Leadership team

Our passionate and dedicated leadership team is committed to fostering the growth of our organization with the aim of better serving an expanding community of skilled immigrants and refugees. Their vision serves as a guide for Windmill employees, and collectively, we contribute to building a more inclusive and prosperous Canada.

Shamira Madhany

Secretary, Chair, Loan Committee

Managing Director and Deputy Executive Director, World Education Services

Claudia Hepburn

CEO

Claudia has devoted her career to building innovative charities that convert human potential into prosperity. Before Windmill, she co-founded and ran NEXT Canada, to develop high-impact young entrepreneurs. She also founded and ran an award-winning program to improve educational opportunities for children living in poverty in Canada and has led the education policy work of a leading Canadian think tank.

Claudia serves on the board of the LCBO and of SickKids Foundation, and is a member of the Human Resource and Compensation Committees of both organizations. She is a member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Human Capital Council, and is an advisor of Impression Ventures and Gotcare. During her 18 years serving on the board of the Kids & Company, it grew from a start-up into Canada’s largest childcare company with over 12,000 spaces across North America.

Claudia has devoted her career to building innovative charities that convert human potential into prosperity. Before Windmill, she co-founded and ran NEXT Canada, to develop high-impact young entrepreneurs.

Carrie Church

National Director, Operations

Carrie joined Windmill in March 2014, and was appointed as the National Director, Operations in April 2015. Carrie’s passion and experience for ensuring that the right people are in the right position, and have access to the appropriate tools to meet the needs of our clients, are the driving force behind her work at Windmill.

Prior to her work with Windmill, Carrie spent more than 20 years in the charitable sector in Saskatchewan; leading team development projects; supporting CEOs and Board members; facilitating technology directives; and aligning operational and human resource strategies.

Carrie joined Windmill in March 2014, and was appointed as the National Director, Operations in April 2015. Carrie’s passion and experience for ensuring that the right people are in the right position, and have access to the appropriate tools to meet the needs of our clients, are the driving force behind her work at Windmill.

Laura Weisz

National Director, Partnerships & Strategic Communications

Laura is a partnerships and communications professional with an extensive track record of driving growth and delivering impactful strategic initiatives. Prior to joining Windmill, Laura was the Director of Special Projects at Goodmans LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, where she was responsible for delivering on key strategic initiatives including business development, partnerships, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Laura has also worked for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) where she led the CEO’s strategic communications and global thought leadership program. She played a key role in building FCLT Global, a non-profit entity that is funded by over 70 global organizations, including McKinsey, Unilever and BlackRock. She has also held strategic leadership positions at Scotiabank and Google, where she was on the founding team responsible for commercializing YouTube in Canada.

In addition to teaching her young children to ski, play tennis and figure skate, Laura sits on Baycrest Hospital’s Finance and Audit Committee. Laura has a Masters of International Management from CEMS and an HBA from the Ivey School of Business.

Laura is a partnerships and communications professional with an extensive track record of driving growth and delivering impactful strategic initiatives. Prior to joining Windmill, Laura was the Director of Special Projects at Goodmans LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, where she was responsible for delivering on key strategic initiatives including business development, partnerships, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Linda Luu

National Director, Client Success & Marketing

Linda is a marketing leader with years of experience in brand building, advertising, and marketing strategy. Over the years, Linda has worked in different cities and countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada, with top-tier brands such as McDonald’s, Dyson, and Heinz. Most recently, she worked at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Linda is passionate about empowering newcomers to help them build the Canadian dream.


Linda is a marketing leader with years of experience in brand building, advertising, and marketing strategy. Over the years, Linda has worked in different cities and countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada, with top-tier brands such as McDonald’s, Dyson, and Heinz.

Oumar Dicko

National Director, Stakeholder Relations & Quebec

Oumar is a seasoned government relations and public affairs professional, who brings years of experience helping organizations across the country build partnerships with all levels of government. He has a deep understanding of the Canadian political landscape and public policy topped with a track record helping organizations access government funding, run successful campaigns and achieve their advocacy goals.

Oumar is well known in Ottawa, having served in senior positions with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and the Minister of National Revenue. In both roles, he dealt with complex issues that impacted a variety of public policy areas. He has also played a key role as a researcher for a leading think tank and has been involved in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Oumar is a frequent media contributor on economic and public policy issues and has appeared on programs such as CBC – The National, BNN Bloomberg, CTV News and Global News, as well as provided commentary for many radio shows, Financial Post, the Globe and Mail, iPolitics, The Hill Times, and industry magazines.

He holds both a Masters degree and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics from the University of Ottawa and is a first-generation immigrant, having moved to Canada from Côte d’Ivoire as a teenager. Oumar is fully bilingual in French and English and is an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.

Oumar is a seasoned government relations and public affairs professional, who brings years of experience helping organizations across the country build partnerships with all levels of government. He has a deep understanding of the Canadian political landscape and public policy topped with a track record helping organizations access government funding, run successful campaigns and achieve their advocacy goals.

Sandy Marett

National Director, Philanthropy and Campaigns

Sandy is a high performing advancement professional who possesses a wide range of fundraising, alumni engagement, advancement communications and special events experience. During her 17-year career in the charitable sector she has worked as a fundraiser at The Nature Conservancy of Canada, York University and Fleming College. Most recently Sandy was the Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations at Fleming College, where she was accountable for directing all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations for the college’s various campuses.

A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Sandy’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Western and a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University. Sandy is on the Board of the Art Gallery of Peterborough and has volunteered at many organizations including the Jane Goodall Institute, the Toronto Wildlife Centre, the Toronto Zoo, and OneChild.

Sandy is a high performing advancement professional who possesses a wide range of fundraising, alumni engagement, advancement communications and special events experience. During her 17-year career in the charitable sector she has worked as a fundraiser at The Nature Conservancy of Canada, York University and Fleming College.

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