board of directors
Sadaf Kidwai
Sadaf Manzoor Kidwai is a passionate professional who initially joined IWS in 2019 to support women in achieving their goals. After taking a break from her board involvement, she is now eager to rejoin as a Board Member. With a background as an IT Consultant specializing in Business Intelligence, Sadaf excels at balancing her career with being a mother of four. She firmly believes that women can achieve high career goals while raising a family and is dedicated to assisting them. Her skills include cross-cultural work, multitasking, and problem-solving, making her a valuable asset to the organization.
Aqsa Pasha
Aqsa Pasha presently holds the position of Data Scientist within the Business Intelligence and Decision Support team at Saskatchewan Health Authority. Aqsa’s previous experience as a summer student at IWS has inspired her to join the board, bringing with her knowledge about the organization and a valuable understanding of serving immigrant women. Her firsthand experience and insights make her an invaluable addition to the team.
Mrudangi Trivedi
Mrudangi Trivedi, employed at Canpotex in Saskatoon, SK, she boasts a decade-long track record of successfully working with multiple organizations, assisting them in process improvements and executing diverse projects. Her specialization lies in logistics and supply chain planning, a field in which she has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Beyond her professional achievements, Mrudangi has actively engaged in delivering guest lectures focused on women’s empowerment and orientation in India. These experiences have provided her with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by newcomers. As a recent newcomer herself, Mrudangi possesses a unique ability to connect with others who have undergone similar journeys, fostering a strong sense of empathy and understanding. Through this shared experience, she aims to develop comprehensive and innovative solutions to address the needs and aspirations of newcomers within the community.
Mrudangi Trivedi eagerly awaits the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s success. She expresses her gratitude for the consideration of her nomination for the Board of Member position.
Apeksha Heendeniya
Apeksha was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Saskatoon in 2005. She is an active volunteer in Saskatchewan and is passionate about equity, anti-racism, and social determinants of health. She has a Masters in Geography and Planning from the University of Saskatchewan with a focus on health equity and First Nations. She continues to work with First Nation communities and participates in research with the university. Throughout her education, she volunteered with various organizations including health centers in Northern Communities and community associations. She has worked at non-profit organizations in Saskatchewan with a continued focus on health equity and education. She currently works at the Government of Saskatchewan as an International Engagement Specialist. Apeksha’s Sri Lankan roots are important to her which provide an understanding of the immigrant experience in the prairies. As an immigrant, she values the support communities provide and is honored to be a part of the International Women of Saskatoon board of directors.
Shiney Choudhary
As an alumnus of the University of Saskatchewan, Shiney Choudhary has been a part of the USask campus for many years. She came to Saskatoon as an international student and is now a settler on Treaty 6. She was born in New Delhi, India, and is very connected with her roots. She considers Saskatoon her second home and, while she left her family behind in India, she has created herself a chosen family in Saskatoon. When she first came to Saskatoon in the Winter of 2014, she knew the winters would be tough. But, the warmth of the people of Saskatoon has kept her here and made her feel welcome. With a keen interest in people and human behavior, she chose to study Psychology and graduated with a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Criminology & Addictions in 2018. Throughout her degree, she worked part-time in different departments at the University and she also volunteered her time on campus and in the community with newcomers and international students in Saskatoon making new friends and connections along the way. She is now a student at the University of Calgary in the Masters of Social Work – International & Community Development program.
Kristen McEwen
Kristen McEwen is a Communications Officer at the College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan. Kristen has 10 years of extensive writing experience, including writing for weekly and daily newspapers. She also has experience managing social media, monitoring trends, and analyzing metrics. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Regina in 2014.
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Kristen has lived and worked in various parts of the province. Through education and her experience in journalism, her passion for women’s rights and social determinants of health continues to grow.
Kristen enjoys photography, creative writing, and spending time with her dog, Molly.
Feronika Harrisunker
Feronika is a South African lawyer, born and raised in the beautiful coastal city of Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. She qualified with a B-Proc degree from the University of Durban-Westville and relocated to Pretoria where she practiced law briefly. Having found a passion for corporate governance, she served for twelve years on various boards in South African state-owned entities as a Corporate Secretary. In continuing her development, she obtained an International Diploma in Governance Risk and Compliance, with distinction,
from the International Compliance Institute in London, UK.
Her interest in assisting with humanitarian work began early in her years whilst at university and
continues. Feronika relocated to Canada in 2021 and now calls Saskatoon her second home. She is the Managing Director of her company, Ashcor Inc. which provides solutions related to board governance, leadership, risk management, and compliance.
In re-energizing her focus on the work done by humanitarian organizations, she offers diverse
perspectives on international best practices related to strategy and policy. As a member of the Board of
Directors, Feronika brings a wealth of knowledge and is committed to assisting the Board and management in achieving the strategic goals that IWS sets itself.
In her spare time, Feronika enjoys travel, and photography and is an ardent foodie.
Maryam Sasani
Maryam, a highly experienced Civil Engineer, possesses nearly two decades of expertise in project management. With a Master’s degree and the designation of Engineering Intern (EIT), she has acquired a strong educational foundation and professional qualifications. Maryam recently relocated to Canada on March 25, 2022, eager to contribute her knowledge and skills to IWS.
International Women of Saskatoon is looking for Board Members!
If you’re interested in getting involved and helping us lead this great organization, please email [email protected] for more information.
We are especially looking for directors with experience in finance, fundraising, law, and/or human resources.
The Board of Directors holds their meetings at 6:30pm (CST) on the first Monday of every month. If you are a member of IWS, you may join the meeting if you express your interest at least 7 business days in advance by e-mailing us at [email protected].
