Our People Aegis Foundation for Development - Winnipeg, Canada.
Jason Dudek, Excutive Director
Mr. Dudek has experience living and working in over 30 countries including Cuba, China, Cambodia and Indonesia. As well, he has completed a number of humanitarian assignments including several trips to Sierra Leone. An Alumni of St. Paul's High School and Queen's University, he holds a MSc in Economics (Development) from the London School of Economics in England where his research examined the possibilities for integrated, sustainable community-driven development in Sierra Leone.
Father Fred Olds, Treasurer
Fr. Fred Olds is a Parish Priest in Winnipeg dedicated to community service and development. He specializes in community health issues and working with recovering addicts, and continues to be involved in this latter activity. Fr. Olds works diligently for the Foundation, ensuring that all funds are handled in strict accordance with Canada Revenue Agency Charities Directorate guidelines and standards.
Amy Sandhu, Gender Issues Coordinator
An alumnus of Queen's University in Political Studies and Université Jean Moulin (France) in Sciences Politiques, Amy also holds a MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics. She has worked as a Junior Professional Consultant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and currently works as a research assistant for the University of Calgary where her work focuses on women's empowerment and gender mainstreaming in development programming. As Gender Issue Coordinator, Amy helps develop and monitor all Aegis projects ensuring that, wherever possible, they involve a critical emphasis on fostering gender equality and inclusion.
Alexander Winfield, Public Relations Office
Mr. Winfield has extensive media experience, and has also produced several short films. He joins the Foundation after volunteering to help with the documentation and implementation of the Sierra Leone Youth Shelter Project, as both trustee and public relations officer.
Ola Theopolis Smart, Agricultural Consultant, Kids Action Project Manager
Mr. Smart, a Sierra Leonean who escaped to Guinea during the 10 year civil war, has an impressive background in project management and agriculture. He holds both a BSc and MSc in Agricultural Education from Njala University, as well as a Higher Teachers Certificate (HTC) in Science and Agriculture from Bo Teacher’s College. He has held project management positions with numerous local and international organizations in Guinea and Sierra Leone, and is currently the director of Kids Action Sierra Leone. He joins Aegis to help monitor and advise its projects in Sierra Leone, and as project manager for Aegis activities relating to Kids Action Sierra Leone
William Gould, Youth Coordinator
Mr. Gould is currently studying international development and politics at the University of Winnipeg and is an alumnus and former student council president of St. Paul’s High School. William actively volunteers for various sports and youth related causes and is the coordinator of Aegis’ youth awareness activities as well as the Kids Involved in Dynamic Sport project in Sierra Leone.
David Pankratz, Congo's Orphans Project Director
With a background in accounting, David Pankratz is the current director of the Institute for Community Peacebuilding at the University of Winnipeg’s Menno Simons College. He has done field audits and financially-related work with the Mennonite Central Committee and other organizations in around 30 countries, mostly in Africa but also in Central America and the Middle East. Notably, he and his wife lived in Zambia for three years in the late 1990’s and he delivered humanitarian aid for six months in Iraq in 2003. In 2003 he began his involvement in peace building, organizing and managing a variety of activities promoting peace between different identity groups. David joins Aegis Foundation for Development to direct the Congo's orphans project, which he was instrumental in developing after travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor its July 2006 elections.
