People of IMWAH

Nancy is an IT Professional working as a Senior Business Analyst in Insurance industry. She immigrated to Canada in 2001 from China. Nancy believes in gender equality, which is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. She joined IMWAH in June 2020. She is passionate to work with people from diverse backgrounds and support women and girls who need help.

Genesis Lacsa moved from the Philippines to Canada to complete her Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Accounting. A CPA holder, she began her career in public accounting and now contributes her expertise to a growing start-up fintech company. Passionate about supporting immigrant and migrant women, Genesis actively advocates for inclusion and empowerment, drawing on her own experiences to inspire and uplift others.

Nenyo Kwasitsu is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and founder of NAK Immigration Consultancy. She advises individuals and families on navigating Canada’s immigration system, with a focus on building clear, sustainable pathways for newcomers.
She serves on the Board of the Immigrant Migrant Women’s Association of Halifax (IMWAH), where she contributes to governance and committee work supporting the economic and social advancement of newcomer women. Nenyo’s work spans immigration, advocacy, and public education, with a focus on improving access to accurate information and strengthening outcomes for newcomer communities.

Shweta Pai is passionate about advancing gender equality in society. Having volunteered with IMWAH, she realized that there are many women who need help and could benefit from having a network of strong and supportive women. She is a product manager in the healthcare industry and is passionate about digitally solving the several unmet needs of our patients.

Ebun Oladele is passionate to advance gender equality and the representation of racialized women in society. Experienced Programs specialist and volunteer professional with demonstrated history of working in the Post-Secondary and non-profit management sector. An advocacy enthusiast with a Master of Science (MSc.) in Applied Peace and Conflict Studies and a Master of Arts (MA) in Women and Gender Studies.

Eva Martinez is passionate about identifying and breaking down barriers for women and young girls. As an immigrant from Spain, she has had a front row seat watching how her family had to overcome the challenges of moving to a new country and hopes to parlay her lived experiences into service for others. Eva works in the aerospace and defence sector and volunteers extensively with various organizations that align with her core values and empowers others to live their best lives with purpose. For her dedication and service to the province, Eva was recently awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contributions.

Gianisa Adisaputri, a CIHR Health System Impact Fellow and PhD holder from Dalhousie University's School of Social Work, passionate about making healthcare more accessible for immigrant women in rural Nova Scotia. Originally from Indonesia, Gianisa worked as a physician before moving to Canada, and she also holds a master’s degree in emergency management. She now contributes her skills to various quality improvement research projects at IWK Health, where she focuses on advancing health equity for underserved populations. Outside of work, Gianisa is a mom of two who loves to unwind by trying out new recipes in the kitchen, baking, and cooking. She’s excited to bring her knowledge and life experiences to support the well-being and resilience of immigrant women.

Jaylene Zamora immigrated from the Philippines to Canada in 2019. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in both her homeland and Canada, she applies her expertise in her role at a healthcare technology company. Guided by her passion for giving back, Jaylene is dedicated to advancing gender equality and uplifting immigrant and migrant women and girls. She strives to foster inclusion and build meaningful connections that empower and inspire.

Joanna Stewart (BBA, M.Ad.Ed.) has served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Migrant Women’s Association of Halifax (IMWAH) and currently supports the organization’s growth as Interim Executive Director. Originally from Poland, Joanna has held a variety of professional roles throughout her career. In Canada, her work has focused on the settlement sector and on addressing gender-based violence (GBV). She is deeply committed to advancing gender equality, social justice, and environmental stewardship.

Paula Raudales is the Communications and Digital Strategy Lead, where she supports the Circle of Women and New Roots projects through communications, outreach, digital strategy, and resource development. While these are her main project areas, she also supports the organization across other initiatives and is the main point of contact for IMWAH’s English Conversation Groups. Her work focuses on creating clear, accessible, and culturally responsive materials that help immigrant and migrant women access information, feel supported, and build connections across Nova Scotia. Originally from El Salvador, she has a background in Political Science and Sociology and is fluent in Spanish.

Nina Zhang is a Community Outreach and Events Lead with a deep commitment to supporting immigrant women and advancing gender equality. She is a passionate advocate against gender-based violence and believes in the transformative power of education as a tool for women's empowerment. Originally from China, she holds a Master's in Education, with a focus on lifelong learning. She brings research experience in developing culturally informed public awareness resources and tools for service advisors, and leads the planning of public-facing events and initiatives around gender-based violence awareness.

Anam is the Project Coordinator for the Enabling Accessibility Project. Originally from India, she holds a PhD in Health from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, and has a multidisciplinary background in psychology, social work, and health. She brings over six years of research experience, with a particular focus on the mental health and well-being of youth and other marginalized groups. As both a researcher and an artist, Anam has a special interest in community-based and arts-based methodologies exploring how arts, nature, and culture can support health and care systems.

Drs. Felicia Eghan is a relationship Coach, mediator and educator. She helps clients to build better functional marriages and families. She holds certificates in SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage before It Starts) and Marriage Enrichment from ENRICH Canada. Felicia is also a graduate and licensed member of Relationship Coaching Institute (RCI), and holds a mediation certificate from Henson College, Dalhousie University.

María José is an indigenous woman in the diaspora. She is an artivist and a scholarly and community research practitioner. She is a founding member of IMWAH and a strong advocate of gender equality, equity and the advancement of women. She has worked in settlement and migration, including forced migration, since she arrived in Halifax in 1991. She is a mother of three young adults who have inspired her to pursue her academic interest on the experiences of cross-cultural mothering. She is a PhD candidate in Social Anthropology. Her doctorate research study explores the meaning of a welcoming community for immigrant and migrant mothers in Halifax. She also has a personal interest in the rights of indigenous people in the Americas. She loves to cook Guatemalan food for her family and enjoys spending relaxing moments and walks with family and friends.