Lupus Ontario is governed by a 12 member volunteer board to provide governance, set the strategic plan and execute on major initiatives. The board members are located throughout the province and supported by our staff members. We work with Lupus Canada to advocate for improved access to information, health services and research.
We wish to thank present and past members for their outstanding service.
President
June Alikhan
June Alikhan was elected to the Board of Lupus Ontario in 2016. June joined Lupus Ontario in order to combine both her personal and professional interests as well as contribute her financial skills and insights to the organization.
June has over 35 years of experience in the accounting field; with over 25 years in the real estate industry. At Tricon Residential, June was CFO responsible for the Company’s overall financial management including information technology, reporting and administration before taking retirement at the end of a fifteen year career with the company.
Prior to joining Tricon in 2001, June led her own consulting company providing financial management, process re-engineering, and systems assessment and implementation services within the real estate industry. June graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and subsequently received her CPA, CA designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.
Email: June.alikhan@outlook.com
Vice President
Lisa Bilodeau
Lisa is passionate about advocacy and support for those living with Lupus and other autoimmune issues. Prior to her diagnosis of SLE and Sjogren’s in 2016, Lisa spent 20 years in the Advertising & Marketing industry working on many top-level brands. Striving to convey ideas in simple and direct ways that reach their target, she worked with a diverse range of creative and client teams.
Lisa brings her marketing and communication experience to the Public Awareness & Education Committee,, and the Fund Development Committee promoting Lupus Ontario’s mission through advocacy, education, and awareness.
Living in Burlington, Lisa also volunteers in her community as a Little Free Library steward promoting literacy, and with 100 Women Who Care Burlington, supporting and promoting local charitable organizations.
Email: lbilodeau@lupusontario.org
Secretary
Linda Keill
Linda has previously served on the Board of Lupus Ontario as Secretary and as President from August 2014 until April 2019. Diagnosed with discoid lupus in 1982 and with SLE in 1983. Linda rejoined the Board in 2020 to continue contributing to improving the lives of lupus patients. Her interests lie in Fundraising and Advocacy. She brings to Lupus Ontario over 30 years’ experience as an Information Technology Consultant and Project Manager.
Email: lindakeill@lupusontario.org
Treasurer
Siraj Mehdi
Siraj is Head of Structured Finance and Deal Management at MHIRJ Aviation. He is a CPA CGA accountant with an MBA. He has spent the last 30 years in Finance and Planning with large public companies in the Aerospace, Consumer Goods, Automation and Pharmaceutical sectors. Siraj is eager and excited to use his skills to help Lupus Ontario achieve its mission of “Life Without Lupus”.
Siraj along with his wife and two daughters are avid travellers who have climbed an active volcano to see the sunrise in Bali, spent 30-hours trekking in the Sahara Desert and went on a shark cage dive on Hawaii’s North Shore.
Email: smehdi@lupusontario.org
Director at Large
Dhwani Babla
Dhwani is a global health consultant who has lived and worked in health systems around the world. Over the course of her career, she has developed a deep interest in chronic diseases and a desire to learn more about innovative approaches to achieve health equity. Dhwani received her Master of Public Health from Columbia University and BSc from Simon Fraser University in Canada. She also currently sits on the Canadian Women in Global Health Steering Committee Board and is looking forward to bringing her experience to the Lupus Ontario committees. Outside of work, you will find Dhwani working out, volunteering, spending time with family, taking courses, or planning her next adventure.
Email: dhwani.babla@gmail.com
Director at Large
Sabrina Hundal
Sabrina is currently an MD/MBA candidate at the University of Toronto and holds a Graduate Diploma in Health Research and a Bachelor of Health Sciences.
She currently serves as the Fundraising Coordinator at the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Canada, and sits on both the Board of Directors at the Halton-Peel Community Aphasia Program and the Academic Board at the University of Toronto.
She has particular interests in patient education, healthcare strategy, and systems-level change. She is looking forward to leveraging her experience to advance the mission of Lupus Ontario.
Email: sabrina.hundal@rotman.utoronto.ca
Director at Large
Maneka Kaur
Maneka Kaur is an internationally trained lawyer who has been advocating for a safer and healthier environment for almost a decade. In addition to litigating numerous environmental cases, she has worked closely with not-for-profit organisations and governmental departments to promote access to justice. In Canada, Maneka continues to pursue her passion for environmental law and has articled with specialised environmental legal clinic. She was awarded the Tremaine-Britannia Citizens Group Young Lawyers Mentorship Fund Award by Canadian Environmental Law Association in 2022.
She believes that although environmental issues, and their impacts in our present world, need to be viewed holistically; one must, however, keep in mind that there is no one stop solution. It is important to continue to learn about the problems and engineer solutions suitable to the changing times. It was this thought process that intrigued her about the possible co-relation between environmental contaminants and Lupus. She hopes to provide her assistance and support in understanding this co-relation. In addition, she is excited to bring all the knowledge acquired by her as an advocate, litigator and researcher and apply it with the same passion to the cause of Lupus Ontario
Email: maneka.kaur@gmail.com
Director at Large
Jacqueline Meeks
Jacqueline Meeks is an experienced leader, author, and disability advocate. Her journey is guided by a sincere commitment to understanding trauma and fostering meaningful connections through relationship-driven leadership.
Jacqueline is motivated towards creating a more inclusive world, acknowledging the collaborative effort needed for positive change.
Email: jjmeeks7@gmail.com
Director at Large
Kyle Morrow
Kyle holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from St. Francis Xavier University and a Juris Doctor (Common Law) from the University of Ottawa. He is currently a lawyer at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, where he practices public law. Kyle also currently teaches in the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University. In his spare time, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, swimming, curling, scuba diving, hiking, and travelling.
Email: kmorrow@fasken.com
Director at Large
Deni Ogunrinde
Deni is a multi-disciplinary policy professional with experience leading strategic initiatives, projects, and programs across provincial energy and infrastructure portfolios and in health professional regulation.
Deni’s experience living with chronic autoimmune and digestive health conditions has fueled her passion for chronic illness advocacy and awareness. She looks forward to leveraging her professional and personal experiences to help those with lupus live healthier and better lives.
Deni is a life-long learner. She received her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology, Master of Science in Molecular Biology, and Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.
Outside of work, Deni finds joy in dancing, weight-lifting, reading, and visiting local coffee shops.
Email: Deni.Ogunrinde@outlook.com
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Murray Urowitz, Toronto Western Hospital Lupus Clinic
Dr. Dafna Gladman, Toronto Western Hospital Lupus Clinic
Dr. Janet Pope, St. Joseph’s Health Care Centre, Arithritis Institute
Dr. Judah Denburg, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster Division
Dr. C. Douglas Smith, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Earl Silverman, Hosptial for Sick Children
Dr. Derek Haaland, Barrie and the North
Dr. Mark Matsos, Hamilton Health Sciences McMaster Div and St. Joseph’s Hamilton Healthcare
Dr. Amanda Steiman, Rheumatologist
Dr. Zahi Touma, Rheumatologist, Toronto Western Hospital