At Niffy Wellness Foundation, we are proud to be guided by a diverse and passionate leadership team that provides strategic direction, mentorship, and community-rooted insight to help advance our mission. Each member brings unique expertise, lived experience, and cultural awareness , ensuring that every area of our work is led with integrity and purpose.
From seasoned professionals to youth representatives, our board structure reflects a deep commitment to inclusive leadership. By welcoming the very audience we serve — girls from age 10 and up, as well as young women — to have a voice at the table, we actively model the empowerment we champion.
We are also deeply grateful for our Advisory Council, whose wisdom, values, and life experience quietly strengthen the vision, offering thoughtful guidance as we grow.
Every audience is meaningfully represented at the leadership level, and together, we are nurturing wholeness and inspiring change.
Board of Directors
• Hosna Kadary
• Olawunmi Arinola
• Latoya Belfon
• Sabah Hussain
• Lisa Gariépy
• Wanda Kagan
Advisory Council
• Gemma Raeburn-Baynes
• Joan Kirton
• Seeta Ramdass
• Yvonne Sam
Girls Advisory Board
• Keirah Scott
• Adora Fagbohun
• Sariyah Wheeler-Morris
Founder
• Oluwanifemi Fagbohun – Founder & Chair, Beauty Safety & Wellness Advocate
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HOSNA R. KADARY
Hosna R. Kadary brings over 20 years of experience in banking and a steadfast commitment to economic equity. As the National Market Leader at BMO, she leads the 'Zero Barriers to Business' initiative, driving access and support for underrepresented entrepreneurs across Canada.
A 2025 recipient of the 'Woman of Merit' Award, Hosna is widely respected for her visionary leadership in financial empowerment, advocacy, and mentorship. Her work has expanded opportunities for countless women, youth, and racialized business founders.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, Hosna serves on the Board of Directors as a guiding force behind our efforts to nurture economic confidence, financial literacy, and sustainable growth for girls and women. She believes that true wellness includes economic independence, and she is passionate about creating pathways for the next generation to rise with dignity, purpose, and support.
LATOYA BELFON
Latoya Belfon is a bestselling author, innovative educator, and CEO of Labworks Publishing, with a powerful portfolio of over 15 books as an author and numerous successful collaborations as a publisher. She is known for amplifying diverse voices and empowering women through education, representation, and storytelling.
Her wide-reaching impact has earned her numerous accolades, including the Woman of Merit Award (PMCA), Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada (2023), CBC Black Changemaker (2024, and Rise Up Award semi-finalist.
A McGill alumna and respected community leader, Latoya has delivered impactful workshops for organizations like the Quebec Writers Federation and BMO’s Black Entrepreneurship Program.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she brings her advocacy, creativity, and dedication to helping girls and women feel seen, heard, and equipped to thrive.
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LISA GARIÉPY
Lisa Gariépy is a seasoned marketing and communications expert with deep experience in brand strategy, digital engagement, and wellness-focused entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Belle Tropique Natural Skincare, a brand dedicated to women’s health, confidence, and conscious self-care. Lisa has led impactful corporate initiatives and served on nonprofit boards like the West Island Women’s Centre, using her voice to empower women and families. A proud mom of twin girls and a passionate mentor.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she brings strategic marketing insight, a heart for wellness, and a passion for empowering women—strengthening our mission to promote confident, conscious living for girls and women.
OLAWUNMI ARINOLA
Olawunmi Arinola is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 13 years of experience leading people strategy across sectors including healthcare, oil and gas, banking, and environmental industries. With global HR certifications and an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University, she brings cross-cultural expertise, strategic insight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Olawunmi is deeply invested in creating inclusive, safe environments where individuals can thrive.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she lends her leadership to advancing holistic wellness and empowering girls and women to grow with confidence, purpose, and dignity.
SABAH HUSSAIN
Sabah is a Strategic Business Consultant and BI Architect with a passion for empowering women to build purpose-driven, sustainable businesses. As a business neuroscience expert, she integrates clarity, mindset, and strategy to help women launch and grow with confidence. Through her organization, the Federation of Women Empowerment and Support (F.O.W.E.S), Sabah has helped countless women pivot into entrepreneurship with direction and depth.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she brings her bold thinking, systems expertise, and unwavering belief in women’s potential to help advance our mission of wellness, leadership, and empowered living.
WANDA KAGAN
Wanda Kagan is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, healthcare professional, and mental health advocate with over 30 years of experience. Known for her unwavering dedication to empowering girls and women, she has championed education, emotional well-being, and personal growth through her mentorship and philanthropic work.
Her inspiring journey has been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, Oprah Daily, and on CNN. In 2024, she was named one of The New York Times’ most influential figures of the U.S. elections. Currently writing her memoir, Wanda continues to impact lives through her advocacy and leadership.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, She brings valuable insight, visionary leadership, healthcare expertise, and lived experience , strengthening our core mission of nurturing holistic wellness, emotional safety, and sustainable growth for the next generation of women and girls.
ADEKUNBI FASHAKIN
Adekunbi ‘Limitless KayFash’ Fashakin is a visionary entrepreneur and wellness advocate whose work bridges beauty, health, and personal transformation. As an award-winning makeup artist and founder of a thriving health and beauty brand, she empowers individuals to embrace wellness from the inside out. With a background in Chemical & Polymer Engineering, certifications in food safety, and a passion for creative expression, Adekunbi brings a unique blend of science, artistry, and empathy to her work.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she champions self-worth, safety, and empowerment, helping girls and women feel radiant, nourished, and confident in every aspect of life.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
GEMMA RAEBURN-BAYNES
Gemma Raeburn-Baynes is a celebrated community builder, cultural advocate, and retired Senior Auditor from BMO Bank of Montreal, where she served with distinction since 1973. During her impactful tenure, she championed equity, diversity, and inclusion, leading transformative initiatives that promoted access to education and employment for visible minorities, Indigenous youth, and persons with disabilities.
As the Founder and President of Playmas Montreal Cultural Association, Gemma has been a driving force in preserving and celebrating Caribbean heritage in Canada. Her legacy includes pioneering programs such as the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship and Mentorship Program, Triumph Through Adversity culinary scholarship, Montreal Ebony Models, Miss Black Quebec Pageant, and co-founding Montreal’s Caribbean Carnival.
Gemma’s remarkable contributions have been honored with numerous awards, including the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award, and the Sheila and Victor Goldbloom Distinguished Community Service Award. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her outstanding leadership in anti-racism and cultural advocacy.
Featured in Who’s Who in Black Canada and a respected voice on national platforms such as *United Against Hate*, Gemma continues to inspire change-makers of all ages. Her presence on our Advisory Council enriches our foundation with strategic guidance, cultural insight, and an unyielding commitment to excellence, equity, and community transformation.
With over five decades of unwavering dedication to volunteerism and community empowerment, Gemma brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the Niffy Wellness Foundation’s Advisory Council. Her passion for uplifting marginalized voices aligns with our mission to promote holistic wellness, education, and social equity across diverse communities.
JOAN KIRTON
77-year-old Joan Kirton is a retired educator and devoted community mentor whose work has touched lives across generations. After decades of service at Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, she took a bold turn in 2017 to serve Inuit youth in Northern Quebec, working in Inukjuak and Kuujjuaraapik with the Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre. In 2019, she shifted her focus to Black seniors, leading advocacy efforts and wellness programs as President of the Council for Black Aging Community of Montreal.
From crafting and aqua-fitness to working with mayors on senior-focused advocacy, Joan’s passion for connection and intergenerational healing shines through. Also, Honoured with the 2023 Woman of Merit Award and the 2024 CBC Black Changemaker Award. At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she serves as a guiding voice and light — sharing wisdom, lived experience, and heart with our growing sisterhood, and helping nurture confident, empowered girls and women across communities.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, she serves as a guiding voice and light — sharing wisdom, lived experience, and heart with our growing sisterhood, and helping nurture confident, empowered girls and women across communities.
SEETA RAMDASS
Seeta Ramdass is a respected Patient & Community Advocate and former Associate Director of the Office of Social Accountability and Community Engagement (SACE) at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare, public health, education, and media relations, Seeta brings to the **Niffy Wellness Foundation** a deep commitment to health equity, social accountability, and culturally safe care for diverse, marginalized, and vulnerable populations.
A Clinical Psychology graduate of McGill University, Seeta holds several specialized certifications, including Gender and Health from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Human Factors in Patient Safety, and Harassment Prevention in the Workplace. Her leadership and expertise have been recognized across numerous provincial and national platforms.
She has served on various impactful committees such as McGill’s FMHS Social Accountability and Social Engagement Task Force, Quebec’s Groupe Action Contre le Racisme, and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Standing Committee on Social Accountability. In addition, she is Co-Chair of the MUHC’s Committee for Action on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, where she co-led research and co-authored a landmark report addressing systemic racism in Quebec’s healthcare system.
Seeta also serves as an advisor to the Black Community Resource Centre and is Co-Chair of the Diabetes Action Canada Steering Committee.
At the Niffy Wellness Foundation, Seeta’s thought leadership, policy insight, and unwavering dedication to inclusive health education enhance our mission to promote holistic wellness, beauty safety, and sustainable empowerment for girls and women across all communities.
YVONNE SAM
A powerhouse in advocacy, education, and health equity, Yvonne Sam brings a wealth of experience to the Niffy Wellness Foundation’s Advisory Council. Born in Guyana, South America, and based in Montréal, Yvonne is a highly accomplished Registered Nurse, State Certified Midwife, and Mental Health Nurse. She holds a Master’s in Education from McGill University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Athabasca University, and a Diploma in Adult Education from Concordia University.
For over three decades, Yvonne has been a compelling voice in the public sphere, using the power of writing to address systemic issues in health, human rights, education, parenting, and anti-Black racism. Her incisive articles have been published in the *Montreal Community Contact*, *Huffington Post*, *Toronto Star*, *Montreal Gazette*, *McGill Daily*, and even cited in legal publications. Her most recent work on *Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Nursing Education* is pending publication with the Canadian Nursing Association.
As a community leader, Yvonne currently serves as Chair of the Rights & Freedom Committee at the Black Community Resource Centre and sits on the Advisory Committee of the Anti-Black Racism Committee at McGill University’s Ingram School of Nursing. She is the visionary behind the 'Adopt a Cop' initiative (2024), recently approved by the SPVM, which promotes diversity in policing by engaging youth at the secondary school level.
Her remarkable contributions have been recognized through numerous awards:
* Governor General of Canada Caring Citizen Award (2014)
* Montreal Black History Month Laureate (2014)
* Playmas Woman of Merit Award (2016)
* Nominee, Québec Prix de la Justice (2023)
*100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Award** (2024)
She is also a published author, with her poetry collection 'Life’s Many Faces' and her Amazon #1 bestselling memoir 'Behind the Scenes in Nursing' (launched in 2024), which chronicles the untold truths of life in healthcare.
At Niffy Wellness Foundation, Yvonne lends her sharp insight, deep compassion, and lived expertise to help shape inclusive wellness solutions that center the needs and voices of marginalized girls and women. Her presence on the Advisory Council reinforces our shared mission to nurture wholeness, promote safe beauty and health practices, and create spaces where every girl and woman feels heard, seen, and empowered.
GIRLS ADVISORY BOARD
KEIRAH SCOTT
Passionate about mental health and breaking down stigma in underserved communities, Keirah is a proud member of the Niffy Wellness Foundation’s Girls Advisory Board. Her deep interest in psychology stems from a desire to advocate for mental wellness, especially within the Black community.
As a participant in Playmas Montreal’s Gemstar Circle of Excellence Program, she was mentored by an experienced professional in the field of psychology, which further fueled her commitment to promoting mental health awareness for girls. Having witnessed the struggles of loved ones with mental health challenges, she is determined to be part of the solution by offering hope, empathy, and support to others.
In her free time, she enjoys creative hobbies like crochet, dancing, and writing, while currently focusing on advancing her studies and exploring the world of science.
Keirah, a recent graduate of MacDonald High School, is the proud recipient of the Gemstar Program Scholarship Award and the Peter Bedard Achievement Award from the Kiwanis Lakeshore Montreal Club—recognitions that highlight her dedication to leadership, academic excellence, and community impact.
She brings a passionate voice for mental health advocacy, especially within underserved and Black communities. With her lived experience, academic excellence, and leadership in youth wellness programs, she offers fresh insight, empathy, and a deep commitment to breaking stigma and inspiring change.
Keirah looks forward to contributing her voice and vision to the Niffy Wellness Foundation as she continues her journey of learning, service, and advocacy.
ADORA FAGBOHUN
At just 11 years old, Adora Fagbohun is already making a powerful impact as a young author, creative entrepreneur, and dedicated voice for self-confidence and kindness. A proud Nigerian-Canadian and trilingual speaker (English, French, and Spanish), Adora serves on the Girls Advisory Board at Niffy Wellness Foundation, helping shape programs that reflect the voices and dreams of young girls in our community.
Adora is the author of 'The Confidence Spark', a beautifully written children’s book inspired by her own journey to self-belief. Through her storytelling, she encourages kids to embrace their light, overcome doubt, and grow in confidence — all values that mirror the foundation's commitment to emotional well-being and self-worth.
As founder of Fancies by Mo (Bijoux par Mo), Adora designs handmade beaded jewelry using safe and ethically sourced materials that uplift and inspire wearers of all ages. Her creativity is rooted in care — aligning perfectly with NWF’s dedication to safe beauty practices, personal expression, and conscious confidence.
A lover of books, art, music, and sports, Adora is a well-rounded young leader who has received awards for academic excellence, volunteerism, and kindness — demonstrating that leadership isn’t about age, but about heart. She leads with empathy, integrity, and joy — qualities we deeply value at Niffy Wellness Foundation.
She brings a fresh, heartfelt perspective to the foundation, her vibrant spirit, thoughtful leadership, championing self-confidence, safe beauty, and emotional well-being while helping us remain attuned to the real needs and voices of young girls in today’s world. Her mission reflects ours: to help others feel seen, safe, and sparkly — reminding every girl that her voice, her beauty, and her light deserve to shine boldly.
CHAIR & FOUNDER
OLUWANIFEMI FAGBOHUN
Oluwanifemi “Niffy” Fagbohun is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, internationally trained Chemical & Polymer Engineer, Business Development Strategist and Global Beauty Consultant with two decades of experience across Engineering, wellness, beauty safety, and entrepreneurship.
She is the Founder and Chair of the Niffy Wellness Foundation, a not-for-profit rooted in promoting safe beauty practices, culturally grounded wellness education, and mentorship programs for girls and women in underrepresented communities.
As the visionary behind Niffy Signature — a vegan and cruelty-free makeup brand championing health and beauty safety —She's empowered 10,000+ with sustainable beauty solutions. Also, the Director of Montreal Vendors, Nifemi leads a thriving community of over 17,000 diverse entrepreneurs in Quebec. Through this work, she bridges economic opportunity with cultural advocacy, supporting small businesses while advancing holistic well-being.
100 Black Women to Watch in Canada (2023), recognized as a 2024 finalist for the Women of Inspiration Awards in the Global Impact category, and nominated in 2025 for the Women Empowerment Awards in the same category.
She serves in leadership and mentorship roles across several impactful organizations, including the Playmas Montreal Cultural Association, the Black Community Association in Montreal (CDNBCA), the Gemstar School of Excellence, where she mentors Black youth, and she is also a member of Black Engineers of Canada.
A proud member of the Forbes Women Network, Nifemi continues to solidify her influence as a global voice in women’s empowerment, leadership, and wellness.
Her impact has earned her national and international recognition:
Winner, Canadian Choice Awards 2025 (Health & Beauty Safety)
Global Entrepreneurs Award 2025 – Honouring outstanding global leaders for innovation and impact
Community Personality Award (2024) – Recognizing her leadership in building inclusive spaces for women and youth
She has been featured in international media publications and has spoken on global platforms across Australia, the USA, the UK, Nigeria, and throughout Canada. Nifemi is a recognized and respected name — a household presence in wellness, empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
Through her programs, five-time bestselling book 'Your Beauty Police', and international public speaking, Nifemi empowers others to lead with confidence, integrity, and excellence. At the heart of her work is the belief that every girl and woman deserves to feel safe, beautiful, and equipped to thrive.
She proudly brings visionary leadership, global expertise, and a deep-rooted passion for wellness, beauty safety, and women’s empowerment. As the Founder and Chair of the Niffy Wellness Foundation, Nifemi leverages two decades of cross-industry experience to champion safe beauty, inclusive mentorship, and purpose-driven wellness programs that uplift and equip girls and women to thrive boldly.
professional team
Meet Our Volunteer Team
At the heart of Niffy Wellness Foundation is a passionate team of volunteers and members committed to making a difference. From mentoring and event support to wellness advocacy and beauty safety education, our volunteers bring their time, talents, and compassion to help girls and women thrive.
Together, we are creating safe spaces, inspiring confidence, and building a healthier future—one act of service at a time.
testimonials
What People Say About Our Organization
These heartfelt stories and reflections highlight the real impact of our work—empowering girls and women through wellness, mentorship, and beauty safety in meaningful, lasting ways.
“What sets this foundation apart is its heart. The team is intentional, uplifting, and truly invested in the wellness of every girl and woman they serve.”
Ann Peterson
VOLUNTEER“Joining the mentorship circle at Niffy Wellness Foundation helped me rediscover my voice and confidence. I now feel more prepared to face life’s challenges with strength and self-belief.”
Stephanie W.
MENTEE“As a parent, I’m grateful for the programs that teach our daughters about beauty safety and emotional well-being. This foundation is doing vital work for the next generation.”
Melissa B.
PARENT“The clean beauty and self-care workshop opened my eyes to healthier beauty choices. It wasn’t just educational—it was empowering.”
