CJI staff (some part-time)

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CJI staff (some part-time)

Jenny Cafiso, Executive Director

Jenny has been the Executive Director at CJI since 2003. She brings years of experience as International Programs Coordinator at the Jesuit Refugee Service based in Rome. She has also worked as Coordinator of Educational Animation at Development and Peace in Toronto, and she worked in Peru with TAREA, a popular education centre working in slum areas of Lima. Jenny has travelled extensively for work in Asia, Latin America and Africa. She holds an MA in Political Science and a post-graduate diploma in International Humanitarian Assistance.

Samir Hatem, Operations Manager

Samir has more than eight years of experience in Lebanon's non-profit sector. He has worked with Arcenciel, a Lebanese NGO dedicated to supporting underprivileged and marginalized communities while promoting inclusion and sustainability. His role included program implementation, project management, quality systems and logistics. Samir spent 12 years managing pharmaceutical manufacturing operations before transitioning to the non-profit world. He holds an engineering degree and an MBA. He believes that the most meaningful social change occurs when compassion is informed by rigorous, evidence-based decision-making.

Elly Kaas, Finance Director

Elly is a Chartered Accountant who has provided management and accounting services in the charities sector for the past 30 years. She has worked with church and other charities dealing with peace and environmental issues and serving homeless people, prisoners, women and youth. Currently she is Treasurer of Peace Brigades International.

Juan Emilio Hernandez, International Programs Coordinator

Juan Emilio has 25 years’ experience in international solidarity. He has written funding proposals and managed projects that address social injustices experienced by marginalized communities in the Global South. He was part of Habitat for Humanity’s Resource Development Team in Latin America and worked for the Congregation of Jesus and Mary in Rome to support their projects in 19 countries. He was General Manager for El Minuto de Dios in the US and International Affairs Director for Uniminuto, a Catholic university in Colombia.

Madeline Lunney, Donor Relations Coordinator

Prior to joining CJI’s staff on a part-time basis, Madeline helped CJI with various projects, providing support in strategic planning and grant writing. Madeline also has experience in donor relations, revenue development, program reporting, and monitoring and evaluation. Her company, Lunney Consultants, has worked with more than 40 organizations in community development, health, education and literacy, arts and culture, empowerment and leadership of women, and human rights. A graduate of the International Development Studies Programme at the University of Toronto, she is passionate about helping to profile the work of our international partners to connect people in Canada with international social justice issues.

Lola Moussa, Finance and Data Coordinator

Lola has over seven years of experience working in finance and programs management. Before joining CJI, she was the Country Finance Officer for the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Syria for five years. She then took on the role of Regional Programs Officer with JRS Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Lebanon for 2 years, monitoring the implementation of projects in emergency response, healthcare, education, and livelihood. She holds a Bachelor degree in Economics from Damascus University, Syria.

Juan Camilo Poveda, Outreach Coordinator

Juan Camilo brings over eight years of experience in community engagement, youth advocacy, and social justice education. With a background in social work, he has led programs supporting equity-seeking and newcomer communities in Canada and contributed to community development initiatives in the Global South. He has worked with local and international social impact organizations, as well as the Government of Canada. Juan is passionate about fostering global solidarity and empowering young people to lead change through education, advocacy, and intercultural collaboration.

Tess N. Sison, Communications Coordinator

Tess has more than three decades of experience as a multi-media journalist and communications professional. Her work has appeared in the Toronto Star, Rappler, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, World Press Review, and Inter Press Service. She has authored and co-authored several books, including A Guardian of Memory: The Life and Times of Armando J. Malay. She was editor and staff writer for the Anglican Journal, communications consultant for WACC Global, co-editor of The Freeport-Baldwin Leader, correspondent for World Press Review, among others.