Women’s Leadership & Development Team

Nataizya Mukwavi

Program Manager, Women Leadership & Development

Nataizya Mukwavi is the Founding Executive Director of Black Women Connect Vancouver (BWCV), a nonprofit established in 2017 to support and uplift Black women. In 2021, she co-founded Empowered Black Girl, a leadership conference for Black teen girls. Nataizya has also worked with the Black Business Association of BC and Career Contacts as a leadership consultant, and served on the TELUS Storyhive Local Content Advisory Board. She has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch (2022), a YWCA Woman of Distinction nominee (2023), and received the 2024 Trailblazer Award from DiverseCity Community Resources Society.

Mehrnoosh Amin Aghaee

Project Coordinator, Advocacy and Engagement

Mehrnoosh Amin Aghaee is an experienced Program/Project Coordinator and Educator with a strong background in teaching, training, and community-based program development. She holds a Master of Education from Simon Fraser University and is certified as an Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA). She is passionate about teaching students in a way that helps them believe in their abilities. Most of her training is through trauma-informed approaches. When she is not working, she enjoys yoga, hiking, and meditation.

Celeste Flores

Program Coordinator, Building a Childcare System

With a strong background in business, sustainable development, and DEI, Celeste supported environmental projects at the United Nations Development Programme and advocated for women’s participation in the agricultural sector in her home country. In Canada, her experience in affordable housing has deepened her understanding of housing instability and its impact on individuals and communities, and she has collaborated with the Vancouver Fruit Tree Project as a board member. As a highly motivated and passionate individual eager to positively impact society, Celeste has engaged in initiatives that align with her values. She helped develop an online course in civic engagement based on her experience in governance and community development, contributed to systemic change in community-building projects, raised awareness of violence against women and 2SLGBTQ+ , and other marginalized groups, and advocated for the inclusion of immigrant women’s voices in systems and policies that impact their lives. Celeste is currently participating in the leadership program of Dress for Success, the Working Women’s Group (WWG47 cohort).

Annette Quayson

Program Assistant, Building a Childcare System

Annette Quayson is a recent Public Policy and Administration graduate with a background in administrative support particularly in the education sector and non profit organizations. Annette has experience supporting executives in the areas of project and event coordination. She is committed to contributing to social causes and looks forward to providing the required support for the smooth running of programs within the Women’s Leadership and Development team.

Safiya Ayuen

Policy and Engagement Officer

Safiya Ayuen holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and has a certificate in Human Rights and Global Development from Sciences Po, Paris. A critical thinker with a keen interest in social justice and international politics, she has worked closely with immigrant and marginalized communities, tutoring students in French and English as a Second Language, and volunteering as an educator in Colombia and Indonesia.

In her current role, Safiya supports the rights and empowerment of immigrants and refugees, with a particular focus on those in the child care sector, helping ensure they can thrive in the face of shifting global and local challenges. She is fluent in French and Spanish, and in her free time, she enjoys examining maps and exploring the dynamic relationships between geography, cultural contexts, and policy frameworks.