Malika Dhanani (she/her/hers) - Executive Director
Malika holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a Baccalaureate of Applied Science in Child, Youth, and Family from the University of Guelph. Malika is passionate about policy analysis and has engaged in policy work on youth homelessness and housing in Canada, national home care, and childcare in Ontario. In her spare time, Malika enjoys listening to music and singing her way through life. She is an avid reader and a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers trope. She has recently been working on her photography skills and loves spending time outdoors. (Fun fact: Malika has been going camping every summer since the age of two!)
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Octavia Andrade-Dixon (she/her/hers) – Research & Policy Analyst
Octavia holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography and Portuguese from the University of Toronto. While she has always had a passion for education, Octavia became aware of the importance of student politics and advocacy as a director on UofT’s Student Union (UTSU). Since graduating during the pandemic Octavia has worked in the research field- most recently at the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario where she was introduced to the post-secondary research and policy sector. In her spare time Octavia is enjoys biking, reading books from the library (support public libraries!), and finding fun ways to maintain her Portuguese (mostly through music and bad reality tv).
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Irum Chorghay (they/she/hers) – Communications & Operations Coordinator
Irum holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Classics (Greek and Latin) and Classical Civilizations from the University of Toronto. They write corny love poetry and handle all things communications and operations at OUSA. This work looks different every day, whether it is running advocacy campaigns online, student conferences at Queen's Park, learning to design publications for print and web, or coordinating media interviews with Ontario's brightest student leaders. They love meeting and connecting with youth who are passionate about their communities and their education. If you are one such person – as well as a student at one of OUSA's 8 member or 2 observer schools – then Irum encourages you to consider writing for our student blog!
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