Lupus Ontario is governed by a 12 member volunteer board to provide governance, set the strategic plan and execute on major initiatives. The board members are located throughout the province and supported by our staff members. We work with Lupus Canada to advocate for improved access to information, health services and research.
We wish to thank present and past members for their outstanding service.
Read the Role of the Board of Directors Policy here.
Lisa Bilodeau
President & Chair: Fund Development and Executive Committees
Lisa is passionate about advocacy and support for those living with Lupus and other autoimmune issues. Prior to her diagnosis of SLE and Sjogren’s in 2016, Lisa spent 20 years in the Advertising & Marketing industry working on many top-level brands. Striving to convey ideas in simple and direct ways that reach their target, she worked with a diverse range of creative and client teams.
Lisa brings her marketing and communication experience to the Public Awareness & Education Committee, and the Fund Development Committee promoting Lupus Ontario’s mission through advocacy, education, and awareness.
Living in Burlington, Lisa also volunteers in her community as a Little Free Library steward promoting literacy, and with 100 Women Who Care Burlington, supporting and promoting local charitable organizations.
Email: lbilodeau@lupusontario.org
Linda Keill
Secretary & Chair, Governance Committee
Linda has previously served on the Board of Lupus Ontario as Secretary and as President from August 2014 until April 2019. Diagnosed with discoid lupus in 1982 and with SLE in 1983. Linda rejoined the Board in 2020 to continue contributing to improving the lives of lupus patients. Her interests lie in Fundraising and Advocacy. She brings to Lupus Ontario over 30 years’ experience as an Information Technology Consultant and Project Manager.
Email: lindakeill@lupusontario.org
Siraj Mehdi
Treasurer & Chair, Finance Committee
Siraj is Head of Structured Finance and Deal Management at MHIRJ Aviation. He is a CPA CGA accountant with an MBA. He has spent the last 30 years in Finance and Planning with large public companies in the Aerospace, Consumer Goods, Automation and Pharmaceutical sectors. Siraj is eager and excited to use his skills to help Lupus Ontario achieve its mission of “Life Without Lupus”.
Siraj along with his wife and two daughters are avid travellers who have climbed an active volcano to see the sunrise in Bali, spent 30-hours trekking in the Sahara Desert and went on a shark cage dive on Hawaii’s North Shore.
June Alikhan
Past- President & Chair, Advocacy Committee
June Alikhan was elected to the Board of Lupus Ontario in 2016. June joined Lupus Ontario in order to combine both her personal and professional interests as well as contribute her financial skills and insights to the organization.
June has over 35 years of experience in the accounting field; with over 25 years in the real estate industry. At Tricon Residential, June was CFO responsible for the Company’s overall financial management including information technology, reporting and administration before taking retirement at the end of a fifteen year career with the company.
Prior to joining Tricon in 2001, June led her own consulting company providing financial management, process re-engineering, and systems assessment and implementation services within the real estate industry. June graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and subsequently received her CPA, CA designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.
Email: June.alikhan@outlook.com
Sabrina Hundal
Chair, Support Committee
Sabrina is currently an MD/MBA candidate at the University of Toronto and holds a Graduate Diploma in Health Research and a Bachelor of Health Sciences.
She currently serves as the Fundraising Coordinator at the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Canada, and sits on both the Board of Directors at the Halton-Peel Community Aphasia Program and the Academic Board at the University of Toronto.
She has particular interests in patient education, healthcare strategy, and systems-level change. She is looking forward to leveraging her experience to advance the mission of Lupus Ontario.
Julian Cappelli
Chair, Education & Awareness Committee
Julian currently works as an Economist at the Public Health Agency of Canada, where he also serves on the Workplace Wellness Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Economics with a Concentration in Financial Economics from Carleton University.
Julian has particular interests in economic analyses, public policy, and advancing health systems. He is eager to apply his experience to the advantage of Lupus Ontario as the Chair of the Public Awareness & Education Committee.
In his free time, Julian enjoys golfing, traveling, and exploring new foods
Justin Ferraro
Director at Large
Justin is an accomplished executive leader with extensive expertise in leadership, business strategy, and financial management. He drives strategic and operational growth for organizations through a strong foundation in change management, risk management, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), and corporate development strategies.
An experienced for-profit board member, Justin contributes to governance and growth initiatives with a focus on creating and protecting value. He is eager to expand his knowledge and capabilities by supporting Lupus Ontario through its not-for-profit board and finance committee, advancing its mission with the optimism of one day realizing its vision of ‘Life Without Lupus.’
Justin holds an Executive MBA from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, a certificate in M&A and Corporate Development Strategies from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Structures from Carleton University.
Sarah Irshad
Director at Large
Sarah is joining Lupus Ontario in order to combine both her personal and professional interests as well as contribute her financial skills and insights to the organization.
Sarah has over 17 years of experience in the accounting and finance field and is a driven and results-oriented finance professional with extensive experience in financial management, process improvement, and leadership. Currently serving as Senior Finance Director at JLL Technologies, Sarah leads finance business partnerships for multiple businesses and cultivates cross-functional relationships in a fast-paced environment.
With a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Chartered Accountant designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, Sarah has built a strong career spanning various industries and roles
Maneka Kaur
Director at Large
Maneka Kaur is an internationally trained lawyer who has been advocating for a safer and healthier environment for almost a decade. In addition to litigating numerous environmental cases, she has worked closely with not-for-profit organisations and governmental departments to promote access to justice. In Canada, Maneka continues to pursue her passion for environmental law and has articled with specialised environmental legal clinic. She was awarded the Tremaine-Britannia Citizens Group Young Lawyers Mentorship Fund Award by Canadian Environmental Law Association in 2022.
She believes that although environmental issues, and their impacts in our present world, need to be viewed holistically; one must, however, keep in mind that there is no one stop solution. It is important to continue to learn about the problems and engineer solutions suitable to the changing times. It was this thought process that intrigued her about the possible co-relation between environmental contaminants and Lupus. She hopes to provide her assistance and support in understanding this co-relation. In addition, she is excited to bring all the knowledge acquired by her as an advocate, litigator and researcher and apply it with the same passion to the cause of Lupus Ontario.
Jordyn Lavecchia-Smith
Director at Large
Jordyn Lavecchia-Smith is a public sector professional with a strong background in governance, policy development, and municipal administration. She holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Geography with a minor in Political Science, as well as a diploma in Municipal Administration, and brings a thoughtful, solutions-focused approach to public service and leadership.
Jordyn’s personal connection to lupus—through her husband’s lived experience—has deeply shaped her commitment to advocacy, kindness, and giving back. She is passionate about leading by example and using both her professional expertise and personal perspective to support stronger awareness, governance, and meaningful outcomes for individuals living with lupus.
Outside of work, Jordyn’s greatest joy is being a mom. She also enjoys camping, travelling, and spending quality time with her family, always grounded in the values of compassion, empathy, curiosity, volunteerism and community.
Sunita Mandi
Director at Large
Sunita Mandi is a dedicated nurse with over 18 years of experience in various healthcare sectors, including retirement, long-term care, and home care. She started her career by volunteering with different Healthcare Agencies and throughout their career, Sunita Mandi has leveraged clinical expertise not only to provide exceptional patient care but also to manage personal health challenges, notably living with Lupus. This experience has fueled a passion for Lupus awareness and advocacy
Her leadership and commitment to the profession were recognized in 2025 when Sunita Mandi received the Supervisor of the Year award from Home Care Ontario. In addition to nursing, Sunita Mandi holds certifications as a Diabetic Educator and Gentle Approach Coach for Dementia Care. Her dedication to patient advocacy and education is matched by a willingness to speak openly about the realities of living with chronic illness, inspiring others through both professional and personal examples.
Deni Ogunrinde
Director at Large
Deni is a multi-disciplinary policy professional with experience leading strategic initiatives, projects, and programs across provincial energy and infrastructure portfolios and in health professional regulation.
Deni’s experience living with chronic autoimmune and digestive health conditions has fueled her passion for chronic illness advocacy and awareness. She looks forward to leveraging her professional and personal experiences to help those with lupus live healthier and better lives.
Deni is a life-long learner. She received her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology, Master of Science in Molecular Biology, and Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.
Outside of work, Deni finds joy in dancing, weight-lifting, reading, and visiting local coffee shops.