Staff
irene elhaimer, executive director
Irene began her career in the non-profit sector as a result of having been a student in Montreal during the 1989 Montreal Massacre at l'École Polytechnique. She knew then that her life's mission would be to advance women's equality and end violence in Canada. Irene was the Executive Director at Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) for almost 15 years before joining Mom2Mom. She is thrilled to be utilizing her passion, skills, and life-long fight for women's equality to improve the lives of children in poverty by supporting their moms. Irene has raised two amazing pro-feminist men and loves spending time at the beach, reading and pursuing social justice.
Kim gale-gotowiec, program coordinator
As a longtime resident of East Vancouver, Kim enjoys working in the community that she has raised her children and called home for many years. As a step and birth parent, Kim has been fortunate to be surrounded by a positive caring support system of other mothers, who have mentored her along the way and she truly understands and appreciates the value of the Mom2Mom philosophy. Kim has a long history of working with women, children, and their families in a variety of settings. Kim has training in pre- and postnatal care, child development, and parent education. When Kim is not working, she is pursing her passion as an aromatherapist as well as puttering in her little garden.
Caitlin Elgar, Program Coordinator
Caitlin has a diploma in Youth Justice from Douglas College. She spent 5 years working with children in care, as well as volunteering at the Kidstart Mentorship Program, Lookout Society, and Directions Youth Services. Caitlin is overjoyed to be utilizing her skills working with children at Mom2Mom. She is proud to be part of a community that provides support in a non-judgemental and caring environment to help create healthy families. Caitlin’s greatest accomplishment is having her daughter in February 2019. In her spare time, she hikes in the forest with her family and their rescue dog from the Northwest Territories.
Samantha Schumacher, Coordinator of Communications and Fund Development
Samantha is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science from the University of British Columbia. She has extensive volunteer experience, having spent several years working with Free the Children, including a volunteer trip to Ghana. Samantha began working with Mom2Mom as a Co-op student in 2018 and fell in love with the organization due to its commitment to improving the lives of children living in poverty by supporting their moms. She is passionate about empowering women and utilizing social media as a tool for positive change. When she's not working or studying, you can find her spending time with her family or cooking.
Board of Directors
Judy Gale, MBA, Chair of the Board
As Chair of the Board, Judy leads quietly, with humour, bringing to the table her background as an MBA, corporate creative services manager, business owner and foundation founder. Judy joined the board in 2019, but has been previously involved with Mom2Mom as a member of Social Venture Partners Vancouver. She is proud to be part of the Mom2Mom team and wholeheartedly believes the steady, non-judgemental support of another mom can make a difference. Above all else, Judy’s favorite roles have been Mom, Stepmom, Grandma and Auntie.
Nicola Ingram, MA, director
Nicola has been working with children and their families living in poverty in Vancouver for almost 20 years. She has witnessed over and over the power of relationship to change lives. Currently, Nicola is a counsellor with the Vancouver School Board at an inner city elementary school and has a private counselling practice. She received her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University and her Masters in Counselling from LIOS (Leadership Institute of Seattle). She is the mother of a wonderful and lively boy.
Melinda markey, MA, director
Melinda is a dedicated community activist and social change leader committed to equity and inclusion, having recently worked as Director of Human and Social Development at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Vancouver and before that as Program Manager at the Collaborating Centre for Prison Health and Education at UBC. She brings extensive knowledge in service delivery enhancement through her experience of building organizational effectiveness by creating socially inclusive structures. Melinda holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Simon Fraser University where her graduate work focused on the importance of community inclusion for people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. Melinda strongly believes that collaboration, innovation and collective impact can make our communities better places to live – where all people thrive, not just some. Melinda currently works as the Provincial Secretariat Director at Community Action Initiative as is pleased to have the honour of having been Mom2Mom’s inaugural Executive Director.
Melanie Kurrein, MA, RD, Director
Melanie is a Registered Dietitian with 20 years experience working in public health. She has provided support to pregnant women and children, worked with schools, and contributed to the development of provincial programs, policy and practice. Melanie has witnessed the positive impact of peer support groups for moms and believes strongly in the Mom2Mom model. She is a passionate advocate for equity in health, especially as it relates to household food insecurity. She brings this passion to her role as the Provincial Manager of Food Security with the Population and Public Health Team at Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and to her work as a Board Member for Mom2Mom. Melanie lives in Vancouver with her husband and young daughter. They love to spend time outdoors in nature and enjoy cooking and eating together.
Eduarda (Eddie) McWhirter, CPA, CGA, CFE, Director
Eddie is a Professional Accountant who has served in various leadership roles, spending 13 years in an executive role with LGM Financial Services Inc. After a very moving humanitarian trip to Costa Rica in 2019, Eddie retired from the corporate world to focus on humanitarian work. She leverages her skills, experience and extensive network to help build up non-profit organizations. Eddie has always gravitated to supporting and empowering other women through coaching and mentorship. As an immigrant, Eddie knows how hard it can be to navigate life. As a mother of two, she knows how hard it is to raise a family. She has been actively volunteering for the last 20 years and is passionate about supporting the women in the Mom2Mom community.
Maneisha Sandhu, CPA, Director
Maneisha is a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. As a business and tax advisor, she is experienced in working with a variety of corporations and high net worth individuals. She is also an Accounting Instructor at her alma mater Langara College. Her previous experience running outreach programs, at the Vancouver School Board and YMCA, aligns well to the mission and vision of Mom2Mom. Maneisha knows first-hand the difference practical and emotional supports can make for isolated moms and their families. She is passionate about building stronger communities and brings this to her work as a Board Member for Mom2Mom. Maneisha hosts her own podcast called Life of a Reluctant Brown Girl which is about culture, entrepreneurship, and life empowerment. She enjoys traveling, playing sports, and holds numerous volunteer positions.