MakeWay is honoured to share that we have welcomed five incredible leaders from across the country to our Board of Directors. We feel a profound sense of excitement to share that Emily Cabrera, Rebecca Mearns, Lauren Ravon, Jayla Rousseau-Thomas, and Riley Yesno have joined our Board, bringing an abundance of knowledge and experience —across careers, places, and cultures—to grow the circle of governance at MakeWay.
“We are thrilled to welcome Emily, Rebecca, Lauren, Jayla, and Riley to the Board. As we enter a season of refreshing our strategy and focusing on MakeWay’s role now, over the next five years, and beyond, they will provide invaluable perspectives more reflective of communities we partner with and work alongside,” says Aerin Jacob, Chair of MakeWay’s Board of Directors.
At MakeWay, we are consistently asking if what we are doing is serving our vision of nature and communities thriving together. That’s why, in this recent board recruitment process, we chose to slow down to ensure we were being intentional and relational, and to broaden the circle and foster more Indigenous ways of knowing and being in the governance that guides the organization.
The new cohort will join current Directors Aerin Jacob, Bo Aganaba, Caroline Merner, Erica Barbosa, Mritunjay (MJ) Sinha, and Sean Burke, who serve with deep commitment and care. We extend appreciation for their leadership, insight, and dedication, and honour their ongoing contributions to MakeWay’s work.
In addition to its ongoing governance and oversight responsibilities, the board is prioritizing building relationships and deepening its understanding of the work, including through gathering in person on the Land.
Below, we introduce each new Director as they share a bit about why they’ve joined MakeWay:
Emily Cabrera
Emily Cabrera is Ojibway/Mexica and a member of Fort William First Nation. She is the Executive Director of RAVEN, and the founder of Iikaa Philanthropy.
She brings a grounded, relational approach to leadership that reflects her values and lived experience and she deeply understands the challenges, exclusions, and opportunities that exist within systems not built with Indigenous communities in mind. This insight shapes the heart of her work.
Through her work, Emily brings her skills, strategic clarity, and decolonized approach to support Indigenous-led and Indigenous serving organizations in building sustainable, culturally rooted, and abundance-driven fundraising practices. She is committed to ensuring that Indigenous organizations receive the resourcing, recognition, and partnership they deserve, on their own terms and in alignment with their sovereignty and long-term vision.
“I was drawn to MakeWay because of the organization’s deep commitment to resourcing social change in ways that are flexible, relational, and grounded in trust. MakeWay’s role as a backbone organization, supporting people and movements to do the work they are called to do, reflects an understanding that lasting change requires both vision and strong infrastructure. The organization’s willingness to hold complexity, share power, and remove barriers so communities can lead is deeply inspiring to me. It aligns with how I approach leadership and philanthropy: centering relationships, stewardship, and long-term impact over short-term outcomes”
Rebecca Mearns
Rebecca (Becky) Mearns is an Inuk from Panniqtuuq, Nunavut, now based in Iqaluit. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Arctic and Subarctic Futures at the Labrador Campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to entering her PhD, she spent six years in progressive leadership roles at Nunavut Arctic College, serving as President from 2020 to 2024. In this role, she advanced Inuit-centered education, strengthened institutional partnerships, and supported community-based programming across Nunavut.
Outside of her academic and professional work, she enjoys sewing, baking, and crafting, and practices Inuit tattooing as a form of cultural expression and resurgence. These activities reflect her connection to land, culture, and community, and are an important part of how she maintains balance and carries forward Inuit knowledge in everyday life.
“I was drawn to MakeWay as I felt that the approach and priorities align well with my own personal interests and priorities. I am looking forward to supporting the ongoing work of MakeWay while supporting the future strategic direction.”
Lauren Ravon
Lauren Ravon is a feminist and social justice advocate with over 20 years of experience in human rights and international development. She is currently the Executive Director of Oxfam Canada.
Throughout her career, Lauren has led human rights advocacy programs, worked to tackle gender-based violence, and conducted extensive policy research and campaigned on the right to food, economic inequality and tax justice, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the role of women’s movements. She is passionate about building alliances across sectors to protect and advance human rights.
Lauren holds Master’s degrees in international affairs and development studies from Columbia University and the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po). She lives in Montreal with her partner and their two young kids.
“I have long admired MakeWay’s unique role in bridging philanthropy and community organizing to advance social and environmental justice. Its commitment to being both daring and reliable strongly resonates with me. I believe philanthropy must use the power of wealth to open doors, create opportunities, and challenge the status quo—while serving as a trusted, long-term partner and providing the bedrock that enables communities and movements to lead and thrive. I’m honoured to join the MakeWay Board in service of this vital work.”
Jayla Rousseau-Thomas
Jayla is an Anishinaabe woman, mother and wife from Whitehorse, Yukon. Throughout her career, Jayla has used her voice to amplify First Nations voices and perspectives in the health and social services systems. As a social worker, she has worked with and supported people across the life span with a particular focus on addictions and mental wellness work. Jayla has a Bachelor’s of Social Work from the University of Regina, Master’s of Social Work from the University of Calgary and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
“After seeing the good work MakeWay is doing, in particular supporting Indigenous Communities in the North, I became interested in being a part of the work and helping to protect the land, our people, our youth and our collective futures.”
Riley Yesno
Riley Yesno (she/her) is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and commentator from Eabametoong First Nation who grew up in Thunder Bay, ON. Riley is a Distinguished Fellow at the Yellowhead Institute, as well as a regular guest and contributor to media platforms including CBC, CTV, and others. She is currently completing her PhD in Indigenous and Canadian politics at the University of Toronto. She currently lives in Toronto with her wife and two dogs.
“I was drawn to MakeWay because of their commitment to the role Indigenous communities play in maintaining healthy environments, and their recognition that environmentalism intersects with many issue areas beyond conventional thinking about green living.”