Board of Directors

[Image Description: Close-up portrait of Chloë smiling into the camera. She has short brown hair, cropped on the sides. She is wearing a navy blue tank-top and gold chain necklace. Behind her is a gallery wall with various vintage portraits and landscape paintings.]

Chloë G. K. Atkins, Board Chair

Dr. Atkins is the Chair and Executive Director of the The PROUD Project. Atkins holds a status-only position in the Department of Political Science, University of Toronto Scarborough and is on disability leave from the Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary. Atkins has a PhD in Political Theory from the University of Toronto and a postdoc in Law from Cornell University (Fulbright). She publishes in medical, legal, and social science journals about disability, bioethics, health equity, anti-ableism, human rights and, narrative scholarship.

[Image Description: A full-body image of Zephyr smiling. Her curly hair is pulled into a low ponytail with silver-framed glasses, and facial hair. They are wearing a white button-down shirt, grey blazer, traditional kilt, black tights, and sandals. Her hands are clasped at her waist. They stand in a white-walled corner where family portraits are hung beside a window.]

Zephyr Mitra, Secretary of the Board

Zephyr Mitra (she/they) is a 4th year student at The University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A voracious reader, Zephyr’s main research interests are in Classics, early modern studies, and daily life in ancient Rome. Dedicated to community wellness and support, Zephyr was the 2022 student patrol supervisor. They will continue their studies at the graduate level and are currently on The University of King’s College President’s List for outstanding academic achievement.  

[Image Description: A chest-up image of Bonnie smiling. Her hair is close-cropped on the sides with a blue fringe swept to the right side of her face. She is wearing black black and red earrings, a long necklace, and a black top.]

Bonnie Severin, Board Treasurer

Bonnie Severin (she/her) is a finance professional with more than 40 years of progressive experience in the taxation field. Bonnie worked for multinational organizations in the financial sector holding senior management positions. She has been a CPA/CA since 1985. Bonnie also has more than 10 years of experience as a board member in the not-for-profit sector. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for The Children’s Breakfast Clubs currently serving as Treasurer.

Bonnie is known for having a “roll up her sleeves” attitude, building teams from the ground up, championing people and never being afraid to speak up. Bonnie is committed to ensuring that everyone reaches their full potential and has an equal chance of success.

In her free time, Bonnie plays pickleball poorly, loses herself in a good mystery book and loves to go for a walk.

[Image Description: A chest-up image of Negar smiling against light blue background, looking into the camera. She has short brown hair and red lipstick on. She is wearing a blue top and a necklace with a green pendant.]

Negar Hashemi, Board Member

Negar Hashemi (she/her) is an Iranian Canadian. She is an immigrant, a mother, a lawyer and an advocate. She has served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Women’s of Ontario (IWOO), a charitable organization focused on improving the lives of Iranian Canadian women and their families. She has volunteered with Pflag. She has also served as a board member of Houselink, Toronto’s non-profit housing organization. 

[Image Description: A selfie of Ashley smiling into the camera, wearing red glasses. She has black, curly hair, pulled back from her face.]

Ashley Bristowe, Board Member

Ashley Bristowe (she/they) is an author and disability advocate based in Nova Scotia.