Who We Are
- About Us
Dress for Success Toronto® is part of a global movement for change. We are a local affiliate of an international not-for-profit organization operating in over 143 cities in 23 countries who collectively have helped more than 1.3 million women work towards self-sufficiency.
Since 2009, we have helped over 20,000 women in the GTHA transition from unemployment to economic independence. We work together with agency partners, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and over 100 dedicated volunteers to create real impact in women’s lives.
Dress for Success Toronto is operated by The Live to Give Relief Organization, Canadian Registered Charity No. 889786216RR0001.
- Our Mission
The mission of Dress for Success Toronto® is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
- Our Team
A network of tremendously dedicated, energetic and generous people make it possible for Dress for Success Toronto to fulfill its mission.
From the Staff and Board of Directors who build the infrastructure, raise the funds needed to operate and implement our programs, to the Volunteers who make it possible for us to serve thousands of women annually, our success is truly a team effort.
Dress for Success Toronto Staff
Beth Robertson
Iona Frost
Karine Picard
Joya Mukherjee
Kim Ernst
Amanda Jaggan
Megan Thompson
Rachel Nagthall-Dalziel
Tahiyat Islam
Coline Lacatena
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Board of Directors
Harriet Goodman
Chair, Board of Directors
Member, Fundraising Committee
Member, Human Resources Committee
Member, Marketing & Communications Committee
Board Member since 2018
Harriet is an accomplished retail executive who brings over 30 years of retail experience with her. She ran several divisions at Harry Rosen Menswear within the buying team over the span of 25 years delivering tremendous growth season after season. Most recently she ran the retail division at Luxury Men’s Apparel Group with operations both in Canada and the US. Her experience involved financial planning, inventory management and marketing in these roles. Strong industry relationships remain today.
Harriet is an MBA graduate from the Schulich School of Business. In addition, she is an ICD member having completed the ICD course for Not for Profit organizations and received her designation from the ESG Competent Board Program.
Michelle Moore
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Chair, Finance Committee
Board Member since 2018
Michelle is an accomplished financial executive and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. In 2003 she co-founded Flatiron Capital Management Partners, a fund manager with over $500 million under management, and served as a Director, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the company. In this role, she was responsible for all aspects of the business including finance, operations, legal and compliance, and strategic planning. She negotiated and structured the sale of the company in 2012 to a Canadian public company. Prior to forming Flatiron, she worked as an institutional equity trader specializing in risk arbitrage for various Canadian bank-owned brokerage houses. Michelle has also spent several years in senior accounting and management roles for Canadian brokerage houses. Michelle has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University and is a Chartered Accountant.
Andrea Freeborough
Board Member
Chair, Fundraising Committee
Member, Finance Committee
Board Member since 2019
Andrea is Chief Financial Officer of Kinross Gold Corporation, leading the global Finance and IT organizations. Andrea joined Kinross in 2009 and prior to becoming the CFO, held VP positions in Finance and Investor Relations and Corporate Development. She is a recognized finance executive with deep management experience and a strong background in financial reporting, business processes, M&A and investor relations. In 2016, she was named one of the “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” by Women in Mining (UK). Andrea is a CPA, CA and was previously at KPMG in increasingly senior roles, working at the firm’s Toronto, London (UK) and New Jersey/New York offices.
Bev Deeth
Board Member
Chair, Marketing & Communications Committee
Member, Fundraising Committee
Board Member since 2022
Bev Deeth is a purpose drive Executive with more than 20-plus years of experience in the not-for-profit sector working with a variety of large-scale organizations as both a full time senior leader and management consultant including: United Way, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, MS Society, Children’s Hospital Orange County, Canadian Tire’s JumpStart, Alberta Cancer Foundation, BC Cancer Foundation, Summit Health Cares, St. Joesph’s Health Centre Foundation, Giants of Africa, and Alzheimer’s Society of Canada to name a few.
Prior to COVID, Bev spent 6 years as Chief Operating Officer of CauseForce LLC., a global full-service fundraising agency specializing in P2P, large-scale productions and events. Bev managed the overall operations of this 18-year-old agency responsible for Client Services, Business Development, Sales & Fundraising, Marketing, Sponsorship and Event Experiences.
Bev is best known for providing access to sports and recreation for underprivileged youth and communities during her 12-year tenure at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). As the Executive Director of The Raptors Foundation, Bev and her team built this brand from inception to a top performing Foundation raising and disbursing over $16 million to more than 5,000 charities benefitting youth at risk throughout Ontario and becoming a model for the US teams in the league.
Bev currently owns and operates her own business that focuses on advising senior executives and supporting organizations of all sizes to elevate brand awareness and mission, mobilize community and raise important revenue through innovative fundraising solutions. Bev is known as a relationship builder and has a wide network of professionals that she can access, working together to achieve the organization’s vision.
Kim Spurgeon
Board Member
Member, Fundraising Committee
Board Member since 2015
Kim Spurgeon is Senior Vice President of Sales at LHH Knightsbridge, responsible for setting the overall sales strategy, direction and execution of LHH Knightsbridge’s growth plan in Canada.
Kim has over 25 years experience in Human Capital consulting. Prior to the sales leadership role, Kim was responsible for finance, delivery and operational effectiveness of the Career Solutions business in the GTA and Western Canada. She is a certified coach, specializing in career management, coaching and transition.
Kim holds BA degree from Simon Fraser University, a Master’s Certification of Coaching from Royal Roads University and Executive Leadership Diploma from IMD University, Lausanne, Switzerland. Kim is currently a member of International Coach Federation.
Anne Morash
Board Member
Member, Governance & Nominating Committee
Member, Finance Committee
Board Member since 2016
Anne Morash leads GWL Realty Advisors multi-residential team which oversees the asset and property management of over 12,000 apartment and senior housing units across Canada. Previously, Anne was with Primaris REIT leading and implementing its national development strategies, with Cadillac Fairview where Anne was responsible for a number of marquis development projects and with Ivanhoe Cambridge where she held senior development and leasing positions.
Anne holds a Honours BA from Queen’s University, a Masters of Environmental Studies from York University as well an ICD.D from Rotman School of Management. Currently Anne sits on the Governance Committee of the Urban Land Institute and the Board of Toronto’s Dress for Success. Previously, Anne was a Board member of West Park Health Care Centre, Queens Quay West Land Corporation and a founding member of Toronto CREW.
Robin Brudner
Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Chair, Governance & Nominating Committee
Member, Human Resources Committee
Former Secretary
Board Member since 2015
Robin is an industry recognized, experienced business leader, legal advisor and Board Director. She has served on for-profit and not-for-profit Boards for over 25 years, including most recently serving on the Board of OverActive Media (TSXV:OAM) (OTCQB:OAMCF) and on the Executive Committee of the International Women’s Forum (Toronto Chapter). Throughout her career, Robin has been an advocate for ESG efforts, and demonstrated a commitment to helping women develop their skills and advance in their careers – this is why she is honoured to serve on the Board of Dress for Success Toronto. Robin is the former Interim CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee and prior to the COC, served as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Robin joined the Toronto Raptors in 1995 before the Team had its first player and became the first woman on the Raptors executive team and the first female General Counsel in NBA history. Robin was a member of MLSE’s original executive team that strategically built MLSE into a sports and entertainment leader. She advised on all significant initiatives and oversaw the legal matters for the professional sports teams, venues and business operations. Robin led the MLSE team on the $1.32B sale to Bell and Rogers Communications, which was the largest sports transaction in Canadian history. While at MLSE, Robin was honoured to receive the Canadian General Counsel Award for Mid-Sized Law Department Excellence.
Robin holds a BA from York University (Dean’s Honour List) and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School, receiving a Student Honour Award for outstanding contribution to student life. Robin graduated from the ICD/Rotman Director Education Program and has her ICD.D designation.
Emily Ting
Secretary, Board of Directors
Member, Governance & Nominating Committee
Board Member since 2023
Emily Ting is a partner and co-head of a business law group at Goodmans LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms for M&A, capital markets, securities and other business-related specialties. With over 10 years of experience in corporate and securities law, with a particular emphasis on M&A and corporate finance, Emily has become a trusted advisor to numerous clients, both public and private companies, in a variety of industries. Emily also serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Goodmans, among other leadership roles. In 2022, Emily was recognized by Lexpert as One of Canada’s Leading Lawyers under 40, and has been named by IFLR1000 as a Rising Star Partner in Capital Markets: Equity and M&A and Lexpert as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in M&A and Corporate Finance & Securities. Emily holds a BA from McGill University (With Distinction) and graduated from Queen’s University, Faculty of Law.
Michelle Lettner
Board Member
Chair, Human Resources Committee
Board Member since 2022
Michelle Lettner is Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Roots Corporation. She has over 20 years of human resources experience with a specialization in talent management including workforce planning, recruiting, performance management, employee development and engagement. She also has significant experience managing employee relations, benefits, compensation and compliance issues.
As Roots lead HR Executive, Michelle is helping to accelerate Roots transformation through leadership, attracting and developing the best talent and building a culture of engagement, agility and innovation. Under Michelle’s leadership, Roots has implemented a number of solutions to optimize their growing workforce through technology, learning and performance management.
Prior to Roots, Michelle was Director of Human Resources at Target Canada overseeing the HR function at the Canadian Headquarters and prior to that led the Human Resources team at BMW Canada for 15 years. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and a Masters degree in Adult Education from University of Calgary. She is a certified HR professional.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Dress for Success team. To be a part of an organization that provides such a meaningful and impactful experience for women in our community inspires me to want to share my time and expertise. It is my goal to help further the mission of empowering women to feel their best while searching and preparing their next job. I look forward to working with the team to help support our clients while continuing to further the strategic vision and outreach of this important charity.”
Tamara Finlay
Board Member
Member, Human Resources Committee
Member, Governance & Nominating Committee
Board Member since 2015
Tamara is an accomplished Human Resources executive with more than 20 years’ experience who is known for translating business needs into integrated people plans for successful execution of the business strategy. As a collaborative and trusted business partner and advisor, her pragmatic, results-based approach delivers HR strategies and programs globally and domestically, aligned with the overall goals and values of the organization to maximize people and culture as a competitive advantage. She has extensive HR leadership experience in private, public and not for profit sectors from fast growth and scaling startups to large global transforming banks and pension plans, having led HR teams at Progressa, Cadillac Fairview, OMERS, and HSBC to attract, engage and retain top talent with diverse and inclusive programs to drive business growth and motivate teams for today and the future.
Tamara holds an MBA from Rotman at the University of Toronto, an Executive MBA from St. Gallen University in Switzerland, a BA from Bishop’s University and Chartered Director from McMaster’s Director’s College. Tamara is passionate about giving back to the community and is the Chair of the HR & Nominating Committee at Dress for Success Toronto.
Julia Wilkie
Board Member
Member, Marketing & Communications Committee
Board Member since 2021
As a proud member of a woman-led executive team, Julia is passionate about empowering and elevating women in the workplace. She hopes to assist Dress for Success Toronto clients in creating memorable first impressions through our suiting program and by equipping them, through in-person and virtual programming, with the preparedness, confidence and skills they require to create lasting employment opportunities.
Julia has over a decade of experience in product & technology, partnerships and operations at high-growth technology companies. She is keen to implement technology end-to-end across the Dress for Success organization, building long-lasting and purposeful solutions that positively impact employees, donors, and clients and assist Dress for Success in achieving its mission. Julia also sits on the Dress for Success Marketing Committee.
Professionally, Julia is Chief Operating Office at Willful, an online estate planning platform that makes it easy for Canadians to prepare for and deal with death in a digital age. At Willful Julia is responsible for executing on the company’s strategic vision and driving revenue growth through product, technology and partnerships. Julia has a BA (Sc) in Kinesiology from Western University, an HBA from Ivey Business School and a Certificate in Transformational Leadership from Queen’s University.
Karen Bhangoo
Board Member
Member, Marketing & Communications Committee
Board Member since 2023
For 20+ years, Karen Bhangoo has been creating convincing, compelling, and concise communications for large scale organizations, telling authentic stories and delivering meaningful corporate messaging. Currently the Director, Internal Communications at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Karen drives impactful employee campaigns and engagement events, combining insights, business needs and trends to shape employee culture. For over a decade, she was a trusted advisor to multiple executive level leaders at TELUS, helping them establish their voice and deliver end-to-end and integrated internal and external communications plans to allow their teams to deliver on business objectives. She also has had experience in public relations, advertising, small business marketing, sports marketing and corporate sponsorships.
Your help can make a difference.
Our purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions.
At Dress for Success Toronto, our mission is made possible because of the generosity of our community. By making a financial contribution, you are making an investment in not only the individuals we serve, but also their families and our community as a whole.
With your support, we can provide our services to those in need, at no cost. Through our programs, Clients get a fresh start, empowering them to actively define their life and change the trajectory of their future.
