Membership

Valerie has extensive experience designing and delivering national, provincial, and regional projects, specializing in equipping diverse populations through capacity-building activities so they can make informed choices and reach their social and economic goals. Valerie has 20+ years experience working as an Executive Director and 8 years experience serving as a board director, also in a corporate secretary role. While management, facilitation and training has been a focus of her work, her favorite activities are mentoring, problem-solving and connecting people. When not working with the co-op, you can find her in her garden getting her hands dirty, experiencing nature and listening to the birds.

Roxana Fazli currently serves as a Project Manager with Collective Interchange, focusing on addressing systemic barriers impacting immigrant women's success in business and employment. She also works with the Women's Economic Council and brings a strong research background to her work. Roxana holds a Master of Science degree from her home country and a Master's degree in Employment Relations from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She led research activities for WEC's "Her Own Boss" participatory research project delivered by Collective Interchange in St. John's during 2020–2021. Roxana is committed to inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist community collaboration.

Amparo Montoya Montoya trained as a Bacteriologist in Bogotá, Colombia, and founded Dinámica Corporativa in 2002, a company focused on quality control and food safety training. After moving to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013, she volunteered with organizations supporting immigrants and later worked as an administrative manager, strengthening her passion for community support. In 2020, she founded Corporate Dynamics, offering Culture Connections services, and participated in entrepreneurship programs through the Board of Trade, NLOWE, and the Her Own Boss Project. Through this journey, she connected with Collective Interchange and became a Director in 2020.

Maryam Masaeli initially joined the Collective Interchange team as a volunteer, and now works as the Project Outreach for the team. She holds a master's degree in Human Resources and is currently completing a Master of Employment Relations Degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has experience in human resources and customer service. Maryam is committed to social justice, gender equality, and women's empowerment. At Collective Interchange, she works to help immigrant women educate themselves about different services in the community, and find their path to better career success.

Barry is a business educator, facilitator, speaker, and coach with more than 30 years of experience supporting start-ups, small businesses, and social enterprises across Atlantic Canada. Through his Epic Leadership Principles, Strategies and Practices, he helps organizations strengthen leadership, build committed teams, and create meaningful customer experiences and organizational cultures grounded in clarity, accountability, and service. Barry is also a Master Facilitator for the Virtues Project and an active leader in professional speaking and leadership development initiatives.

Gissel Garcia has a background in Industrial Engineering from Honduras and holds a Master's degree in Project Management, with experience in administration and finance. After moving to Canada, she became actively involved with organizations supporting newcomer integration and contributed to the development of the Newcomer Navigator Platform through Collective Interchange Cooperative, gaining valuable insight into the newcomer experience in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sandra Estevez earned a degree in Chemistry from Colombia and dedicated over 15 years to environmental research. In 2002, she moved to Newfoundland to pursue a Master's degree in her science field. Since then, she has applied her research background across industries. Currently, she works with Collective Interchange as a Project Assistant. Sandra is passionate about supporting the Latin American community and empowering immigrant women in Canadian society. Outside of work, she advocates for mental health initiatives and volunteers with the Sashbear Foundation. She also enjoys hiking, swimming, and foraging throughout Newfoundland.

Victoria Whitten began her time at Collective Interchange as a volunteer with the Communications Team, and currently works for the organization on this team. Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has experience in communications, hospitality, and insurance. She is an active volunteer and coach within the community. As a person who is committed to women's empowerment, Victoria feels the mandate of Collective Interchange aligns well with her personal values.