WHO WE ARE

PVAN Executive Members are dedicated individuals who work in the volunteer sector in the Region of Peel. We strive to provide our members with networking opportunities and professional development that will guide and inspire you to achieve your personal best and instigate best practices in the professional management of volunteer resources. In June 2008 PVAN celebrated its 20th Anniversary! Please feel free to contact us through our website or at an upcoming workshop; we look forward to meeting you and we are eager to receive your feedback. As Chair for 2009-2010, it is my privilege to lead this committee of highly professional and caring Administrators of Volunteer Resources. So that you may know us better, please read our Executive Bios.

Robin Haley-Gillin - PVAN Chair
Robin’s background is somewhat eclectic. Hailing from the beautiful southwest Virginia, she moved to Ontario in 1992. She has an undergraduate degree in sociology from the College of William and Mary and a masters degree in gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Robin has worked as manager of videoconferencing in geriatric education, as National Director of the ABCs of Fraud and as Provincial Coordinator of the Ontario Strategy to Prevent Elder Abuse. She is currently Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator at The Riverwood Conservancy, a small non-profit organization working in Riverwood park in Mississauga.

Monique Armstrong – PVAN PAVR-O AVA Affiliate
Monique graduated from the University of Toronto in 1994 and then pursued a Volunteer Management Diploma from Humber College’s Fundamentals of Volunteer Management program. This is Monique's 5th year as a member of the PVAN Executive, having served as the Membership Chair for the last three years. Through her work with PVAN, Monique had the opportunity to sit as a member of the Advisory Committee for the United Way’s review of volunteerism in Peel. Monique is the Specialist, Volunteer Development for Peel Children's Aid where she is responsible for the implementation of the volunteer cycle and the development of new policy and programs. With 8 years of experience in Volunteer Management, Monique enjoys participating in PVAN for the opportunity to meet her peers in the field and the opportunity to learn and network.

Lou-Anne Peroff - PVAN-Membership Chair
Lou-Anne Peroff has been employed in the human service field for over 30 years. She has had the privilege of working for a variety of different non-profit organizations over the years servicing a vast array of clientele throughout Ontario. She has worked in the Peel region for the past 15 years. In many of the management positions she held, Lou-Anne identified, initiated, implemented and monitored the operation of an internal volunteer program to meet the agency and client needs. She is committed to the power of volunteerism.
She currently is operating in the capacity of a Program Development Manager on a Voluntary basis for a fledgling organization –Cameron Helps on a part time basis and volunteers the remainder of her time with two other organizations.
Lou-Anne has been a member with PVAN for the past year and recognizes the importance and professional benefits this forum offers her and her colleagues and is committed to supporting its existence. She enters her second year with PVAN as the Membership Chair.
Lou-Anne enjoys running, working out, dragon boating, reading, laughter and people!!

Berkha Gupta - PVAN-Treasurer
Berkha is the Coordinator of Volunteer Services for the Peel HIV/AIDS Network. In this role, she is responsible for the recruitment, screening, training, orientation, placement, supervision, recognition, and evaluation. Berkha ensures that every new volunteer opportunity that is created has appropriate screening and training mechanisms in place, along with the boundaries to protect the Agency and each volunteer. She is also responsible for assisting staff by finding appropriate student placements for their programs. She has a diploma in Marketing from Sheridan College along with a strong grasp of Social Media Marketing. She continues to utilize these skills in reaching out to new communities, especially youth, for volunteering.
Berkha brings with her a diverse background in the non for profit sector. As a past student of the University of Toronto at Mississauga , she was an active student leader. Her leadership experience includes budgeting, program/event planning, marketing, policy writing, and governance. She has also worked with Earth Day Canada as a Program Accessibility Coordinator. Her combined work experience has given her a strong understanding of working within diverse environments and creating accessible spaces.
She is an active member of PVAN, Volunteer MBC, PAVR-O, CAVR and is excited to be a part of PVAN as Treasurer for 2010 – 2012.

Geraldine Aguiar - PVAN Member-at-large
I am a McMaster University graduate with an undergrad in Biology and a B.A. in Philosophy. Subsequent to that, I completed a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Sheridan College.
I am currently employed as the Director of Volunteer Development with Heart House Hospice. My work experience includes opportunities with the Canadian Red Cross (at the local, regional and provincial levels) and at Ontario March of Dimes. My work history has afforded me years of volunteer management, training and program development experiences. I have had the pleasure of training provincially and at the Mosaic 2001. International Year of the Volunteer, PAVRO Conference in Toronto.
I am currently on the Board of Directors for Volunteer MBC and look forward to promoting the importance of voluntarism in the community. PVAN is committed to enhancing the capacity of the professional in the field of volunteer management and advocating for the profession.
I have previously served 5 years on the PVAN Executive and have contributed to the executive team in the role of Chair for two terms and on the Programs Committee for one year. I welcome the opportunity to return to the PVAN Executive team and look forward to what we can accomplish together.

Savi Sinanan - PVAN-Secretary
Savi Sinanan has been working in non-profit organization in Peel for the past seven years. Her experience includes recruitment, screening, placement, deployment, supervision and evaluation of agency volunteers for the Agency that serves the entire Peel Region.
Savi Sinanan brings a wealth of knowledge and background from working many years in the corporate sector, alongside top Executives and CEO’s.

Savi’s portfolio includes Human Resources assistant to the President and Assistant Property Manager to the Vice President of store development at their national corporate office.Savi’s formal education includes a degree in computer programming, software design and development, Certificate in Volunteer Management, Humber College. Savi is currently enrolled in the Human Resources Management certificate program at Humber College.Savi Sinanan joined PVAN, PAVR-O and CAVR as a member since April 2006 and has attended PAVR-O conferences from 2007 and 2008. Savi not only maintains her education and training in Volunteer Management, but also keeps herself current and up to date on HIV and related information.
Savi Sinanan has resided in the Region of Peel for over 30 years, however within her professional field has traveled throughout different Regions of Ontario. Savi has extensive volunteer experience both within her region and internationally, where the experience of giving back is also a passionate and fulfilling experience for her wherever she is and with whomever she meets.

Joanne O’Connor - PVAN-Progam Chair
Joanne currently works as Manager of Volunteer Services for Community Living Mississauga. In this role Joanne is responsible for a comprehensive volunteer program which includes recruitment, pre-screening, screening, training, orientation, placement, supervision, recognition, and evaluation. Joanne also ensures that the organization limits liability through a risk management strategy. Develops, receives organizational approval, and communicates volunteer policies. Joanne is also responsible for the Student Practicum interns. Community Living Mississauga supports student placements from Secondary Schools, Colleges and Universities.
Joanne has devoted her life to working in the not for profit sector. She worked for 14 years with Community Living Toronto. While working for Community Living Toronto she obtained her Volunteer Management Diploma from Humber College’s Fundamentals of Volunteer Management and worked for three years as Coordinator of Volunteer Services for the Etobicoke Region. Joanne continues to volunteer with Community Living Toronto.
She is an active member of PVAN, PAVRO and CAVR and is delighted to serve as Chair of Programming for PVAN for 2009 to 2011.

Tammy Rideout - PVAN Member -at- large
Tammy presently manages the Volunteer Services Department at Victim Services of Peel. Her role includes targeted recruitment, screening, orientation, training, supervision, evaluation and recognition of all agency volunteers. She is also responsible for the strategic planning, development and implementation of new programs, training tools, policies and risk management strategies for her department. Her portfolio consists of over 20 years of experience managing volunteers within both the corporate and not for profit sectors.
After graduating from the business program at Sheridan College early in her career, she worked exclusively within the fields of marketing, fundraising and development with an ever increasing focus on event planning and management which required utilizing volunteers.
During this time, she came to the realization that the volunteer management portion of her role was more suited to her and as such she returned to school and obtained her Volunteer Management Diploma from Humber College’s Fundamentals of Volunteer Management.
She is an active member of PVAN and PAVR-0 and is presently working towards her professional certification.
Tammy believes that the best way to lead volunteers is first and foremost by example. For this reason, she has also been an active volunteer for most of her adult life serving in a multitude of volunteer roles within the local community as well as on special outreach teams.