2025 Board of Directors Nominations
We are pleased to report that eight nominations were received for election to the Board of Directors this year.
This year CIPP members are electing 4 members employed by the City of Ottawa to two-year terms.
The CIPP Board of Directors is made up of 9 members and elections are staggered to ensure strong institutional memory and consistency in governance. The roles of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer are voted on by the 9 elected Directors.
Each candidate will make a presentation at the 2024 AGM on November 20, 2024 and CIPP members will then vote to select the new board members.
Please RSVP to join the AGM online or RSVP to attend the AGM in-person with dinner at the Infinity Convention Centre.
Meet your Nominees for the 2025 CIPP Board of Directors!
Abdul Mottalib
Title – Department: Senior Engineer, PDBS
Years of Service: 15
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
I have been working as a Sr. Engineer with the Development Review, Urban Services for more than 15 years. As a Sr. Engineer, I am responsible for ensuring efficient and timely review and approval on a variety of development applications. I manage and lead a technical unit consisting of project managers/engineers, engineering interns, and COOP students.
I had maintained and have been maintaining positive client relationships with internal and external management and stakeholders including Government and Private for the smooth implementation of the projects. I have prepared various types of reports including evaluation reports, annual reports and completion reports for different projects.
I am a CIPP member, and I am aware about its function. CIPP is committed to make its members’ workplace safe and healthy through collective bargaining, representation, and advocacy. I want to be part of this union so that I can utilise my experience towards the betterment of the members of this union. I believe working experience with the CIPP board of directors will also enrich my knowledge and experience.
Ahmad Luqman
Title – Department: Business Consultant, Crime Prevention
Years of Service: 7
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
I lead the crime prevention portfolio in the City of Ottawa Community Safety and Well-Being office. I work with a broad range of community partners to bring evidence-informed approaches to community safety.
I bring years of experience working with community leaders in social housing neighbourhoods and nurturing partnerships in the social service sector. I am interested in how identity, race, and class impact people’s wellness, and reducing barriers that prevent people from thriving.
I have served on boards of social service agencies and mosques in Ottawa. I currently serve on the board of the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities, a national community of practice created to inspire local action and foster community safety and well-being.
I hold two degrees from Carleton University – a Bachelor’s in journalism and a Master’s in social work. I also have specialized mediation training and a healthy dose of curiosity. I am currently continuing learning as a father of four, husband, son, and community member. I also volunteer regularly with the Muslim community and enjoy playing basketball and soccer.
Lola Dubé-Quibell
Title – Department: Coordinator, Volunteer Resources
Years of Service: 25
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
I am motivated by the fact that I can make a positive difference to our organization because I believe employees truly are our greatest asset.
Through concerted action, collective strength, and ability, our union has continually negotiated increased wages, improved benefits, and stronger pensions. Unions have always advocated for our work and safety standards, and I want to work on those fundamental issues and aid with the negotiations for the next collective agreement.
I want to ensure that our wages meet the rising cost-of-living increases that we face each year, and our pensions will meet our needs in the future. I would also like to help negotiate our health benefits.
I believe it is important that should we go to arbitration during our next collective agreement negotiations we review our options for the mediator.
I would like to build, strengthen, and defend our work and safety standards so that we can be inclusive and ensure equitably distributed workloads, and a fair, accepting workplace.
Naïka Thomas
Title – Department: Health Equity Specialist– Anti-racism/Anti-Oppression Branch
Years of Service: 4
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
I am interested in joining the Board as I have worked for the City over the last 4 years in a variety of nursing and leadership roles. Currently, I work in the area of equity, diversity, and inclusion. I think it is essential that boards like CIPP reflect the lived experience and realities found within the membership, which has not historically been the case. I hope to offer a different perspective to the board given my work in DEI as well as my lived experience as a Black woman.
In my work with OPH, I facilitate Indigenous, Black, and racialized staff check-ins that provide safe spaces for Indigenous, Black, and Racialized staff to have open and supportive dialogue on realities that touch inclusion, belonging, and even racism. I hope to bring and amplify the perspective of these staff to board discussions.
Phanice Sagarah
Title – Department: RN CSS
Years of Service: 13
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
My motivation to be a union board member stems from personal and professional aspirations such as passion for advocacy and representation within the workplace. The union plays a crucial role in ensuring that the workers’ rights are upheld, being a board member will allow me to influence decisions that affect my colleagues.
Desire for professional growth, as a board member I have an opportunity to practice essential skills in a leadership role. It also enhances my resume and equips me with knowledge that can be applied in other areas of life.
Building a strong community by connecting with other professions who share similar goals and values. Community networking can open doors for mentorship from experienced leadership within the union.
Influence policy and decision making through discussion about contracts, workplace safety and decisions that impact the workplace as a whole.
Promote solidarity among workers by promoting unity and addressing work related challenges.
Being a union board member provides a window to contribute positively both at work and in the community.
Rameesha Qazi
Title – Department: Women and Gender Equity Specialist, Gender and Race Equity, Indigenous Relations, Diversity and Inclusion Branch
Years of Service: 1
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
My motivation to serve on the CIPP Board of Directors is deeply rooted in my commitment to advancing human rights for all. As a gender equity specialist, I have dedicated my career to advocating for inclusive policies and practices that empower individuals across all spectrums of identity. I strongly believe that human rights should be universal, and everyone deserves dignity, respect, and equality.
Serving on the CIPP Board would allow me to bring a critical perspective to the table, ensuring that our policies and initiatives are inclusive and equitable. I am driven by the opportunity to contribute to a future where equity is not just talked about but practiced; creating environments where all CIPP members thrive.
Moreover, I am passionate about fostering a culture of respect and justice. By integrating a gender equity lens into our governance, we can create an organisation where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered. My goal is to help shape policies and programs that uphold human rights for all CIPP members as a cornerstone of equity and justice.
Shen Bai
Title – Department: Municipal Assessment Advisor, Revenue
Years of Service: 6
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
I believe our union has not fully met the needs of its members. The primary purpose of the union should be to serve us, yet I have not seen significant accomplishments since I joined in 2018.
I’ll encourage CIPP to refocus its efforts on issues that truly advance our goals, the goals of the membership, rather than on matters that may not be as relevant to us.
If elected to the board, my aim would be to reduce unnecessary spending and ensure that any surplus is returned to the membership.
Victoria Cowell
Title – Department: IT Project Leader, Chief Information Security Officer
Years of Service: 16
What motivates you to be on the CIPP Board of Directors?
Recognizing the valuable role that the CIPP Board of Directors has with the employees of the City of Ottawa, I am motivated by the opportunity to continue contributing positively alongside a group of dedicated professionals who are committed to advocating for our colleagues. For more than 2 years, I have had the privilege of serving on the CIPP Board of Directors. During this time, I have chaired the Scholarship Committee and more recently, the Governance and HR Committee, while also holding the position of Vice-President. I am hopeful that I will be able to continue supporting the Board in moving important initiatives forward that matter to our members and to our community.