We are excited to introduce to the community 6 skilled individuals who have applied to fill the 3 open seats on the Roulant’s Board of Directors in 2026, keen to oversee its governance and further its mission. You’ll also recognize a familiar face among them: Noémie, who is standing for re-election after her initial two-year term.
Below are the profiles of the candidates, with a few words to describe them and the skills they would bring to the Board.
These skills that are particularly in demand this year are as follows:
-Work experience in an organization that works with racialized and/or Indigenous people and/or people experiencing homelessness (areas of expertise related to the strategic plan).
If you’d like to refresh your memory on the role and needs of the Board of Directors, we invite you to (re)read our current Board page and our call for candidates.
Which candidates speak to you most? Join us at the AGM on March 26th for the chance to hear their speeches, ask them your questions, and cast your vote!
Anne Loranger-King
Director of Grants and Partnerships (Mission Inclusion Foundation)
Having witnessed the impact of Santropol Roulant for over a decade, I am eager to contribute to its governance with humility, rigor, and a genuine desire to be part of this engaged community. My background and values align closely with your priorities in food security, intergenerational inclusion, and social justice.
From a governance perspective, I bring a concrete understanding of the realities faced by people experiencing vulnerability. My 15 years in international cooperation, including six years in Peru working alongside Andean families on organic and small-scale agriculture, have shaped my understanding of food security and equity. At the Mission Inclusion Foundation, I support organizations working in homelessness and human dignity.
My experience with EXEKO, in collaboration with First Nations and Inuit communities, strengthened my role as an ally grounded in listening, mediation, and respect for diverse forms of knowledge. I also bring experience in philanthropic development and partnership building. I have contributed to mobilizing significant funding ($50K to $48M) and to creating cross-sector alliances with a focus on long-term sustainability.
Finally, my 18 years in social innovation have developed my strategic thinking, strong synthesis skills, and a collaborative governance approach centered on consensus and clear decision-making. I am committed to active board engagement, learning from fellow members, and contributing my skills to an organization that embodies concrete and deeply human social transformation.
Eda Uludere
Director, Data and AI Governance
I am applying to join the Board of Directors to support Santropol Roulant’s mission and help strengthen its impact. I would bring strong leadership, facilitation, and governance experience, along with a genuine commitment to the organization. Alongside my professional work, I have been a kitchen volunteer with Santropol for the past two years. This meaningful experience has helped me stay connected to community work and better understand the values that guide Santropol’s services.
I have worked in leadership roles across advisory, corporate, and nonprofit settings. I previously served on the Canadian Advisory Board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and have held senior roles in data and AI governance within Montreal’s tech sector. I currently work as a Director of Data & AI Governance at Morgan Stanley, where I focus on responsible decision‑making, ethics, and accountability. I also have solid experience in organizational governance.
I have supported boards and leadership teams with policy development, board reporting, risk and performance tracking, and putting strategic plans into action. I enjoy helping teams turn complex issues into clear, practical decisions that support long‑term strategic goals. I bring a legal background, including a Master’s in Law from McGill University and experience working at a national Canadian law firm in emerging technology.
While I have not worked directly with organizations serving racialized or unhoused populations, though my work in privacy and data protection has touched on issues that affect marginalized and racialized communities. I approach this role with humility, a desire to learn, and a strong commitment to inclusive governance.
Emily Kovatcheva
Executive Assistant at Resilience Montreal
As the Executive Assistant for Resilience Montreal (an Indigenous-led day shelter near Cabot Square) and the longtime Co-Leader for Mobilizing for Milton-Parc (a mutual-aid initiative aimed at supporting the unhoused Indigenous population in Milton-Parc), I have firsthand experience working for organisations that are created by/for Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness in Tiohtià:ke.
While I myself am not Indigenous, I am fortunate enough to get to work directly with a variety of Native communities daily, in addition to some of the most marginalised groups in the city (refugees, victims of trauma and/or sexual exploitation, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, peoples with mental health challenges, etc.). This allows me to see the realities of streetlife and of the colonial legacy more clearly as an ally who does not share the same lived experiences as many of our vulnerable clientele.
Additionally, I can say that I possess a strong appetite for administrative tasks and managing deadlines, thanks to my extensive experience in the administrative, fundraising, and insurance fields. While I have yet to get involved with Santropol Roulant in a volunteering capacity, I believe that I would be a great addition to the Board of Directors with my visionary mindset and relevant experience, which when paired together can be most effective for future strategic planning.
Noémie Desbiens Riendeau
Director – Organizational and Strategic Development (Vivre en Ville)
I joined the Roulant’s Board of Directors in 2024, excited to reconnect with an organization whose values and way of working are very close to my heart. Since then, I’ve brought my experience in urban agriculture and human resources, along with a deep understanding of the organization’s culture gained during my time as a staff member. Over the past two years, I’ve deepened my commitment through my role as a board member and discovered a genuine passion for governance. I’ve also developed a strong interest in identifying and assessing organizational risks, one of a board’s key responsibilities. I have served on the HR Committee and currently sit on the Governance Committee (as lead) and the Continuous Improvement Committee. For the past year, I’ve also taken on the role of the Secretary, where I put my organizational skills and attention to detail to use in supporting the Board’s administrative work.
In my professional life, I serve as Director of Organizational and Strategic Development at another nonprofit, where I regularly draw on my strengths in analysis, strategic thinking, and problem-solving. I value the opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas and share learning between two organizations that do amazing and meaningful work. Building on these two years on the Roulant’s Board and my professional experience, I look forward to continuing my involvement and supporting the Roulant’s mission, all the while helping welcome and integrate new board members.
Rania Gamal
Photonics Research Scientist
These are some of the skills I intend to bring to the Board:
Problem Solving & Analysis – As a PhD researcher who designs and builds biosensors—a process that can take years—I balance long-term goals while troubleshooting the details. As such, I’ll make sure that Santropol’s mission to use food as a vehicle to break isolation between generations is honoured while tackling issues as they arise.
Community Leadership – I was President of the Electrical Engineering Graduate Student Society and Vice President of the Women in Engineering Society. In both roles, I led student advocacy initiatives and planned events to promote community building, especially among immigrant students, who made up a large part of the community. I’m excited to work on strategies to improve youth engagement and nurture a much-needed intergenerational connection.
Public Speaking – I’m happy to represent Santropol publicly when needed. I am used to communicating my research and translating scientific jargon for a wide audience; most recently, I was a finalist in the Three-Minute Thesis competition.
Volunteer Representation – As a Santropol volunteer, I have hands-on experience with the Meals-on-Wheels program, the kitchen, and the garden.
Passion & Commitment – Last but certainly not least, I intend to bring a lot of curiosity and enthusiasm! The Santropol Roulant gave me a “third space” during a period of isolation, and I have immense respect and gratitude for all that they do. I want to contribute in any way I can.
Sébastien Hamdy
Student
My name is Sébastien and I’m a master’s student at HEC Montréal. I have 2-3 years of experience (both professional and volunteer) within the non-profit sector, including an ongoing freelance collaboration with Les Fruits Défendus. I have notably worked for Talent Beyond Boundaries, an organization that facilitates the recruitment and insertion of skilled refugees (nurses, engineers, etc.) on an international scale, and on a Canada-wide research project at the RI-MUHC called My Life My Mind, which aims to support the cognitive health of elders living with HIV.
I mainly bring competencies in digital project management (web analytics, digital marketing, etc.), which is the focus of my master’s degree, and in communications (presentations, annual reports, media management, etc.). I also have complementary skills in graphic design, photography and video editing.