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 (they/them) – Manager of Research & Policy
Octavia holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography and Portuguese from the University of Toronto. While they have 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 they were introduced to the post-secondary research and policy sector. In their spare time, Octavia enjoys biking, reading books from the library (support public libraries!), going to concerts, travelling and finding fun ways to maintain their Portuguese skills (mostly through music and bad reality TV).
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Tiffany Li Wu (she/hers) – Manager of Operations & Communications
Tiffany holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies and Politics Students from Queen's University. Coming to OUSA with 4years of student government experience at Alma Mater Society (AMS) at Queen's, she loves hosting events and handle all things communications and operations at OUSA. This work looks different every day, whether it is running advocacy campaigns online, coming up with itineraries for conferences, learning to design publications for print and web, or coordinating media interviews with Ontario's brightest student leaders. She love meeting and connecting with people from all walks of life and have wealth of experience in student government. If you are a student at one of OUSA's 9 member – then Tiffany thinks you to consider writing for our student blog!
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Abishane (Abi) Suthakaran (she/her) - Manager of Research and Policy
Abishane (Abi) Suthakaran) holds a Master of Applied Politics and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology with a concentration on Research Specialization and Legal Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Abi is passionate about advocacy work and community-based research. She has engaged in topics related to housing, marginalized communities, and social equity. Abi is also an active real estate agent. When she is not working, she enjoys adventure and travels to different places worldwide (she’s been to 12 countries to date!)
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Sophia Carnovale - Indigenization Strategy Intern
Sophia is entering her 3rd year at Brock University, pursuing a BSc Honours in Medical Sciences with a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is both Italian and Mohawk Wolf Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is excited to contribute an Onkwehon:we perspective to OUSA’s initiatives with her previous experience as a peer assistant with Hadiya'dagénhahs First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Centre at Brock and collaboration with the Brock University Student Union to lay the groundwork for an Indigenous Student Alliance.
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Sami Babbar (she/her) - Communication Assistant
Samiksha (Sami) Babbar is going into her fourth year of Integrated Science at McMaster University, concentrating in Biology and minoring in Statistics. With a strong background in research-based communications through the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and within the McMaster Faculty of Science, Sami is engaged in making graphics and publication designs for OUSA. She is excited to be taking on projects in the field of advocacy and communications, and helping to align them with OUSA’s mandate and mission! Sami has always been interested in research on topics such as accessible education and student health/wellness on campus, hoping to translate this into the work she does for the team. When she wants to de-stress, Sami loves to cook, paint, and get active at the gym!