Meet our team
The ONE TO ONE Literacy program began in 1989 as a collaboration between the Vancouver School Board and the Junior League of Greater Vancouver.
The Team
Executive Director
Carol joined ONE TO ONE as Executive Director in June, 2018. With an MA in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary and a Certificate in Executive Leadership for the Non-Profit Sector from Grant MacEwan University, Carol has served in leadership roles at a non-profit capacity-building organization, a post-secondary student advocacy organization and in numerous board and volunteer capacities across Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. A former arts and culture writer, Carol is passionate about how reading sparks curiosity and discovery.
Contact Carol Neuman by email
Program Manager
After living and working in France, Japan and Australia, he found his way to Vancouver and to the rewarding world of children’s literacy. As someone who believes in the power and possibility of language, he is excited by the chance to contribute to his community in a way that closely aligns with his education and experience. Alistair holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Bishop’s University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Ottawa. Alistair spends his free time playing softball, doing crosswords, and cheering on (often in vain) his Ottawa Senators and Toronto Blue Jays.
Contact Alistair Nagle by email
Volunteer Manager
Liz joins ONE TO ONE following a position with an English as a Second Language School in Vancouver. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human rights and international law from Carleton University, and has been an active member of her community since her teens. She has volunteered with children and youth, both in Canada and abroad, in literacy, yoga, art, and gardening and currently sits on the Board of Directors of MOBY Community Garden in East Vancouver. Liz has a passion for storytelling and community building, and is thrilled to bridge the two in her new position with ONE TO ONE.
Contact Liz Van Den Hanenberg by email
Program Coordinator
Zahida joined the ONE TO ONE team in 2015 and has influenced the organization’s provincial expansion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia and brings an extensive background in education, curriculum development, service-learning, and non-profit management. Now based in Victoria, Zahida is able to put into practice her literacy teaching knowledge with her young bookworm daughter. She spends her free time running, hiking, painting, and enjoying Island life.
Contact Zahida Jaffer by email
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Omar joined the ONE TO ONE Literacy team as Volunteer and Events Coordinator in October 2023. Omar has been working as a Volunteer Coordinator in the non-profit sector for the last three years, working in organizations such as the John Howard Society in Ontario and the Massey Theatre Society in New Westminster. Having moved to Vancouver recently, Omar is excited to build strong roots in the Metro Vancouver community through his work with us at ONE TO ONE Literacy.
Contact Omar Ali by email
Executive Director
Carol joined ONE TO ONE as Executive Director in June, 2018. With an MA in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary and a Certificate in Executive Leadership for the Non-Profit Sector from Grant MacEwan University, Carol has served in leadership roles at a non-profit capacity-building organization, a post-secondary student advocacy organization and in numerous board and volunteer capacities across Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. A former arts and culture writer, Carol is passionate about how reading sparks curiosity and discovery.
Contact Carol Neuman by email
Program Manager
After living and working in France, Japan and Australia, he found his way to Vancouver and to the rewarding world of children’s literacy. As someone who believes in the power and possibility of language, he is excited by the chance to contribute to his community in a way that closely aligns with his education and experience. Alistair holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Bishop’s University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Ottawa. Alistair spends his free time playing softball, doing crosswords, and cheering on (often in vain) his Ottawa Senators and Toronto Blue Jays.
Contact Alistair Nagle by email
Volunteer Manager
Liz joins ONE TO ONE following a position with an English as a Second Language School in Vancouver. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human rights and international law from Carleton University, and has been an active member of her community since her teens. She has volunteered with children and youth, both in Canada and abroad, in literacy, yoga, art, and gardening and currently sits on the Board of Directors of MOBY Community Garden in East Vancouver. Liz has a passion for storytelling and community building, and is thrilled to bridge the two in her new position with ONE TO ONE.
Contact Liz Van Den Hanenberg by email
Program Coordinator
Zahida joined the ONE TO ONE team in 2015 and has influenced the organization’s provincial expansion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia and brings an extensive background in education, curriculum development, service-learning, and non-profit management. Now based in Victoria, Zahida is able to put into practice her literacy teaching knowledge with her young bookworm daughter. She spends her free time running, hiking, painting, and enjoying Island life.
Contact Zahida Jaffer by email
Volunteer & Events Coordinator
Omar joined the ONE TO ONE Literacy team as Volunteer and Events Coordinator in October 2023. Omar has been working as a Volunteer Coordinator in the non-profit sector for the last three years, working in organizations such as the John Howard Society in Ontario and the Massey Theatre Society in New Westminster. Having moved to Vancouver recently, Omar is excited to build strong roots in the Metro Vancouver community through his work with us at ONE TO ONE Literacy.
Contact Omar Ali by email
Lower Mainland
Transition Support Specialist
Afton is excited to contribute to ONE TO ONE as a Transition Support Specialist. She is passionate about her work in the not-for-profit sector and particularly about bringing the joy of reading to children. She gets plenty of story time practice with her daughter, who is just starting to read. Afton holds a BA in Social Justice from the University of Victoria and a Diploma of Marketing Communications from BCIT. In her spare time Afton enjoys volunteering!
Trainer
Andrea holds qualifications in Journalism, English, Library Science and ESL. She spent 18 years working in South African community libraries, serving the learning needs of ESL families who experienced inadequate education under the Apartheid system. Andrea went on to work for the British Council in the UK, where promoting literacy was the core mission. She believes reading is the most important life skill and the foundation for all other skills, and sees regular one-to-one mentoring as the most effective way to ingrain these skills for life.
Thompson-Okanagan
Leah Powder
District CoordinatorDierra Maynard
District CoordinatorThe Islands
Kootenay-Columbia
Rhonda Palmer
District CoordinatorChristine Hill
District CoordinatorMelanie Myers
District CoordinatorBarb Szuta
District CoordinatorCarol Fairhurst
District CoordinatorKoreen Morrone
District CoordinatorLori Dunn
District CoordinatorSayre Knight
District CoordinatorCaroline Amantea
District CoordinatorBoard of Directors
Co-Chair
Barinder comes from B.C.’s Interior and has been a volunteer in her community since her school days. Her volunteering runs from on-the-ground experience to serving on boards. Literacy has always been a focus, whether it is spending hours at the local library either reading or volunteering, leading book clubs or supporting literary causes. Barinder has her own consulting business in the healthcare industry with a focus on policy, strategic operations and implementation.
Treasurer
Director
Natalie joined the board in 2017, bringing with her considerable experience in the BC school system. Originally from Quebec, Natalie has been a French Immersion teacher since 1989. She is a trained resource teacher, and is currently an elementary school principal with the Vancouver School Board.
Natalie is passionate about literacy and is a former District Literacy Mentor for the VSB, and toured the Province as a Literacy Mentor for two years. Having discovered the ONE TO ONE Literacy program in 2011, Natalie immediately implemented it in her own school. Outside of her professional life, Natalie is a mother, traveller and painter.
Vice-Chair
Reading has been a central part of family life for Francis, who was born in Japan, grew up in Vancouver and studied and worked in Montreal, New York, Toronto and Hong Kong. Francis has over two decades of experience working in law and media, including as a partner in the Vancouver office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, and in senior legal roles with FOX Networks Group and Walt Disney Television International.
Francis is active in the not-for-profit community in various volunteer advisory and board roles, and is always happy to give and receive book recommendations.
Director
Growing up in Vancouver’s public school system, Tina experienced first-hand the importance of building a solid foundation in literacy at a young age. Her two school-aged children keep her on her toes and remind her of the tremendous impact that One to One can make on children’s literacy.
Tina is a Risk Management and Finance executive with 20+ years of experience in leading international public companies to evolve their risk management framework, operational & financial processes and internal audit practices. Tina spent 10 years working in both London, England and New York City, and gained valuable perspectives from life outside of Vancouver.
Director
Director
Michele is passionate about making a difference in her community and is committed to promoting literacy and education. She has also been actively involved in volunteering at her children’s schools for many years. Having joined the ONE TO ONE Board in 2022, she leverages her HR background to contribute to the organization’s HR strategic plan and governance.
Michele is a Senior Human Resources Leader with over 20 years of experience in the areas of talent acquisition and development, employee relations, engagement, and leadership coaching.