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Executive Board Members
Tuka Ali
Lead Coordinator
Tuka Ali holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary and currently serves as the Institute for Muslim Mental Health Coordinator at Islamic Social Services Association. With a background in education, respite care and community leadership, she is passionate about promoting mental health awareness and improving access to culturally responsive, faith-informed mental health support. Her work focuses on addressing mental health needs within Muslim communities while recognizing the role of faith, community, and social factors in overall well-being. She is committed to reducing stigma surrounding mental health and fostering supportive environments where individuals and families feel understood and empowered to seek help.
Shahina Siddiqui
Executive Director
Dr. Shahina Siddiqui, BA, LLD is a writer, spiritual counsellor, educator, and community leader dedicated to promoting mental health, family well-being, and culturally responsive support for Muslim communities. She is the co-founder and volunteer Executive Director of the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) Canada, which provides family, health, and social welfare services. Through her work, she advocates for culturally competent care, combats Islamophobia and racism, and helps bridge faith and mental health services. Dr. Siddiqui has co-founded several organizations supporting Muslim women, families, and communities, and has received numerous honours for her humanitarian work and social justice advocacy, including the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award (2016) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Manitoba (2019). She continues to champion a more compassionate, inclusive, and hate-free Canada.
Harun Kibirige
Treasurer
Harun Kibirige, CPA, CA is a finance professional, community leader, and dedicated advocate for social justice in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He serves as Assistant Vice-President of Investment Operations and Reporting at Canada Life and has contributed extensively to nonprofit governance and community development. Harun has served as Treasurer of the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) Canada and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM), supporting organizations that provide essential services to diverse and underserved communities. He has also chaired the board of The Hood Fams Inc., which supports newcomer youth, and serves on the Manitoba Museum’s Board of Governors as Chair of its Finance Committee. Through mentorship, food security initiatives, and community service, Harun continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to financial stewardship, inclusion, and building stronger communities.
National Advisory Board
Dr. Omar Reda
​Dr. Omar Reda, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Healing Trauma Institute, is a global leader in refugee mental health. Author of Untangled and The Wounded Healer, he equips caregivers with trauma-informed strategies to support displaced communities and break cycles of generational trauma.
Dr. Kathleen Bullock
Dr. Kathy Bullock is an educator, scholar, singer, accompanist, arranger and choral conductor who specializes in gospel music, spirituals and classical works by composers from the African diaspora. A Professor Emerita of Music from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, she is currently teaching, performing, and conducting workshops and other programs on African American music throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa.
Abrar Mechmechia
ABRAR was founded by Abrar Mechmechia, a Syrian-Canadian refugee, activist, and mental health advocate who arrived in Canada after fleeing war and trauma in her home country. Her personal journey—from surviving conflict to navigating newcomer life in Canada—inspired a deep commitment to creating spaces for others to heal with dignity, care, and cultural understanding.
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