Paula Curtis

President & CEO
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The Board of Directors of Opportunity International Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Paula Curtis as President and CEO.  Paula brings over 20 years of senior management experience in philanthropy, organizational development and Christian leadership to Opportunity International Canada, through her tenure at The Navigators of Canada, Office of Advancement, Ryerson University, William Osler Health Centre Foundation, Canadian Whale Institute and The Terry Fox Foundation.

 “Paula has both a depth of spirit and breadth of experience,” observed Robert van Beers, Chairman of the Board.  “We are extremely pleased to have someone of her calibre leading our initiative to serve the entrepreneurial poor.”

 Mark Petersen, who chaired the Board-led search committee, echoed these sentiments:  “Our committee was deeply impressed with her track record, which includes organizational management, communications, human resources, and philanthropic campaigns as large as $100 million.  But most importantly, we were impressed with her creative energy and thoughtful wisdom, which will be tremendous assets for our growing microfinance organization.”

Paula was initially attracted to Opportunity International after learning about the organization’s holistic, relational approach to serving the world’s poor, and its specific focus on women.  “Opportunity’s emphasis on meeting individuals where they are and listening to them resonates deeply with me,” she reflects.  Prior to joining Opportunity, Paula was the Vice President, Philanthropy and Communications for The Navigators of Canada, a Christian movement that seeks to advance the message of Jesus on University campuses and in the broader community.

Julius Adagbon 

Program Director, Africa
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Jannalee Anderson

Director of Philanthropy
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Martha Arias

Program Director, Latin America
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Jessica Beck

Jacob Buurma

Communications Manager
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Marian Deegan

Director of Philanthropy, Manitoba
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Waveney Forbes

Grace Loney

Adele Madonia

Philanthropy Manager
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Mary Madzongwe

Director of Philanthropy, Ontario
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Natasha Ramnath

Executive Assistant to the President
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Doris Olafsen

Vice-President, Philanthropy
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Eleanor Shepherd

Director of Philanthropy, Quebec
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Lise Owen Struthers

Governors Council Director
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