Staff

Anna Hill – Co-Director
Anna is the management lead for Together Project with a focus on resource development, communications and community programs including, the Welcome Groups for Refugee Claimants pilot program, the Urban Nature Access Pass for Refugee Newcomers and the Ritz-Carlton Newcomer Hospitality Program. After working in architure for a decade, Anna moved to the non-profit sector where she was involved in programs like the Weston Family Parks Challenge and the TD Park Builders program at Park People. Her experience with newcomer engagement in parks and as a private sponsor led her to co-found Together Project and develop its community programs.
anna@togetherproject.ca

Andrew Lusztyk – Co-Director
Andrew is the programs lead for Together Project. Prior to moving to Toronto, Andrew spent six years designing, implementing, and assessing community development initiatives in three continents. Since co-founding Together Project, he has been developing and directing its flagship Welcome Group Program across Ontario.
andrew@togetherproject.ca

Natasha Comeau – Volunteer Coordinator
Natasha is in charge of Together Project's volunteer recruitment and training. She holds a Masters of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She has worked at a number of non-profits in Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg, and is also passionate about writing and photography.
natasha@togetherproject.ca

Steering Committee

Kate Bate
Kate’s experience as a volunteer with Syrian newcomers to Toronto resulted in an awareness of an important opportunity for civil society to play a meaningful role in the settlement and integration of Government-Assisted Refugees. This led her to co-found Together Project as an initiative where volunteers could have impact on the most vulnerable of newcomers by complementing the work of community agencies. In return, people would benefit from new learnings and greater cultural understanding. She is a serial entrepreneur, having launched and managed three related post-production companies over the last 20+ years. She is currently Partner and Executive Producer at Tendril Studio, a design and animation company based in Toronto and Sao Paulo. She has held board positions with Rethink Breast Cancer and a handful of media industry associations.

Patrick Marshall
Patrick has over 20 years of experience in governance and fundraising for Canadian non-profit organizations and international NGOs. He is President of Adrem Brands, a natural health products company, and currently serves as a director and trustee of Lakefield College School.

Vanessa Redditt
Vanessa is a family physician at the Crossroads Clinic, a specialized primary care clinic for newly arrived refugees at Women's College Hospital. She is also a lecturer at the University of Toronto's Department of Family and Community Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Her research and teaching focuses on the health of refugee newcomers, with an aim of improving health systems and social supports responsive to their needs.

Shadi Shami
Shadi joined Together Project's Steering Committee due to the increasing need of refugees and newcomers to integrate in society and get the necessary support. Shadi brings a wide range of expertise in education, training and professional development, meaningful community engagement, volunteer management and events planning; in addition to his experience in settlement and supporting refugees and newcomers through counselling and mediation.

Hani Bashir
Hani joined Together Project Steering Committee in January 2019. As a newcomer and refugee himself, Hani brings his real-life experiences in the non-profit management, settlement, social work, community integration, and empowerment. Hani Co-Founded Immigrants Healthcare Support Network (IHSN) to mobilize health care professionals, equip and strengthen communities for better health services and awareness in GTA and all over Canada.

Leith Bishop
Leith is a strategic consultant for social impact organizations. Leith was previously the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. She also has a decade of experience working as a producer for both NPR and CBC radio.

Founders

Kate Bate

Anna Hill

Andrew Lusztyk

Patrick Marshall

Craig Damian Smith

Advisors

Lindsay Oughtred

Lisa Wyndels

Manisha Burman