MEET OUR TEAM
We’re a diverse team of over 70 problem solvers and strategic thinkers, fueled by a passion for progress and a belief that housing is a human right.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Anne Armstrong
Executive Director
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Anne Armstrong
Executive Director
Anne is the inaugural Executive Director for London Cares. Anne has over 15 years of leadership experience in the social services sector. She’s spent her career in housing, children’s mental health, and the Violence Against Women sector.
Anne was inspired to join London Cares because of the organization’s entrepreneurial spirit. The compassion, dedication, and hard work of the London Cares team and the resiliency of London Cares’ participants continues to reinspire her every day. Anne believes in giving a voice to those who are most misunderstood and marginalized in the community. An advocate of working within systems to influence and effect social justice change, she loves innovation and finding unique ways to address issues.
In her downtime, Anne re-energizes by spending time with family, reading, relaxing, and dreaming/planning her next travel adventure. Anne’s penchant for disruption extends beyond her professional life, especially when it comes to getting into mischief with her grandchildren.
Chantelle McDonald
Director of Service
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Chantelle McDonald
Director of Service
Chantelle is the Director of Service at London Cares. Her portfolio includes oversight of Street Outreach, Resting Space, and the Housing Stability Program.
Chantelle decided to get involved with London Cares because she believes in the unique strengths of every individual. She stays at London Cares because she wants to work somewhere that addresses the complex and root causes of homelessness while working with individuals in a dignified way. It is not an easy job, and you must do it with love.
Chantelle is big on spending time in her community and with friends and family. She has a love for animals, travelling, and nature.
Season Bieronski
Manager of Housing Services
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Season Bieronski
Manager of Housing Services
Season is the Manager of Housing Services. She oversees a team of housing stability workers who provide intensive case management support and a team of housing selection workers who provide support with securing housing for our participants.
Season strongly believes that housing is a human right and that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. She enjoys her role at London Cares because it provides the ability to use a whatever-it-takes approach to supporting those most vulnerable in her community. She is passionate about the work being done at London Cares and will always continue to push for and create systems change.
Season is a lover of plants, strong coffee, naps on the weekends, and spending time with her friends and family.
Carlos Buschinelli
Manager of Outreach Services
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Carlos Buschinelli
Manager of Outreach Services
Carlos is the Manager of Outreach Services at London Cares. He oversees Street Outreach, the Coordinated Informed Response program, and Resting Space programs. Carlos holds a Bachelor of Social Work from King’s University College, with a minor in Social Justice and Peace Studies.
Carlos is passionate about working with individuals experiencing untreated mental illness, substance use issues, and ending homelessness in our community. He hopes to support individuals experiencing homelessness through the London Cares approaches of Housing First, harm reduction, and low-barrier supports. Carlos joined London Cares because he believes everyone has the right to housing, dignity, and respect.
When not working, for self care Carlos likes to recharge by enjoying the outdoors, going camping, snowboarding, walking his dog, and spending time with friends and family.
Nick Leye
Manager of Finance and Administration
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Nick Leye
Manager of Finance and Administration
Nick is the Manager of Finance and Administration. For the last decade, Nick has been working in finance in both non-profit and business environments. Prior to his endeavours in finance, Nick was a math and science teacher.
When Nick saw London Cares’ need for a full-time financial officer, he knew he wanted to be part of the team. He respected the hardworking team at London Cares and knew the team was filled with great people who care about London’s most vulnerable community members.
Nick is a father of two girls and spends most of his spare time with his wife and daughters. If he’s not with his family, he’s probably watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, football, or Star Wars.
Board Members
Kate Huner
President
BOARD MEMBERS
Kate Huner
President
Kate is the President of the Board of Directors of London Cares. Kate spent over 10 years working at Queen’s Park as both a senior political staffer and senior level policy advisor in the civil service. Kate worked for a number of ministries across the government, with a special focus on social and labour market policy, as well as intergovernmental relations. Kate has also spent time working at the municipal level of government for the City of London. Kate currently works for the Dean of Science at Western University focusing on industry and government.
Kate fundamentally believes that housing is a basic human right and the core values that London Cares represents with their community-level work. Kate is passionate about social services and working to improve services that protect our society’s most vulnerable. Kate believes London Cares in an unbelievable organization doing critical work in our community.
Kate moved back to London with her family six years ago. She is an avid runner, a mom to two beautiful boys, and the owner of a very anxious rescue pup named Egg.
Nick Soave
Vice President
BOARD MEMBERS
Nick Soave
Vice President
Nick is the Vice President of London Cares’ Board of Directors. Nick works at the University Students’ Council at Western University where he focuses his time on government relations, corporate governance, and student mentorship. He highly recommends that you check out The Wave at the University Community Centre for a lovely meal!
Nick lives very close to downtown and as he would walk through the core, he would regularly see those suffering from homelessness, but he didn’t know how to help out. When he heard that London Cares’ Board of Directors needed new members, it felt like a small way he could contribute to supporting London’s homeless population. London Cares is focusing on fixing the system that perpetuates homelessness in the community and he wanted to support this systems change approach.
While not working or in board meetings, you can find Nick on one of London’s many golf courses. While not the best golfer in the world, he certainly has fun and enjoys the sound of a well-hit golf ball off the club. Otherwise, he’s a fan of live sports, so you will likely find him at Majors or Knights games.
Jeff Sage
Board Member
BOARD MEMBERS
Jeff Sage
Treasurer
Jeff is the Treasurer on London Cares’ Board of Directors. Jeff is the Senior Strategist & Co-CEO at sagecomm with 20 years of progressive experience in marketing-communications in both public and private environments, including education, technology, healthcare, banking, non-profit, and government sectors. Jeff has previously been honoured as one of London’s Top 20 Under 40.
Philanthropy and volunteerism are the price you pay to live in a great community, and for Jeff, volunteering at London Cares is a privilege because of their commitment to an inclusive community, to safety and dignity for all, and to the creation of a dynamic and creative community.
Jeff enjoys annual RV trips across Canada with his family as well as summer vacations exploring rural Northern Ontario, where he is from. Jeff also enjoys volunteering with various groups in the community, focusing on equality and justice work.
Melanie Wallace
Board Member
BOARD MEMBERS
Melanie Wallace
Board Member
Melanie is the Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at GoodLife Fitness. In this role, she is responsible for the design, implementation, and continual improvement of all GoodLife programs aimed at strengthening communities, addressing climate change, and driving inclusion efforts for staff and members across Canada. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Princeton University and a Masters of Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
Melanie joined London Cares’ Board of Directors because of the opportunity to contribute to an organization whose vision she believes strongly in, and whose staff and leadership invest so deeply in providing compassionate care to those with the greatest needs. She is proud to support an organization whose work is pivotal to changing systems of inequity in the community.
Melanie is passionate about social justice and equity at the global and local level. She is a lifelong athlete and former D1 hockey player. She and her wife live in London with their son and two rescue dogs.
Sara Hanna
Board Member
BOARD MEMBERS
Sara Hanna
Board Member
Sara is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Holding a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from King’s University College, Sara has experience providing counselling services to young adults in an education setting, as well as in private practice. Sara is well versed in the wide spectrum of pressures and academic demands that post-secondary students face.
Sara decided to get involved with London Cares’ Board of Directors after being introduced to the organization through her work in strategic planning. As a Board member, Sara hopes to raise awareness of the complexities of homelessness and the amazing work that London Cares does.
Sara has a passion for the outdoors, where she spends a lot of her time on sunny days!
Iva Gavanski
Board Member
BOARD MEMBERS
Iva Gavanski
Board Member
Iva has over 15 years of experience volunteering and working in London and Middlesex in health, including mental health, developmental and physical disability, and community development. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Human Rights, and her background includes interdisciplinary and international experience in the fields of mental health/trauma and torture, freedom of speech, and refugee rights. Iva currently works as a freelance writer, editor, and translator.
Iva highly values the principle of “think global, act local,” and is honoured to be able to contribute to the London community by participating as a member of London Cares’ Board of Directors. Having worked with homeless communities across Canada and abroad, she is confident that intentional cooperation and human rights-based approaches to development can lead to creative solutions that will nurture positive outcomes for those in greatest need, to the end of eradicating homelessness altogether.
Iva devotes her spare time to philosophy, literature, travel, and languages.
INSPIRING STORIES
Every day we are inspired by the resilience and courage of the people we serve. Take a moment to read their stories.