Anne-Marie Kamanye
Executive Director
Committed to women and children’s rights, Anne-Marie has more than eight years of work experience in international development. As the Executive Director of AMREF Canada, Anne-Marie is responsible for continued growth and development of AMREF Canada, providing leadership and strategic direction, preparing and monitoring budgets, carrying out policies and procedures developed by the Board of Directors and collaborating and engaging with AMREF in Africa.
In her previous position as Manager of International Programmes at War Child Canada, she conducted needs assessment and monitoring and evaluation visits in Sierra Leone, Liberia and northern Uganda at the height of each country’s peace process, following years of war. She worked to identify new grassroots partners for the organization and interviewed former child soldiers and community members affected by the conflict to hear directly from them – their needs and their proposed community solutions for a way forward.
With a long standing interest in public health, in 2006, Anne-Marie began working for AMREF Canada. As the Director of International Programmes, Anne-Marie was responsible for securing funding and managing, monitoring and evaluating projects in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya and South Sudan. Over the four years Anne-Marie held this position, she provided leadership in securing some of the largest grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and other foundations that AMREF Canada has ever received.
In August 2007, Anne-Marie was awarded the African Canadian Woman Achievement Award by the Endless Possibilities and Hope Development Organization.
Todd Carmichael
Director of Programmes
Todd joined AMREF in October 2011, bringing with him more than six years of experience working in the international development and humanitarian sector and several years of project management experience in the private sector. Originally educated as a geological engineer,
he spent four years working as a geophysicist (which included field work in Canada, the United States, Brazil and Mali) before returning to school to pursue a professional focus in international development.
After completing the post-graduate program in International Project Management at Humber College, Todd has worked with a variety of development organizations that have included Community-Based Organizations, Canadian and International Non-Governmental Organizations as well as a period with the United Nations Office for Project Services. He has worked in several countries including Ethiopia, Mali, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Sri Lanka.
Todd joins AMREF after several years working with the NGO Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief, where he was most recently serving in the role of Program Director. He has also previously sat on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Council of International Cooperation.
Todd is responsible for managing AMREF Canada’s overall programme portfolio, overseeing project reporting for AMREF’s donors and partners, identifying and developing new programme initiatives and promoting key advocacy messaging.
Jennifer Foulds
Communications and Public Relations Director
Jennifer joined AMREF in February 2012, bringing more than a decade of experience in directing communications and public relations programs in the non-profit sector. Jennifer oversees AMREF’s external communications, including website, social media, newsletters and media relations.
Before joining AMREF, Jennifer was Communications and Operations Director at Environmental Defence, a national environmental group. She previously worked in international development as the Public Relations Specialist for Plan Canada. Jennifer started her career as a journalist working for CBC Radio.
Shane Burt
Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Shane joined AMREF in April 2013 and brings with him several years of project management and fundraising experience derived from his work in both the non-profit and for-profit sector. Shane is a graduate of Humber College’s International Development post-graduate program in international project management and holds a B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University in global studies and political science.
Prior to joining AMREF, Shane worked as a Development Officer for Right To Play Canada. He also spent two years working on relief and reconstruction efforts in post disaster Haiti with International Child Care Canada and Speroway.
Currently, Shane is responsible for managing the multi-channel fundraising & marketing initiatives in the AMREF Canada office.
Liz Doyle
Operations and Donor Relations Manager
Liz joined AMREF in July 2006 as the Database Manager and Administration Assistant.
Previous to her joining AMREF Canada, Liz worked for War Child Canada, where she was the Director of Marketing & Promotions, and was responsible for the production and distribution of documentaries, benefit music CD's, on-line merchandise, promotional materials, third party contracts and events.
Prior to her work with War Child Canada, Liz worked for Universal Music Canada for 15 years as the Director of Electronic Media. She was responsible for the marketing and publicity of Universal Music Group's artists/musicians on television. This included all advertising, promotional campaigns, videos, performances & interviews.
Currently, Liz manages the day-to-day operations at AMREF, including accounts receivable & payable, donor reports and donations. Liz also sits on the Marketplace Gala committee.
Kate Giesbrecht
Programme Coordinator
Kate is a graduate of Humber College’s International Development post-graduate certificate in international project management and holds a B.A. from Université Laval in Québec City in linguistics and cultural anthropology.
Kate joined AMREF Canada’s team in the spring of 2011 after completing a six-month internship with AMREF in Ethiopia where she was responsible for the development of a medical anthropology research project aiming to gather information about how cultural practices can influence community health in southern Ethiopia. Kate has done contract work with Plan Canada and worked in the Winnipeg public school system as an educational assistant for children with special needs.
Kate supports the Director of Programmes in seeking funding for, managing and reporting on AMREF Canada's projects in the field.
Sean Power
Online Public Engagement Coordinator (part-time)
Sean joined the communications team at AMREF in October 2010. A freelance marketing analyst, he consults clients on refining processes and creating options that will raise the top line.
Responsible for building awareness about AMREF’s work, he leverages web analytics, social media, and community-building opportunities to engage the public in a measurable way.
A member of the Board of Directors at Durham Outlook for the Needy, Sean chairs the charity’s Communications Committee and the Audit Committee. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with Distinction and from Humber College on the Dean’s List.
Glenda Opsahl
Finance Manager
Glenda has been providing independent bookkeeping and financial management services for over 20 years to more than 200 clients in all areas, including financial and professional services, management consulting, manufacturing, advertising, real estate, retail, food services, travel, construction, trucking, charitable organizations and not-for-profit associations.
She brings to AMREF her extensive reputation for integrity and trust. She has an ability to integrate the management, financial, administrative and operating requirements of companies with efficiency as the key component.
Glenda has lived and worked in the Toronto area throughout her life.
