Committees of Council

1. Lindsay Carlson - VP Finance and Operations as Chair
2. Palash Roy - President
3. Shadman Jahin - MSc Finance
4. James Pham - M.A. Economic
5. Md Nuruzzaman - Master of Public Administration
6. Eric Baafi - Master of Public Administration

This Committee shall be convened and be responsible for the drafting of the Operating Budget for the preceding Fiscal Year, to be approved by Council subject to the requisite Bylaws and/or Constitutional regulations. This Committee shall also be charged with discussing broad financial policies and goals for the Association and may report them to the Council, the Membership, and/or any other Committees of Council that this committee sees fit. This Committee shall meet a minimum of bi-monthly with additional meetings scheduled as necessary during budgeting periods.

1. Lindsay Carlson - VP Finance and Operations as Chair
2. Mandela Alema - Vice-President Academic and Student Affairs
3. Denise Balogh - Biomechanics
4. Jessica Sharpe - Western College of Veterinary Medicine
5. Abdel Elfatah Bakhite Adam - Department of Mechanical Engineering
6. Mary-fidelma Chioma Ndupu- Councilor

This Committee shall be convened to administer the collection, evaluation and disbursement of GSA Need-Based Bursaries in accordance with the Bursary Policy. This Committee shall meet three times per year to rank and evaluate all Bursary applications according to the established rubrics with any approved or necessary modifications to such a ranking system in accordance with the Bursary Policy.

1. Shaily Tandekar - Council Chair & Chief Electoral Officer as Chair
2. Jeroen Jon De Leon - Master of Public Policy
3. Ethan Hernberg
4. Ingrid Nyazika - Animal and Poultry Science Department
5. Hetvi Darji – Councilor

The Elections Committee is a committee of Council responsible for overseeing and managing Elections and Referenda as required by the GSA. The terms of reference of this committee are outlined in the relevant Bylaws section of the GSA pertaining to elections and referenda.

1. Shaily Tandekar - Council Chair & Chief Electoral Officer as Chair
2. Jennifer Amarualik-Yaremko
3. Susan Hayton - Master of Fine Arts degree
4. Morgan Oliver - Master of Public Administration
5. Muhaimin Islam - Master of Public Administration

The Code of Ethics and Discipline Committee shall be convened to review any complaints received against any Executive member, Council member, or any other individual acting on behalf of the GSA. It shall also serve as an appeal committee for decisions of the Election and Referenda Committee, as described in the Association’s Bylaws. The Council Chair shall serve as chair of the committee, except in cases where a real or perceived conflict of interest exists, in which case an acting chair shall be elected by and from the other members of the committee. In all of its deliberations, recommendations, and actions, the committee shall be bound by the Bylaws and Constitution of the Association. No member shall disclose any information, which comes to their knowledge as a result of their membership on the Committee, with the exception of the Committee chair in their formal recommendations to Council, or as required by law or University policy.

1. Biraj Saha - VP External Affairs as Chair
2. Palash Roy – President
3. Lily Buckles-Whittle - Department of Biology
4. Amy Meyer 
5. Maureen Amuche Nwobodo - School of Public Health
6. Blessing Dwumah Manu - Educational Administration

The Awards Selection Committee is responsible for the selection of the Graduate Students’ Association Annual Award Winners, under the guidance of the Vice-President External Affairs. Individuals selected for these awards will be honored at the Annual Awards Gala held at the end of each Fiscal Year. The committee is responsible for, in alignment with the Annual Awards Policy;

• Determining the criteria and guideline to award selection.
• Assessing each nomination package according to the selection criteria.
• By consensus, determining the recipient of each award.
• Serving as volunteers at the Awards Gala.

1. Laila Valila - VP Indigenous Engagement as Chair
2. Biraj Saha - VP External Affairs
3. Funmilola Mustafa – Masters of Business Administration
4. Emily Zepick - College of Arts and Science
5. Rutik Isai - Master of Public Health
6. Nestor SR Asa'a Ngwabebho - Master of Sustainability

The purpose of the Sustainability Committee is to: 

• Promote environmental, social, economic and well-being sustainability issues related to
  graduate students.
• Assume responsibility to guide sustainability initiatives and the application of
  sustainable practices at the GSA.
• Collaborate and build partnerships with other units to address sustainability.
• Advise Council on matters related to sustainability.
• Host at least one initiative or event, whether it be the Sustainability Slam or otherwise,
  during the Fiscal Year.

1. Mandela Alema - VP Academic and Student Affairs as Chair
2. Laila Valila - VP Indigenous Engagement
3. Arash Amanlou - College of Pharmacy & Nutrition
4. Kaushal Ashvinkumar Patel - Master of Public Health
5. Farnoosh Tabatabaeian - Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology

The Diversity Committee will primarily focus on graduate students with disabilities, graduate
students of diverse sexual orientations, and/or any minority group fostering inclusion,
acceptance, understanding, support, and education. This committee will act as a body to:

• Make recommendations to the Executive to ensure the GSA is inclusive to all its
  members, so as to provide a better graduate student experience and create a welcoming
  environment and cohesive community for graduate students on campus.
• Liaise with Council to ensure the GSA services/initiatives are inclusive.
• Organize events/initiatives in collaboration with the Executive and other committees.