle Gabrielle Bardall is assistant professor of politics and candidate for a Canada Research Chair in Women, Democracy, and Power in the Francophonie at Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia. She is a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa and a fellow and adjunct professor at the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University. She has worked on democracy support initiatives in over 60 countries around the world for various UN agencies, bilateral foreign affairs and international non-profit organizations, and as founder and director of the Herizon Democracy consulting group. She specializes in gender, security, and democratization issues, particularly women's political rights in post-conflict and authoritarian states. A former Vice-President of the Parliamentary Centre, she recently worked for Canada's Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security as Senior Policy Advisor at Global Affairs Canada. Professor Bardall is a graduate of McGill University, Sciences Po Paris, and the University of Montreal. She was awarded the Congressional Fellowship by the American Political Science Association and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Doctoral Scholarship for her work in the field of gender-based political violence.