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Incumbent Executive
JOHN O'DELL
President
John O'Dell bring's a great deal of experience with him to the helm of the AGCO Board as President. Some of his current and previous community engagement roles include the Presidency of the Guyana Ex-Police Association of Canada (GEPAC), as well as Chairman of the Guyanese Canadian Young Professionals Board of Directors, and of the Black Community Consultative Committee for Toronto Police Service. John has or is currently serving as a Board member for the Anglican Church of the Nativity in Malvern; the Human Rights committee for the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL); the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU); and the Workers of Colour Committee for the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL).John has also served professionally in organized labour for a number of years, notably as the National Representative for Unifor, which ranks consistently among Canada’s largest private sector unions, representing workers in fields.
GILLIAN WILLIAMS
Vice-President
Gillian has spent over 25 years in international business development and project management, including 10 years on Wall Street as Director of Global Business Development with an Information Technology consulting company. She has worked with Fortune 500 clients throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa and was presented with the Chairman’s Circle Award for outstanding achievement in International Business Development. Gillian has also spent over 10 years working on Social Impact, Sustainable Development and Diaspora Engagement strategies including projects for the Djibouti Diaspora, Ethiopian Diaspora, Congolese Diaspora and several projects for the Haitian Diaspora among others. She was a planning committee member for the first Guyana Diaspora Conference hosted by the University of Guyana in 2017 and was Chair of the Sponsorship Committee. Gillian is also the President of the Toronto Chapter of St Joseph’s High School Alumni Association.
Gillian is excited about working on substantive goals that will move the Alliance closer to building ownership, incentives/benefits for members and a more inclusive organization that will serve the Guyanese diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area and further afield.
JULIA DANIELS
Secretary
Julia Daniels was born in Guyana, grew up in England and migrated to Canada at the age of 21. She holds two collage diplomas, one in Social Work and the other in Recreation Leadership. Julia has worked for the past 20 years as an Insurance Broker, and is a very active member of the Guyanese Canadian community in the GTA. In addition to her role with the AGCO, Julia is the Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Ex-Police Association of Canada.
Juilia hopes that her time on the AGCO Board will help to improve the internal communications and correspondence processes, as well as to re-define and achieve the long-standing objectives of the AGCO.
GORDON WINTER
Treasurer
Gordon migrated to Canada in the Spring of 1974. First living in Toronto, he has been a proud Missasaugan for over 40 years!
Gordon is a former Guyana Defence Force Regimental Sergeant Major and has been a member of the AGCO since 1998, serving as the organization's Treasurer for over two decades. Gordon is the President of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association (Canada) and is also affiliated with several other associations in the diaspoa. Gordon is happily married and the proud father of four children and seven grandchildren. He is an avid sports fan and very much enjoy going on cruises, reading, meeting new people, and spending time with his family and friends.
BRANDON CHEONG
Public Relations Officer
Brandon is currently a Graduate Student and Teaching Assistant in the University of Guelph's School of Languages and Literature. He is currently reading for his Masters in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and International Development Studies. His current research interests include social-ecological interactions in Guyana's agriculture and agro-processing sectors, Caribbean diaspora engagement, regional integration, & food security.
As a part of the current AGCO Board's mandate, Brandon hopes to update & professionalize the external communications of the organization so that it might effectively serve the needs of the AGCO's member organizations and the broader Caribbean + Guyanese diaspora.
JOY SIMON
Immediate Past President
Joy Simon is a grassroots community leader with a background in psychology and education.
She enjoys working with youth of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. She is a founding member of the Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organization’s (AGCO) Youth Mentorship Program.
Joy is the Immediate Past-President of the AGCO where she has been on the executive for over two decades. Additionally, Joy is the Past Vice-President, Guyana Ex-Police Association of Canada; Chapter President, Scarborough North Spelling Bee of Canada; Past President, Malvern Onyx Lions Club; and Life Member, Toronto Catholic children’s Aid society Board. In addition, she has served on the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Safe Schools Work Group, dealing with topics such as confrontational and cyber bullying, cultural competence, reviewing alternatives to suspension, denial of access (procedure and clarification); and Parent Representative for Ward 21 TDSB Parent Involvement Advisory Committee.
Joy Simon has been giving back to her community and the community at large for over three decades. In 2009, Joy was the recipient of the Guyana Awards Canada from the Consulate of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Toronto and also the African Canadian Achievement Award of Excellence. Prior to that she also received Community Service Awards from the Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organizations and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award.
Joy is the Founder and Owner of Bourda Green Nutrition, and takes pride in being a role model for all youth and encourages them to harness their energies and engage in meaningful activities at an early age; set realistic goals, and stay focused.
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