Our team consists of volunteers, dedicated staff and key stakeholders in the local community.
Anu Srivastava is an exceptional community leader, a philanthropist, and an entrepreneur. Anu Srivastava is the Founder, ARRA Arts and Executive Director, V Serve Canada, established in 2017 and 2019 to foster socio-economic development and improve wellness through arts, music, and culture.
Anu Srivastava started her humanitarian journey at a young age by reaching out to the flood-stricken victims of Gujarat in India. Financial funds and sea containers of medical supplies were sent to India with her active contributions. Anu Srivastava has been the Community Chair of Trillium Health Partners Foundation Diwali Fundraiser and as part of the Diwali Committee for past 15 years, has helped raise $14m for the “OM Fracture Clinic”, Seniors Program, Endoscopy Unit, Cardiac Care, Cancer Care, Stroke Unit, and many hospital initiatives. Anu Srivastava is actively engaged in Education and Women’s Welfare, managing her own sponsored project $500,000 of educating 100 underprivileged girls from tribal rural areas of Unnao, UP, who do not have access to education, food, and shelter.
Anu Srivastava is the Past Chair of Panorama India and under her leadership, India Day Festival and Grand Parade which is the signature event of Panorama India grew from a small local event of hundreds to a high-profile largest Indo-Canada event.
For almost two decades Anu Srivastava contributed as a senior finance professional in the Municipal Government and Hospital sector. As part of her municipal career, Anu has been instrumental in providing international exposure to the Greater Toronto Area while leading the international event of IIFA and initiating the cultural vision for “Year of India in Canada”.
Anu Srivastava is the recipient of Queen Platinum Jubilee Award and Queen Diamond Jubilee Award; CIBC’s Midweek top ten South Asians in North America in the field of Community Leadership; Top 20 CIBC South Asian Power List; Top Forty over Forty; Leading Women Building Communities by Premier of Ontario; Jewels of India: Leading Indo-Canadian Personalities.
Ajay Deep is born and raised in India in a family with a rich history of volunteering, philanthropy and charity encompassing building and operating schools and shelters for under-privileged, abused women, children, and the blind. Ajay has strong diplomatic skills and natural affinity for cultivating relationships and building consensus among diverse individuals.
Currently working for City of Toronto, a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, he has extensive financial and project management experience. Ajay volunteers at TRIEC [Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council] Mentorship/Mentee program where he has been a mentor and life coach since 2013 to individuals matched by immigrants and individual needs. He is also involved in health-related safety protocols to be disseminated for Environment Monitoring & Protection staff for Toronto Water/City of Toronto.
Ajay has been volunteering for Habitat for Humanity (HFH) since 2010 and was awarded the prestigious gold star for his time and effort. As the Chair for Habitat for Humanity, Family Selection Committee from 2012 to 2016, he with his team awarded qualified families with houses built by HFH, based on selection criteria mandated by HFH. As a Chair, he also monitored the crisis hotline. He was instrumental in organizing high level events for charity with local politicians and community leaders. Outside of Canada Ajay has volunteered avidly for the Big Brother Big Sister program in Houston, Texas.
Divya Naiken is a Data Scientist at FGF Brands, an innovative tech-based manufacturing company creating quality artisan level food for clients around the world. By using AI, robotics, and creative solutions, FGF Brands has transformed food production.
Divya is a 4th year student of a computer science program at Wilfred Laurier University. Through volunteer and work experience, Divya has developed many skills with excellent customer service as well as the ability to work efficiently under pressure. Her volunteering role at Multiple Sclerosis Youth Council, Mentor College helped her handle arrangements for general meetings, transportation to events and supervision of 12-hour long volleyball games. Divya gained her vast event experience as the event coordinator of Panorama India Day 2019 and was responsible for the intake of artists and performers, production schedule and stage management of 250 performers.
Heidi Ng is passionate about life-long learning and paying it forward. As a part of her career path, she has ventured into customer service, community engagement, patient care, scientific research, and consulting. In each of these roles, she was driven to create a positive impact on others.
Heidi currently holds quality engineering and technology transfer roles at DECIEM where she develops quality management strategies, optimizes manufacturing processes and oversees the commercialization of new products. Prior to joining DECIEM, she was an engineering consultant for SNC-Lavalin where she led the implementation of new manufacturing technologies at the largest vaccine company in the world — Sanofi Pasteur.
Heidi also serves as an executive at Bridging Borders Toronto, a non-profit organization that develops and implements sustainable services and programs to tackle socioeconomic, cultural, and educational borders within local and global communities. Using her first-hand experience in the non-profit sector, she became a pro-bono consultant at Endeavour and developed a marketing strategy for a national LGBTQ2+ archive.
Julie Tran has a Master of Public Health and an Honours Bachelor of Science specializing in Neuroscience from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University.
Currently, Julie works with the Ontario Ministry of Health where she analyzes data about our health workforce, creates robust models and forecasts, and identifies issues and gaps within our health system that require innovative solutions.
Previously she worked as an analyst with the Canadian Red Cross designing epidemiological research studies and conducting analysis of COVID-19 related data in long-term care facilities across Canada. Her interests lie in improving population health outcomes through ethical innovation and thoughtful design.
Monica Lu has a LLB from the Univeristy of Birmingham and an Honours Bachelors of Arts specializing in sociology from McMaster University. She currently works as a Legal Admin Assistant for the Health Litigation Team at Hill Dickinson on track to qualify as solicitor in the UK. Day to day, she assists the firm in correspondence with experts and claimant solicitors regarding a wide range of healthcare matters.
She has previously had many years experience working in the customer service industry and has always had a strong passion for helping others in the community.
Rashika Agarwal is a small business owner of RANS International importing Pharmaceutical Menthol to Canada. She is a keen leaner and likes to teach music to children in her spare time. Rashika volunteers her time for the local community organization (ABC) and organizes their leading festival events Diwali, Holi and Terry Fox Run.
Ruchira Nigam has a passion for the aviation industry and works at Air Canada. Ruchira is totally customer focussed and enjoys helping airline partners and colleagues to enhance exceptional service and support to passengers.
Her personal desire in the Arts and Culture field has prompted her to perform in many recognized events locally and internationally. She is a powerful trained vocalist and enjoys dancing in various South Asian dance forms like Bharatnatyam and Kathak.
Surbhi Guleria Joshi is a TV Host turned Entrepreneur, Founder of Poōrna Wellness, as well as a former TV host & wellness advocate for natural & balanced living. Surbhi formerly co-founded The AppLabb with her husband and hosted two national television shows on OMNI Television & Rogers TV.
Surbhi has served on the Board of Directors for Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce along with AWIC – a Community & Social Service organization that focuses on helping women rise.
She is a well-known face as she modeled for Holt Renfrew along with some major brands. She is also the recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal & Woman Hero Award for her contributions in the community.
