Octave Andrade-Dixon (they/them) – Executive Director
Octave 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, Octave became aware of the importance of student politics and advocacy as a director on UofT’s Student Union (UTSU). Since graduating during the pandemic Octave 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, Octave 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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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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Alyssa Hall (she/her) - Manager of Research and Policy
Alyssa holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science with a concentration in Canadian Politics and a Bachelor of Arts degree (hons.) in Women’s and Gender Studies and Political Science from Brock University. Her research focused on the extent to which public consultation was integrated by the government during the creation of a sexual violence response policy in Ontario. As a former VP, External Affairs from the Brock University Students’ Union, Alyssa is excited to continue her advocacy work in the post-secondary sector and is especially passionate about working on projects related to affordability, gender-based violence prevention and response, and mental health. During her free time, Alyssa enjoys reading, crafting, and cooking.
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Claudia Idzik (she/her/they/them) - Manager of Operations
Claudia holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Brain & Cognition from the University of Guelph, and has attended her Master's in Arts in Psychology from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she focused her research on the psychology + neuroscience of music. Claudia is passionate about the student experience, including events, mental health, accessible education, and disability justice. In her spare time, she likes to attend concerts, make playlists, go on roadtrips, and engage in creative outputs.
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Tobi Olumurewa (she/her) - Manager of Communications
Tobi holds an Honours Double Major in Global Development and English and Cultural Studies from Huron University College. She is passionate about using storytelling as a tool in advocacy work as well as making education more equitable and accessible. Tobi is thrilled to spearhead OUSA’s communications strategy to realize their vision for improving Ontario’s post-secondary landscape. Outside of work, Tobi enjoys reading, crafting, being in nature, and connecting with her local community.
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Chavi Karunagoda (she/her) - Summer Research and Policy Intern
Chavi is in her 3rd year of an Honours Public Health Bachelor's degree at the University of Waterloo. Creating an accessible post-secondary environment has been important to her since her involvement with the Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG), where she funds and oversees equity-focused initiatives geared towards Laurier students. Chavi’s academic interests lie in accessible communities, especially surrounding the role of transportation and housing. In her spare time, she likes to play badminton, see live music, and practice her piano and guitar.
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Olivia Gillespie (she/her) - Summer Research and Policy Intern
Olivia Gillespie is currently completing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science at Brock University. Her passion for student advocacy began after representing Brock University at OUSA’s General Assembly during her first year, where she became interested in policy, governance, and student representation. Olivia currently serves as a member of the Brock University Students’ Union Board of Directors and is especially passionate about mental health, accessibility, and ensuring student voices are reflected in decision-making. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys travelling, attending concerts, reading, and playing soccer.
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Chanice Olokesusi (she/her) - Summer Advocacy and Communications Intern
Chanice is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Integrated Business and Humanities at McMaster University. Her passion for advocacy and digital media has grown through experiences promoting equity and inclusion with her city’s public school board and video storytelling with McMaster University’s Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs team. With the McMaster Students Union, she has engaged in meaningful work co-authoring a policy paper on public transportation, supported municipal affairs initiatives, and served as a delegate at the 2025 OUSA General Assembly in Sudbury, where she was inspired to help make post-secondary education more equitable and amplify community voices. In her spare time, Chanice enjoys creative photography, videography, nature hikes, and biking!
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