Puja Ahluwalia

Co-Director, National Programs

Puja is a physiotherapist with a background in pediatrics, HIV, disability, and rehabilitation. Applying this knowledge in practice, she was an integral part of the team that developed the physiotherapy outpatient program for people living with HIV at Casey House. As Realize’s National Lead, Rehabilitation, Optimal Health and Wellbeing, Puja combines her expertise in rehabilitation and public health, focussing her efforts on quality of life for people living with HIV. Puja has partnered with community members, researchers, rehabilitation and health professionals and physical activity experts to organize events, conduct research, and produce easy-to-understand resources to share information. Puja has presented to local, national, and international audiences and has had her work published in peer-reviewed journals.

Addison Brash

Training Lead

Addison (they/them) is a compassionate and outgoing queer human living, working and
playing in Hamilton Ontario (Hamilton is settled on the stolen territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas). They are the creator of the fully accessible 2SLGBTQIA+ event in hamilton called Hamilton Queer Hangs. With diplomas in Recreation and Leisure Services, Recreation Therapy, and Massage Therapy, they bring a diverse skill set and comprehensive education to their role. Their expertise lies in coordinating programs, providing therapeutic services, and promoting leisure activities, all aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals. Addison’s commitment to social justice, combined with their passion for helping others, drives their success in providing compassionate and effective support in their role.

George Da Silva

Marketing and Program Officer

George is a 56-year-old gay male who has been living with HIV for almost 20 years. His 18-year relationship culminated in marriage but ended in divorce after suffering years of intimate partner violence. For over 30 years George worked as a director for a major insurance company but felt unable to disclose his HIV status or seek help for his marital issues. Stress and fear cost him dearly, but he has since reached out for support and care that changed his life for the better. George draws strength from his community and is empowered by being open and upfront about his HIV status. He is a peer research associate on multiple studies, an advocate, a volunteer, and supports others living with HIV by sharing his life experiences.

Alexandria Ditner

Program Assistant (Communications)

Alexandria is a graduate of the Graphic Design Advanced Diploma program at Conestoga College, previously graduating from both the Media Foundations and Design Foundations programs. She has experience in a variety of roles and design applications with a focus on accessible design. She is passionate about music as well as, photography and illustration. Her experience with design software goes back many years to her elementary school days and her interest in illustration has been lifelong. In her spare time, she may be found at local renaissance ‘faires’ selling woodworking.

Melissa Egan

Co-Director, National Programs

Melissa Egan is the National Lead, Episodic Disabilities at Realize and has been with the organization since 2019. She has worked in the field of health education for over 20 years as a presenter and facilitator, developing and delivering trainings to diverse audiences across Canada.  She has experience using community-engaged research evidence to inform education and believes this is vital in creating lasting practice change. Melissa brings a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to her work and has worked extensively with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and Indigenous people. Melissa holds a BA and a BEd and has recently completed a Master of Education.

Lara Herrera

Program Assistant

Lara has been working in administrative support for over 25 years, in a varied and extensive range of organizations. From non-profit to corporate entities, Lara is known for her humour and communication skills. Her passions include the environment, animal welfare causes, and strongly supporting the LGBTQIA+ community via fundraising, education, and volunteering.

Aarti Hurry

Digital Engagement Coordinator

Aarti comes from a diverse background. She has experience in building strategic relationships with stakeholders at all levels in small to mid-sized organizations to drive mutually beneficial outcomes in the marketing, operations, HR, administration, and sales functions. She has a working knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of business management and administration. She has strong interpersonal skills accompanied by a strong business acumen and adaptability to fast changing environments and is flexible to meet the demands of the job.

She holds an MBA with specialization in Marketing from UK. She also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute, Ireland, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, from the Association of Business Executives ABE, UK.

Cathy Kozuch

Bookkeeper

As a member of the senior management team for a number of organizations, Catharine has been a part of the financial decision making process in companies from both the private and public sectors. After obtaining a degree in Economics from York University, Catharine worked for many years at the original IBM manufacturing plant in Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario. Following her tenure at IBM, Catharine went on to freelance as an accounting advisor at a number of small businesses in various sectors, such as, educational publishing, cellular systems, and group homes. Catherine, a long time social activist, is excited to work with an organization that is committed to improving the lives of people living with, and those affected by, HIV.

Janet London

Director, Program Support

Janet joined the Realize team in March 2005, bringing extensive experience in small business management to her role as Director, Program Support at Realize.

Kate Murzin

Director, National Programs

Kate has been working in the HIV community since 2007. After a brief contract at Voices of Positive Women, Kate joined ACT (formerly the AIDS Committee of Toronto), coordinating group programs and mentoring volunteer support group facilitators. In 2013, Kate joined the Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR), now Realize, as a Master of Public Health practicum student and subsequently took over and grew the organization’s HIV and aging portfolio. Today, as the Director of National Programs, Kate continues to focus on the health and well-being of aging and older people living with or vulnerable to HIV and coordinates the work of the Program Team. A skilled facilitator and consensus-builder, Kate enjoys working closely with others, including members of the National Coordinating Committee on HIV and Aging, to advance common goals. Kate is also Co-Principal Investigator on PANACHE (Preferences And Needs for Aging Care among HIV-positive Elderly people), a community-based research project.

Roger Musselman

Interim Executive Director

Roger brings extensive not-for-profit communications and marketing experience to his work with Realize. As the Marketing lead with Oxfam Canada for many years, and with the Marketing Committees of Oxfam International and the Humanitarian Coalition, Roger has helped shape international and national campaigns for fair trade, the right to education and other public services, people’s access to healthy food and the responses to major humanitarian crises. He has served in communications and marketing roles with a number of organizations in the health sector both on staff and as a consultant, including his work with Realize.

Chidi Ononiwu

Administrative Officer

Chidi is dedicated to optimizing organizational efficiency with leadership skills acquired over years of administrative growth. He has successfully overseen diverse teams, fostering a collaborative and empowering work environment. Known for his great communication and interpersonal skills, Chidi builds strong relationships with stakeholders, encouraging open dialogue and constructive feedback. Integrity and professionalism are his watch words. Chidi remains passionately committed to driving continuous improvement and exceeding organizational goals. Chidi believes his assignment on earth is to God and love man. Chidi spends his time outside work enjoying with his family and watching soccer.

Ingrid Palmer

Principal IDEAL Advocate (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Leading to belonging)

Ingrid Palmer, (she, her), is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and holds the position of IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Leading to belonging) Chief Officer at Realize. As a visually impaired former foster kid, Ingrid is committed to combating discrimination in all its forms, as well as to drive systemic change and debunking myths and stereotypes of stigmatized identities. Ingrid’s dedication is deeply rooted in her living experiences of early childhood trauma, foster care, disability, and gender-based violence. Ingrid’s community service includes the Child Welfare PAC, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and the Confronting Anti-Black racism unit.

Melissa Popiel

Manager, Cross-Functional Team and Curriculum Development

Melissa is an educator and researcher in the areas of disability, diversity, and social justice, focusing on access to social determinants of health for people living with episodic disabilities and their caregivers. Her work aims to reduce access barriers by integrating critical, structural, and systems perspectives to improve quality of life for people impacted by unpredictable health episodes.

Shaun Proulx

Podcast + Communications Officer

Shaun is one of the most versatile talents in media and entertainment today. He has credits as a television personality and host, producer, talk radio host, motivational speaker, columnist, author, publisher, actor, live event host, spokesperson, life coach, and activist for the issues of mental health, animal rights, and HIV stigma. Shaun produces the  Realize podcast focusing on episodic disabilities and nurturing potential inclusion and belonging for all.

Elizabeth Racz

Manager, Research Initiatives

Elizabeth’s experience spans academic and community-based research in HIV, transplant, cardiac care, COVID-19, as well as patient engagement in research. A Realize alumna, she completed her Master of Public Health practicum placement implementing the PANACHE ON study under the supervision of Kate Murzin; and returned as coordinator for the HIV and Aging program during Kate’s leave. She has worked in research from bench-side to bedside and beyond, implementing programs and advocating for evidence-based policy change. Previously she has been an advisory board member for the Interdisciplinary HIV Pregnancy Research Group (IHPREG), and a national board member of the Canadian Hemophilia Society HIV-Hep C Co-infection committee, CTAC Steering committees, and CANFAR. Elizabeth volunteers as a patient and family partner at Unity Health Toronto and serves as a patient advisory board member for various clinical trials, as well as a research reviewer for a PCORI. Elizabeth has 25 years of lived experience in the HIV community as a partner of a PLWH. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health, with a focus on knowledge translation as a tool for equity in health research, and the engagement of community members as knowledge brokers.

Rosie Smith

Program Assistant (Executive Office)

Rosie brings over a decade of corporate experience and an administration background education. Her adaptability and strategic thinking shone through diverse job roles. Passionate about making a positive impact, Rosie is thrilled about joining Realize, where she can utilize her skills for a wonderful and meaningful cause. Ready to contribute experience and enthusiasm, Rosie is eager to make a difference.

Sunny Wang

Knowledge to Action Officer

Sunny first joined Realize in 2018 as a student working under Kate Murzin in the HIV and Aging Program. From there, she found her calling in public health work, particularly in improving health services access through education, community-based programming and research, and policy change. She has experience working in non-profit, research, and education. Sunny is especially passionate about youth mental health and sexual health. She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Services from the University of Washington.

Annette Wilkins

Cross-Functional Team and Partnerships

Annette has many years of research and program management experience in the health and not-for-profit sectors. She has expertise in fostering unique cross-sector collaborations for transformative program development. Annette has worked in population health, primary health care, and specialty care. She has been affiliated with the Realize team since 2006.

Tammy C. Yates-Rajaduray

Executive Director

Tammy joined the Realize Team in 2013. In 2015, she became the first black female Executive Director of a national organization in Canada’s HIV response, as well as among Canada’s national disability organizations. She has worked for almost two decades in the field of program management, with much of that time spent as an organizational leader. Prior to joining Realize, Tammy was the National Program Manager of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Trinidad & Tobago Branch Office. She has extensive experience in Gender & Development and Sexual & Reproductive Health, including HIV/AIDS, having worked previously as a Program Officer with the Secretariat of the Caribbean Regional Network of Persons Living With HIV (CRN+) and serving as Chair of the Gender Theme Group of the United Nations System in Trinidad & Tobago. She is a graduate of Wolfson College, Cambridge University, England and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad.

Christina Lessels

Community-Based Research Coordinator

Christina joins Realize with over 10 years in the not-for-profit sector engaging with women across Ontario to better understand and address barriers to health, well-being and inclusion. Her work has allowed her to carry out qualitative and community-based research, program development and knowledge exchange with the goal of sharing with communities and moving to action to inform policy, programs and services. Christina is passionate about building research capacity through such activities as training peer researchers, facilitating methods workshops and creating resource guides that support inclusive research and ethical data collection. Her formal education includes a Master’s in Environmental Studies from York University.

Alexandra Pennell

Program Assistant (Outreach)

Alexandra is of Red River Métis/settler/Guyanese descent. She is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, majoring in Political Science with minors in Music History and Culture, and Indigenous Studies. Learning from and supporting marginalized communities across Canada has remained her passion since she was a young Girl Guide. She aims to bring her unique experience to the Realize team and communities that it serves. Alexandra splits her time between Toronto and Québec City taking her rescue animals wherever she goes.

Tess Kern

National Youth Episodic Disabilities Initiatives Coordinator

Tess Kern, MSW, RSW is a licensed social worker with a strong commitment to fostering empathy and compassion in her practice. After earning her Master of Social Work in Health and Mental Health from the University of Toronto in June 2024, she began her role as the National Youth Episodic Disabilities Initiatives Coordinator at Realize. Tess brings a range of experience from her work in mental health support, research, and project coordination roles at institutions such as the University of Regina, Baycrest Health Sciences, and The Hospital for Sick Children. Her professional ethos centers on the belief that empathetic and collaborative care is essential to effective social services work.