Ontario JOIN's (Job Opportunity Information Network) current Board of Directors comprises of eight members, including one Honorary Board Member. The names and biographies of each of the Directors are set forth below.

Deepak Soni, Chair
Board Term: 2010-2012

Deepak has worked with people with disabilities for over 20 years in both a professional and volunteer capacity. He has over 15 years of experience in various senior management roles focused on delivering programs and services that are meaningful, effective and promote inclusion.
Deepak has a MA in International Development from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration from York.

David Best, Acting Vice Chair
Board Term: 2011-2013

At the age of five years, David developed glaucoma, and by the age of twenty he lost all of his vision. He did not allow this situation to prevent him from pursuing a challenging and successful career and experience life to its full potential. Over the years David has hiked and canoed the beautiful wild woodland of Northern Ontario and the wild Rockies of the Canadian west.
David was one of the first blind individuals to graduate with a B.Sc. in computer science from a Canadian university, the University Of Western Ontario, in 1977. As an I/T Specialist he has had the opportunity to work for five major Canadian corporations, and now works for IBM Canada. David has actively participated in IBM diversity initiatives as an advocate for workplace diversity and inclusion

Jose A. Castillo, Director
Board Term: 2012-2014

Jose graduated from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (Law) and Xavier University (MBA) and is currently Director, Global Quality and Risk Management, KPMG Global Resource Centre. Jose began his career at KPMG in Peru 16 years ago, as Associate Tax Lawyer, moving then to KPMG International Headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 2003, as Senior Manager to focus on risk compliance of the global organization’s Tax function. In 2009, he moved to Toronto, Canada in his current position. Over the years, in his global role, Jose has built an strong network of KPMG risk management professionals across the world, which has allowed him to convey a more robust message around the provision of high quality professional services in an ethical and independent manner.
In 2010, Jose joined KPMG’s Diversity Council as co-chair of the Ibero-America Network (IAN), an ERG open to everyone in the firm and focused on the Hispanic and Brazilian/Portuguese cultures. In 2012, Jose stepped down from his role at IAN to found AdaptAbility, a network created to provide an educational and supportive group for KPMG people living with disabilities and their peers. Shortly afterwards, Jose became vice-chair of JOIN’s ERG Council. In the very few months since founding AdaptAbility, Jose has been involved in organizing activities for Mental Health Week and several diverse events to educate and create awareness within his organization.

Julie Messinger, Director
Board Term: 2012-2014

Julie is a Toronto-based Senior Manager with Accenture Canada’s Talent & Organization practice. Julie has 10 year’s experience in helping companies solve their most complicated talent, management, and transformational issues. In addition to leading large-scale transformation initiatives, Julie holds an outstanding track record of leading high impact people initiatives within Accenture, including leading Toronto’s Corporate Citizenship Committee – the largest in the country, with over 40 members and over a dozen non-profit partnerships.
Julie has deep industry knowledge in Public Service & Postal, Communications & High Tech and exposure to the not-for-profit sector. She also has expertise in organization transformation, program management, performance scorecard monitoring and analysis, and change management programs. Julie has been responsible for managing operating model and organization transformation programs, process re-engineering, large systems implementations, communications, training, and knowledge transition.

Tejash Modi, Secretary and Treasurer
Board Term: 2011-2013

Tejash is a Principal at Morneau Shepell Ltd. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Schulich School of Business. He was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2001. Tejash co-manages the firm’s Regulatory Appointment Practice and is its National Specialist on Governance. Tejash provides advice, both on a national and international level, concerning pension and benefits plans, including design and documentation, regulatory compliance, wind ups, insolvency related pension litigation, governance, mergers and acquisitions and related due diligence. He speaks frequently at conferences and seminars on pension plan governance.

Rosemarie Owens-Tunney, Director
Board Term: 2012-2014

Rosemarie graduated from the University of Toronto (BA Archaeology, MSc Physical Anthropology) and is currently Associate Vice President, Global Anti-Money Laundering, Canadian Banking, TD Bank Group. Rosemarie began her career at TD in Retail Banking where she moved through a variety of more senior roles including Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance. She is passionate about building strong relationships and problem solving with high performing teams.
In 2009, Rosemarie joined TD’s Diversity initiative where she built and executed programs designed to remove barriers for customers and employees with disabilities. Rosemarie implemented accommodation process improvements, inclusiveness programs for Deaf employees and customers, advanced accessibility features in retail branches, delivered national employee awareness events, and produced an internal employee-focused video designed to dispel myths and remove stigma.

Matt Petersen, Director
Board Term: 2012-2014

Matt joined CIBC in 2006 and currently serves as the Director of CIBC Diversity Strategies where he is responsible for leading the Employment Equity & Diversity team. This team is accountable for developing strategies and programs that help support the attraction, retention and development of diverse talent for CIBC.
Matt has over 10 years of Human Resources experience, and began his career with Kelly Services Canada where he provided strategic staffing solutions and support to Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Walt Disney, Xerox, and S.C. Johnson. He later moved to Veritude a division of Fidelity Investments where he worked as a Human Resources Consultant specializing in recruitment and employee relations.
Additionally, Matt has worked as a part-time instructor with Centennial College’s continuing education program teaching several Human Resources courses that are compulsory for the Certified Human Resources Professional Designation.

Donna Smith, Director
Board Term: 2012-2014

In her current position as Vice President, Donna is responsible for nationally promoting Career Edge Organization's three paid internship programs to prospective host employers and to recent grads, graduates with disabilities, and internationally qualified professionals.
Prior to accepting her position at the Career Edge Organization, Donna held several senior level management positions at Bell Canada. As a Human Resources expert, she was responsible for consulting senior management in several business units and directing the hiring and training activities nationally for all Bell Canada Consumer operations.
Donna has conducted speaking engagements to national and international audiences on the design and implementation of leading edge e-learning and employee retention strategies. She attended the University of Toronto Bachelor of Arts program and earned a diploma in Advanced Human Resources and Strategic Planning from the University of Toronto Rotman Executive School of Business.

Hon. Jean Augustine, PC, CM, Honorary Board Member
Board Term: 2012-2014

Hon. Jean Augustine was appointed as the first Fairness Commissioner for Ontario in March 2007. She cares passionately about education and the challenges faced by newcomers to the province.
Ms. Augustine was born in Grenada and came to Canada in 1960. She attended the University of Toronto, where she earned bachelor of arts and master of education degrees. She became an elementary school principal with the Metropolitan Separate School Board in Toronto. From 1988 until 1993, she was Chair of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority.
Ms. Augustine was the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons. She was elected in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore in 1993 and sat in Parliament until 2006. During this time, she served as minister of state for multiculturalism and the status of women, sat on several standing committees, and was a deputy Speaker. She also played a major role as parliamentary secretary to the prime minister.
She has shared her expertise and enthusiasm with others as a member of several community boards, including those of York University, the Hospital for Sick Children, the Donwood Institute and Harbourfront Corporation. She is former national president of the Congress of Black Women of Canada. Every year, she makes a better future for young women through the Jean Augustine Scholarship, a fund that helps single mothers attend George Brown College and Centennial College in Toronto.
She has been honoured by many organizations for her leadership and community involvement and has been awarded honorary doctor of laws degrees by the University of Toronto, the University of Guelph, McGill University and York University. In December 2009, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada.