BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Megan Lukasewich, President

Born and raised up in Edmonton (Amiskwacîwâskahikan), Megan is grateful to live, work, play, and raise her family in Treaty 6 territory—the traditional and ancestral territory of First Nations and the historical Northwest Métis Homeland.

She has a particular interest in health equity, community engagement, and public policy. Her passion for community building, human rights, and social justice have led to a career in participatory research and social policy. The focus of her work is meaningfully including communities made vulnerable and oppressed and repressed populations in decisions that impact their wellbeing.  

Megan has a Master's in Public Health Sciences and a graduate certificate in Community-Based Research and Evaluation, from the University of Alberta. She loves spending time outside hiking, biking, and gardening.


Andrew Lam, Vice President

Born in Hong Kong and having immigrated to Edmonton (amiskwacîwâskahikan), Andrew is passionate about equity and devotes his professional and personal life to supporting important causes.

Andrew is particularly interested in immigrant integration, affordable housing, employment equity, and civic participation.  He has worked in academia and research to explore employment equity in Canada with Dalhousie University, Queens University, and Bucknell University.  Professionally, he works to support newcomers and refugees settle and integrate into Canadian life through program development, public policy, and research.

In his free time, Andrew is often camping, travelling or enjoying Edmonton’s River Valley. He is also passionate about food and is often found exploring the local food scene with his dog, Bliss.  

Andrew is excited to be a part of the Board of Directors at the John Humphrey Centre and in his next steps taken in advocacy and human rights.


Kevin Zentner, Treasurer

Kevin Zentner is a human rights advocate based in Edmonton, Alberta. Having worked directly with individuals who live with disabilities and trauma, Kevin brings universal design principles to policy development, strategic planning, and programme delivery. 

A graduate of the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce, a certificate in Sustainability, and a certificate in Leadership, Kevin works for Canada's largest general contractor, PCL Construction, where he develops software to improve safety and sustainability on construction projects. Kevin has served as a board member for the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Business Alumni Association, and the University of Alberta's Social and Environmental Responsibility Committee and General Faculties Council Committee on the Learning Environment. 


Kylie Dwyer, Secretary


Darcy Bemister, Director

Born and raised in Treaty No. 1 territory (in and around Winnipeg), Darcy is a white settler, first-generation law student at the University of Calgary. In the past, Darcy was an accomplished agricultural researcher but his passion towards ameliorating injustices and social inequality prompted him to switch paths.

He is a volunteer caseworker with Student Legal Assistance, and when not buried in case law, he spends his free time with his wife and dog.


Noelle Jaipaul, Director

Noelle Jaipaul is a second-generation Guyanese-Canadian settler, born in amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton. Noelle's professional and volunteer experience has focused on working with marginalized populations including immigrant, refugee, and homeless communities in Edmonton. Noelle has a particular interest in anti-racism and racial justice, health equity and anti-poverty. She has worked in Canada and internationally to support communities on issues of human rights and justice. Noelle is an associate consultant for the Centre for Race and Culture, and volunteers with several non-profit organizations in Edmonton.

Noelle has a Master's in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Middle Eastern and African Studies and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, both from the University of Alberta. She is currently completing her PhD in Political Science at the University of Alberta.


Syed Abbas Mehdi, Director

Syed Abbas Mehdi is part of “Future Fields”, a Cellular Agriculture Startup in Edmonton that is tackling climate change and resource depletion by developing sustainable growth media for the cellular agriculture sector. Abbas moved to Edmonton as a Transfer Student in the Biological Sciences Program at the “University of Alberta”. He participated in the University “Non-Profit Board Student Internship” (NPBI) Program under the mentorship of Norm Mcleod and Neha Ahmed at the “John Humphrey Centre” (JHC). Abbas joined the Board of Directors at JHC in 2020 after concluding his Non-Profit Board Internship. Abbas has volunteered and supported organizations to address issues of xenophobia, health inequity and economic exclusion. 

Abbas is also active in the Edmonton startup ecosystem as a member of “Edmonton Advisory Council on Startups” (EACOS) that supports and consults the tech-enabled startup community. He is also a co-founder of the “YEG Startup Community Awards”. He hopes to use his experience to support the mission of JHC and continue to build on the legacy of his JHC mentors.


William Descalchuk, Director

Wiliam was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, the eldest of five children to a single Indigenous mother. In May of 1970, authorities decided to remove these children from the mothers care and place them with white foster parents. The crimes committed and the brutality of those days in care are life long memories but William uses humour and art as an antidote. It took twenty five years to find his siblings. They are all different and share nothing a family or siblings should have shared. William joined the JHC because the organization was there for him in a time of genuine need. He joined them in hopes to build, grow and learn much from a talented and dedicated crew. William is a caregiver to a senior lady that is his best and dearest friend. His future is a caregiver. His future is vertical farming. He is a volunteer board member for the Hinton, AB Beaver Boardwalk Oversight Committee. 


Christine Rapp (Special Advisor)            

Christine practiced law for more than 30 years in general commercial areas. She brings to the Board legal context in matters relating to governance, legislative interpretation and contracts as well as personal experience developed through her volunteer Board memberships.  Christine has served on a variety of Boards/Committees including the Law Society of Alberta, Legal Education Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Student Finance Board, Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board, Canadian Federation of University Women, SEVEC Experiences Canada, and the Association of School Business Officials of Alberta. Christine has been an active volunteer with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights for more than 20 years.