Board of Directors
Imagine1day is a registered Canadian charity that has been building schools and transforming the quality of education delivery in Ethiopia since 2007, with a goal for all Ethiopians to have access to quality education by 2045.
The board of directors sets in place policies, procedures, values and long-term planning to help the organization meet its mission.
AKILILU MULAT
Board Chair
Aklilu Mulat
Born and raised in Ethiopia, Aklilu Mulat grew up with a passion for catalyzing transformation in the lives of those caught in the cycle of poverty. He’s applied that positive energy to senior positions at non-profit and private-sector organizations in British Columbia (B.C.), including HOPE International Development Agency.
Committed to mentoring young people, Aklilu has been involved in teaching both professionally and in academic settings with CMA BC, and University of British Columbia. Today, Aklilu is an executive leader at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., and serves on the Boards of Children Believe in Ontario, and Arrow Leadership International in B.C.
Aklilu has undergraduate degrees in natural sciences and business administration from Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. He also holds a Master of Science in public policy and management from the University of London in England. He has an accounting designation as a Fellow, Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA).
The father of two young adults, Aklilu enjoys spending time with his wife and family while exploring the outdoors by kayak, bicycle or on foot.
KEN MACKENZIE
Past Board Chair
Ken Mackenzie
Born on a dairy farm in Southwestern Ontario, I have had a very rewarding career in animal agriculture working in various parts of Canada ending in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, as a partner in the largest independent feed manufacturing company in Canada.
I have been involved with charitable organizations for several years, all committed to bringing clean water solutions and high quality education to the disadvantaged and forgotten children of Ethiopia. It is a privilege to be part of Imagine One Day, an organization recognized as the leader in the area of providing top quality education opportunities to the children in remote areas of Ethiopia.
I am an avid reader, average golfer, and an adventurous traveller. Along with my wife, Joy, we have been able to explore many parts of our beautiful planet.
MARY SPEER
Director
Mary Speer
has worked in the non-profit sector since 2008. She is currently the Director of Finance at the Nature Trust of British Columbia.
She has a deep appreciation of imagine1day’s work and impact, going back to her time as a staff member (from 2014-2017) . Mary has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Queen’s University.
MARY ANNA NOVECK, Ed.D.
Director
Mary Anna Noveck, Ed.D.
Executive Board Member, Imagine1day
Mary Anna is an accomplished instructional leader with extensive knowledge of research-based practices in the field of education pedagogy with over 25 years of administrative and teaching experience at the kindergarten – university level. Her interest in imagine1day was initially sparked following her first trip to Ethiopia with the imagine1day organization in 2011.
Since that time Mary Anna has traveled to Ethiopia eight times and actively fundraised for several school projects while serving as an imagine1day U.S. Board Member.
Mary Anna earned her B.A. in Communications from Stephens College, her M.Ed. from U.C.L.A.’s Principal Leadership Institute and a Global Executive Ed.D. from the University of Southern California.
DR. AHMED GELCHU
Director
Dr. Ahmed Gelchu
Dr. Ahmed Gelchu is an Environmental Scientist. He has been working in hydroelectric development sector conducting environmental impact assessments in hydroelectric development sector in Canada for more than a decade.
During his spare time, Dr. Gelchu actively engages in supporting charitable organizations.
In the recent past, Dr. Gelchu served as the Chairman of the Oromo Media Network (OMN) Board of Trustees, member of the Board of Directors of a Canadian NGO, Partners In The Horn of Africa and member of Board of Trustee of Oromia Foundation.
FEBEN YOHANNES
Director
Feben Yohannes
Feben is Founder and Managing Principal of DELFE Group (www.delfegroup.com), a full-service Architectural, Engineering, And Construction/ Project Management and Brokerage firm based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After 18 years in the USA, Feben returned to Ethiopia as Chief Executive Officer of ETG Designers and Consultants S.C.; an Employee Owned Architectural and Engineering firm with +80 staff and shareholders.
In 2020, Feben moved on to start DELFE as a boutique A+E and Brokerage firm with a portfolio of work ranging from Luxury Residential Developments to Office Buildings and Hospital Design Projects. On the Brokerage front, Feben’s team take exclusive buyer/seller representation and have thus far successfully closed building and greenfield property sales transactions.
In addition to her professional contribution, Feben’s philanthropic efforts includes her support as the International Board Member of Imagine1Day, a non-profit organization focused on providing quality education in rural Ethiopia. To date,
Imagine1Day has opened 43 schools, impacting the lives of over 200,000 students and their communities. Feben, in conjunction with her Lycee Franco Ethiopien Alumni community, spearheads the fundraising effort for Alemtsehay Breast Cancer Foundation, raising over Birr 5 million through the last three years of its Annual Walk programs.
Feben is a Board Trustee for the African Humanitarian Action (AHA) a non-profit organization focused on supporting refugee and displaced communities in Africa. Feben splits her time between Ethiopia and the US and is the mother of one daughter, 22 year old Delina.
REBECCA BLIGH
Director
Rebecca Bligh
Rebecca Bligh is a leader in her community and a passionate supporter of families, small business, and the environment. Rebecca was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 2018 and serves as Chair of Finance. Recently elected to serve a second term Rebecca is a strong voice for accountability and fiscal responsibility and has stood up for diverse and inclusive communities. Rebecca is dedicated to addressing many of the major challenges facing our communities including the affordability crisis and issues around public safety and mental health and well-being.
Nationally, Rebecca has served as a Director for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities since 2018, was recently acclaimed as Third-Vice President, and is currently Chair of Governance.
Outside of politics, Rebecca is the founder of BLACKPiiN, a consulting and facilitation practice working with executives and teams to define, develop and implement strategies to enable success.
Motivated by the core value, of service leadership and passion for giving back to the community, Rebecca has enjoyed working with a number of local organizations, most notably prior to 2018 the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation. Internationally Rebecca has volunteered with Imagine1Day and Legado Initiatives, partnering in delivering training and development in Ethiopia and Mozambique.
Rebecca enjoys spending time with her adult children, Holly & Jackson while living in Vancouver with her partner Laura and their dog Kingsley.
JON BRANDT
Director
JONATHAN BRANDT
Jon is the President and Founder of Abbotsford, BC based Summit Brooke Construction. Since 1998 Summit Brooke has been extensively involved in commercial and residential construction throughout BC and Alberta. Leading a team of 80 staff and establishing a branch office in Victoria in 2018 Summit Brooke has grown extensively over the years and is now an industry-leading construction contractor and real estate development firm. Jon is very focused on his team and the people that make up Summit Brooke and that is his main motivator for going to work every morning. It’s the people in our business that make us who we are so focusing on the well-being of our staff is what enables them to be successful which is what drives our success as a business.
Jon is proud to be a founding member of the Run for Water board and the ICBA Construction Board. This is an exciting opportunity to be able to give back and support a cause that is close to his heart as Jon and his family have traveled to Africa several times and through that involvement has seen first-hand the difference that giving back to your community and your world can make. He hopes to be able to continue to make a difference by being involved with the Imagine1day Board.
As a lifelong Vancouver Canucks fan Jon continues to hope that “this will be the year”. When not working you’ll find Jon golfing, riding his motorbike, enjoying the beautiful outdoors of the Fraser Valley or sharing a meal and good bottle of wine with family and friends. Jon and his wife Karen have 4 adult children and reside in Yarrow British Columbia.
Mehb Jessa
Director
Mehb Jessa
Born in Kenya, I now proudly call Canada my home. I am dedicated to improving people’s lives through service and leadership.
With extensive experience in governance, corporate relations, philanthropy and fundraising, community partnerships, fiscal management, succession planning, and strategic planning, I have had the privilege of contributing to organizations at the global, national, provincial, and local levels.
I have served in various leadership roles, including Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Board Member, and Committee Member. I have also had the honour of supporting the Certified Management Accountants Society of BC and Canada, the Aga Khan Economic Planning Board for British Columbia, and Focus Humanitarian Assistance Canada.
My professional background spans several industries, including architecture and interior design, healthcare, brand-fulfillment marketing, manufacturing of specialty pulp and paper products, and pharmaceuticals.
I hold the FCPA, FCMA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University.
I am grateful to be part of the Imagine1day® team, working to deliver clean water and education to children.
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