WHEN’s Board of Directors
Kanisha Acharya-patel, BOARD DIRECTOR
Kanisha has been deeply involved with WHEN, serving as a Policy Analyst (December 2018–August 2019), interim Executive Director (January–June 2022), and a Board member (July 2022–October 2023). She later served as WHEN’s Law Reform Specialist (November 2023–July 2024) before rejoining the Board in August 2024. With a background in environmental science, a law degree specializing in environmental and Aboriginal and Indigenous law, and extensive experience in the environmental non-profit sector, Kanisha is committed to advancing environmental justice.
Enida Kule, TREASURER
Enida is a champion of women's health, women's issues, and environmental sustainability. She has led WHEN in the capacity of both Chair and Treasurer and has been on the WHEN board for over 10 years.
Monika Molka, BOARD DIRECTOR
Monika is an investment professional and past WHEN volunteer. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo where she studied Science and Business, with a specialization in Biochemistry and a minor in Economics. Monika bridges her passions for science and problem solving to support WHEN's mission.
Charlotte Hobson, Board director
Charlotte is a lawyer with considerable academic and professional experience in the environmental and human rights space. She is deeply committed to environmental justice and looks forward to advancing WHEN’s mission on the Board of Directors.
Georgia bermingham, Board director
Georgia Bermingham works in grantmaking at the Greenbelt Foundation, supporting projects that protect the natural environment, farmland, and communities across Ontario’s Greenbelt. She has a background in environmental science and has worked extensively to educate both the public and policymakers on the links between environmental and public health, particularly in relation to water, through her previous roles at Swim Drink Fish. At WHEN, Georgia contributes her expertise in fundraising, grants management, and community engagement to advance the organization’s mission of environmental health and justice. Believing in the importance of both grassroots action and evidence-based policy change, she values WHEN’s role in advancing environmental health through top-down and bottom-up approaches.
Executive Director
Victoria Lewis, BSW/RSW
Victoria is the Executive Director at WHEN. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, where she focused on issues related to accessibility, women’s studies, and wellness studies. Victoria started at WHEN as a volunteer in 2023 and became the Operations Manager at the end of 2024, leading the Wannabe Toxic Free: Fashion Edition Campaign as the events and volunteer coordinator. Now as ED, she continues her commitment to advancing social justice and equity for individuals, families, and communities; she actively reduces barriers and improves access to information so that people are empowered to improve their physical and environmental health. She connects WHEN with local organizations, ensures the material we release is widely accessible, and advocates for vulnerable populations. Contact Vic at victoria@womenshealthyenvironments.ca .
Our volunteers
Marketing team
Mythreyi Rajasingham (she/her)
Mythreyi has been a dedicated volunteer with WHEN since 2023, supporting our mission of empowering women by addressing the interconnected challenges of environmental and health advocacy. She is deeply passionate about exploring the intersection of the environmental crisis with race, class, gender, and other forms of social inequality. She amplifies critical conversations through social media and collaborating with the team to engage and inspire the community.
Annabel Obot
Annabel recently completed a Master’s degree in Digital Media and Global Communications, building on a background in Cultural Studies and Gender & Social Justice. Driven by a passion for intersectional advocacy, she is drawn to WHEN’s commitment to environmental justice and systemic equity. At WHEN, Annabel is excited to apply her skills in digital storytelling and community engagement to make environmental health information accessible, creative, and relatable. Through this work, she hopes to help amplify inclusive narratives and inspire meaningful, community-led change.
Events team
Kerrice Bailey
Kerrice earned her Master's degree researching anthropogenic impacts on water quality through spatial heterogeneity in the Great Lakes and the global fast fashion industry. She is interested in using data for environmental policy. In her spare time, she promotes upcycling and alterations to lengthen the use-phase of garments!
Lola Helman
Lola is a fourth-year Environmental Science student at Queen’s University. She is passionate about the connections between environmental and women’s health, particularly the impacts of environmental exposures on human health. Through her work with WHEN, she hopes to raise awareness and help make information about safer, healthier choices more accessible.
Editorial team
Kaitlyn De Sousa (She/Her)
As a recent graduate from UofT with a bachelor’s in Health Studies and Human Geography, Kaitlyn is passionate about promoting sustainable and healthy living through an intersectional lens that explores the connections between health, the environment, and community well-being. She is committed to supporting evidence-based initiatives that advance WHEN’s mission through research and collaboration.
Gwen Merry
Gwen is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto studying Political Science and Ethics, Society and Law. She is passionate about the environment and enjoys working with peers to address environmental challenges.
Aranee Mahendiran (she/her)
Aranee is a community researcher committed to social justice and health equity. She graduated from Western University with a Bachelor’s degree specializing in Health Sciences, and completed a Master’s degree in Public Health at The University of Saskatchewan. Aranee has experience supporting student mental health research, food security programming, climate emergency preparedness education, and children’s environmental health advocacy. She is excited to bring her perspective to support WHEN in strengthening environmental health protections for women and all equity-deserving communities. Aranee will be assisting the team with community education and hopes to improve accessibility to environmental health information through her work.
Syeda Nasr
Syeda is an aspiring epidemiologist doing her Master of Public Health at Lakehead University, and holding an HBSc. from the University of Toronto. She is passionate about reducing chronic and infectious diseases that are downstream from toxic environmental exposures. She hopes to translate data for various audiences to increase awareness, and push for environmental health justice with the power of a pen! She was drawn to WHEN's mission of multidisciplinary advocacy through an intersectional lens.