Toronto Association for Volunteer Administration (TAVA)

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"By us for us"! TAVA is 100% volunteer and member led, by an Executive Committee - voted in and informed by our members - who support TAVA's mission. *Note: Our Executive Committee members are officially voted in during our membership meetings, at our annual June AGM, or during the last month of our fiscal year, where we officially welcome our new Executive Committee slate for the new TAVA Membership fiscal year (Oct 1 through to Sept 30). Our current Executive Committee members are listed below, and can be contacted by email at tavaexec@gmail.com. To apply for roles on our Executive Committee, please visit our Volunteer page.

Membership Chair: Francine Negre Laroche (She/Her)

What Francine would like you to know about her:

Francine has been working in the non-profit sector for the past 15 years, helping with affordable housing and healthcare in the Greater Toronto Area. The spirit of giving rings true in all that she does, whether through volunteering weekly at a local food bank in her neighborhood or helping to organize food drive and feminine hygiene products, she is a strong believer in making our community a stronger and healthier place together. She has devoted herself to ensuring volunteers feel a sense of connection, engagement, and appreciation through their contribution to the community. Having previously served on TAVA's DEI Working Group, and most recently in TAVA's Vice President role, Francine is excited for the opportunity to be the Membership Chair of TAVA , serving it’s members and connecting with Volunteer Managers in the community.

Awards & Bursary Chair: Mab Coates-Davies (She/Her)

What Mab would like you to know about her:

Having previously served as TAVA Secretary, and most recently in TAVA's Awards and Bursary Chair role, Mab says: "I have been working as a volunteer manager at a local museum for the past four years. I am passionate about creating accessible and meaningful volunteer opportunities. I also love crafting and am my cat’s biggest fan. As a member of the TAVA Executive, I am looking forward to collaborating with other volunteer managers around Toronto."

Past President: Jeff Abraham (He/Him)

What Jeff would like you to know about him:

Jeff is a familiar face who previously served on the TAVA Executive Committee as the Treasurer from 2016-18, has been a member of the TAVA DEI Committee from its inception, and has been involved with TAVA for the last 10 years. Jeff has been involved in the volunteer sector for many more years whether through volunteering in leadership roles with faith communities or in paid roles with a variety of different non-profit organizations. Jeff is stepping into the role as Past President for 2023-24 year to help with transitions on the TAVA Executive and bringing in his previous Executive experience to help provide context and leadership to a newer Executive Committee in service and accountable to the TAVA membership. Having served in 3 different diversity, equity and inclusion committees, Jeff is passionate about implementing DEI and anti-racism principles here at TAVA and in our sector and looking forward to movement from talk to action as well. Jeff is proud to be from the Scarborough region of Toronto.

Secretary: Saskia Rinkoff

Saskia is the Manager, Volunteer Engagement & Visitor Experience at Harbourfront Centre, and a member of the TAVA DEI working group and TAVA Executive. Saskia has extensive experience in Volunteer Management and the Arts and Cultural Sector. She has a passion for developing engaging and community-based volunteer programs that offer professional development opportunities with an emphasis on customer service, accessibility, and inclusivity. Saskia is a former volunteer of the TAVA executive (we're excited to benefit from her experience) and an active member of the DEI working group.

Treasurer: Rafael Glass Machado (He/Him)

Rafael (he/him) is an experienced professional with a fervent passion for volunteer engagement. Since embarking on this journey in 2014, Rafael has become an invaluable asset to the volunteer management landscape, contributing his expertise to notable organizations in the Toronto area. Rafael's career trajectory includes significant roles at the City of Toronto, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), and his current position as the Specialist, Volunteer Engagement and Community Service at The 519.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Rafael is a dedicated volunteer himself, having lent his time and skills to organizations such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) as a vision mate and the Toronto Wildlife Centre as a Wildlife Nursery Assistant. Currently, he serves as the treasurer for TAVA (Toronto Association for Volunteer Administration).

Rafael's journey with TAVA began with his participation in the organization's conference in 2019. However, his true impact was felt in 2023 when he took on the role of a panelist for a workshop focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This experience sparked his decision to further contribute to TAVA's mission, leading him to join the executive team.

President: TBD