Aaron Kafka is an entrepreneur and community leader with a passion for fostering inclusive and engaging environments. With a background in managing successful business ventures, such as the Kafka’s Coffee, Aaron brings a wealth of experience in operations management, team building, and strategic planning. His commitment to excellence and community development is evident through his involvement in various non-profit initiatives and years of community engagement where he has demonstrated his ability to drive growth and positive change.

Ashiana Sunderji is a medical student at the University of British Columbia with a background in neuroscience, physiology, and human geography from the University of Toronto. She is passionate about the intersection of health, research, and community. Ashiana participated in Fresh Roots’ SOYL program for three years, as a participant, mentor, and facilitator, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to youth empowerment and food education. She currently serves as Chair of TEDxUBC and has led multiple teams in curating inclusive, community-driven events. With experience in oncology research, science communication, and working with children of diverse abilities, Ashiana strives to bridge medical innovation with compassionate care.

Lloyd Juliane is a dedicated Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 20 years of experience in financial management, accounting, and strategic leadership. Based in British Columbia, Lloyd is committed to fostering resilient and sustainable financial systems that support organizational growth and long-term success. His expertise in risk management, budgeting, and process optimization ensures financial integrity while driving operational efficiency. As a strategic leader, he aims to build equitable financial structures that align with organizational goals and promote transparency, accountability, and collaboration. Lloyd’s vision is to create financial systems that empower organizations to grow sustainably, nurture human connection, and contribute to a more equitable future.

Christina is a proud second generation Filipino-Canadian woman, unapologetic feminist, and a leader in the not-for-profit sector. As a family of immigrant settlers, her upbringing shaped her values around community empowerment and fundraising. Her approach to her development work is grounded in equity and anti-racism focused on relationship management, strategic partnerships, and engagement across the broader community. Over the past 20-years, Christina has had the honour of working across sectors from grassroots organizations, health care, higher education, and arts organizations. Her goal is to demystify fundraising with each interaction — because every organization deserves to be lifted up.

Rosalind is a long-time school farm enthusiast! Her journey with Fresh Roots began way back in 2013, when she volunteered during the David Thompson school farm build. She didn’t want to lettuce go and ended up working with Fresh Roots from 2014 to 2018. During that time, she helped relaunch the SOYL program and ate more salad than she ever thought humanly possible! Inspired by her work with young people on the farms, Rosalind subsequently pursued a career in education. She trained as an elementary teacher, but has been teaching high school French Immersion in Burnaby since 2020. She is very excited to reconnect with her Fresh “roots” as a board member, and to contribute her historical knowledge of the organization as well as her insights into the world of teaching.

Selma grew up in her mother’s kitchen in the Netherlands. From throwing fancy dinners for the neighbourhood kids to working under some of the founders of Vancouver’s farm-to-table movement to fine dining kitchens, Selma has food and hospitality running through her veins. She holds an MTh in Inter-faith studies from the University of Glasgow, a BA in Anthropology of Religion from Leiden University, and a Culinary Arts certificate from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Among other roles in the social venture and food systems advocacy scene in Vancouver, Selma worked at Growing Chefs as their Chef Educator and Program Manager from 2017-2022. In that role she collaborated with Fresh Roots on Community Eats, LunchLab, virtual field trips, and long table dinners. After many years teaching, coaching, cooking and advocating for the food revolution professionally, she hung up her apron to help other small charities grow their impact in her current role as Director of Community Capacity at Social Venture Partners Vancouver. She is passionate about co-creating supportive team cultures and communities, justice and equity in the non-profit and philanthropy space, and the daily work needed to nurture them. You can often find her with her nose in a book, singing in a choir, or gushing about food.

Zahra is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Vantage Point. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 15 years with experience in international development, housing and homelessness, community development, youth entrepreneurship, fundraising, and microfinance. Zahra was the first Executive Director of the Marpole Neighbourhood House, which opened under her leadership in 2019. Zahra has a Masters in Globalization and International Development from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor’s Degree in History from UBC, and an Associate Certificate in Fundraising Management from BCIT. She is Chair of the BC Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee, an independent committee that advises government on policy developments related to poverty reduction and prevention. Zahra is on the board of Lookout Foundation and is a mentor with Dress for Success’s Professional Women’s Group. She also sits on a number of City of Vancouver advisory panels and working groups. Zahra was recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40 in 2019.

A working parent, Zahra is mother to a vivacious and curious school-age daughter who has been lucky enough to participate in a Fresh Roots summer camp. Though she lacks a green thumb, Zahra is passionate about food security, equity, and capacity building and is very excited to be part of the Fresh Roots board!