Kathy Allen Fleet

Chair

With over 19 years of experience in Community Health, Kathy has had the privilege of working closely with community members as a clinician, health educator and administrator.  She is a strong proponent for education, employment and economic support to ensure that individuals are able to achieve their ultimate health goals.

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology, a diploma in Chiropody, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Waterloo and has recently completed an Executive MBA from the University of Fredericton.  She currently works as a senior administrator at a Community Health Centre in the North End of Hamilton.

Nazeer Essop

Director

Nazeer is a Partner at Deloitte with over 27 years of experience in the field of both private sector and public sector accounting, auditing and advisory services. He has a passion to support communities and not-for-profit organizations by sharing his professional experience and personal time. Nazeer had the privilege of being a Board member for over 10 years at Deloitte Africa and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. As the previous Government and Public Sector Leader for Deloitte Africa, he worked with several non-profit organizations (NPO), donor agencies and government entities. 

Nazeer is a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) and is currently an Audit and Assurance Partner in Deloitte Canada based in Toronto. Nazeer is currently the audit Partner on several NPOs in Canada.

Bilal Surahyo

Director

Fiona Wilson

Director

Fiona has been a strong advocate and educator within the mental health system for over two decades. She is the Professional Practice Lead for Peer Support and the Manager of Patient and Family Collaborative Support Services, at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

Fiona is the past Chair of the Certification Committee of Peer Support Accreditation and Certification Canada, and an Assistant Professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. Her professional and personal passion is to advocate for and develop meaningful and equitable opportunities for individuals living with mental illness and addiction.

Fiona is the key liaison with St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and a returning director, having been on the Board previously from 2009-2014.

Leslea Peirson

Director

Leslea Peirson has lived in the Hamilton area for the past 26 years. She has gone to school, worked and raised a family in this community. Leslea has a master’s degree in community psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University, a PhD in health and behavioural science from the University of Toronto, and postdoctoral training at McMaster University focused on knowledge translation and evidence-informed decision making. Leslea has accumulated over three decades of experience studying, working, teaching and conducting research across a wide variety of health and human service settings. She has worked with a range of organizations, service providers, service users and community groups including mental health and children’s mental health centres, developmental services, child welfare organizations, public health departments, schools, criminal justice agencies, primary health care groups, guideline developers and government agents. Leslea currently uses her critical thinking, problem-solving and communications skills as an Advisor at the Region of Peel – Public Health. Leslea has experience as a board member and volunteer with other organizations and groups in Hamilton and is excited to begin serving the community on the Board of Directors for Rainbow’s End.

Lakshana Linga-Easwaran

Director

Lakshana Linga-Easwaran is a lawyer and workplace investigator with a commitment to human rights, and community service. In her current role, she investigates complaints involving potential violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code), conducts human rights related trainings, and supports Code compliance within the organization.

During law school, she volunteered with Community Legal Aid and Legal Assistance of Windsor, offering legal support to marginalized community members.

Lakshana practiced in the private sector with a focus on civil litigation, employment, and human rights law. She has continued to serve the community through volunteer work with Pro Bono Canada and serving as a director of a not-for-profit association.

Lakshana is honoured to support the mission of Rainbow’s End as a Director. She is especially excited to contribute to its governance and strategic direction, and believes strongly in supporting work opportunities that are supportive of diverse people, skills, and abilities.

Jennifer Jeffers

Director

Jennifer Jeffers is a heart-forward leader, community advocate, and seasoned organizational strategist with a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and compassionate leadership. As a Director on the Board of Rainbow’s End, she brings a unique blend of lived experience, executive acumen, and human-centred vision to her work supporting inclusive employment and mental health initiatives.

Jennifer is an experienced organizational leader and the founder of a purpose-driven support service for parents navigating the early stages of a child’s diagnosis with a disability or chronic illness. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles across the nonprofit, corporate, and social enterprise sectors, consistently bringing a values-based approach to strategic growth, team development, and mission-aligned operations. In every role, she is guided by the belief that systems can — and should — be reimagined with kindness at the centre.

Jennifer’s personal experiences as a mother to a child with complex medical and developmental needs have shaped her unwavering advocacy for marginalized individuals and families. Her leadership is grounded in authenticity, integrity, and a strong sense of social responsibility.

She is honoured to serve on the Board of Rainbow’s End, contributing her governance skills, marketing expertise, operational insight, and heartfelt dedication to building a more inclusive and just future for all.

Sam Thandi

Treasurer

Coming Soon