The CJPME Board
Among other key policy responsibilities, CJPME’s board appoints the president, and oversees the responsible use of CJPME finances. The current CJPME board members – with date of induction to the Board – are introduced below.
NADIA ABU-ZAHRA - June 2017
Dr. Abu-Zahra speaks five languages and has worked in multiple spaces of colonial and neocolonial conflict. She has collaborated on two books and over 30 other publications on freedom of movement, community mobilisation, systematic oppression, and resistance. She holds the Joint Chair in Women’s Studies at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, and is an Associate Professor of International Development and Global Studies. She is co-facilitator of the Community Mobilization in Crisis project, a contributor to the work of the Feminist Foreign Policy Working Group, and a recipient of a uOttawa Award for Activities in the Media and the Community. Dr. Abu-Zahra earned her doctorate from the University of Oxford and was previously a SSHRC Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellow, and a Research Fellow at the Oxford Refugee Studies Centre.
NASSER ABUKHDEIR - December 2022
Nasser is an academic, chemical engineering, and long-time CJPME supporter. He has over a decade of experience in student organizations focused on human rights and social justice during his undergraduate and graduate studies. He is currently involved in supporting scientific research and teaching in Palestine, along with supporting academic freedom at Canadian universities. He also serves on the University of Waterloo’s Board of Governors.
KHALED AL SABAWI - June 2024
Khaled is currently Founder & CEO of Open Screenplay, as well as the CEO & Vice Chairman of UCI, TABO Palestine. Khaled is also the recipient of the University of Waterloo Young Alumni Achievement Medal. In addition to his entrepreneurial projects, Khaled is also a screenwriter and executive film producer. He co-wrote the short film EXCEPTION about Palestinian-American professor whose career is put in jeopardy after a leaked video surfaces of his political views. Khaled’s origins are from Gaza, and he worked and lived in Palestine from 2007 to 2014, and visits regularly. Khaled manages various businesses (real estate, tech; etc.) in both Canada and Palestine (including 30 employees in Gaza) and has a strong network in Palestine. Khaled is a long-time friend and supporter of CJPME and has worked collaboratively with CJPME on several different independent advocacy projects over the past few years. In terms of what he can bring to the Board, Khaled believes he can help with fundraising, strategy, and leverage his strong network in both Canada and Palestine. Khaled also has lots of experience working collaboratively with large teams.
NADA ALDAHLEH - December 2022
Nada has a Computers B.Eng from McGill University. She is a Director of Engineering at a tech company. Prior to that, she was a startup entrepreneur. Nada is a Palestinian Canadian. Her family comes from Yafa and Akka. Her ancestors fled their homes during the Nakba in 1948, found refuge in Tulkarem, and then were forced to flee again in 1967. Like all Palestinian refugees they do not have the right of return. Nada feels strongly about advocating for Palestinian human rights, and that Canada can do a lot more to contribute to the achievement of justice in Palestine and ending the Apartheid, as well as to counter Anti-Palestinian Racism within Canada.
SABA AMRO - June 2024
Saba is currently a supervisor with the Government of Alberta, a position she has held for the past 12 years. She has a background and graduate degree in social work. Born in the UAE to Palestinian refugee parents, Saba immigrated to Canada in 1995 and has lived in Calgary ever since, while maintaining strong ties to Palestine. She has been involved with the “Justice for Palestinians” (JFP) Palestine Solidarity group in Calgary since her university days. In her role with JFP, she has worked with CJPME in joint national-Calgary advocacy projects. In terms of assets, she believes she’ll bring to the Board: she believes can bring a strong connection to the Palestinian cause and lived experience. She also believes that her background in community and social work can be useful, not to mention her professional focus on inclusivity and diversity.
OMAR BURGAN - June 2024
Omar has worked as a bargaining and policy researcher in Canada’s labour movement for the last 8 years. Prior to his career in Labour, Omar has worked in public health as well as on Parliament Hill as an MP’s assistant. His late grandmother was a Nakba survivor from Haifa, and he has been involved in Palestine Solidarity organizing and activism in Canada for almost 20 years. In 2012, he volunteered with a Canadian charity teaching English and French to children and adults in and around Nablus in the West Bank. He was profoundly impacted after witnessing the injustices of the apartheid system and realizing how the Canadian government has enabled the oppression of Palestinians, often in ways that remain unknown to most citizens of Canada. Omar has helped organize an academic symposium on Palestine at the University of Ottawa in 2019 and has been a supporter of CJPME for many years, including as an informal advisor. He is a firm believer in grassroots organizing and the pivotal role of organized labour in the advancement of democracy and social justice locally and globally. He is committed to identifying ways to amplify the voices of Palestinians and local community groups, working together to dismantle systems of oppression and advocate for the liberation of all people.
AMAL CHAUDRY - December 2022
Amal has a B.A. Honours in Criminology and Political Science and a Juris Doctorate. She has worked as a lawyer in the public sector for over a decade. In addition, she has experience on various non-profit boards that focus on advocacy work. Outside of her professional obligations, Amal spends her time with her young kids and husband outdoors, baking and reading.
LIBBY DAVIES - July 2020
Libby served as Member of Parliament for Vancouver East from 1997 to 2015, and as the Deputy Leader of the Federal NDP from 2007 to 2015. Before her time in federal politics, Libby was a community organizer in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and elected to Vancouver City Council for 5 consecutive terms. She has written a political memoir called “Outside In” about her political experiences. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2016. Libby has always been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian human rights, and she brought a principled and courageous perspective to the issue while on Parliament Hill. She was a member of the Canada Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Association, and helped plan events on the Hill to foster awareness of Palestine. After Israel’s war on Gaza in 2009 resulted in the deaths of 1400 Palestinians, she was part of a small group of two Canadian MPs who visited the territory. Following her visit, she introduced a statement and report to Parliament calling on Canada to support the Goldstone Report and its conclusions, which found evidence of Israeli war crimes.
DALIA EL FARRA - June 2024
Dalia is currently Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Centre for Human Rights, York University, completing a master’s in social justice. Dalia is a Palestinian with origins in Gaza. She is currently active doing anti-Palestinian racism workshops; actively engaging on social media; and doing a lot of behind-the-scenes networking/connecting to mobilize among allies to influence school boards and riding associations. In terms of the assets she brings to the Board, she believes in a consensus model; believes in broad skill set and diversity on the Board; is very anti-ego; brings a strong and practical EDI lens; and is well-connected in GTA.
MOHAMMED GHALAYINI - June 2024
Mohammed is currently the chair of Maple Leaf Angels, a Canadian investor group that supports promising early-stage tech startups. His main vocation is as a corporate innovation advisor, and he has previously worked in renewable energy and management consulting. Mohammed is Palestinian with roots in Ramla and Gaza. He has been actively engaged in advocacy for Palestine through his participation in riding group associations that mobilize constituents to contact and pressure MPs, draft and promote petitions, run email and social media campaigns, canvass, and organize vigils and community forums.
NORA HINDY - June 2024
Nora is currently a director at a post-secondary institution in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to that, she worked at the Peel District School Board for 15 years, eventually becoming a principal in the school system. Nora has a master’s degree in public policy, Administration and Law, where her focus was on Islamophobia in public schools. She also recently started her PhD in Educational Leadership at UofT’s OISE. Nora has family origins in Egypt and has been involved in activism for a long time, starting years ago with the Muslim Youth Fellowship (now called the “Diversity Youth Fellowship”) and having served on the board of Urban Alliance for 8 years. More recently, Nora started a coalition to advocate with the Peel School District Board (the Coalition for Muslim and Palestinian Students and Families) to advocate for student rights. In the past, she has collaborated with CJPME on various campaigns. In terms of assets, she believes she’ll bring to the Board: she is well-connected in the education sector in Ontario, and the Muslim sector in the GTA. She is also very collaborative, having previously been involved in strategic planning with public sector and non-profit organizations.
SHAUNA MORGAN - June 2024
Shauna is currently an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories (where there are no political parties; it is a consensus government system). She previously served on Yellowknife City Council for two terms, including a period as Deputy Mayor. Shauna’s background is in community development, Indigenous rights and sustainable energy solutions. She got involved in Palestinian advocacy in university while living in Toronto. She holds a master’s degree in international Affairs specializing in conflict analysis. From 2002-03, Shauna worked as an intern with grassroots cross-cultural peacebuilding movement in the Philippines, amidst a longstanding civil war. She is a longtime supporter of CJPME, having been involved since the 2000s. Since moving to Yellowknife in 2008, Shauna has been involved in local Palestine Solidarity work. She has worked as a resource person to Indigenous governments and communities across the NWT on projects ranging from renewable energy, housing, cross-cultural environmental research and monitoring, to navigating major resource extraction projects.
Michaël Séguin - June 2024
Michaël is currently Assistant Professor and Director of the School of Leadership, Ecology and Equity at Saint Paul University in Ottawa. Michaël became interested in Palestine following two interfaith visits to Palestine in the 2000s, one of which involved accompanying Palestinians at checkpoints in East Jerusalem. These experiences led him to examine Israeli colonialism and its ideological underpinnings during his doctorate in sociology and encouraged him to become involved in solidarity with Palestine, particularly within Christian circles. Michaël completed two advanced internships with CJPME in early 2010 and a few visits to Parliament Hill. His current research focuses on equity and inclusion in Canadian settlement agencies. In terms of the assets he brings to the Board, he has a solid background in EDI, and his experience in higher education positions him well to reach out to the next generation.
CHRIS FARRIS ZABANEH - December 2022
Chris has a rich mix of talents and skills, and has worked professionally as a consultant, coach, facilitator, and engineer. He often works with leaders to help them engage effectively with different types of audiences. Chris also trains individuals and organization on how to create workplaces that enable equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. He has also been actively involved in the Green Party of Canada for many years. Chris is pursuing a Masters of Science in Communication, Behaviour, and Credibility Analysis with a focus on deception detection and leadership. In his spare time, Chris enjoys photography, studying performance psychology and linguistics, and trying new traditional and modern Palestinian recipes.
The CJPME Executive Team
The CJPME Executive is charged with carrying out the operations of the organization. The President is appointed by the Board, and the President and the executive work to implement CJPME’s strategic plan at both the national and local level. Some members of the CJPME executive are paid staff, while others are volunteers.
MICHAEL BUECKERT - VICE PRESIDENT - June 2020
Dr. Michael Bueckert has a PhD in Sociology with a specialization in Political Economy from Carleton University. His dissertation explored the opposition to BDS, and this research involved travel to Palestine and South Africa. He has published in Radical History Review and Studies in Political Economy, and has written for publications including Africa Is A Country, Jacobin, and Briarpatch. His research has been cited by the Washington Post, Buzzfeed News, CBC Ottawa, the South African Broadcast Corporation, the Electronic Intifada, +972 Magazine, and Mondoweiss. He has held several positions in the student movement, including as the President of the Carleton University Graduate Students’ Association. He is co-editor of Advocating for Palestine in Canada (Fernwood Publishing, 2022). He joined CJPME as Vice President in June 2020.
THOMAS WOODLEY - PRESIDENT - August 2010
Thomas Woodley has been CJPME’s president since early 2008, and the organization has seen dramatic expansion and growth under his leadership. In terms of academic background, Tom has a BS EE from Carnegie-Mellon University and an MS EE from Stevens Institute of Technology. Tom also has an MPA from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, with a focus on Public Policy and Public Finance. Tom has a strong professional background in the public sector, having worked in Federal government for several years. He is also experienced in project management and organizational development. Tom also has long experience working in the NGO and volunteer sector, having volunteered for several international NGOs in Africa and the Middle East. Tom has been involved with CJPME since its founding in 2004.
LYNN NAJI – OFFICE MANAGER – June 2023
Lynn is a fourth-year student at Concordia University pursuing a double major in economics and political science with a minor in human rights. Lynn moved to Montreal from Lebanon with her family in 2020 in search of better opportunities, as the situation in Lebanon was very unstable. Given the challenges Lynn has faced in Lebanon and as an immigrant to Canada, she is passionate about understanding international law and engaging in activism to reform the systems that perpetuate injustice.
JASON TONEY– DIRECTOR OF MEDIA ADVOCACY– February 2023
Jason Toney has a degree in Philosophy from Bard College in New York, and has extensive experience as a book publisher, editor, and researcher. He is the Editor of Take the City (Black Rose Books, 2022) and has published essays in multiple anthologies on topics including municipalism, Hannah Arendt, and Murray Bookchin. He was a member of the Bard Palestinian Youth Initiative and a co-founder of Palestine’s first university-level Model United Nations conference, PaliMUN (2015), at Al-Quds University. He was previously a publishing consultant with Daraja Press, a research assistant for the economist Kari Polanyi Levitt, a Trustee Leader Scholar at Bard College, and served as the Chief of External Relations for the International Model United Nations Association. As an activist in Montreal, he has been an organizer with Prenons la ville!, À nous les quartiers, and Symbiosis.
ALEX PATERSON– SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS– September 2023
Alex Paterson is a proud girl-dad committed to social and environmental justice. He was introduced to the Palestinian cause by attending Israeli apartheid week at university. Alex has a Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance from the University of Winnipeg and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science focused on international relations theory. Alex’s Master’s research focused on traditional Anishinaabeg practices of treaties, diplomacy, and international relations. He co-founded Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition (MEJC) in 2014, working as a regional campaigner on the successful campaign to stop the Energy East Pipeline and reform Canada’s environmental assessment laws. Alex has also worked for Upstream: Institute for a Healthy Society and the non-profit ONE’s campaign to replenish the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria that pushed the government to pledge $1.2 Billion to this effort. Alex draws on his experience of adoption and neurodiversity to drive his advocacy.