Karen Lai, She/Her – Co-Chair
Karen feels very grateful to play and live on the Unceded land of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation to an immigrant family from Mainland China/Hong Kong over 40 years ago. She enjoys working with communities to have conversations about inclusion and disability justice.
She works as an Accessibility Planner for the City of Vancouver where she wants to see change in how we build spaces, not just physical space, to welcome and value people with disabilities. She continually works to challenge others and the systems we live through brave conversations with one another as we move together on the inclusion journey. Karen lives with Cerebral Palsy and enjoys adventuring in the outdoors.
Sonmin Bong, She/Her – Co-Chair
Sonmin Bong is a first-generation Korean immigrant, cisgender queer woman and Won Buddhist who was born in Germany, raised in South Korea, and has grown up in Turtle Island. Sonmin is passionate about facilitating tough and uncomfortable conversations as they are the basis for creating social and cultural change in our communities and organizations.
She currently works as a consultant in the City of Vancouver’s Equity Office. Prior to joining the City, she worked at WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre for over five years holding multiple positions, including as the Manager of Social Change and Community Engagement. She also holds a master’s degree in Public Policy with a social change leadership concentration from Adler University.
In her personal time, Sonmin loves cuddling with her two cats (McGill & Mochi), reading all things social justice and feminism and spending time with family, friends and her partner.
Kenneth Magtoto, He/Him – Treasurer
Kenneth is a CPA and works for local shoe designer John Fluevog Shoes. He has wide work experience in various industries and is honoured to serve on the Peernet board. Outside of work, Kenn dedicates his time to his wife and young family. He loves eating fried chicken, watching and playing sports, and spending time outdoors.
Jshandeep Jassal, She/Her
Jshandeep is a Sikh Punjabi woman who lives on the stolen lands of the Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations. Jshan is a lover of research and community. She has a passion for working with racialized youth and families, and is committed to working toward strategic community development that honours intersectional experiences. Toward this commitment, she has co-founded two peer support networks/workshopping spaces for specific demographics (Let Her Talk & The South Asian Healing Network). In her free time, Jshan enjoys crafting, being out in nature, or spending time with her pet birds and dogs.
Nina Corissa Ortiz, She/Her
Nina is an uninvited guest on the unceded, ancestral and occupied territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh peoples. She is a first generation immigrant from the Philippines, with all of her immediate family still in the homeland. For work, she is a community connector for young people with disabilities. In this work, they explore what it means to come into adulthood and future-making, be a self-advocate and find and create spaces of belonging. For leisure, she loves spending time aimlessly with her friends or volunteering in a community kitchen.
Natalie Ord, She/Her
Natalie Ord is a white settler who was born and (mostly) raised on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territories. In her work and life she aims to create space for relationship building and learning around complex issues, ideas and feelings. She has worked in philanthropy for over nine years and holds a master’s degree in Urban Studies and a certificate in Social Innovation, both from Simon Fraser University. She’s a voracious reader, enjoys hiking and swimming in the mountains and tries to be a good companion to The Cat.