Imam Abdul Hai Patel

Imam Abdul Hai Patel is founder and past coordinator of the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI), representing Muslim religious leadership in Canada. He is currently a Director of Interfaith Relations. Imam Patel has been serving as an Imam and Community Leader for more than 50 years in Canada. He is a Trustee of the Toronto District School Board for Ward 21, and has served as a Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Imam Patel is also a member of several Inter-faith groups, and is active in interfaith dialogue and training. Imam Patel is a Recipient of Governor General’s and Ontario Government’s awards for Community Service. He is also a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. He holds a Doctorate from the Canadian Institute of Islamic Studies.

Aliya Khan, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACE

Aliya Khan is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at McMaster University.  She has published over 200 scientific papers, chapters and books on osteoporosis and parathyroid disease. Dr. Khan has received national and international awards, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for excellence, the International Hypoparathyroidism Award, the International Osteoporosis Foundation award, including recognition Osteoporosis Canada for outstanding contributions to research and education. Expertscape recognized her as being in the top 0.1% of global experts in hyperparathyroidism. Dr. Khan tirelessly advocates for the oppressed and persecuted by leading humanitarian initiatives globally. She is the founding chair of CSRDN (Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need), a coalition of academics, physicians, lawyers, human rights activists and political leaders advocating for oppressed and persecuted minorities internationally.  

Dawood Zwink

Dawood Zwink served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and District Agricultural Extension Worker in Dinsor District, Somalia (1979). He was a Counsellor and Acting Director of the Native American Learning Center of the Economic Development Foundation in Kansas (1974). Dawood is a Program Lead of the Muslim Student Associations in the United States and Canada. He co-founded and is President of the Somali Relief Fund. From 1983 to present-day, Dawood contributes significantly to the Indigenous Relationship Initiative, Sagkeeng Ojibway Reserve and The Turtle Lodge. He previously served as manager of ISNA Canada's Office of Social Justice in 2021. 

Monia Mazigh, PhD

​Monia Mazigh is an academic, award-winning Canadian author and human rights activist. Her latest novel, Farida, won the Ottawa Book Award for French fiction. Monia Mazigh is an Adjunct and research Professor at Carleton University in the Department of English and Literature. Her upcoming memoir “My personal journey with a “Scar(f)” covers gendered islamophobia. Monia is a columnist with Rabble.ca, ONFr+, and Islamic Horizons. Monia has also published several articles in the Ottawa Citizen, the Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Star. Monia is recognized as a “Marraine d’honneur” for being a sponsor of the scholarship fund Bravo, which supports young refugees as they settle in Gatineau and pursue college education. Currently, Monia sits on several nonprofit boards, including the Rideau Institute, the Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Association des Auteures et Auteurs de l’Ontario français. Monia is a member of the International Advisory Council for the Institute for Canadian citizenship

Khurram Khan, MD, BSc, MSc, FRCPC
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​Dr. Khurram Khan works as an academic specialist physician practicing in the Hamilton region. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at McMaster University. Dr. Khurram strives to advocate for the health and well-being of his patients, his community, and all people subjugated to oppression globally. He is also a faculty mentor to students at McMaster University, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC). Dr. Khurram serves in several advisory roles in the community and works with organizations in the field of youth education and development.