The Period Purse Team | Board of Directors | Volunteers

Our Team

Ajibike Ogele

Fundraiser and Donor Relations Specialist

Ajibike was always passionate about nonprofit work and had a background in marketing before transitioning to fundraising. She is committed to making a positive impact. Outside of her professional endeavours, she finds joy in travelling and exploring new destinations.

Danielle Kaftarian (she/her)

Executive Director

Danielle is TPP’s Executive Director with over 10 years of experience in the finance industry and studied Accounting and Business Administration. After two children, she wanted to contribute to the community and discovered her true passion after TPP was founded. At TPP, Danielle supported its mission to achieve menstrual equity for everyone in Canada. She’s proud to be part of an incredible team, working tirelessly towards period equity.

Hisha Javeri (she/her)

Engagement Assistant

Hisha has five years of experience in nonprofit organizations focused on community and youth development. With a background in public administration and policy, she brings an understanding of systemic issues to her work, enabling her to identify and address community needs. Committed to promoting menstrual equity, Hisha collaborates with stakeholders to ensure access to period products for those in need.

Jana Girdauskas (she/her)

Founder & Program Manager

Jana always dreamt of leading a charity and in 2017, that dream became a reality when she founded The Period Purse. Since winning multiple awards, she now works part time with TPP in “her free time” and when she is not talking about periods, Jana works full time as an Education Consultant in Indigenous Education. She is a mother of two and lives with her family in Toronto, and a Band member of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

Kelisha Layne

Education Facilitator

Kelisha Layne is a dedicated social worker with over a decade of non-profit experience. She champions anti-oppression, anti-racism, and inclusivity and is passionate about menstrual health and education. Her work dismantles systemic barriers and advocates for marginalized communities, especially children and youth.

Kristy Van Hoven

Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator

Kristy is passionate about nonprofits and has spent three decades supporting organizations across North America. She helps organizations align their goals to be inclusive of the range of volunteer skills and experiences. Kristy holds a PhD from the University of Leicester and is a published author. Kristy, husband Chris, and their pup Izzy take regular road trips to find the next adventure and small museums along the way.

Lianne Sinclair

Awareness Coordinator

Lianne is an engineer with 36 years of experience. She has a keen interest in learning and utilizing her skills in new areas so she started supporting The Period Purse through a mini drive as a Chapter Leader and coordinating MH Day. Lianne enjoys assisting wherever help is needed within The Period Purse and finds satisfaction in learning new skills and putting those skills to work, and ultimately through a positive impact.

Megan Apa (she/her)

Communications Coordinator

Megan Apa (she/her) works with companies across a wide range of industries to develop creative content and marketing strategies. Alongside her corporate endeavors, she is also the Founder of a queer creative event company that celebrates art and community. Megan's journey embodies a blend of professional skill and personal dedication to making the world a more colourful place, both in person and online.

Megan Scott (she/her)

Projects Assistant

Megan is dedicated to giving back to others and started at TPP in 2018 as a Chapter Leader in Sault Ste. Marie. She is a part-time Project Assistant and holds a BSc from the University of Guelph and an HR Management Certificate from Humber College. Megan and her husband own a Heavy Civil Construction company and share their home with a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, and chickens. 

Michelle S.(she/her)

Education Facilitator

As a former preteen crying about her period ruining her life, Michelle is delighted to be a part of TPP’s Education team. She has over four years’ experience facilitating in the youth mental health space and takes pride in using her arts background and love of storytelling to normalize conversations around so-called 'taboo' topics..

Shamira (they/them)

Finance Coordinator

Shamira is an enthusiastic arts and administrative professional with over two decades of experience. Starting their journey in Edmonton, AB, they have played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of numerous large-scale festivals. Shamira excels in financial management and is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Accounting & Finance at Seneca Polytechnic. Their passion lies in advancing equity and ensuring fair and inclusive practices for all.

Victoria Boucher (she/her)

Menstruation Nation Facilitator

Victoria joined The Period Purse in 2023 as an Education Facilitator. She has ample experience with facilitation in the non-profit sector. Moving from Nova Scotia to study Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, she now calls Halifax home. As a proud French Canadian, Victoria is thrilled to work with TPP to expand the French program and spread our message to francophone communities across the country to help achieve menstrual equity for all.

Vikki VanSickle

Education Coordinator

Vikki VanSickle is an author and educator with twenty plus years of experience. She promotes gender equity in all of her work and has been addressing menstrual stigma since her first children's novel was published in 2010. She currently lives in Toronto and can be seen monthly on CTV Your Morning as their resident bookworm, recommending books for all ages.

Our Board of Directors

Lieran Docherty (she/her)

Chair

Lieran has extensive experience working in the not-for-profit sector, focusing on women’s rights and gender justice. She is skilled in strategic planning, governance, fund development and programming. Lieran holds a degree in Gender Studies and a Master’s in Public Administration.

Pauline Yick (she/her)

Treasurer

Pauline is the Chief Operating Officer at CIFAR, a Canadian-based global charitable organization. She has extensive not-for-profit experience and has held positions at UHN, OICR and ICES. She holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from York’s Schulich School of Business and has her CPA, CGA accounting designation.

Nikita Thakkar (she/her)

Secretary

Nikita is a science enthusiast at heart with the mission to evolve Canada's healthcare system. She currently works in healthcare consulting for an Ontario health system, where she helps drive strategy for the +900 bed hospital. She enjoys learning about new technologies, analyzing problems and data, while communicating her findings and insights to various stakeholders.

Anuradha Banerjee

Director

Anuradha has extensive experience working with people with multiple barriers including visible and invisible disabilities within nonprofit organizations. She has expertise working with a diverse population and coordinating employment programs for participants. She is exceptionally motivated with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration of people within the community. As a strong advocate of diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging she has assisted organizations and people with positive change and achieving their goals.

Carolyn Poplak

Director

Carolyn is an experienced community builder, adult educator and knowledge mobilizer in the field of community health and education. She has over fifteen years experience as an organizational leader and avid volunteer with community-based organizations. Carolyn currently works in the post-secondary sector building partnerships between colleges, universities and Indigenous institutes to support Ontario students.

Dena Bonnet (she/her)

Director

Dena is a lawyer with more than a decade of experience before appellate courts, and an academic background in gender studies and equity issues.  Her current practice sits at the intersection between criminal law and forensic mental health policy, with a secondary focus on sexual and gender-based violence.

Natasha Ajubolade

Director

Natasha Ajibolade (née Nguyen) is a passionate Ontario Certified Teacher and a qualified principal, with a Masters Degree in Education and a background in finance. Her journey at The Period Purse began with volunteering on the DEI Committee. As an Ecuadorian-Vietnamese, fluent in multiple languages, she excels in building relationships and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. She enjoys leveraging her diverse skill set to champion nonprofit initiatives.

Shaunna Kelly (she/her)

Director

Shaunna Kelly is Anishinaabe/Canadian-Irish and is a criminal defense lawyer focused on representing Indigenous people in Toronto. She provides consultation services for those who wish to improve service delivery to Indigenous clients within the Criminal Justice system. She is the recipient of the Advocacy Award in recognition of her fearless advocacy and work with Indigenous Clients, awarded by the Law and Mental Disorder Association.

Zahra Stark (she/her)

Director

Zahra is a dedicated professional fundraiser with a background in higher education and healthcare. Committed to the advancement of the nonprofit sector, Zahra is a graduate of Canada's only Master in Philanthropy & Nonprofit Management program at Carleton University and has achieved her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) accreditation. She is passionate about her volunteerism, volunteers at a women's shelter, and as a board member for TPP.

Our Volunteers

Alex Thom ~ MHday team member

Amy Corcoran ~ Volunteer

Anika Nicholson ~ Cups Coordinator

Carley Stewart ~ Menstruation Nation Facilitator

Chantel Whitter ~ Website Administrator

Fei Yu Gao ~ Mini Drive Assistant

Jannie Nheng ~ Blog Editor

Katie Lo ~ Advocacy team member

Linda Fox ~ Storage Unit volunteer

Lindsay Cormack ~ Storage Unit volunteer

Lisa Iafolla ~ Operations Assistant

Maxine Katz ~ Storage Unit volunteer

Sabrina Baldini ~ Menstruation Nation Facilitator

Sophie Wolpert ~ Mini Drive Assistant 

Venus Saini ~ Newsletter Coordinator

We respectfully acknowledge the land we live and work on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinabewaki, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Mississauga, and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.