Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) is committed to having a Board composition that reflects the cultural diversity of our community and the diverse population we serve. We are currently seeking individuals that reside in Waterloo Region with governance, leadership and/or previous board experience. As well, we encourage those who identify as male, Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, and all equity seeking community members to apply. Individuals with lived experience with domestic violence are especially welcome to consider serving in a governance capacity as a volunteer on our Board. If you are interested in applying to be on the Board, please forward a cover letter and resume to boardrecruitment@wcswr.org.
Please submit your resume by March 24, 2023 to be considered for membership on WCSWR Board of Directors for 2023-24. Any resumes received after that date will be kept on file for the following year.
We empower women and children to move beyond violence by providing emergency shelter, education, and outreach services. The Board's primary role is governance and policy setting. Directors contribute 5 - 8 hours per month including monthly Board meetings and committee participation.
WCSWR Board of Directors 2022-2023
Terry Wilson, Chair
Jane Adams, Vice – Chair
Angela Wilson, Treasurer
Stuart McAlister, Secretary
Vickie Murray, Director
AnaMaria Pasc, Director
Debra Williams, Director
Rosina Amoah Agyapong, Director
Brenda Halloran, Director
Sharan Widsten, Director
Najma Jose, Director
To contact the Board of Directors please e-mail: boardpresident@wcswr.org

Terry Wilson
Chair
Terry Wilson is the chair of WCSWR Board of Directors. As a retired physiotherapist, Terry brings a unique perspective to board discussions and decisions. Terry joined the board after being approached for the capital campaign back in 2017. She was interested in giving back to the community and learning more about all that WCSWR had to offer to the community. Terry says “with increasing need and the onset of COVID-19, it is so important to me to raise awareness of the many facets of WCSWR, it is so much more than shelter.”

Jane Adams
Vice-Chair
Jane is an independent tax and management consultant with more than 43 years of tax experience serving clients in Canada and in the Caribbean. As a former tax partner with one of the Big 4 firms and a Tax Director in the Caribbean, Jane brings a wealth of both domestic and international experience to the Board. Jane is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada (2014) and a Fellow of the Society of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) of Canada (2009). Besides tax, Jane’s background in Canada includes a former role as a Director of Finance for a large regional hospital and is known for her expertise with not for profits and charities.

Angela Wilson
Treasurer
Angela Wilson attended university in the Niagara Region, and became a designated accountant. After being employed as an accountant for several years, Angela decided to start her own accounting practice. Over time, Angela shifted her practice to working with more not-for-profit clients, ultimately working exclusively with clients, in the violence against women and children sector.
With Angela’s experience, she has is a wonderful fit for the WCSWR board.

Stuart McAlister
Secretary
Stuart McAlister is a business lawyer who currently serves as in-house counsel at Sun Life. Although, people are often surprised to learn that he holds a fine arts degree and studied cinematography in Germany.
Stuart says he serves as a director for the WCSWR because he believes women are the most integral part of a healthy community and everyone is entitled to a violence-free home.

Brenda Halloran
Director
Brenda Halloran is a survivor of domestic violence and continues to be a voice in the community advocating for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse. Brenda has been a volunteer at Anselma House. She was the Mayor of Waterloo from 2006 – 2014 and has been a long-time supporter of WCSWR. She works with many non-profit agencies and cultural groups to ensure we are creating a community where everyone feels included and knows they belong. Brenda focuses her time to supporting many causes and continues to work within the community she loves.

Vickie Murray
Director
Vickie Murray is a pharmacist who has led the Region of Waterloo COVID-19 vaccine roll out through her roles as Director of the Region of Waterloo Vaccine Services and the Integrated Director of Pharmacy for Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener.
Vickie recently served as the Board Chair for Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo, and continues as a Board member. Vickie’s focus with her work at WCSWR is to provide a collaborative, innovative and supportive approach where care and safety can inspire programming excellence. Vickie believes in working towards a community that is free from gender based violence and feels it is important to raise awareness of domestic violence in our community and the supports available at WCSWR for women and children in need.

Sharan Widsten
Director
Sharan is an elementary teacher in the WRDSB. She says she was inspired to volunteer and work with this amazing organization after seeing the work in action in the community. Her hope is to contribute to the work being done in the region to help create a more equitable, inclusive and safe place for all who live here. She believes that we can all do our part to be of service to the community, and is grateful to be able to contribute to that work through WCSWR.

Najma Jose
Director

Debra Williams
Director
Debra is an entrepreneur, owning a Strategy Technology Consulting firm, Architectural Design firm and Personal Wellness business. She is a passionate volunteer working with CJI, (Community Justice Initiatives) within the Woman’s Grand Valley Institute along with other programs offered by CJI. She joined the Board to help advocate for WCSWR to enhance awareness for the critical services the WCSWR brings to the community, providing women and children a safe, healthy and nurturing environment to enable to grow and move past the trauma of domestic violence and live an abundant life with endless possibilities.

AnaMaria Pasc
Director
Anamaria Pasc is a lawyer with Lerners LLP in Kitchener, and has been assisting family law clients since 2015. Anamaria tirelessly advocates on behalf of her clients in order to assist them through difficult life transitions, ensuring that their rights are protected and voices are heard. Given her years in law, Anamaria has seen first–hand the harms caused by domestic violence in the lives of victims, and their children. She is dedicated to supporting women and children effected by violence, and utilizing her skills to serve on the board of Women’s Crisis Services.

Rosina Amoah Agyapong
Director
Rosina Amoah Agyapong works as the Administrator and Project Coordinator for a not–for–profit organization in the Waterloo Region. She holds a BSc degree in Development Studies and an MES in Sustainability from the University of Waterloo, where she gained in–depth knowledge of development problems affecting people ranging from social, economic, political, environmental, cultural and technological issues. Solving human problems has always been her dream, and acting as an agent for change for the good of humanity has always been her character since childhood. Growing up in a community where she witnessed and experienced what is meant by extreme poverty coupled with gender abuse, domestic violence, inequality, and discrimination, she has a strong advocate against such social vices and believes joining the Board will enable her to give her support back to the community in diverse ways. She has worked extensively with many women and youth in the Waterloo Region to help them become resilient and self–sustainable in society and empower other youths of disadvantaged socio–economic backgrounds. With her extensive experience and passion for working with people of different cultural and socio–economic backgrounds, she looks forward to working hand–in–hand with the Board to deliver the support needed in the organization.