Cooperation Canada is growing, with new team members joining us and current staff stepping into new roles. We are excited to welcome and celebrate these colleagues who will bring leadership across policy, advocacy, capacity strengthening, communications and event organization. Whether new to the team or taking on fresh responsibilities, their experience and commitment to our mission will drive impactful work and strengthen collaboration across the Canadian international cooperation sector. Together, we’re moving forward to create a fairer, safer and more sustainable world. Welcome and congratulations to all!
Andy Ouédraogo – Government Engagement and Civic Space Lead
Andy Ouédraogo (she/her) recently stepped into the role of Government Engagement and Civic Space Lead at Cooperation Canada, where she looks forward to serving as the organization’s liaison with Global Affairs Canada and championing an enabling environment for civil society in Canada and globally. Previously, Andy was a Research and Program Officer, leading the Global Cooperation Futures Initiative, an IDRC-funded strategic foresight project that engaged development actors across five regions to reimagine the future of international cooperation.
Andy brings extensive experience coordinating multi-stakeholder processes and advancing inclusive, locally grounded approaches to policy and development. Her background includes work at the United Nations General Assembly and UN Environment Programme, where she supported gender-responsive diplomacy, multilateral engagement, programme management and public communications. Andy holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of British Columbia and a master’s degree in international relations, specializing in global political economy, from Leiden University.
Barbara Nzigiye – Capacity Strengthening Manager
Barbara Nzigiye (she/they) has been a cornerstone of the ARC Hub’s impact over the past three years as ARC Program Coordinator. In this role, she championed equitable approaches to international cooperation, advancing anti-racism initiatives and strengthening program oversight and delivery through her collaborative leadership. Now stepping into the position of Capacity Strengthening Manager, Barbara is expanding her focus beyond anti-racism to a broader range of critical areas, including PSEAH (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment), locally-led development, and intersectional feminism. Her transition marks an exciting evolution, where her expertise, passion for equity, and commitment to collaboration will continue to drive meaningful change across the sector.
Cholpon Altynbek – Events Coordinator
Cholpon Altynbek (she/her) is a bilingual events and communications specialist with over 5 years of experience. Cholpon holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the American University in Bulgaria and a master’s degree in international public policy from Tsukuba University in Japan. Cholpon’s cross-cultural understanding is strengthened by her educational and volunteering background, which spans from North America to Central and Southeast Asia.
During her career, Cholpon held positions at the American Chamber of Commerce, where she was in charge of membership development and collaborated with over 100 member companies, and the German Development Corporation (GIZ), where she gained experience in international cooperation for sustainable development. In her new role as an Events Coordinator, Cholpon will support the planning, delivery and marketing of in-person and digital events in Cooperation Canada.
David Panetta – Senior Manager, Programs (Parental Leave Cover)
David Panetta (he/him) is an economist and certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with 20 years of experience in global development management, research, and consulting. He specializes in market systems development, financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment, and collaborative learning. David has worked in over 30 countries with institutional funders, philanthropic foundations, private sector entities, and non-governmental organizations, contributing to strategy development, business development, project management, institutional strengthening, and results measurement.
Previously, David served as Director of Programs at the SEEP Network, a global learning network of 130 organizations focused on inclusive finance and market systems. He managed cross-organizational learning programs and events valued at approximately C$7M. Originally from Montreal, David has also lived in Bangladesh, Colombia, and Spain. He speaks English, French, and Spanish.
Gabriella Providence – Junior Research and Reporting Assistant
Gabriella Providence (she/her) is a co-op student at the University of Ottawa studying public administration and feminist studies. She has experience as a women’s centre coordinator, committee member and presenter, and has conducted research on housing, immigration, global migration and women’s issues. Her current studies center around Canadian Black women’s self-advocacy in public policy. Gabriella has a passion for social justice and community action with a special interest in anti-racism. In her spare time, she enjoys creative arts, language learning, cooking and running.
G’Nel Guerrero – Events Coordinator
G’Nel Guerrero (she/her) is excited to continue her work with Cooperation Canada’s Events team as an Events Coordinator, after having joined Cooperation Canada as the Junior Assistant of Events and Communications in July 2024. Previously, G’nel has worked for various federal government departments including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Employment and Social Development of Canada.
Outside of her professional life, her passions lie in community event planning within the city of Ottawa, as well as being an active activist for human rights in the Philippines. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling alone and with her friends, along with supporting the local rock band scene in the area.
Maria Zaynullina – Digital Communications and Design Officer
Maria Zaynullina (she/her) is a graphic designer with over a decade of experience in both print and digital media. She has worked as a freelancer and in-house designer for organizations including Skate Canada, Giant Tiger, and Canadian Organic Growers, where she created a range of promotional materials. Originally from Russia, she moved to Canada in 2009.
Maria is passionate about visual storytelling and bringing ideas to life through clear, creative visuals. She values both collaboration and independent work, and constantly seeks new tools and challenges to stay sharp. For her, good design is about clarity, function, and connection. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and exploring creative hobbies.
Olga Ndione – Capacity Strengthening Coordinator
Olga Ndione (she/her) joined Cooperation Canada in 2023 as an Administrative Assistant for Member and Stakeholder Engagement, later supporting the Humanitarian Response Network (HRN) before becoming Capacity Strengthening Coordinator. In this role, she supports efforts to build a more inclusive, accountable, and equitable international cooperation sector in Canada. Her work contributes to initiatives addressing systemic challenges such as racism and bias, the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, power imbalances in localization, and the integration of intersectional feminist approaches across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding work. She leads logistics for capacity-building activities, supports MEL, manages program inquiries, and fosters engagement through communications and digital platforms.
Originally from Senegal, Olga spent 12 years in Italy before moving to Canada to study International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa, where she has worked on social and environmental innovation projects. Olga will begin a Juris Doctor at the University of Ottawa in September 2025.
Robina Aryubwal – Civic Space and Government Relations Intern
Robina Aryubwal (she/her) channels years of passionate advocacy for social justice into impactful programs for asylum seekers, with a focus on women’s rights. She brings nearly three years of experience supporting Afghan refugees through her work with Journalists for Human Rights. With a strong background in project management and humanitarian assistance, she has played a key role in evacuation, resettlement, and integration efforts. In recognition of her work, Robina received the PEN Canada Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize for assisting imperiled writers outside Canada.
Robina holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, where she majored in Political Science and minored in French and Philosophy, and previously earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Pakistan. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public and International Affairs at York University’s Glendon Campus, focusing on global governance, international relations, and public policy. Deeply committed to amplifying the voices of women and refugees, Robina looks forward to contributing to Cooperation Canada’s mission this summer.
Shannon Kindornay – Deputy CEO
Shannon Kindornay (she/her) is the Deputy CEO at Cooperation Canada. Since joining the organization in 2019 as Director of Policy, Research and Practice, she has held progressively senior roles, including Chief Operations Officer from 2021 to 2025. In her current role, Shannon leads strategic initiatives, supports organizational development and planning, and represents the organization in key sector and policy spaces.
She has played a central role in advancing Cooperation Canada’s commitments to anti-racism and equity, strengthening internal systems and culture, building partnerships across sectors, and shaping policy dialogue on issues that matter for the international cooperation sector. She brings nearly two decades of experience at the research–policy nexus in international development. Prior to joining Cooperation Canada, she worked as an independent consultant and previously held positions with the Canadian International Development Platform, the North-South Institute and Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.
Patrice Charpentier – Retiring from his role as Manager of the Humanitarian Response Network
After nearly 40 years of dedicated service in the humanitarian and development sector, Patrice will be retiring from his role as Manager of the Humanitarian Response Network (HRN) at Cooperation Canada. Throughout his career, Patrice has led impactful food security, health, nutrition, and WASH programs across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, drawing from his strong roots in rural Québec and a lifelong passion for agriculture and food security. Over the past three years, he has been a cornerstone of the HRN, guiding the network through a strategic review, numerous successful trainings and events, and securing a new three-year grant to sustain its work. His warm personality, thoughtful and thorough communications, and collaborative leadership have left an indelible mark on our team and the broader humanitarian community.
As Patrice steps into retirement, we offer our heartfelt thanks for his many contributions and wish him every joy in this next chapter. We know he will continue to nurture his love of gardening and reconnect with the rural roots that have inspired his remarkable career. Merci, Patrice, and congratulations on a well-deserved retirement!