Foundation Board of Directors

Kaveh Rikhtegar

Chair

 “The Greatest gift we can give ourselves is the permission to start”, which is why Kaveh joined the Shepherds of Good Hope as a volunteer in 2017 and eventually, joined the Foundation Board in 2019 to help, guide and provide awareness and support to the fundraising priorities in support of people experiencing homelessness. 

As a retired Chartered Professional Accountant executive, Kaveh has been involved as a director with governance related matters in both the public and private sectors for the past 25 years. He has been responsible for and has played a pivotal role in helping to deliver on the various corporate mandates and priorities through engagements in a broad range of activities while building strong relationships with colleagues, clients and various partners at many different levels. 

Kaveh loves to spend as much time as he can with his wife Caroline and their three children. 

Kaveh sits on the Governance and Finance, Investment and Audit Committees. 

Irfan Ahmed

Vice Chair

Irfan Ahmed is the Consulting Director at Procom, where he leads strategy for the public and private sector. With more than a decade of experience in the staffing industry, he has worked with numerous national clients to secure top professionals in technology and professional services across Canada.

Irfan is deeply passionate about the staffing sector and the people who drive it. As a leader, he has built and grown businesses with a people-first approach, grounded in the belief that empathy is the cornerstone of effective management. He is committed to advancing positive change that benefits both the industry and the wider community.

Beyond his professional role, Irfan serves as Vice-Chair on the Board of the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation and has supported initiatives such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa and CHEO’s For the Kids Gala, among other community organizations.

Michael Williams

Treasurer | Chair of Finance, Investment and Audit Committee

As a bilingual facilitator connecting people, ideas, and opportunities, Michael provides strategic guidance to clients and candidates throughout the executive search process. Drawn to innovation and a champion for diversity, he specializes in recruiting top candidates into leadership roles in technology, academia, not-for-profit, and the public sector.

When not working with clients, Michael’s leadership expertise and entrepreneurial passion have led to advisory roles across Canada, including as a start-up advisor to Pay Shepherd, a Calgary- based SaaS provider, and as a mentor with Invest Ottawa – Xtreme Talent Accelerator. Michael is also an active volunteer with the Shepherds of Good Hope.

Before joining Odgers Berndtson, Michael held senior business development and leadership positions at Canadian Onshore, HealthPartners, and two national executive search firms. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and received a Forty Under 40 award – one of Ottawa’s most prestigious business awards.

Michael is energized by meeting new people and discussing the future of work, emerging technology, and disruption in general.

Carrol Pitters

Chair of Governance Committee

Carrol retired as a Pediatric Emergency Physician in 2018. During her career at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), she combined clinical work and teaching in the emergency department with a variety of administrative positions. For ten years she was Medical Director and Chief of Emergency Medicine at CHEO. She then served as Chair of the Governance Board of the Children’s Hospital Academic Medical Organization and for six years, was the hospital’s Chief of the Medical Staff. She served on, and chaired a number of local and provincial boards and committees, including provincial advisory expert panels developing health care and performance indicators for emergency medicine. At the provincial level, she was a member of the executive of the Ontario Medical Association Section on Emergency Medicine, chairing it for three years.

She joined the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation (SGHF) as an adjunct member of the Governance Committee in 2020 and in 2021 joined the board, driven by her passion for the work of the SGH, particularly on easing the crisis of homelessness in our community. She especially admires the dedication of the staff and their non-judgmental approach to people in crisis.

Carrol and her husband Ian enjoy spending time with their four adult children. They like to travel when possible, including spending time in the warmth of Jamaica in winter.

Benjamin Lidzbarski

Board Member | Member-Finance, Investment and Audit Committee

Ben Lidzbarski’s journey with Shepherds of Hope began in 2021, when he helped launched the Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament in Ottawa – an event that has since become a meaningful source of support for the organization. Inspired by the impact Shepherds has in the community, he has continued to champion it’s mission on and off the ice.

Originally from London, Ontario, Ben is proud to now call Ottawa home. In his role as an Associate Wealth Advisor with Roundell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities, he works closely with families and businesses creating tailored financial plans and investment strategies to help them achieve their goals.

Aside from work and volunteering, you’ll often find Ben on the golf course, at the hockey rink, or exploring the city with his Fiancée Lindsay, and their dog Winston.

Jason Hunt

Board Member | Member – Finance, Investment and Audit Committee

Jason is a Portfolio Manager with First Avenue Investment Counsel, a multi-family office and investment management firm based in Toronto and Ottawa.

He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) practitioner. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (2012, Summa Cum Laude – Silver Medalist).

Jason has a strong knowledge of the homelessness sector and cause having previously served on the board of Options Housing, a supportive housing provider, as the treasurer and executive member. Jason currently serves the Development Cabinet of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) and volunteers supporting professional standards with the FP Canada Standards Council.

Jason is a CrossFit and HYROX athlete, a fan of the Ottawa Senators, and has a love for country music, for it is truly three chords and the truth.

Luke McEachnie

Board Member | Member- Governance Committee

Luke has been with Arbor Memorial since 1996 and obtained his funeral director’s license in 2004. A fourth generation Funeral Director from Ajax/Pickering he has worked at Arbor locations in Alberta and Ontario and as a Funeral Home Manager in Kingston and since 2017, Manager at Capital Funeral Home and Cemetery. In 2023 he was appointed General Manager of the Ottawa Region Arbor Memorial locations including Kelly Funeral Homes and Capital Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Luke is a Past President of the Rotary Club of South Nepean, District 7040 and a supporter of Rotary Community initiatives, Knights of Columbus and Minor Hockey.

He enjoys playing golf, hockey and spending time with his family at the rink, the pitch and family vacations.

Lyndra Griffith-Harnden

Board Member | Member – Governance Committee

Lyndra is an experienced adjudicator with the Licence Appeal Tribunal and the Ontario Parole Board. Lyndra is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and prior to her appointment, she practiced civil litigation with a mid-sized firm. She has appeared as counsel before various courts and administrative tribunals. Lyndra holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa and a BA (Hons) degree in Psychology from Carleton University.

Lyndra also practices entertainment law at Edwards Creative Law, LLP. She has excellent knowledge of the entertainment industry and is committed to properly informing and supporting her clients at every stage of their career. She has represented clients in music, television, film, publishing, performing arts and visual arts. Passionate about the arts, Lyndra is very keen to serve the artistic community. Lyndra enjoys sharing her knowledge and is regularly invited to present at professional development sessions. Lyndra is fully bilingual and represents clients in both official languages.

Stéphanie Montreuil

Board Member | Member – Governance Committee

Stéphanie Montreuil is currently Head of Public Affairs & Corporate Communications at the Professional Institute for the Public Service of Canada, the second largest public service union. With over two decades of experience spanning marketing communications, stakeholder relations, and public affairs, she’s navigated the landscapes of government, non-profits, and corporate entities.

Stéphanie doesn’t just communicate; she crafts strategies that drive results. Her track record speaks volumes as she’s steered numerous organizations toward success through her proactive and results-oriented approach.

Fluent in both French and English, Stéphanie possesses a unique ability to cultivate relationships that matter. Whether it’s fostering connections internally or engaging stakeholders externally, she excels in building bridges that propel initiatives forward. Her dedication to transparent communication and setting clear expectations has been instrumental in fostering collaborative environments where innovation thrives.

Based in Ottawa, Stéphanie’s passion for effective governance extends beyond her professional life. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration at l’École nationale d’administration publique, she’s committed to continuous learning and personal growth. Stéphanie is also a proud mom of two.

Wendy Hope

Board Member | Member – Governance Committee

Wendy retired from her role as Vice President, External Relations at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) at the end of 2018 after 19 years. At CLHIA, she was responsible for overseeing the Associations communication initiatives as well as its conference and events portfolio. She was also involved in governance matters, serving as Associate Corporate Secretary to the CLHIA Board of Directors.

Prior to joining the CLHIA, Wendy worked for 10 years with the Canadian Payments Association as their Director, Communication & Education. She was also a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society and served as President of the Ottawa Chapter in the late 90’s and more recently in 2017-2019 as Treasurer.

Wendy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from McMaster University and a post-graduate certificate in Public Relations (with honours) from Humber College. Wendy continues to enjoy retirement with her husband Andrew and looks forward to sailing their boat on Lake Ontario out of Kingston and travelling.

Yasser Ghazi

Board Member | Member – Finance, Investment and Audit Committee

Yasser is a distinguished financial expert with a strong track record of supporting both local and national businesses in achieving sustainable growth. In his role as Vice President, Commercial Financial Services at RBC, Yasser leads a dedicated team of commercial relationship managers, focusing on clients in the Non-Profit, Retail, and the New Indigenous Banking sectors. 

An immigrant himself, Yasser takes great pride in giving back to the community he calls home. His commitment to service is reflected in his longstanding involvement with initiatives that support newcomers, mentor youth, and champion women’s education. From a young age, Yasser has been passionate about empowering vulnerable members of society, and he continues to be a strong advocate for inclusion and opportunity. 

In 2024, Yasser’s contributions to business and community leadership were honoured with the prestigious Top Forty Under 40 Award from the Ottawa business community. He has also received multiple industry-specific accolades for his professional excellence. 

David Murchison

Adjunct Member of the Committee | Governance Committee

David is an Associate and Executive Advisor at the Institute on Governance (IOG), where he leads select international programs and advisory work. He supports public purpose organizations globally in strengthening governance and institutional performance. Since 2019, his work has included open banking in Canada, governance training in Southeast Asia, and institutional reform in the Caribbean. 

Previously, he held senior roles in the Government of Canada, including Assistant Deputy Minister at Infrastructure Canada and Director General positions in the Financial Sector Branch, Finance Canada. He was also Canada’s Executive Director and Dean of the Board at the Asian Development Bank. 

Earlier in his career, he represented Finance Canada in New York, led expert panels, and worked in management consulting and the private sector, beginning at Imperial Oil. 

He holds an MA in Economics from Queen’s University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He lives in Ottawa with his spouse, Helga. 

Joanne Kudakiewicz

Adjunct Member of the Committee | Finance, Investment and Audit Committee

Joanne is an insurance specialist and financial strategist who works with high-net-worth families and business owners to create tax-efficient insurance and estate plans. With a background as a business owner herself, she is passionate about helping entrepreneurs keep more of their hard-earned income while building lasting legacies. 

Her career includes leadership roles with Sun Life and Desjardins, as well as developing the insurance division at Yorkville Asset Management, where she introduced clients to insurance as an alternative asset class. 

Beyond her advisory work, Joanne is a recognized community leader in Ottawa, serving on the boards of the Bruyère Hospital Foundation, Bruyère Hospital, and the Ottawa Cancer Foundation. She is dedicated to educating others on strategic giving to maximize both impact and tax benefits. 

Honored with the Forty Under 40 award (2019) and named among Canada’s 50 Leading Women in Wealth (2024), Joanne balances her professional and philanthropic commitments with family life alongside her husband Trevor and their two children. 

John Peters

Honorary Emeritus Officer

John has been on the Board of Directors of Shepherds of Good Hope since 1993. He has served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board as well as Chair of the Human Resources Committee (HRC). John is also Past Chair and a Director on the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation Board.

John is a partner at Gowling WLG practising in the Advocacy Department and in particular, the Employment, Labour and Equalities Group. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, John was Principal Litigation Counsel at Export Development Canada (EDC) where he led the Litigation Management team, which delivers advice on all liability-related issues. With over 30 years of experience, John has extensive knowledge and expertise in the areas of employment and insurance Law as well as general litigation matters.

John has received both the Gordon F. Henderson Award from the County of Carleton Law Association (2007) and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada (August 2017) and the Leadership in skilled volunteering Award from Volunteer Ottawa (2023) all in recognition of his work with Shepherds.

John is the first Honorary Emeritus Officer of Shepherds of Good Hope and the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation.

David Gourlay

Ex Officio

David joined the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation in 2020 as Director and then in 2021 was appointed as the VP of Philanthropy. This appointment fits a career that is characterized by a passion for people, relationships and building the community he was born, raised and lives in – Ottawa. 

David had a 10+ year in the private sector following a 15-year career in the Government of Canada and the City of Ottawa. David’s commitment to community is important to him and he has served on the Board of Directors for the Ottawa Public Library, the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation and the Ottawa Sport Council. David established the Ottawa Champions Baseball Club and proudly co-founded the Miracle League of Ottawa to provide children with special needs a fully accessible and inclusive baseball facility in Orleans. 

In June 2009, David received an Ottawa Business Journal “40Under40” Award and in 2014, David became a Member of the Order of Ottawa as recognized by Mayor Watson for his contributions to the local community. 

In 2022, David was recognized as AFP Ottawa’s Outstanding Fundraising Executive. 

David lives in Kanata with his wife Danielle and their two children.