Board

Jennifer Breakspear is dedicated to making a difference, driven by her commitment to human rights. This passion has shaped her leadership in progressive non-profits and now at BC Housing, where she became Associate Vice President for service delivery and regional operations in 2022. Her extensive non-profit career includes roles as Executive Director at QMUNITY, Options for Sexual Health, PHS Community Services Society, and the SARA for Women Society.

In 2019, Jennifer founded Breakspear Leadership and Training to support non-profit leadership through governance training, one-on-one support for executives, and strategic planning. From 2014 to 2022, she taught a core course in Simon Fraser University's Non-profit Management certificate program.

Jennifer has volunteered with organizations like Amnesty International, Vantage Point, Canadian Blood Services, and Catalyst Development Society. Originally from Ottawa, Jennifer and her wife moved to the west coast in 2005 after living in Quebec for a few years.

Dr. Chika has nearly two decades of cross-sector experience in architecture, housing, investment management, and community development. She holds a Doctorate in Housing and Public Policy, specializing in pro-poor housing development, along with degrees in architecture and planning. Chika is a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Royal Institute of British Architects, and the National Organization of Minority Architects. She is also an academic, teaching at the University of Calgary and Athabasca University. A recognized leader and entrepreneur, Chika has received numerous awards for her contributions to housing, innovation, and community service.

Jen has worked for Chandos for the last 17 years and has helped lead many of the company’s innovative practices in that time. She helped set up the company’s Net zero 2040 strategy and works primarily as a coach, facilitator and trainer for project teams with a focus on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), collaborative construction practices, lean, sustainability and is a driver of EDI initiatives. Jen is Past-Chair for the Edmonton Construction Association Board and Vice-Chair for the Alberta Construction Association Board.

Sarah is a chemical engineer who graduated from the University of Toronto in 1990. Sarah had a 20-year career with the Ontario Public Service where she held senior management and executive positions in the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks working on climate change policy, air quality issues and to modernize Ontario’s environmental assessment and approvals programs. As a Director of the Sarah and Cary Lavine Family Foundation, Sarah is focusing her volunteer efforts to support affordable housing development in southern Ontario and has recently become a citizen developer of missing middle housing in Toronto.

A highly experienced leader in client-focused service delivery as well as policy and program development, Debbie Stewart spent over 20 years advancing affordable housing priorities with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Debbie’s career at CMHC included executive roles in housing policy and research, assisted housing, client relations and partnership development. She was instrumental in shaping and delivering our country’s first National Housing Strategy, and advanced CMHC’s work to accelerate reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Passionate about driving meaningful change in housing and real estate, Debbie most recently led the team focused on nurturing the housing innovations and strong partnerships needed to solve housing affordability challenges. Prior to joining CMHC, Debbie worked as a corporate finance analyst with Canaccord Capital. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Carleton University.

With over 30 years of commercial real estate experience, Cory Wosnack is a Principal and Managing Director at Avison Young. As one of the province's most active real estate advisors, Cory has completed many of the industry’s most influential transactions. Cory has been a member of Avison Young’s Circle of Excellence ten times ‐ a distinction awarded to the firm’s top performers worldwide.

As a member of Avison Young’s Global Executive Committee, Cory has been honoured to help in the implementation of the firm’s strategic plan during its most transformative years, becoming the world’s fastest growing real estate services company.

Cory has a never-ending passion to be involved in community and not-for-profit organizations. Recent board appointments include the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation, and NorQuest College.

Kathy Steffan is a professional advisor to scaling organizations across the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, providing business guidance and accounting expertise to Canadian and international companies. She brings extensive board leadership experience, having served as Board Chair and as Chair of Finance, Audit, Nominating, and Governance Committees. Kathy strengthens Partners for Affordable Housing with her deep expertise in governance, finance, and disciplined organizational growth.

Asennnaienton Frank Horn is the Principal of his own consulting business Indigi Solutions working on indigenous infrastructure projects meeting community needs including affordable real estate development initiatives.

For 25 years, Asennaienton has worked with indigenous communities across Ontario and Quebec and understands first-hand the economic gap that cuts across all sectors. Building upon his experience in indigenous housing and indigenous broadband, he now works with trusted partners on innovative yet proven business models to positively impact indigenous communities and drive their own economic futures forward.

In addition to his professional work, Asennaienton is an active leader in the Indigenous non-profit sector where he currently serves on the boards of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT), Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO), and the First Nations Housing Professionals Association (FNHPA).
Asennaienton is Kanien’keha:ke (People of the Flint) from the sister communities of Kahnawake and Kanesatake in Quebec and has dedicated his professional career & volunteerism to indigenous community including raising over 1000 hockey bags each year for indigenous youth across Canada.

John is a partner at law firm Robins, Appleby LLP practicing Real Estate and Development. John leads Robins’ housing team working with municipalities, housing providers and private developers in connection with the delivery of affordable and social housing. John is a former General Counsel (Development) and Vice President, Development of Toronto Community Housing. John is past Chair of the Laidlaw Foundation and the Daily Bread Food Bank, is a retired hockey coach and is a current volunteer member of the Dixon Hall Real Estate Committee and Blue Door Champions Circle.