MEET THE TEAM

Fea Gelvezon (she/her) is the board secretary and has served on the board since the spring of 2023. She currently works as an Investigator with the Alberta Ombudsman.

Fea is inspired by interVivos' commitment to build strong communities by creating positive and nurturing networks. She values the way interVivos understands this gap and provides opportunities to connect people through mentorship and community events.

“Community engagement provides the opportunity to learn from one another, create meaningful connections, and celebrate our diversity that shapes our city. ”

Favourite Local Business: Garden Bakery South Common

Jay Maragua (he/him) has been on the board since summer 2024. He currently is a student at MacEwan University in Sociology and Psychology.

Jay is inspired by interVivos’ dedication to fostering leadership and mentorship within the community. The organization’s  commitment to empowering emerging leaders and creating meaningful connections aligns with his values of inclusivity and continuous learning.

“Community engagement is essential to me because it allows me to connect with various cultures, fostering understanding and inclusivity. It also provides opportunities to learn and broaden my perspective.”

Favourite Local Business: Remedy

Kareema Batal (she/her) has been on the board since spring 2024. She is a local entrepreneur who owns Neo Juicery and works as a food scientist advising fellow local food businesses.

Kareema is inspired by interVivos' ability to bring together a diverse collective for mutual support, networking, and engagement, centering its work on uplifting individuals and fostering meaningful connections.

“I see community engagement as a function of social development for both people and society at large. Community engagement is the heartbeat of thriving societies, weaving together individuals into a vibrant tapestry of belonging and support.”

Favourite Local Business: Zocalo

Kathryn Short (she/her) is the board’s current University of Alberta Non-Profit Board Student Intern. She is a graduate student in public health at the University of Alberta.

Kathryn is inspired by interVivos’ mentorship program. Mentorship is one of the most powerful forms of networking for young people, in particular, offering invaluable guidance and connections that significantly impact personal and professional growth.

“Community engagement involves bringing together local residents, organizations, and government bodies to brainstorm and collaborate, which leads to solutions that genuinely address what the community needs and wants.”

Favourite Local Business: Yelo’d

Navneet Chand (he/him) has been on the board since spring 2024. He was also the board’s University of Alberta Non-Profit Board Student Intern from fall 2022 to spring 2023. He currently works on public policy on ethics and legislation development for the provincial government.

Navneet views interVivos as a connection-driven organization that fosters opportunities for the community's best aspirations, ideas, and dialogues. He has been continually inspired through his experiences as a young community event participant, mentorship program protégé, student intern, and now as a board member.

“Community engagement is the primary connective process between the non-profit sector and the communities that they aim to meaningfully sustain. It is also a process of accountability and relationship-building that best informs the direction that the non-profit sector and the organizations within it need to pursue.”

Favourite Local Business: Padmanadi

Nikki Chau (she/her) is the board treasurer and has served on the board since the spring of 2023. She is a CPA and also holds an MBA. She currently works as a Manager in Audit & Assurance and Consulting at Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP.

Nikki believes that leadership can be learned from anyone regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity or prior work experience. She appreciates that interVivos is able to build the bridge towards connecting people from various backgrounds with one another.

“Community engagement creates valuable connections and opportunities to share knowledge towards making the community a better place for everyone. It also helps to form better leaders who then inspire positive growth to their own network.”

Favourite Local Business: La Bosco Bakery & Cafe

Suparna Gupta (she/her) has been on the board since spring 2023. She currently works as a Marketing Specialist with Alberta Milk and BC Dairy.

Suparna is inspired by interVivos’ commitment to fostering leadership along with the organization’s positive community impact. She is impressed how the organization has united diverse volunteers and created a platform for shared growth and collaboration.

“Community engagement empowers collective growth and harnesses local wisdom for solutions on shared concerns. Through collaboration, we co-create vibrant spaces where each voice is heard, leading to enriched lives and sustainable progress.”

Favourite Local Business: Taco Delhi for food and Cat Cafe on Whyte for kitten snuggles

Zohreh Saher (she/her) is the president of interVivos and one of the organization’s co-founders. She currently serves as a Senior Intergovernmental Officer in International Relations for the provincial government, focusing  on the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East regions.

Zohreh co-founded interVivos to fulfill the need for safe spaces that foster dialogue, engagement, and mentorship. She is constantly impressed by the interVivos team. Their passion for elevating diverse voices and commitment to grassroots organizing is what keeps her engaged.

“Over the years, I’ve seen my network grow. But, the thing that keeps me here is the ability to connect people: emerging leader to emerging leader, emerging leader to mentor.”

Favourite Local Business: Old Strathcona Antique Mall