Board of Directors
Christopher Trotman
Chair
Christopher Trotman is committed to collaboration and passionate about supporting organizations that help to create healthy and thriving communities. He has worked as a corporate communications professional for over 10 years, in both the private and not for profit sector. In working with organizations, Christopher expands beyond the scope of traditional corporate communications and explores how he can help to fulfill on an organization’s key strategic objectives.
He currently works as the Senior Communications Officer for Partners Community Health, an organization committed to bringing health care services together around the needs of people living in Mississauga and West Toronto. He is also the owner of Trotman Communications, a boutique communications agency that works with non-profit and social purpose organizations and co-founder of Kalabash, a collective of BIPOC professional service providers, creating solutions for marginalized communities across Canada.
Christopher Trotman
Chair
Former co-founder of Opendoor. Early staff at Spotify and Clearbit.
Fatima Gould
Vice chair
Fatima is a highly skilled coach, speaker, and author whose work inspires individuals to reach their full potential. She is deeply committed to helping people achieve meaningful personal and professional growth and achieve their goals. She also has 30 years of IT corporate experience in the financial, entertainment, insurance, nonprofit, telecommunications, and transportation industries.
My areas of expertise are efficiently managing programs and leading diverse organizations in community settings. As an operations and general manager, I prioritize achieving positive outcomes and taking the initiative. I have exceptional interpersonal skills and a proven track record of fostering commitment and cooperation among staff, clients, volunteers, and board members.
Kara Morgan
secretary
Kara Morgan is a serial entrepreneur and the Owner and Founder of PlanIt! Efficiency Solutions Inc. – a boutique consultancy in Southern Ontario that she founded in 2012. Her business provides efficiency products and services to growth-oriented service providers. Using a end-to-end approach, her products support energy conscious and efficiency seeking businesses that know the importance of comfort and how the environment can impact productivity.
She has been an Anti-racism Educator and Facilitator for over 30 years and has delivered anti-racism workshops and webinars to adults and children, in private organizations, and school boards in Alberta and Ontario. Through advocacy work in the Black and broader community, Kara hopes to promote a unified understanding of racism to challenge what is currently prevalent in the media and popular culture which prevents us from seeing the bigger issues around anti-Black systemic racism.
Reuel Thomas
Treasurer
Reuel Thomas is committed to working with small and medium-sized businesses, Not-For-Profit organizations, and government agencies in the areas of Strategic Planning, Board Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Operations Management, Culture Development, Employee Engagement, as well as Business Process Review & Analysis.
Having worked in multiple sectors including post-secondary leadership, hospitality & construction management as well as in banking and Not-For-Profit leadership roles, Reuel has a wealth of experience that spans industries and regions.
Reuel endeavours to support groups and organizations who work in and with under-represented communities to effect lasting change through improving access to affordable housing, employment and training initiatives, regional economic development, and health and wellbeing initiatives.
Rudi Quammie Williams
Director At Large
Rudi Quammie Williams, is a consultant with many decades of experience in a variety of businesses, including Organizational Development, Change Management and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He was project manager for the Canadian Institute for People of African Descent (CIPAD) feasibility study, Quammie is a mentor to youth, community businesses, organizations and individuals. He is a business consultant and facilitator with a passion for non-profits, community, entrepreneurship and small business.
Quammie is a graduate of York University’s Fine Arts and MBA Programs and has contributed his artistic skills and knowledge of the drums to the music of Joe Sealy, Judy Mowatt, The Parachute Club, Martha and the Muffins, Dr. John and many others. He is a co-founder of Ujima Fathering Centres, a non-profit organization serving African Canadian fathers and potential fathers by supporting them in their journeys to being committed and involved in the lives of their children.
Rudi Quammie
Williams
Director At Large
Lead backend dev at Clearbit. Former Clearbit and Loom.
Purpose of the Board of Directors
The purpose of Kalabash’s volunteer Board of Directors is to secure and enhance the organization’s ability to pursue its mission and vision.
How we accomplish it.
The board accomplishes this through deliberate and thoughtful management in the areas of strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, public relations, policy development, and volunteer leadership.
Commitment and Terms
Serving as a Director requires about 5-10 hours a month.
Serve up to five (2) year terms at the invitation of Kalabash’s membership as voted upon at the annual meeting.
Directors must be active, informed, and engaged as they are considered fiduciaries, a term used for individuals who are in a position involving trust.
Directors are subject to the fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and obedience to the law.
Directors must also be willing to participate in the Executive of the Board.
Requirements & Responsibilities
Regular, active participation in Board of Directors meetings, Annual Meetings, and public events.
We commit to the highest levels of quality and professionalism in the projects that we and our members take on.
We endeavour to include voices of people of all ages, ethnicities, gender-expressions, and disabilities in the work that we do.
We elevate the voices of underrepresented groups, with a focus on Black and racialized people.
Our business model ensures that we are fully accountable to the community and our members.