Board of Directors

  • Executive Director

    Karen Francis is the Founder and Executive Director of The Nyakim Project. Her work is guided by years spent alongside refugee youth in Toronto and in communities across Kenya, where she has witnessed the power of a classroom to change a child’s trajectory. She brings experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic communications, and program development, combining professional discipline with a personal commitment to dignity and possibility.

    Past leadership roles include serving as Executive Director of Matthew House Toronto, and she now supports mission-driven organizations through her work in strategic communications and Public Relations. At The Nyakim Project, Karen works closely with community partners in Kilifi to ensure students receive the support they need to learn, grow, and imagine new futures.

  • Treasurer

    Geoff Seaborn is a seasoned financial executive who has spent his career at the intersection of global business and grassroots change.

    He served as Finance Director at Trinity College (University of Toronto) and now sits on multiple boards, including Rainmaker Enterprise, where he supports sustainable water solutions in East Africa.

    What sets Geoff apart is his humility and lifelong commitment to building a more just world. From education to environmental resilience, he brings strategic thinking and financial stewardship to causes that matter.

    At The Nyakim Project, Geoff is a steady presence—offering trusted guidance, big-picture thinking, and a true belief in the power of education to transform lives.

  • Chair

    Chair & President of the Board, The Nyakim Project

    Emily Pang is a seasoned executive with over two decades of international experience in operations, finance, and organizational transformation.

    Currently the Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff, and Corporate Secretary at SickKids Foundation, Emily provides governance and strategy leadership for one of Canada’s largest child health foundations. Trained as a tax accountant, her career spans a variety of roles at CIBC, Canada Post and Royal Mail (UK), where she’s helped drive complex change, integrate strategies and build high-performing teams. She currently also serves on the Boards of Granite REIT and Quantum Valley Ideas Lab.

    At The Nyakim Project, Emily seeks to guide our growth with wisdom, rigour and passion for making a difference to the lives of young people in Kenya.

  • Director

    Born and raised in Toronto, Samia Tecle has worked with migrants, refugees, and newcomers throughout her career—as an academic, a community advocate, and now as a Policy Advisor with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

    Her insights, rooted in lived experience and rigorous scholarship, help us better serve the communities we love.

  • Director

    Fred Anyona brings soul to everything he creates—from lush editorial shoots to bold visual campaigns that center African identity and joy.

    Born and raised in Kenya, Fred went to highs chool in the coastal region—an experience that shaped both his creative lens and his deep connection to community.

    As a board member of The Nyakim Project, Fred helps us reimagine what representation can look like for displaced children—ensuring our storytelling is beautiful, honest, and deeply human.

  • Director

    Sydney Kirkland is a marketing and media strategist with a proven track record of driving growth for brands at the intersection of creativity, culture, and data. As SVP of Media Planning at Spark Foundry, she leads strategies for some of Canada’s most recognized brands, blending innovation, audience insight, and precision planning to deliver measurable impact. Known for her ability to translate complex marketing ecosystems into clear, actionable strategies, Sydney has built a career on helping organizations navigate change while unlocking new opportunities for connection and growth.

    Her leadership extends beyond the boardroom. Sydney is a founding force behind Superclub, a curated community that brings together leaders, creators, and innovators to connect, collaborate, and grow through thoughtfully designed events and conversations. Her contributions to the industry have been widely recognized: she is a recipient of The Peak’s Emerging Leaders Award, named to Strategy Magazine’s New Establishment List, and honored as one of Glory Media’s 30×30. Whether in her professional role or through her community-building work, Sydney is driven by a belief in the power of relationships, storytelling, and bold ideas to shape what’s next.