Shilpa Joshi
(she/her)
Co-Chair
Shilpa Joshi is the Founder & CEO of UpTik Inc., a consulting firm that helps founders uncover and maximize the value of their businesses ahead of a sale or capital raise. She is also the Co-founder of Loft708 Productions, a film production company dedicated to telling entertaining and resonant stories—particularly those that spotlight voices that don’t always get the mic.
With over 15 years of experience in capital markets, Shilpa has successfully raised capital and led complex M&A transactions for private companies across a diverse range of sectors, both locally and globally. She holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University and an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Shilpa has proudly served on the board of Sheena’s Place for over two years. Her decision to join the board was deeply personal, rooted in her own lived experience with an eating disorder. She is passionate about driving change in the communities she is part of and is committed to supporting inclusive spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported. She has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of Sheena’s Place and remains a dedicated advocate of its mission.
Emily Stenberg
(she/her)
Co-Chair
Emily is General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Talent and Governance at Heart & Stroke Foundation. Before joining Heart & Stroke, Emily practiced law in Toronto at a leading global law firm. She holds both common and civil law degrees from McGill University and is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and Institute of Corporate Director’s not-for-profit governance program. Emily previously served for three years on the executive of the Ontario Bar Association’s Charity and Not-for-profit Law Section.
Emily is closely connected to Sheena’s Place and its mission and committed to breaking down barriers for access to support for people struggling with eating disorders.
Gavin Swartzman
(he/him)
Treasurer
Gavin Swartzman recently joined Christie’s International Real Estate where he will oversee global expansion and strategy for the luxury real estate network, which currently has more than 100 member-firms in over 50 countries and territories.
For the past 11 years prior to joining Christie’s International Real Estate, Gavin was CEO of Peerage Realty Partners, a Toronto-based real estate services company that owns and operates brokerage firms in the US and Canada. Its companies include franchise affiliates of Christie’s International Real Estate, Sotheby’s International Realty and other brands. According to the latest T360 Mega 1000 report, Peerage was the 10th largest real estate company in America in 2024. Gavin is also recognized as one of the industry’s 50 most influential leaders in the 2025 Swanepoel Power 200 (SP200) report.
Prior to his tenure at Peerage, Gavin worked in senior leadership roles in finance, franchise development, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, and management consulting, across a variety of industries.
Gavin has a master’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Waterloo.
Tricia Alcendor
(she/her)
Director
I am a Family Lawyer with over a decade of experience guiding clients through the complexities of family law with clarity, compassion, and results-driven advocacy. I am currently an Associate at Williams Family Lawyers, where I focus on high-conflict parenting, financial, and child protection matters.
My practice is grounded in a Master of Laws (LLM) in Alternative Dispute Resolution, an area that has deeply shaped my approach to resolving conflict with strategy, efficiency, and care. While I regularly advocate in court and have extensive litigation experience, I am equally skilled in mediation, negotiation, and collaborative processes that prioritize sustainable outcomes for families.
I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University (Glendon College), along with a Certificate in Law and Social Thought. I earned my Honours Law Degree and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2014.
Beyond my legal practice, I am actively engaged in advocacy work with Indigenous communities in Canada, the Caribbean, and other regions of the world. My work centers on land rights, climate justice, and culturally informed approaches to well-being and governance.
In 2022, I was recognized as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, a distinction that reflects my commitment to advocacy, equity, and community engagement. I bring to Sheena’s Place not only legal expertise but also a deep sensitivity to the intersections of mental health, gender, and social justice.
Dr. Patricia Colton
(she/her)
Director
Dr. Colton is a community-based psychiatrist in Toronto and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She studied Biology at McGill University before completing her medical degree and psychiatry training at the University of Toronto.
Prior to transitioning into community practice, Dr. Colton spent 13 years working in the Eating Disorders Program at Toronto General Hospital. During that time, she taught medical students and residents and contributed to research on a range of topics related to mental health, the intersection of mental and physical health, and eating disorders. She currently serves as the psychiatric consultant to the National Ballet of Canada and is extensively involved in physician mental health.
Dr. Colton has been a dedicated member of the Board at Sheena’s Place since 2013 and is deeply committed to supporting staff in bringing the organization’s mission and values to life.
Noelle de la Mothe
(she/her)
Director
Noelle de la Mothe is a marketer, fundraiser, and mom who believes in taking an active role in community – especially when it comes to supporting healthcare. She brings two decades of experience in marketing and fundraising to the board of Sheena’s Place. In her role as Director of Performance Marketing at SickKids Foundation, Noelle leads strategies that drive revenue growth and donor experience. She has also held senior marketing positions in the private sector and advertising space. Noelle is proud to contribute to Sheena’s Place and its mission to provide compassionate support for those impacted by eating disorders.
Jesse Hayman
(he/him)
Director
Jesse Hayman has spent his career driving innovation and impact in the mental health sector, influenced and inspired by personal and family experiences. He is currently the Chief Growth Officer at Greenspace Health, North America’s leading Measurement-Based Care technology company empowering service providers, clinical leaders and health systems with objective insight into mental health outcomes to inform continuous service quality improvement and innovation, both within clinical settings and at the population level.
Before joining Greenspace, Jesse served as the Vice President at Jack.org, where he led the organization through a period of rapid growth and founded Be There, an internationally recognized youth mental health education resource that has received two Webby Awards as the globe’s top health website. Jesse also spent seven years leading Development at the Movember Foundation and is currently on his second term on the Sheena’s Place Board of Directors.
BDr. Debra Katzman, MD, FRCPC
(she/her)
Director
Bio Coming Soon
Alanna Niskanen, CPA, CA, RYT
(she/her)
Director
Alanna Niskanen is a strategic finance leader with over 15 years of experience supporting high-growth companies from early-stage through to successful exits. She began her career at PwC and later played a key role in scaling ecobee through its $770M acquisition by Generac, where she served as VP of Finance.
She now operates through Inner Wealth Mgmt., partnering with founders and leadership teams to build the foundation for scale through strategy, financial clarity, and human performance.
Alanna’s work is rooted in the belief that performance and well-being are interconnected. After stepping away from her executive role, she completed over 330 hours of mindfulness and trauma-informed training. Joining the Board of Sheena’s Place is a natural extension of this work, aligning her commitment to mental health, self-awareness, and sustainable performance with an organization dedicated to accessible, community-based support.
She contributes her expertise in governance, financial oversight, and leadership to help strengthen and scale Sheena’s Place’s impact.
Caroline Palmer
(she/her)
Director
Caroline Palmer is a senior marketing and production leader with deep experience across media, fashion, and retail.
She has held leadership roles at Toronto Life, where she led brand marketing and implemented revenue-driving strategies across events, partnerships, and audience engagement. At The Bay, she oversaw integrated production for national campaigns and editorial content, leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact creative with operational precision. Caroline brings a unique ability to bridge strategy, creativity, and execution—along with a passion for collaboration and building strong, values-driven teams.
In her spare time, Caroline enjoys developing screenplays, traveling, and going on adventures with her family in their beloved 1984 VW Westfalia.
Caroline Palmer is a senior marketing and production leader with deep experience across media, fashion, and retail.
She has held leadership roles at Toronto Life, where she led brand marketing and implemented revenue-driving strategies across events, partnerships, and audience engagement. At The Bay, she oversaw integrated production for national campaigns and editorial content, leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact creative with operational precision. Caroline brings a unique ability to bridge strategy, creativity and execution—
along with a passion for collaboration and building strong, values-driven teams.
In her spare time, Caroline enjoys developing screenplays, travelling, and going on adventures with her family in their beloved 1984 VW Westfalia.
Christina Politis
(she/her)
Director
Bio Coming Soon
Bo Simango
(he/him)
Director
Bo Simango is an accomplished entrepreneur with a background spanning startups, public and private sectors. A solutionist at heart, he excels at the intersection of technology and commercial outcomes. His expertise includes management consulting, business development, technology commercialization, value creation, stakeholder engagement, and execution.
Recognized nationally and internationally, Bo has received numerous awards and was recently honored as one of Canada’s emerging leaders (2022). In addition, he serves as an independent director on the board of a Canadian-domiciled, private mining company. Bo specializes in engineering $, %, and hours into commercial success through data, transformation, execution and strategy. He possesses multi-cultural fluency and strong academic background, with a B. Engineering and M.Sc.