Meet the Team
Kristin Parmera
Executive Director
Kristin is an experienced and passionate non-profit professional with a focus on fund development, relationship management, strategic planning, campaign management and volunteer engagement. Most recently, she worked as the Executive Director for Ethiopiad, a non-profit organization focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s empowerment. Kristin is a very well-rounded, passionate and intelligent leader. She brings more than eight years of professional experience from both small grassroots non-profits like World Accord, as well as large, national and international NGO’s. With a BA in Philosophy, Minor in Social Justice and MSc in Human Rights & International Politics, she has a passion for the type of work that World Accord does and an appreciation for how we pursue our goals. Kristin is also the Vice-President on the Board of Ontario Council for International Cooperation.
Isabelle Hachette
Program Manager
Isabelle joined the World Accord Team in the fall of 2015. She brings her experience in program development and implementation, project coordination as well as creation and maintaining of partnerships and her knowledge of international development issues. Thanks to Isabelle’s keen interest in forming meaningful partnerships, World Accord is a member of the Food Security Policy Group, the Canadian Coalition on Climate Change and Development (C4D) as well, a member of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation’s Gender equality hub and member of the Movement for Community-Led Development. Since 2021, Isabelle is a Board member of Action Climat Outaouais (https://actionclimatoutaoais.org/#) She is also eager to bridge local to global issues in order to contribute to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDG: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/).
Cassidy MacDonald
Development Officer
Cassidy is a passionate advocate for global development and creating supportive communities around the world. She holds a degree in Global and International Studies from Carleton University, where she specialized in Global Development. During her studies, Cassidy interned at the European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD), gaining valuable experience in the non-profit sector. Her commitment to education and equity is reflected in her ongoing volunteer work with TEMBO, an Ottawa-based organization that funds girls’ education in Tanzania. At World Accord, Cassidy is excited to apply her knowledge in international development to support the organization’s mission. Originally from Toronto, she now enjoys living full-time in Canada’s capital, where she takes advantage of the proximity to Gatineau Park by biking, hiking, and skiing during the winter months.
Directors
Leah Christensen
President
Leah Christensen was introduced to the idea of international development by Terry Fielder, the founder of World Accord, when she was 10 years old. Since then, she has been a supporter of the organization and its ideals of social & economic justice. After years of studying and living abroad, she has committed herself to public education as a force for social change. As a teacher and administrator, Leah’s professional focus has been the creation of authentic, just, and compassionate school communities at both the elementary and secondary levels. Currently a principal and teacher educator in the Surrey, BC school district, she holds a Master’s degree in Canadian cultural policy and outdoor education. A passionate camper, walker, and baker, Leah also values yoga and music to keep her body and spirit going.
Stephen Thompson
Treasurer
Stephen Thompson is a long-time supporter of World Accord, dating back to the early to mid-1980s. Stephen’s support for World Accord is driven by its emphasis on working with local organizations to determine and direct the community support they need. Stephen brings to the Board his 30 years of experience in municipal government in both community development and in city council support functions such as meeting management, and election and census management. Following early retirement from his municipality, he served his church, the Community of Christ, as its administrator for the congregations in western Canada for 7 years. Stephen holds masters degrees in Public Management and in Religion.
Daniel Geleyn
Secretary
Daniel served in the Canadian Armed Forces as an Aerospace Engineer, retiring in 2015 at the rank of Colonel. He is originally from Montréal, Québec but his career has taken him and his family to a number of Canadian provinces as well as in Europe. Daniel is a long-time supporter of World Accord. He participated in two school building expeditions in Honduras as well as a number of fundraising events. He also contributed significantly to other community and international development projects through his Rotary involvement. The focus on grassroots sustainable projects that empower community members is what he finds exciting and enriching about World Accord. Daniel currently lives in Elora, Ontario with his wife Sharon. They have three daughters and three grandchildren.
Stephany Ospina-Coral
Director
Stephany Ospina-Coral is a Colombian lawyer, specialized in public law, with experience in legal defense, human rights, and international law. Her experience working for the Colombian government and in different international organizations in the United States, Australia and Canada have allowed her to develop different perspectives to address social issues that impact the development of countries and across the world, such as social justice, gender, poverty, climate change, among others. She is currently based in Toronto, where she is pursuing a postgraduate degree in International Development.
Sam Smalldon
Director
Sam Smalldon, based in Calgary, is a lifelong learner and experienced leader in the non-profit and public sectors. He holds multiple degrees and designations, including an MBA, CPA/CMA, and MS in Data Science, and is currently pursuing a PhD in strategy and innovation. With a background in executive financial roles, he has spent the past 15 years leading seniors housing organizations in rural Alberta. A committed volunteer, Sam serves in leadership with the Community of Christ and on Graceland University’s Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Shauna, have four children, three grandsons, and enjoy staying active and giving back.
Tristan Downing
Director
Tristan is a data scientist with several years of experience in the humanitarian and development sectors. He has worked with a range of organizations, including small and large NGOs, research groups, USAID, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. He currently works for the UN OCHA Centre for Humanitarian Data. He has a background in engineering and has private sector experience as well. He is passionate about World Accord’s mission and committed to helping it navigate an ever-changing world.
Ella McKay
Director
Ella grew up in Vancouver, BC and completed a degree in Biology from SFU, motivated by a lifelong love of the ocean. While pursuing a career with Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, she has worked on various marine and aquatic conservation projects alongside the public and local First Nations. She is passionate about social justice, feminism, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, and decolonization. Ella believes her experience as a queer biologist who’s lived with chronic illness and disabilities will bring a new perspective to the World Accord team and is excited to contribute to the incredible work done by the organization.
Partners
