Board of Directors

Gail Di Cintio comes to this role with significant executive and governance experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. In addition to a long career as an executive working in technology and consulting, Gail is an experienced Board Director and has served on numerous boards in the health, credit union, and social enterprise sectors, among others. Gail brings a passion for supporting her Toronto community to her leadership and is committed to ensuring Sistering meets the current and future needs of participants, staff, and the wider community.

Sara has over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector as a volunteer, employee and board member. She has worked with organizations supporting sex workers, young people involved in the criminal justice system, and individuals struggling with housing and employment discrimination, as well as a number of arts and culture organizations.

Sara first began volunteering with Sistering as a teenager working in the kitchen with her mom. She returned to the organization over 15 years later as a board member to contribute to Sistering’s mission to support marginalized women and gender-diverse people in Toronto. As a member of the board of directors, Sara is motivated to help steer the board through difficult decision-making so that the organization’s staff, volunteers, and peers can continue to make an invaluable difference in the lives of Sistering’s participants and throughout our community. Sara is currently a PhD student at the University of Toronto and a policy analyst at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario.

Joey Noble has been volunteering at Sistering for 15 years, teaching weekly ESL classes, helping in the Sistering kitchen and assisting with special events. She became involved with Sistering because she witnessed the fun and pleasure experienced by women and trans people participating in programs at Parkdale Outreach. She has retired after a 20-year career as a Professor of Social Sciences at Humber College but continues to teach part time. Prior to Humber, she worked for 15 years in the social service sector. Past roles include work as a community organizer with a variety of low-income groups, primarily women and immigrants.  She has experience with fundraising, grant writing and working closely with volunteer Boards.

A skilled professional accountant with a background in human resources. Sharon’s ability to see beyond the numbers set her apart. Her unique capacity to conceptualize organization vision through strategic development and planning fosters team engagement and is instrumental in the realization of company objectives. Visualizing an organization as a whole, Sharon’s past work in senior management for the Sistering Board Bios 2024 public sector has afforded her many opportunities to immerse herself in the community and provide support for important causes. An adept collaborator, Sharon excels in developing rapport with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders, fostering strong interpersonal relationships and inclusivity, breaking down barriers, and empowering her teams to grow alongside executive members. Sharon is enthusiastic about serving on the Sistering Board of Directors and making a positive impact.

Vera is a lawyer licensed in California, living and working from Toronto. She is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the community she now calls home. While she is currently in private practice, she previously worked at the non-profit legal services organization Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), where she was a Senior Staff Attorney. She also served for two years as a director of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel, a charity based in San Francisco that assisted those living with HIV/AIDS access legal help.  Vera received her law degree from Harvard Law School, and her B.Sc. in Mathematics from Mount Allison University.  Vera has a strong interest in ensuring all those that are part of her community have the opportunity to access resources, and in supporting the ability for everyone to reach
their full potential.

 Dilya has been at the City of Toronto for nearly a decade, working in multiple divisions including Public Health, Transportation Services, Employment and Social Services and Social Development focusing on poverty reduction, workforce development, community development and mental health.

In all her roles, her work has concentrated on developing and improving services for Toronto’s vulnerable and equity deserving residents. Dilya is now a Management Consultant with the Policing Reform Unit which funds and oversees the Toronto Community Crisis Service. Previously, she served for 3 years as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Newcomer Women's Services. She has expertise in program and policy development, strategic planning, community engagement, partnership building and funding. Prior to joining the City, Dilya worked in the non-profit and education sectors internationally. On the weekend, you can find Dilya hanging out around the neighbourhood and in the playground with her 4 year old daughter.

Kersti has always been passionate about social justice and community involvement, with a long and varied history of volunteerism and activism. Sistering’s mission to support marginalized and at-risk communities resonates with her deeply.

She has worked in the charitable sector for nearly 25 years, primarily in fundraising and marketing, and currently holds a senior role at the Canadian Red Cross. In addition to fundraising and marketing, Kersti also brings extensive experience in management, operations, governance and financial oversight in a non-profit context. Her previous board experience includes 10 years on the board of directors for Trinity Square Cafe, a small government-funded agency in Toronto that supports adults in their mental health recovery. In 2023, she joined the board of directors at OpenMedia, an organization that advocates for digital rights across North America.

Sancia Pinto is an Adjudicator, Civil Litigation Lawyer and Mediator. She has her Juris Doctor in Law from the University of Ottawa, a Certificate in Mediation from Harvard Law School, and an Advanced Certificate in Adjudication from Osgoode Hall Law School and the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators. Sancia is an Assessor and Mentor at the Toronto Metropolitan University, Law Practice Program. She serves as an Adjudicator on several Tribunals across Ontario.

As Counsel, she has handled cases at numerous levels of Courts and Tribunals. As a previous Hearings Officer at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, she has conducted mediations and quasi-judicial hearings. Sancia came to Toronto as a refugee with limited resources, and is no stranger to adversity. Through hard work and determination, she became a lawyer and one of the first professionals in her family. Having first hand experience of the ongoing struggles of vulnerable and marginalized populations, Sancia is looking forward to making a meaningful impact to the Sistering vision and mission.

With over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Bobbie has been dedicated to addressing homelessness and housing challenges, focusing on vulnerable individuals impacted by mental health issues, addictions, developmental challenges, refugee status, and poverty. Bobbie's work is driven by a commitment to advocacy for systemic change, advancing equity, and ensuring staff well-being. Their deep expertise includes developing innovative solutions, shaping policies, and fostering collaborative approaches to create sustainable, inclusive support systems for the most marginalized populations. A warm-hearted leader, Bobbie believes that everyone has the right to support, housing, and self- choice. Their leadership is centered on empowering staff and clients, ensuring continuous growth for everyone involved.