NSWC Staff
Meet our team.
Michelle Dodds
Executive Director
Michelle is honoured to have worked as the Director of the North Shore Women's Centre since 1999, following an MA in Women's Studies from Simon Fraser University and community work in women's social justice and advocacy organizations. She is passionate about gender equity, and creating accessible community spaces and learning opportunities that facilitate social change. Michelle has enjoyed living on the North Shore since 2006. She can be reached at michelle@northshorewomen.ca
Maryam Saroei
Resource Centre Coordinator
Maryam is the Resource Centre Coordinator for the North Shore Women's Centre. She first got involved with the NSWC in September, 2009, and has lived on the North Shore since 2007. Maryam loves movies and spending time with her friends, and is passionate about women's rights and social justice. She is also a proud cat mom! Contact Maryam for inquiries about the NSWC's operations, programs, and our drop-in resource centre at maryam@northshorewomen.ca
Golnaz Yazdi
Safety and Justice Programs Coordinator
Golnaz is the Safety and Justice Programs Coordinator at the NSWC. As a sociology graduate from Simon Fraser University and lifelong feminist, she is passionate about the safety and rights of women and children.
Golnaz is the overseeing staff member for the North Shore Coordinating Committee to end Violence Against Women in Relationships (NS VAWIR), and the NSWC point of contact for the Farsi language Parenting Support Group. Please reach out to her by email at golnaz@northshorewomen.ca or nsvawir@northshorewomen.ca
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Sheila Prawirasoetisna
Donor Relations and Events Coordinator
My name is Sheila and I’m the Donor Relations and Events Coordinator. Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, I moved to Vancouver for university. I hold a BA in Psychology with a minor in Economics from UBC. I first became involved with the NSWC in 2023, helping plan our 50th Anniversary International Women's Day Celebration & Benefit.
Currently, my role at the Centre focuses on organising events and strengthening our donor relations. I am passionate about building meaningful opportunities for our wonderful donors and supporters to connect with and give back to the North Shore community.
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Outside of work, I love reading, films, Pilates, spending time with friends and trying out new restaurants.
For inquiries regarding donations, sponsorships and events you can reach me at sheila@northshorewomen.ca.
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Gabriela Ruzickova
Volunteer Programs Coordinator
Hello, my name is Gabriela, and I'm the volunteer coordinator at the NSWC who is responsible for taking care of dedicated volunteers here at the center. I got first involved with Women's Centre beginning of 2023 as a volunteer in the "Fresh Food Program". Since I started to volunteer, I really felt a strong connection to the centre and I am delighted to be part of this wonderful team of women. My great passion is about women's rights and personal freedoms, and the domestic & cultural basis of women's oppression. For thirty years I was devoted to working with exceptional individuals as a life skills worker and home support worker.
I am an enthusiastic, lively professional working in both team-based and independent capacities and enjoy creative problem solving on multiple projects. I am also a thinker and my growing interest is in people's lives and concerns. My origin is Slovakian, and I have lived here in beautiful Vancouver since 1992. You can reach me by email for volunteer inquiries at gabriela@northshorewomen.ca.
Oreofeoluwa Adeyonu
Researcher and Project Coordinator Gender Based Violence Prevention in High Schools
Oreofeoluwa completed her BSc (Hons) in International Relations and Diplomacy from Afe Babalola University. Following this she pursued a Masters in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies from Simon Fraser University where her area of focus was women's rights in Nigeria and the influence of culture and religion on our understanding of sexuality. In her career her main focus is gender based violence prevention for girls and women, creating spaces of inclusion for refugee and migrant women, and mental health in minorities.
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Oreofeoluwa has worked as the Project Coordinator & Lead Researcher - Gender Based Violence Prevention in High Schools at the North Shore Women's Centre since June 2022. Please reach out to Oreofeoluwa at oreofeoluwa@northshorewomen.ca for any inquiries about the evidence based prevention programs we are offering.
Torkan Behnam
Resource Centre Assistant
Hello everyone! My name is Torkan and I came to Canada one and a half years ago. I started my career in my home country with UNHCR in a humanitarian program with a BA in Social Sciences and MA in Social Communications. I then continued working with various embassies, including the British and Australian ones, as a visa officer.
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I believe everyone has a life mission, and mine is to dedicate myself to helping people in need on different levels. A significant part of this desire is my deep care for empowering women.
The passion to make a positive impact in the community was strong, but as a newcomer, I wasn't sure how to find the right place to channel this energy. However, I firmly believe that when you aim for something and wholeheartedly want to make a beneficial impact, the right path appears before you, and your unique journey begins.
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My beautiful story with the North Shore Women's Centre started on a sunny summer day in mid-July 2023. I walked in and offered to care for their plants as a volunteer. My passion for nature and plants led me to exactly where I was looking! It didn't take long before I became involved in different volunteer programs.
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The more time I spent at the center, witnessing their positive impact on the community, the greater my enthusiasm grew to be part of this wonderful team. The North Shore Women's Centre truly makes a difference and saves lives every day. We laugh with our clients and cry with them during difficult times. This is the essence of a real family. NSWC is a house of humanity, support, dignity, awareness, empathy and kindness. That is why every time I come to the center, I don't walk with my legs, I fly with my wings. I feel a strong sense of purpose, coming to my second home.
Nilou Abrishami
Youth Empowerment Programming Coordinator
Nilou is the Youth Empowerment Programming Coordinator here at the North Shore Women’s Centre. Born and raised in North Vancouver, the traditional and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sÉ™lÌ“ilwÉ™taɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, she graduated from Capilano University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, learning how to analyze and interpret the world through an intersectional and interdisciplinary lens. Much of her research and interest is in political science, especially international relations, and advocating for human rights and policy change. Within this program, she learned a great amount about Indigenous ways of learning and sharing knowledge.
Nilou has always had a passion for social change and for working with girls and women. She used to work as a women’s support worker, providing emotional support, crisis intervention, and practical assistance to women and children fleeing violence, guiding them through short-term goal setting and access to essential services. Additionally, she volunteered with the BeYOUtiful Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides programs and workshops to young girls that inspire confidence-building through mentorship.
She began her journey at the North Shore Women’s Centre as a volunteer, wanting to be involved with her community, eventually transitioning into facilitating the Youth Volunteer Empowerment Program, the Youth Neurodiversity Empowerment Program, and the Summer Empowerment Camps. Creating these connections with the youth and helping them find confidence and empowerment have been some of the most rewarding experiences of her career.
If you have any questions regarding Youth Programming or initiatives, please feel free to reach out: empowerment@northshorewomen.ca
