Alumni Association
If you are a graduate of Ontario Tech University, you are automatically a member of our Alumni Association!
The Alumni Association Council (AAC) represents all graduates of the university and is responsible for carrying out the mission of the Alumni Association. The Council has up to 10 members who serve two-year terms.
There are three Council committees including Governance, Engagement and Finance. Committee involvement provides opportunities for enthusiastic alumni volunteers to build skills and contribute to the development of the university and our alumni network.
Alumni Association Council (AAC)
-
Mission and Vision
Vision
Connect. Engage. Succeed. Celebrate.
Mission
Inspire Ontario Tech University's global alumni community to feel connected and supported through programs and services designed to promote the spirit of lifelong success and alma mater pride.
Values
The following values are fundamental to the success of the Alumni Association:
- Integrity and Respect: We embrace honesty, inclusivity and equity in all we do.
- Honesty and accountability: Our actions reflect our values, and we are accountable for both.
- Dedication to quality and intellectual rigour: We strive for excellence with energy, commitment and passion.
- Pursuit of innovation: We cultivate creativity, adaptability and flexibility in our students, faculty and staff.
-
Meet your current AAC Members
Meet your 2023-24 AAC members!
Amber Morley
Amber graduated from the Communication and Digital Media Studies program from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities in 2019. She recently achieved her M.A. from Royal Roads University in the Master of Arts Professional Communication program. Amber is a communicator, digital media expert, musician, and storyteller. Amber has experience with the production of multimedia and podcasting for various organizations. Amber is skilled in scriptwriting, as well as creative writing.
Astrid DeSouza, Vice-Chair
Astrid graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2015, and then doubled down on her Ontario Tech alumni status when she obtained a Master of Health Sciences with a specialization in community health in 2017. Her master’s research led her to work with youth who experience multiple barriers in their lives and youth with disabilities. Currently, Astrid is pursuing her PhD, focusing on Indigenous health and disability.
A member of the Alumni Association Council since 2020, Astrid is enthusiastic about alumni programming and events and is well connected to the campus community. In addition to completing two degrees at Ontario Tech, she was on the varsity tennis team (Go Ridgebacks!), and was previously the Program Co-ordinator in the Engineering Co-op & Internship Office. As a member of the Alumni Association Council, Astrid is hoping to connect with current students and alumni to increase awareness of programs and services available.
Christopher Cameron
Chris graduated from the Master of Education program in 2022. He previously graduated from the Communications program at St. Thomas University in 2012.
He joined the Ontario Tech athletics department in 2014 as the Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator in 2014. Since then, he has been involved in creating fun and engaging opportunities for students on campus through his role with athletics and recreation. Alongside others in the department, he has also helped Ontario Tech win eight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) CHAMP awards for marketing.
His biggest professional highlight since starting with the Ridgebacks was representing Canada as a communications officer at the 2017 Summer Universiade held in Taipei, Taiwan.
Prior to his current role, he freelanced for The Canadian Press and Brunswick News Inc., and was the sports editor for TC Media's newspaper, The News, in New Glasgow, N.S.
He is excited to work with the alumni department in a different capacity, with the Alumni Association Council, to create exciting opportunities to engage our alumni and bring them back to campus to see all the exciting things happening with and at Ontario Tech.
Hamza Farhat Ali
Hamza Farhat Ali is the 3rd Engineering graduate from his brothers at Ontario Tech University. Hamza obtained a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering (IOT) in 2022 and is currently working as a Software Consultant at Infosys. He continues to innovate and build in his spare time with offtech.io which initally started as a Brilliant Catalyst incubator idea at Ontario Tech. During his time at Ontario Tech, Hamza was part of the Muslim Student Association, Engineering Competition Committee and Brilliant Catalyst 2021 Founder’s cohart.
He is passionate to connect the Ontario Tech alumni community, working in the tech startups ecosystem as well as non profit organizations for a positive growth impact.
Jamie Chan
Jamie graduated from the Networking and IT Security program from the Faculty of Business and IT in 2022. Jamie's commitment to diversity and inclusion in the tech industry led her to serving as the President of Women in IT as well as FBIT's VP of IT during her undergrad. Jamie has pursued diverse career paths, spanning from technical work in data/analytics, development, and IT support to business-focused roles in change management, business development, and strategic planning - but she has discovered genuine satisfaction in the fusion of these two domains.
Ontario Tech has a special place in Jamie's heart, as it represents her second university experience where she had the opportunity to explore a new path while receiving unwavering support throughout her academic journey. As a new member of the AAC, Jamie aims to bring her unique perspective to the council, fueled by that same love for Ontario Tech.
Kait Gambier, Chair
Kait Gambier graduated in 2013 from the Bachelor of Commerce program with a major in Marketing, concurrently earning a Durham College French Certificate. Kait volunteered with numerous clubs and associations, including President of the Marketing Association, President of the Model United Nations Club, Co-Chair of the Elements Case Competition, and Vice-President of Marketing for the Women in Business Club. Kait was also the Captain of the FBIT Orientation Week team and the FBIT representative for the Graduating Class Challenge.
Today, Kait works for Ontario Tech as an Administrative Assistant for the Office of Research Services, Teaching Assistant for FBIT, and Chief Invigilator for the Student Accessibility Services department. Kait continues to live in Oshawa with her husband and cats.
Kait previously served on the Council from 2014 to 2018 and was the first female Chair. She is honoured to be back to serve for an additional term. She continues to contribute her fundraising, event planning, leadership, and marketing experiences to the Alumni Association Council, helping the organization continue to grow to meet alumni needs.
Patil Mksyartinian, Governance Subcommittee Chair
Patil graduated from Ontario Tech University with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (specialization in Public Health) in 2020. During her time at Ontario Tech, Patil volunteered for various initiatives, such as the Ambassador program and the Mental Health Advisory Committee. After graduation in 2020, she began her studies at the University of Waterloo in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, and at Western University in the Graduate Diploma Applied Health Sciences (GDAHS) program.
Currently, Patil works part-time as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Waterloo, and her future occupational goals include working in the government sector (e.g., PHAC) in a public-health related field, such as epidemiology, health policy and/or public health research.
Robina Brah
Meet Robina Brah, an esteemed Ontario Tech Graduate, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology with a distinguished minor in Criminology. Beyond her academic achievements, she shines as a beacon of community leadership, fueled by an unwavering passion for active community engagement.
Presently, she holds the esteemed position of President within a reputable Not-for-Profit Organization called Comeunity. This esteemed organization is committed to fostering safer, more inclusive communities by means of invaluable community partnerships. Robina's unwavering vision entails empowering all communities to attain the pinnacle of community safety.
Additionally, she holds the esteemed position of Vice President at EHCOnomics Inc., an innovative Ed Tech Company. Within this role, Robina demonstrates her expertise in engagement, adoption, and technology. EHCOnomics Inc. stands at the forefront of the industry, equipping businesses with a proven and adaptable framework for alignment. By facilitating alignment between multiple parties, Robina paves the way for transformative partnerships that foster growth and development.
Robina recently achieved a remarkable milestone as the author of an enchanting children's book titled "A Pandemic Adventure." This captivating tale transcends the confines of the pandemic, delivering a profound message of unity and togetherness within communities.
She attributes her transformative journey and growth to the invaluable experiences she garnered during her time at Ontario Tech University. The profound impact of her education at the university continues to resonate in every facet of her endeavors.
Robina takes great pride in being an esteemed Ontario Tech alumna, having received recognition as a recipient of the Alumni Association Philanthropic Award. She is elated to have the opportunity to give back to the Alumni Community, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among current and future alumni. With a heartfelt commitment to building a close-knit community, Robina aims to support and empower her fellow alumni on their respective journeys.
Tyra Gordon, Finance Subcommittee Chair
Tyra graduated from the Nuclear Engineering & Management program in 2020. During her studies, she was extremely involved with the Ontario Tech community. As a Ridgeback, she helped the women’s varsity soccer team realize its most successful seasons in program history. In addition, she was involved in the Engineering Society, North American Young Generation in Nuclear, Canadian Nuclear Society and Women in Engineering student organizations.
She has always been passionate about engineering and the prospects of building on the reputation of Ontario Tech University. Currently, Tyra works in risk and reliability engineering for GE Hitachi where she is supporting the deployment of new, innovative reactor technology in Canada.
Tyra is excited to reconnect with her alma mater as part of the Alumni Association Council to help the university reach new heights.
-
Alumni Association Committees
Engagement Committee:
- assists with content creation for the Connected Alumni Magazine
- promotes events on social media, and encourages the rest of the council to do the same
- brainstorms and help plan events like Alumni Day, the Alumni Speaker Series, receptions, and others
Finance Committee:
- oversees the council budget
- works with other committees to support mutual goals/projects, such as events or merchandise
- identifies and recommend new sources of funding or alumni discounts
Governance Committee
- provides support to AAC on Policy questions
- reviews TOR and provide suggestions to AAC on changes as needed
- assists with Council Elections and oversees council self-assessment evaluations
-
Council documents
General
Terms of Reference 2022-2023
Memorandum of UnderstandingMeeting Agendas and Minutes
2016-2017 Meetings December 13, 2016 Agenda Minutes January 11, 2017 Agenda Minutes February 22, 2017 Agenda Minutes and Facebook Live March 9, 2017 Agenda Minutes and supporting documents April 4, 2017 Meeting cancelled May 3, 2017 Agenda Minutes and supporting documents June 1, 2017 Agenda Minutes and supporting documents July 4, 2017 Agenda Minutes August 2, 2017 Agenda Minutes and Facebook Live September 5, 2017 Agenda Minutes and supporting documents October 14, 2017
Annual General MeetingAgenda Minutes 2017-2018 Meetings December 6, 2017 Agenda Minutes January 10, 2018 Agenda Minutes February 7, 2018 Agenda Minutes March 7, 2018 Agenda Minutes April 3, 2018 Agenda Minutes May 9, 2018 Agenda Minutes June 20, 2018 Agenda Minutes August 1, 2018 Agenda Minutes September 5, 2018 Agenda Minutes October 13, 2018
Annual General MeetingAgenda Minutes 2018-2019 Meetings December 10, 2018 Agenda Minutes February 11, 2019 Agenda Minutes April 8, 2019 Agenda Minutes June 26, 2019 Agenda Minutes September 16, 2019 Agenda Minutes October 5, 2019
Annual General MeetingAgenda Minutes to be approved at the 2020 AGM. 2019-2020 Meetings November 13, 2019 Agenda Minutes January 14, 2020 Agenda Minutes February 12, 2020 Agenda April 8, 2020 June 17, 2020 September 9, 2020 -
Annual General Meeting
The Alumni Association's Annual General Meeting (AGM) typically takes place as part of the Alumni Day celebrations each year. To attend the AGM, please register for Alumni Day on June 24, 2023.
2023 Annual General Meeting Documents
2023 Annual General Meeting and Alumni Day Agenda
Alumni Association Council Terms of Reference
-
Previous AAC Members
2022-2023
- Muhammad Mahad, Chair
- Kaitlynn Gambier, Vice-Chair
- Amber Morley
- Astrid DeSouza
- Ijlal Gondal
- Keiver Goodwin
- Patil Mksyartinian
- Rathiban Raveendran
- Tyra Gordon
2021-2022
- Muhammad Mahad, Chair
- Kaitlynn Gambier, Vice-Chair
- Amber Morley
- Astrid DeSouza
- Brian Lieuw Kie Song
- Ijlal Gondal
- Keiver Goodwin
- Patil Mksyartinian
- Rathiban Raveendran
- Suroy Thamotharam
2020-2021
- William Lee, Chair
- Kaitlynn Gambier, Vice-Chair
- Astrid DeSouza
- Ijlal Gondal
- Keegan Guidolin
- Brian Lieuw Kie Song
- Muhammad Mahad
- Amber Morley
- Shaikh Farhan Rashid
- Suroy Thamotharam
2019-2020
- Shaikh Farhan Rashid, Chair
- William Lee, Vice-Chair
- Astrid DeSouza
- Reuben Gomes
- Ijlal Gondal
- Keegan Guidolin
- Sean Kell
- Muhammad Mahad
- Angelo Pineda
2018-2019
- Angelo Pineda, Chair
- Shaikh Farhan Rashid, Vice-Chair
- Tameka Bailey
- Reuben Gomes
- Sean Kell
- William Lee
- Michael Riseley
2017-2018
- Kaitlynn Gambier, Chair
- Angelo Pineda, Vice-Chair
- Tameka Bailey
- Ijlal Gondal
- Sean Kell
- William Lee
- Jeffrey Seres
- Shaikh Farhan Rashid
- Michael Riseley
- Jeffrey Seres
2016-2017- Sean McNama, Chair
- Kaitlynn Gambier, Vice-Chair
- Christa Andrews
- Kristen Daize
- Sean Kell
- Cristina Mazza
- Angelo Pineda
- Ruth Richards
- Michael Riseley
- Jeffrey Seres
2015-2016- Matthew Fawcett, Chair
- Sean McNama, Vice-Chair
- Christa Andrews
- Kristen Daize
- Kaitlynn Gambier
- Sean Kell (General)
- Shawn Nakagawa
- Andrew Seto
- Mohammad Soleman
- Ruth Richards
2014-2015- Matthew Fawcett, Chair
- Dan Gazarek, Vice-Chair
- Kristen Daize
- Kaitlynn Gambier
- Eric Madsen
- Sean McNama
- Shawn Nakagawa
- Andrew Seto
- Mohammad Soleman
2013-2014
- Matthew Fawcett, Chair
- Dan Gazarek, Vice-Chair
- Robert Sudak, Vice-Chair
- Kristen Daize
- Adam Doran
- Amy LaRue
- Jenna Lasky
- Sean McNama
- Mike Mior
- Nicole Robichaud
2012-2013 | Founding Members- Matthew Fawcett, Chair
- Robert Sudak, Vice-Chair
- Hailey Cameron
- Adam Doran
- Amy LaRue
- Jenna Lasky
- Mike Mior
- Barbara Piasecka
- Dwight Thompson
- Nicole Robichaud
