TORONTO, ON (September 22, 2023): Windmill Microlending (Windmill) is pleased to announce that Lori Sterling has been appointed Chair of its Board of Directors, effective September 22, 2023. Lori will succeed Carsten Jensen, Windmill’s Chair since 2019, whose term expires in September.
During his tenure, Mr. Jensen oversaw Windmill through a tremendous period of growth as it doubled its number of new loans per year, and achieved its goal of becoming a truly national charity, offering loans to newcomers living in all provinces of Canada. During his tenure, Windmill was rated as one of Canada’s 10 most innovative nonprofits by The Logic (2018) and as Canada’s fastest-growing charity in the poverty alleviation category by The Veritas Foundation (2022).
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of Windmill’s growth and impact over the past six years, and excited about what the future holds for this entrepreneurial charity,” said Carsten Jensen.
Lori Sterling has been a Director of Windmill since 2021 and is currently the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee. A renowned public servant leader at both provincial and federal levels, Lori is currently senior counsel at Bennett Jones LLP. She was named Top 100 Most Powerful and Influential People in Government and Politics in Canada in 2018 and a nominee for top lawyer in Canada in 2014. Until September 2018, she was Canada’s Deputy Minister of Labor with responsibility for Disability Accessibility and Associated Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). She serves as the Board Chair of Pearson United World College (UWC) and on The Spark Centre for Innovation and Commercialization, among others.
“I am honoured to assume the role of Chair and build on Carsten’s remarkable leadership,” said Lori Sterling. “I look forward to helping Windmill achieve its goal of scaling to serve 4,000 new loans per year. We want every skilled immigrant and refugee to have the means to integrate professionally, achieve their career goals, and thrive in Canada.”
Windmill is also pleased to welcome five distinguished new Board members, from across Canada. Misheck Mwaba, President & CEO, Bow Valley College; Maureen Killoran, KC, National Co-Chair & Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; Tatjana Lalkovic, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Definity Financial; Angie Lamarsh, Head of Sustainable Finance, Commercial Banking, HSBC Bank Canada and Carlos Leitao to its Board. Their bios can be found here.
About Windmill Microlending
Windmill Microlending reduces poverty, inequity and labour shortages by providing low-interest loans to help skilled immigrants and refugees put their skills to work in Canada. Founded in 2005, Windmill Microlending has delivered more than 10,000 loans to new Canadians, helping them triple their incomes, on average, and transforming their potential into prosperity. For more information, please visit www.windmillmicrolending.org or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
