Meet the team at Planned Parenthood Ottawa!
Our passionate team at Planned Parenthood Ottawa is here to support our community’s sexual and reproductive health needs. Composed of experienced, trauma-informed and caring individuals, we are committed to providing low to no-barrier access to education, referrals and counselling services.
Together, our team at Planned Parenthood Ottawa is united in our mission to advocate for reproductive rights, promote comprehensive sexual health, and create a community where everyone has access to the care they deserve.
Our Staff
Jaisie Walker (they/them)
Executive Director
Jaisie is a queer, non-binary social impact leader, researcher, and social justice advocate raised in the highlands of Scotland and living on unceded Algonquin territory. Jaisie brings a grounded perspective to their leadership from almost a decade of experience in gender-based violence prevention and crisis response, community research and education, and harm reduction. Jaisie is a passionate intersectional feminist researcher with a Master of Arts in Gender Studies and internationally recognized scholarship in gender and sexuality studies, as well as experience leading national research relating to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit sexual and reproductive health priorities. They are dedicated to visionary, empathetic, and collaborative non-profit governance that centers the knowledges and lived experiences of marginalized communities- a commitment they also amplify through their current role and as a board member of Interval House Ottawa.
Steph Mar (she/her)
Options Coordinator
Steph, a queer Woman of Colour from the East-Asian Diaspora, brings her Chinese, Ukrainian, and Slovakian heritage to her role on unceded Algonquin Territory. Engaging with reproductive justice, gender-based violence, and embodied autonomy, Steph challenges colonial carceral logics and cultivates radical care systems. Through research coordination, outreach, and crisis intervention experience, Steph redefines healing spaces and fosters sustainable networks for collective liberation. With academic background in human rights, social justice, and political science, she delves into abolitionist ecologies. Outside work, Steph buys books, paints for friends, plays the ukulele, thrifts, overthinks, and takes naps.
Ceara McIntyre (she/her)
Education Coordinator
Ceara, a white-passing, mixed race, cisgender queer woman, was born and raised on unceded Algonquin Territory in Ottawa. Since 2016, she has been involved with Planned Parenthood Ottawa and holds a social work degree from Carleton University. In her work, Ceara adopts an anti-oppressive, post-modern, and client-centered approach that promotes individual autonomy while challenging oppressive systems. She is deeply committed to understanding the social, political, and economic forces that impact the lives of those she serves. With experience in non-profits and the Ottawa school system, Ceara excels in system navigation, crisis counseling, and providing educational support, particularly to youth. During her free time, Ceara enjoys turning down her teacher’s voice, playing video games, and cuddling with her cat Lucy.
Léa Gareau (they/she)
Curriculum Developer
Born and raised on unceded Algonquin territory, Léa brings years of grassroots community involvement to the important work they currently do in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education. Drawing on their extensive experience, they employ a youth-focused, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approach in creating and supporting inclusive spaces. Their dedication lies in developing resources and initiatives that facilitate learning and unlearning about healthy relationships and SRHR, with the ultimate goal of making this crucial knowledge accessible to all. Léa is fluent in both French and English and possesses intermediate Spanish skills, allowing them to effectively engage with diverse communities. When they’re not working, Léa indulges in their passion for video games, explores the great outdoors through hiking adventures, tends to their garden, and enjoys the rewarding experience of cooking and baking for loved ones and community members.
Our Board of Directors
Our board of directors (BOD) is a governing body responsible for overseeing the organization’s high-level activities. Composed of talented individuals known as “directors” they play a vital role in shaping our strategic direction and ensuring our success.
The BOD includes an executive committee made up of officers, who take on specialized roles; president, co-president, treasurer and secretary.
Our board meets monthly to engage in meaningful discussions and make informed decisions that drive Planned Parenthood Ottawa forward. Through collaborative efforts, we ensure that our initiatives align with our mission and values.
Become a part of our Board of Directors and help shape our future!
Kate Headley (she/her)
Vice-President
Kate is a senior communications manager with the Ottawa Real Estate Board. With extensive experience in writing, media relations, issues management, and social media, she is passionate about giving change a voice. Born and raised in Ottawa, she holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Ottawa and a public relations diploma from Toronto’s Humber College. Follow her on Twitter: @mscommunikate. #abortionishealthcare
Rotbah Nitia (she/her)
Secretary
Rotbah is a feminist development professional with expertise in program quality, evaluation, and research. She immigrated to Canada from Bangladesh and has worked in various countries in Asia and Africa. Currently, she is the program impact manager at Oxfam Canada in Ottawa. Rotbah holds degrees in health and international development and public policy and administration. She is passionate about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and is excited to contribute to Planned Parenthood Ottawa. In her free time, she enjoys cooking Bengali food.
Caitlin Spears (she/her)
Treasurer
Caitlin is an experienced accountant, born and raised in Nova Scotia- Mi’kma’ki territory. She has a degree in Accounting and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Candidate, supporting our board with expertise in finance, policy making, process improvement, and financial analysis. Caitlin is always looking for ways to have a positive impact on the world and is passionate about anti-oppressive approaches to sexual health equity and reproductive justice.
Vandonna Budhai (she/her)
Director
Vandonna is a performance measurement, evaluation, and research advisor for the Canadian government, specializing in skills development programs for the labor market. With a combined honors degree in communications and women & gender studies, as well as a masters in public administration, she brings expertise in sexual health research, gender-based violence, and internal management practices. Originally from Toronto and now residing in Ottawa since 2011, Vandonna is a proud Guyanese and devoted dog mom.
Kathryn LeBlanc (she/her)
Director
Kathryn is a communications consultant and founder of LeBlanc (& co.) Communications, specializing in guiding non-profits, grassroots organizing, and political campaigns. With a background in Parliament Hill and Enchanté Network, she has extensive experience in communications, campaigns, and policy work. She is passionate about 2SLGBTQI+ community issues and sexual health rights, having worked on campaigns like comprehensive sex education and securing funding for 2SLGBTQI+ organizations. She currently resides in Ottawa, Ontario on Algonquin territory.
Katherine Muldoon (she/her)
Director
Dr. Muldoon is an Assistant Professor specializing in social epidemiology and sexual reproductive health at the University of Ottawa. With a background in psychology and extensive expertise in sexual and gender-based violence, she collaborates with organizations such as OHRI, ICES, the United Nations, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. She also serves on the Ottawa Police Service Violence Against Women Advisory Board.
Corina Crawley (she/her)
Director
Corina, a cis-woman, hails from Montreal, known as Kenien’kehaga (Mohawk) territory. With a Masters in Social Work from Carleton University, she has spent two decades in Ottawa as a researcher and educator, learning from workers. Her current work revolves around resisting privatization, conflict resolution, equity, leadership development, and organizational design. As a parent to two remarkable teenagers, Corina finds valuable lessons in her everyday interactions with them.
Tara Henderson (she/her)
Director
Tara is a Director of PPO’s board of directors. Bio forthcoming
Lyra Evans (she/her)
Director
Lyra is an environmental chemist, long-time LGBTQ, homeless, and education activist, and the first openly trans school board trustee in Canada. She has experience on the Audit committee at the OCDSB, as well as having worked and volunteered for local non-profits including Ottawa Dyke March, *Kindspace, the Youth Services Bureau, and Etc. Youth.
Courtney Rock (she/her)
Director
Courtney is a community builder and storyteller with extensive fundraising experience. As the Director of Development for the Perley Health Foundation, she focuses on highlighting the impact of donors on the lives of individuals connected to Perley Health. Courtney is also proud to contribute to Planned Parenthood Ottawa, an organization she finds highly impactful within her community.