OUR TEAM
Power of Education Africa is run by a team of dedicated, unpaid volunteers in Vancouver, Canada. We employ a small team of helpers in Kenya to maintain our Foundations' work on the ground. In addition, we hire our graduate students on a contract basis for help with mentoring and registration of new Students.
Darlene Durrad - President
Darlene Durrad works with the day to day operations of the Foundation both in Vancouver as well as on the ground in Kenya. Prior to her retirement, Darlene worked as a Senior Business Analyst for a large insurance company.
Jennifer Owen Blacklock - Director and Treasurer
Jennifer Owen Blacklock is a CPA with 30 years’ experience in forensic accounting. She runs a consulting and forensic accounting practice.
Syd Gallinger - Director
Syd Gallinger is a retired CMA and CFP with 36 years of experience at the Canada Revenue Agency. He has also served as treasurer and trustee of Christ Church Cathedral, and treasurer and board member of the Cathedral Centre for Spiritual Direction.
Judy Mostardi - Bookkeeper
Judy’s career started as a teacher. She became involved in Girl Guides of Canada and volunteered in other community and church organizations. Judy is now a retired office manager.
Fr. George Ochola Oluoch - Kenyan Advisor
Fr. George Ochola Oluoch holds a bachelor of Education (Arts) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. He is a secondary school teacher, and currently the Father-in-charge of Our Lady of Mercy, Ringa parish.
Lauren Selden - Director of Technology
Lauren Selden graduated from Emily Carr University with a specialization in Digital Media and Photography, and has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry.
Dr. Phil Sestak - Director
Dr Sestak is a member of a group of volunteer physicians from Vancouver who have been working in Africa for over 10 years. He has been to Kenya several times, working with Kenyan medical staff and specializing in the support of patients with HIV/AIDS.
Richard Kyle Paisley - Director
Richard is a Vancouver lawyer and is Honorary Research Associate and Director of the Global Transboundary International Waters Governance Research Initiative at the Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia.
Shiella Fodchuk - Founder and Honorary Member
Shiella Fodchuk is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Spiritual Director and retired educator at the Vancouver School of Theology.
Shiella founded Power of Education Africa in 2013 and has visited Kenya many times to support our charitable work.
Anne Millar - Honorary Member
Anne Millar taught in secondary schools in New Zealand and Canada for 35 years.
She also earned a degree in Theological Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology. She currently has a small Spiritual Direction practice in Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. David Po Him Yeung - Honorary Member
Dr Yeung is a retired psychiatrist with 35 years experience, having practiced in Hong Kong, London, and Vancouver. In early 2014 Dr. Yeung travelled to Kenya to assist the Foundation and photograph our work.
Anne Kober - Honorary Member
Anne Kober is a retired commercial corporate and real estate lawyer with 40 years of experience. Anne is also a director and officer of The Whonnock Foundation and an active supporter of Covenant House and Child Haven.
Bo Fodchuk - Honorary Member
Retired lawyer, Bo Fodchuk, is a Co-Founder of POEA. He coined the name of the Foundation, developed our Constitution and By-laws, obtained our registration as a Society and secured our status as a Registered Canadian Charity.