Lianne Wright – Chair of the Board
Lianne joined the Caldwell Board of Directors in May 2022 and was appointed Vice President inSeptember 2023. Born and raised in the Ottawa area, Lianne is excited by the opportunity to help make this beautiful City a safe and thriving space for all residents. She brings to the Board over 20 years of executive experience in the Public Service in a wide range of areas including strategy, finance, governance, operations and metrics. Prior to joining the public service, Lianne was a family and civil litigation lawyer and a consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from Queens University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Western University. When not working, Lianne loves being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Karen is an experienced technology executive who has spent more than 20 years leading software teams in the Ottawa area. She has held various roles at Nortel, Avaya and Halogen Software. Currently, Karen is the Vice President of Service and Customer Support at Upland Software. Karen is dedicated to community growth; in addition to various volunteer commitments, she enjoyed a past board position on the Huntley Community Association working on programs within the Carp community. Karen has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Regina. In her spare time, Karen participates in various running races and enjoys biking, skiing and spending time with her family.
John is a retired EY tax partner with almost 40 years of experience dealing with international tax issues. He has held a wide variety of roles including national leader of EY’s Canadian transfer pricing practice. He is a CPA and holds a Bachelor of Math degree from the University ofWaterloo. John and his spouse enjoy travelling, golfing, skiing and spending time with their family.
Ahmet is an experienced Programs and Quality Management Executive with a strong track record in community development, food security, and strategic innovation. He currently leads Quality Improvement and Health Promotion programs at Carlington CHC. Previously, he served as Interim Executive Director at the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, where he led poverty reduction initiatives and social enterprises centered on innovation and technology. With expertise in digital transformation, policy development, and cross-sector collaboration, Ahmet brings a strategic, multidisciplinary approach to advancing community impact.
Shannon is an experienced organizational change consultant specializing in strategic, technology and operational change management. She has been working with private, public, and not-for-profit organizations for over 20 years and currently runs her own consulting practice. Previous experience includes working for top organizations such as the Conference Board of Canada, Telus Health, Deloitte Consulting, and Hilton Hotels Corporation. Shannon is passionate about helping leaders and teams navigate through the complexity of business transformation.
Shannon has a background in Human Resource, applied research, and consulting. She holds a Master’s in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from University of Toronto. Shannon also volunteers with the Intercultural Dialogue Institute on their annual International Women’s Day conference committee. Originally from Saint John, NB, Shannon has happily lived in Ottawa for the past 12 years with her three grown children. She was elected to the Board of the Caldwell Family Center in May 2023.
Jill was elected to the Caldwell Board in June 2023. She is an experienced executive who spent 30 years in the federal public service. Jill held various senior leadership roles, most recently as an assistant deputy minister at Public Safety Canada prior to her retirement in 2022. Jill’s previous board experience includes several years with the Old Ottawa East Community Association as secretary and board member. Jill holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and has completed the Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance at the University of Ottawa.
Drayton, CEO of The Novas Group, is a visionary leader driven by a passion for innovation and transformative impact. With a STEM background and a lifelong passion for research and experimentation, Drayton has cultivated a reputation for fostering multi-industry collaborations that challenge conventional thinking. In addition to co-founding The Novas Group, Drayton serves as Chair of the Partnerships Committee at the Center for Social Enterprise Development, where he leverages his expertise to build powerful alliances that address pressing social and economic challenges on both local and global scales. He is also a board member with the Caldwell Family Centre.
Myriam Mekni is the Chief Executive Officer for CCI Ottawa. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Rising Tide Community Initiatives and as the Executive Director of MAGMA, the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area. In addition to her role at CCI Ottawa, Myriam serves on the OCASI Board of Directors as the Eastern Regional Director; the Executive Committee of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership; as a director on the board of World Skills Employment Centre, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Council for Refugees and is a partner with the Local Agencies Serving Immigrants. Passionate about human rights and justice for all, Myriam also served on the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and on the New Brunswick Women’s Council.
Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Myriam is dedicated to empowering new and established Canadians alike. Myriam joined the Caldwell Family Centre Board of Directors in May 2025.
Eugene Williams – Executive Director
Eugene has worked in the Non-Profit Sector for over 30 years and has extensive experience in program management, board governance, organizational leadership, strategic planning, community engagement, policy development and government relations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science, a Project Management College Program Certificate, and a Social Services Program Diploma. Eugene is a results-oriented, non-profit leader who has channeled a strong belief in social justice into a lifelong commitment to championing the interests of people and communities who are marginalized and at risk: advocating for change to address the root causes of poverty.