2020-2021 Board of Directors
Carol Comissiong, CPA, CGA, MBA
President
Carol Comissiong, CPA, CGA, MBA
Carol Comissiong is a former Chief Financial Officer, with over 15 years experience in a CFO role. Prior to her retirement, Carol was CFO, IBM Canada – Caribbean North District. Her various roles and responsibilities included leading finance teams in treasury, financial planning, external reporting, regulatory, audit and business controls functions, managing complex cross functional business operations and working with corporate clients. Carol is committed to volunteering and was the former President and Treasurer of People Bridge Charitable Organization. Previously she was a Rotarian, Treasurer of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and a former trustee of the Harry Jerome Scholarship fund. Carol obtained her MBA from Ivey Business School at the Western University and holds a CPA, CGA designation.
Anthony Grey, BA, MBA
Vice-President
Anthony Grey, BA, MBA
Anthony Grey is the CEO of DxEcosystems Group and brings over 30 years of experience in financial services, business services management, business process design, and transformation. As a business manager and operations expert, he has led significant initiatives in business architecture and general operations management. Recognized as a thought leader and team builder, Anthony has held leadership roles at Mutual of Omaha, KPMG, American Express, and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), where he demonstrated his results-oriented approach. An innovator and technology entrepreneur, he is passionate about integrating best practices and innovation to deliver exceptional customer results. Anthony also contributes as a volunteer, board advisor, and executive leader, underscoring his commitment to excellence and community service.
Sudha Datta, CPA
Treasure
Sudha Datta, CPA
Sudha led a diversified career in the financial services industry. He has worked as the Head of Operations with Sovereign Wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), where he was responsible for custody, securities lending, and investment operations for over 20 years. He is an associate of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments in the U.K. Sudha recently received the “Industry Legend Award” from Global Custodian magazine. An independent consultant, he advises asset managers, family investment offices, pension funds, endowment funds and credit unions. He is also co-founder and Managing Partner of Soterium Inc., a consulting firm and currently advises pension funds, family investment operations. Sudha also volunteers as a board and committee member in various non-profit organizations.
Alice Bhyat, Ed. D
Secretary
Alice Bhyat, Ed. D
Alice Bhyat is an educator and retired principal with a doctorate in Sociology and Equity Studies and with extensive expertise in the areas of education, workshops, management of high schools, staff, students, resource and education assistants, administrative and janitorial personnel. Dr. Bhyat has strong leadership, management, and staff development skills. She was successful in consistently delivering innovative, results oriented programs while working towards a high level of education for youth, and the ongoing task of preventing barriers in education. She did extensive research and writing in the areas of Anti-Racism, Diversity Work and Difference Education. Her goal is to continue work in this arena in a supportive consultative effort to support the future growth and education of our youth. She has a high interest in doing research on student achievement and the factors and barriers preventing students’ achieving their potential. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Niagara University.
Thora H. Espinet, LLB
Director
Thora H. Espinet, LLB
Thora H. Espinet is a Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public and Family Law Mediator. She obtained her undergraduate degree from York University and her Law Degree from the University of Windsor in 1982. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1984. She is a former Chair of the Canada Pension Plan Tribunal, where she served for eight years. She taught Criminal and Civil Procedure at Centennial College and is a former student of Fanshawe College. In 2008, she was appointed as Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court, a branch of the Superior Court of Ontario. She is a former board member of the Humber College Institute of Technology and advanced learning of People Bridge Foundation. She is recognized by the Law Society as one of the first black woman lawyers to be called to the Ontario Bar. Thora was the 2017 recipient of the Lincoln Alexander Award. In 2018, she was selected as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women (100ABCWomen).
Maurice D. A. Ford MES, M.Sc. Cert. Med., Q. Med, WFA, RP, OCT
Director
Maurice D. A. Ford MES, M.Sc. Cert. Med., Q. Med, WFA, RP, OCT
Mediating since the mid-1990s, Maurice initially focused on family and human rights mediations. Most of his focus is now on personal injury and employment disputes. He is a Certified Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario as well as a Certified Educator with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).
Maurice holds a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Stitt Feld Hand Houston program and has completed the York University Certificate in Dispute Resolution. He holds an M.Sc., degree in counselling from Niagara University and is on the Attorney General’s Roster of mediators.
Ayodele (Ayo) George, B.Sc., MSc
Director
Ayodele (Ayo) George, B.Sc., MSc
Star is a Juris Doctor candidate at Queen’s University and holds a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Ottawa. Star is deeply committed to serving her Ayo is a Product & Technology leader whose experience spans multiple industries. Whilst a technologist at heart, he has varied interests including community building.
Colin Heron
Youth Director
Colin Heron
Colin Heron is a fourth-year Biology and PNB (Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour) student at McMaster University. He is a dedicated, hardworking, and a studious individual who is looking to make a difference as part of the board. As a proud member of the Black and Caribbean community, he is deeply passionate about youth empowerment, leadership, and social improvement.
Paula A. Morrison, MBA, M.A.
Director
Paula A. Morrison, MBA, M.A.
Paula Morrison is an award-winning communications executive with experience in public relations and digital marketing. As a VP of communications, she led the strategic planning, coordination and implementation of public relations and marketing activities for leading corporate, consumer and B2B companies in the U.S., Canadian, and U.K. markets. Skilled at storytelling, Paula works to help companies understand how people now consume and create content. With a sharpened pencil and clean eraser Paula is a strategist editor, industry listener and creator. She was the Chair, Board of Trustees, Black Business & Professional Association (BBPA), National Scholarship Fund as well as the Vice President and Communications Lead, for the Urban Financial Services Coalition (now CAUFP). Paula holds an MBA from Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and an M.A. in International Relations from United States International University.
Chris Pryce, BPE, CEBS
Director
Chris Pryce, BPE, CEBS
Chris is the founder and president at Human Capital Benefits. He leads a team of in-house and external insurance specialists. After graduation from the University of British Columbia, he has worked in the employee benefits field for more than 30 years. Chris held analyst and advisor roles at various benefits consultancies, spending several years with Canada Life as an Account Executive. Chris has attained his Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation. Throughout his career, he has contributed to several industry groups and advisory panels for both the benefits industry and specialty pharmaceutical companies.
Term 2022-2025
Colleen Vandeyck, MBA, CHRP, PMP
Director
Colleen Vandeyck, MBA, CHRP, PMP
With an extensive career in the not-for-profit sector, Colleen’s true passion is in human resources, where she has excelled. She takes her knowledge and experience from organization to organization, always building on it and refining her practice. She combines deep professional experience with strong strategic planning skills, bringing significant improvement and change within the systems and practices of diverse organizations. Colleen held roles with responsibilities that included human resources, labour relations, project management, administration, financial planning, audits, and business controls. Throughout her career, Colleen practiced in school boards, unions, regulatory colleges, and not-for-profit organizations. Her understanding of good board governance and the importance of board self-evaluation, benchmarking, training, and development of members have made her an invaluable asset to these organizations.
Term: 2024-2027 Secretary
Raymund Guiste, LL.M
Executive Director
Raymund Guiste, LL.M
Raymund Guiste serves as Executive Director at Tropicana Community Services. He holds a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and has a deep background in social justice, human rights and consumer protection legislation and policy. An experienced mediator and adjudicator, he left the Ontario Public Service after a 25-year career where his policy analysis work with the Human Rights Commission, helped re-shape dispute resolution and investigative approaches. Raymund has also been lead consultant on a number of non-profit engagements where he worked to build capacity, shape organizational governance, and achieve alignment of operating pillars for maximum effectiveness.
He has been at the helm of Tropicana, Canada’s largest Black led and serving human services charity, since July 2019 guiding the organization through successful negotiation of its first collective agreement, it’s pandemic crisis transition to hybrid remote digital service delivery and over the same period, year over year growth in organizational impact and revenue. Today, he and his team are leading the implementation of Tropicana’s strategic and operational plan for the next five years.
Raymund remains active in the community, volunteering with several organizations. He sits on the Board of Directors of Shepherd Village Inc. Retirement and Long-Term Care, the Mediation Program Advisory Committee at Durham College, and the Toronto District School Board’s Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee. He has also volunteered his time with The Canadian Multicultural L.E.A.D. Organization for Mentoring and Training, The Stand-Up Young Men’s Conference, and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Canada.
Leadership Teams by Year
2025-2026
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
