Our Leadership Team

As CEO, Doramy Ehling leads the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) in its vision to create an inclusive world where people with disabilities are living to their full potential.  Doramy held successive management positions within RHF, culminating with that of Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation, a role she held for 11 years, prior to her appointment as CEO in 2018.  
 

Before joining the Rick Hansen Foundation, Doramy held several positions within the Government of Canada at Canadian Heritage, which included portfolios within Sport Canada. 
Doramy is a member of the Advisory Board, Diversity Institute, Ryerson University and a member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Advisory Committee of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council. Doramy is a member of the Disability in Work Canada Steering Committee that determines the themes and agenda for the annual pan-Canadian annual conference that brings together business, government and disability community stakeholders to discuss employment and disability in Canada. She is also a member of the SSHRC (Quality in Canada's Built Environment: Roadmaps to Equity, Social Justice and Sustainability) Advisory Board and its steering committee.

France Gagnon is the Chief Financial Officer and the VP of Operations. France holds a Bachelor of Administration degree from SFU and she is also a CPA, CMA. She has over 15 years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector. 

Before joining the Foundation, France held senior financial positions at various not-for-profit organizations such as Raincity Housing and Support Society, Burnaby Family Life, Variety the Children’s Charity and New Vista Housing Society. France was born in Quebec and is fluent in French. France is driven by her passion for making a difference and developing best practices as well as transparency in the not-for-profit sector.

Brad McCannell joined the Foundation in 2016 in the role of Vice President, Access and Inclusion where he led the development of, and is responsible for, the creation and integrity of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program and its supporting training. He also monitors and addresses key national issues that are impactful to accessibility in the built environment and beyond. Brad took on this task after more than 25 years working as a professional access consultant internationally, specializing in large public buildings and events including International Paralympic Committee venues and events along with several airports, convention centres and transit systems.

Brad served two consecutive terms on the board of directors of Accessibility Standards Canada, a federal agency created in 2019 tasked with the development of national standards that encourage the full participation of people with disabilities through all aspects of daily living in Canada. In addition he has been featured at several conferences and speaking engagements on the topic of inclusion of people with disabilities, including PLACEMAKERS - Calgary Municipal Land Corporation; the U.S. Access Board; the Alberta Premiere's Council; the Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion and the Vancouver Board of Trade among others. And in 2024 he was the keynote speaker for BC’s Ministry of Citizen’s Services at their annual UniverCITZy conference. He has also appeared on national and region media outlets such as the Jill Bennett Show, CTV Morning Live, AMI Radio, CBC Witness and interviewed for magazines such as Azure, and Authority.

He has used a wheelchair and service dog daily since 1980. Brad believes the greatest barriers to people with disabilities remain the attitudinal barriers that drive preconceived notions of what people with disabilities are capable of achieving.

Mike is a seasoned senior fundraising executive with over 27 years of diversified experience in the not-for-profit sector, and expertise in significant private sector revenue generation.

Currently, Mike is the Vice President of Resource Development at the Rick Hansen Foundation. As a key member of the Foundation’s Senior Executive Team, Mike is responsible for all aspects of the Foundation’s Resource Development department. Mike’s portfolio also includes all individual and corporate major gifts, through both sponsorships and donations, along with overseeing all community giving, legacy giving, business development and special events in support of the Rick Hansen Foundation and its respective programs and initiatives.

Mike received his Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia with a concentration in Physical Education. Prior to joining the Rick Hansen Foundation, Mike was the President and CEO of his own private security firm which employed over 300 staff and specialized in event security, personal protection and private investigation.

Mike lives in Richmond, BC and has two beautiful sons.

Before assuming the role of Senior Director, Programs, Amanda was Director – Accessibility Certification, providing strategic and operational direction to launch and develop the program since 2017. Amanda brings a global outlook, having worked and studied across 5 continents.

Before RHF, she worked in London and Singapore, managing cross-functional teams and developing external networks to deliver high-level global summits for the oil & gas sector and infrastructure industries with a geographic focus on Asia, Europe and Africa. Amanda has a law degree from UBC and a business degree from SFU. 

Laura is responsible for increasing awareness of the importance of disability inclusion and accessibility and encouraging the removal of barriers through financial support and participation in RHF initiatives. Through her leadership of the RHF School Program and Marketing and Communications team, she directs the strategy, execution and optimization of initiatives that inspire and engage communities in the movement towards a world for everyone, everywhere. Having earned her Certified Fundraising Executive designation in 2021, Laura brings a donor centric lens to her work.

Kevin is the Director of Technical and Program Content for the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program. He oversights the RHFAC technical materials, RHFAC Training, and Accessibility Professional Network (APN). He has played a major role in the evolution of RHFAC program, having led its last update in 2020. Kevin also acts as a subject-matter expert on behalf of RHF in various research partnerships advancing accessibility and inclusion.

Prior to joining RHF, Kevin worked as an accessibility consultant for over ten years in Canada and internationally. His experience includes developing accessibility design standards, conducting accessibility audits, and completing accessible design reviews for various projects in healthcare, education, public, recreation and residential sectors.

Kevin grew up in Mauritius, a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, before moving to Toronto, where he currently resides, to complete his degree in Urban and Regional Planning. When he’s not working, Kevin can be found baking delicious treats or exploring different neighbourhoods in the city on his bike.

Katherine works closely with Rick Hansen to develop his leadership initiatives as Founder of the Foundation. Previous to this she has spent the last 19 years developing integrated marketing and communications strategies to drive results in both profit and non-profit environments. After graduating from SFU, Katherine immersed herself in the sports apparel industry which offered her tremendous opportunity to help build powerful global brands in addition to working on numerous international fundraising partnerships. Katherine has held senior roles at The Canadian Cancer Society as well as The Terry Fox Foundation. 

Outside of the office, Katherine can be found chasing after her son, on the ice rink playing hockey or riding her road bike.  
 

As Director, Resource Development for the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF), Sandra is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Resource Development team and ensuring all philanthropic strategies are maximizing revenue and ROI for RHF. She oversees strategy for growing our robust community giving program and serving as director for the #EveryoneEverywhere national campaign to improve accessibility for Canadians of all abilities wherever they work, live and play. With over 20+ years of experience, Sandra is a skilled fundraising professional with a focus on building diverse revenue-generating programs, and cultivating high-value relationships across corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Based in Toronto, Sandra is an avid hiker and enjoys finding new trails to explore, as well as honing her cooking skills for family and friends on weekends.
 

As an internationally experienced architect with an ocular disability, Roman brings a wealth of lived experience to his role. He is responsible for providing a range of advisory services designed to support multi-site and large-scale public and private organizations on their journey towards increased accessibility and inclusion, in the built environment and beyond.

Roman is sessional faculty at OCAD University and has taught courses in architectural design, theory, and accessibility, including the RHFAC Professional Designation at several other higher education institutions in Canada. He currently sits on Waterfront Toronto’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Passionate about client success and meaningful business relationships, Roman speaks five languages, and has worked in customer success and advisory in industries such as banking, international relations, and hospitality. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Design degree from OCAD University. 

Outside of work, Roman can be found playing tennis, painting, or riding his bike along Toronto’s waterfront, where he resides.

Born with a degenerative deafblind condition, Matthew is recognized for his innovative approach to accessibility practice and his contributions to legislation, policy and solutions as tools to creating economic and social value.

Life with a disability, he says, is not about overcoming adversity but finding ways to live ingeniously.  As Head, Accessibility Practice Matthew brings this philosophy to help governments, global brands, partners and RHF teams deliver strategies, spaces, products, and services that respond to their people and drive results that matter.

Before joining Rick Hansen Foundation, Matthew founded two consulting practices serving clients across North America, and has previously held leadership roles in Canada’s charitable sector.

Matthew writes and speaks about disability and serves on various committees and boards, including Vice Chair of Accessibility Standards Canada, Chair of the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council for the province of Ontario, and Vice Chair of Canadian Blind Hockey, the fastest growing parasport in Canada.