{"id":120,"date":"2014-04-23T14:40:41","date_gmt":"2014-04-23T18:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/standard-template.blog.yorku.ca\/?page_id=5"},"modified":"2025-10-01T09:16:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:16:26","slug":"meet-the-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/unit\/gcrp\/meet-the-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol
Email: ijade@yorku.ca<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues, MPA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Chief of Government and Community Relations<\/em><\/em> & Protocol<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Ijade currently serves as the Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol at 快播视频. In this role, she is responsible for managing the university's relationships with government, community and corporate contacts, as well as overseeing institutional events and protocol activities. Prior to this position, Ijade dedicated nearly ten years as the Chief of Staff to the President at 快播视频, where she played a pivotal role in supporting the university's leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over twenty-five years of experience, Ijade has developed extensive expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, strategic relationship building, issues management, reputation building, finance, human resources, communications strategy, risk management, event management, and protocol.  Ijade holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from 快播视频 and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Ijade is an avid volunteer. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Lakeridge Health in Durham Region and as Vice-Chair for the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers Network. She is also the past Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities Government Relations Officers Committee. Her commitment to volunteerism reflects her dedication to community service and leadership. Throughout her career, Ijade has been recognized for her professional accomplishments. In 2018, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education. More recently, in 2024, she was honored with the Gillian A. Wood Award for Excellence in Government Relations by the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers Network.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Government Relations Officer
Email: mattbann@yorku.ca<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Matthew Banninga, MA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Government Relations Officer<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Matt joined the Office of the President as the Government Relations Officer in March 2025. He has extensive government relations experience in the post-secondary sector having previously served as a Government Relations Officer for the University of British Columbia and prior to that as the Special Projects Officer in the Government Relations Office at the University of Toronto. He also spent time working for the Council of Ontario Universities as their Strategic Engagement Coordinator and then as their Government Relations Specialist. Matt was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, and is a double Carlton University graduate with a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management and a Master of Arts in Political Economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Advisor, Special Projects, Events & Protocol
Email:\u00a0judithdo@yorku.ca<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Judith Owusuaah<\/strong>, BA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Advisor, Special Projects, Events & Protocol<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u200bJudith Owusuaah joined the Office of the President as the Advisor, Special Projects, Events and Protocols in June 2023. Prior to this role, she held the positions of Coordinator, Intramurals and Events for Queen\u2019s University and Coordinator, Events and Special projects for the Office of the Principal of Humber College, Lakeshore Campus. Judith prides herself on making a positive impact on any and all communities she serves using her experience in high-level event coordination, community engagement, wellness management, and strategic planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judith holds a BA, specialized honours, in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from 快播视频 where she was also the recipient of several student employee awards for her work in the Athletics and Recreation Department. As an advocate for a healthy work-life balance, she spends her free time with family and friends, roller skating, coaching and officiating girls\u2019 basketball and participating in cultural events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Director, Community and Government Relations
Email: steper13@yorku.ca<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Shawna Teper, MSW<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Director, Community and Government Relations<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Shawna holds a BSW and an MSW from Ryerson University.  She began her social work career as a frontline counsellor in a women\u2019s shelter, working with women and children who had survived domestic violence. Subsequently, Shawna spent over ten years as political staff within the City of Toronto for two City Councillors and her time there spanned three different Mayoral administrations.

In 2018, Shawna joined the Community and Government Relations team at 快播视频.  In her current role, Shawna is focused on enhancing relationships within communities as well as with municipal, regional and Indigenous governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Engagement & Policy Advisor
Email: lakshv@yorku.ca<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Laksh Vig, BA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Engagement & Policy Advisor<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Laksh Vig joined the Office of the President in 2017. After a brief stint volunteering for a Councillor at the City of Toronto, he served as a Constituency Assistant to a Member of Provincial Parliament. He later worked at a political consulting firm, where he helped clients in the public, private and charitable sectors achieve their government and public relations objectives, including securing over $20 million in infrastructure funding for a small municipality. He has also been active on federal, provincial, municipal and leadership campaigns. Growing up in the Jane and Finch community has inspired and driven him to pursue work and goals that have a positive impact on society.

Laksh is an alumnus of the School of Public Policy and Administration at York. In his spare time, he enjoys various social activities, time with loved ones and working on his entrepreneurial, creative and community-building aspirations.<\/p>\n\n\n