Members of the Executive Board:
Neda Moeini - Founding President
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A Canadian of Iranian origin, Neda Moeini was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on 8 September 2012 by Senator Don Meredith
on behalf of the Governor General of Canada for her distinguished contributions to the field of education. She was characterised by the Senator
as an effective “community leader” whose work has enriched the lives of many throughout the world.
Born into a family celebrated for its support of scholarly pursuits, Mrs. Moeini’s firm devotion to the importance of education for all flourished
at a very early age. Her mother, Mrs. Najibeh Nouri-Milani, dedicated her life to the education of children both in her native land of Iran and in
Canada, where she passed away a pioneer in keeping the Persian language alive for the children of thousands of Iranian newcomers over the years.
Mrs. Moeini is a graduate of the Computer science and Software Development programme from York University in Toronto, where she has kept her ties by
way of supporting the institution in its efforts to introduce a Persian-language department.
Upon graduation, Mrs. Moeini left Canada for some years to start a life in Germany with her husband, Ata Moeini. Upon their resettlement in Canada
in 1991, Mrs. Moeini and her husband started the Group of Gold Line Companies: a business venture which began with providing high quality, affordable,
prepaid long distant; but grew in less than 10 years to a world-embracing enterprise offerings services in every area of communication www.groupofgoldline.com!
As the senior Vice-president of the company, Mrs. Moeini has initiated a bursary at the University of Toronto Law School and the establishment of the
Group of Gold Line International Human Rights Internships, which will allow law students to work on human rights issues in foreign countries over their
summer holidays.
Mrs. Moeini's charitable endeavours cross the educational boundaries well into backing several projects in medical science and cancer research. She also
supports the "Abilities Arts Festival", a disability arts organisation that promotes diversity and "the power of the art as a means of enriching the cultural
fabric of our communities."
But mostly her greatest passion to stand up for equality and justice has led her steps to the creation of Borani Global Education with an earnest desire
to make it possible for youth who despite their potential for acquiring knowledge and keen longing to pursue higher education are deprived of this basic
right to fulfil their dreams!
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Gloria Yazdani - Project Coordinator
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Gloria Yazdani is a highly seasoned writer/producer
with expertise in film, live theatre and television production. Born in Iran, Gloria
was a child performer, trained from an early age in theatre and Persian dance. She
brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the entertainment industry that includes
directing, producing, script-writing, performing, coaching and talent acquisition.
Gloria is fluent in both English and Persian.
Gloria has been interviewed on many topics (by a number
of international media) related to entertainment, the condition/status of women
in Iran and the roles of women in the country’s film/theatre industry, and has become
recognized for her firm convictions that no force is greater or more influential
in bringing positive change than that of the arts and especially film. She
was an Acting Coach in the UAE at the Dubai Children’s Theatre and Managing Director
of the Online Journal of Baha’i Studies. Gloria launched a comprehensive media outreach
campaign in Toronto using both Persian- speaking print and social media that resulted
in the Persian language entertainment program series TehranTo reaching
well over 10,000 Persian speaking homes in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
Through the Internet and Satellite, the program has reached hundreds of thousands
of people in the Persian speaking community globally.
One of the highlights of Gloria’s film career is writing and producing Beyond the Clouds
Gloria is an avid human-rights activist, and was recognized for her humanitarian
work in 2012 by receiving the prestigious Leading Ontario Women Award. She
was also recognized in 2011 with an award from the Mayor of Richmond Hill for her
contributions to the city’s cultural affairs in connection with ethnic communities
within the city.
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Mark Rossman - Member
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Mark H. Rossman, Ed.D
Professor Emeritus
Direct Line: 612-977-5217
Toll Free: 1-888-CAPELLA ext 5217
E-mail: mark.rossman@capella.edu
Capella University
225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.capella.edu
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Elham Roushani - Member
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Elham Roushani
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer – Cancer Care Ontario
Born into a prominent Iranian family, Mr. Elham Roushani is one of many Iranian-Canadians who have personally experienced persecution in
the country of their birth. These experiences, however, have inspired Mr. Roushani even further in his humanitarian quests to work for
equality and justice
Graduating with a BSc degree from the University of Guelph in 1986, Mr. Roushani moved to Toronto, where he completed his Chartered
Accountancy Professional designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 1990.
Mr. Roushani's successful path to professional achievements in his field of finance has taken him from his position as
"Senior Audit Manager" in various chartered accounting firms, to "Manager of Financial Reporting" and later "Director of Finance"
at Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); where he now serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with an operating budget of well
over half a billion dollars. Moreover, Mr. Roushani is also responsible – in his capacity as Vice President of CCO – for matters
pertaining to Corporate Human Resources.
Aside from his professional contributions, leading to great victories for the CCO, Mr. Roushani is credited in his community for his
notable scholarly pursuits as well humanitarian deeds. Mr. Roushani is married and is blessed with 3 beautiful children.
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Anissa Moeini - Member
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Anissa Moeini is the Vice President of Business Development at Group of Gold Line, a Canadian company specializing in the research, development, marketing, and worldwide distribution of telecommunication solutions and technology products in the areas of telephony, web to print digital printing, Web TV, and educational technologies.
Anissa holds an International Bachelors of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and a Master of Arts in International Education Development specializing in Instructional Technology and Design from Columbia University.
In addition to her achievements in business, she is passionate about educational technologies and their capacity to facilitate and enhance learning. Anissa also serves on the Board of Advisors for Bayview Glen School where she is an alumna. Her interest in universal access to education has also led her to facilitate fundraising efforts aimed at supporting educational institutions around the world.
As an avid marathoner she has competed in many races, including both the San Francisco and Berlin marathons which she ran in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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Members of the Advisory Board:
Payam Akhavan
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Payam Akhavan
Professor, Researcher, Author, Lawyer
The President and Co-Founder of Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre in New Haven, Connecticut, Dr. Payam Akhavan, is a professor and researcher
in the areas of public international law, international criminal law and transitional justice. His interests lie particularly in human rights
and multiculturalism, war crimes, persecutions, UN reform and the prevention of genocide, on all of which topics he has eloquently and extensively
spoken and published.
Included amongst the distinguished positions Dr. Akhavan has held are Boulton Senior Fellowship at McGill, Distinguished Visiting Professor at
the University of Toronto (Faculty of Law), and Visiting Lecturer and Senior Fellow at Yale Law School and the Yale University Centre for International
and Area Studies.
Dr. Akhavan was the first Legal Advisor to the Prosecutor's Office of the International Criminal Tribunals for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda,
and was significantly instrumental in the development of its foundational jurisprudence. With considerable experience in post-conflict
peace-building and international dispute settlement, he has also advised the United Nations on transitional justice and has appeared as
counsel before international tribunals on behalf of Heads of States.
In light of his praiseworthy contributions in raising awareness for human rights and promoting accountability for violations thereof,
Dr. Akhavan was selected by the World Economic Forum as "A young Global Leader".
For more information on the life and works of Dr. Payam Akhavan, please refer to
people.mcgill.ca/payam.akhavan.
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Niloofar Bayzaie
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Niloofar Bayzaie
Writer, Director; Dramatist
Growing up in Iran in a family known for their artistic and scholarly achievements, Niloofar Bayzaie was compelled to leave her homeland in
1985 and found her new home in Germany.
She studied German, Dramatics, Cinema, Media and Education at the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University in Frankfurt.
She founded the free theatre Daritsche in 1994 in Germany, and toured her theatrical productions, which number well over 200, throughout
Europe as well as Canada.
Her works revolve mainly around the themes of "women", "the suffering of individuals amongst the crowds", and "being an outsider either in one's own or
in a foreign society". She places great emphasis on the socio-political context of the theatre in contemporary issues, and is recognised for her
researched articles, particularly on the situation of women in Iran.
She is an eloquent advocator of human rights and has taken many steps in speaking out for those who are persecuted unjustly for any reason.
In 2005, she was awarded the Persian "World Academy of Art, Literature and Media" in Budapest as the best theatre director in exile, in the
category of "the Performing Arts".
For more information on the life and works of Ms. Bayzaie, please refer to
www.nbeyzaie.com and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niloofar_Beyzaie
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Richard M Cohen
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Richard Cohen
World Traveller and Business Executive
A semi-retired business executive, Richard Cohen has extensive experience in various world markets – more particularly in the shoe and tool industries.
His experiences have included working closely with various cultures and have taken him around the globe to well over 50 countries.
Mr. Cohen is currently a consultant to several reputable American and Chinese companies. Previously, he served as Vice-president of Operations at
American Tool companies with responsibilities for manufacturing, engineering, sourcing, distributing, and customer service.
American Tool's manufacturing locations included the United Sates, Brazil, New Zealand, Japan, China, England, Denmark, Germany and Poland.
Mr. Cohen completed his graduate studies at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his graduate school at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He and his wife Terri have been married for 40 years. They are blessed with two children and two grandchildren. They presently live in Denver, Colorado.
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Tahirih Danesh
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Tahirih Danesh
Human-Rights Advocate, Researcher & Author
Mrs. Tahirih Danesh is an Human Rights Researcher and Documenter specializing in the case of minorities in Iran. She is an independent
consultant dedicated to in-depth investigation, research and documentation, analysis and reporting of human rights abuses in Iran;
focusing on allegations of serious violations of human rights and international criminal law against minorities based on religion,
ethnicity, gender or age; monitoring hate-based propaganda through Iranian media; promotion of public awareness of issues concerning
democracy and human rights in Iran; and an advocate of human rights education for the younger generation of Iranians both in Iran and abroad.
Mrs. Danesh has published extensively and lectured globally on human rights, especially in connection with the situation of women, Kurds and
the followers of the Baha'i Faith in Iran.
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Mahnaz Javid
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Mahnaz Aflatooni Javid
Ed.D., Vice President, Global Learning & Development, Avanade; President, Mona Foundation
Mahnaz Aflatooni Javid has a doctorate in educational leadership, with focus on education technologies, instruction design and human-software interface.
Dr. Javid has been committed to, and has been involved in community service and social and economic development projects in the United States,
South and Central America and Africa for the past 15 years. She taught at the University of Washington Computer and Software Systems before joining
Microsoft. She left Microsoft in 2007 as Director of Readiness to join Avanade, a global high-tech consultancy as the vice President of Learning and
Organisational Development.
Dr. Javid has authored several articles in scholarly publications and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions.
Dr. Javid is a firm advocate of education for all. She has been instrumental in facilitating support for proven social and economic
development projects committed to building capacity at the grassroots and raising the status of women and girls in the poorest nations of the world.
Her highly effective efforts for the advancement of the condition of girls and women in underdeveloped countries are noteworthy amongst her many
humanitarian endeavours.
For more information on Dr. Mahnaz Aflatooni Javid and her activities with Mona Foundation please refer to
www.monafoundation.org.
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Jack Lenz
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Jack Lenz
Composer, Musical Director and Television Producer
A successful Canadian Composer, musical director, television producer and founder of Lenz Entertainment, Jack Lenz has composed music for motion pictures,
television productions, documentaries, as well as Canadian news and award shows. He has also directed numerous live musical broadcasts, and the scope of
his work has well reached the far corners of the globe.
Mr. Lenz and his company have also composed music for many children programmes airing on CBC, TeleToon, and Nickelodeon.
In September 2004, Mr. Lenz served as the musical director for the "World Culture Open Award Ceremony" at the Lincoln Centre in New York City.
He was also commissioned to write an Oratorio for the U.N.'s "Special Session on Children" that included such guests as Raffi Billy Gilman and
Nelson Mandela.
Distinguished amongst his many great achievements are 13 years of the "Hospital for Sick Children" Telethon, seven years of YTV's youth achievement
Awards and several award shows including the Genies, Geminis and Country Music Awards.
Jack Lenz is currently dedicating much effort in realising his life-long dream of making a film about Mona Mahmudnizhad, who gave her life at age
16 in her homeland of Iran because of her adherence to the Baha'i Faith. The film portrays how a youthful girl --- along with 9 other women -- were
ready to sacrifice their lives for the freedom to believe!
For more information on Lenz Entertainment's upcoming film project "Mona's Dream" please refer to
www.monasdream.com.
For more information on the life and works of Mr. Lenz, please refer to
www.bahainews.ca/en/people/lenz and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lenz
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Borna Moeini
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Borna Moeini
Product and Market Research Manager - Group of Gold Line
A young man with varied interests in sports and current affairs, Mr. Borna Moeini is best known amongst his friends and family for his kind heart
and support of the meek.
From a tender age, Borna, was given the responsibility by his parents to follow up with the development of the Raul Pavon Baha'i School in Otavalo,
Ecuador, as a service project. Consequently, he has been instrumental in assisting not only with the financial needs of the school, but helping
out personally with its summer English programmes and with the social-economic project in agriculture which has stemmed forth from the establishment's
efforts.
As a keen supporter of matters relating to community building and cultural awareness – coupled with his interests in sports – he has been a key sponsor
in the Gold Line all-Iranian soccer team, which has won the regional soccer championships in the last few years in Ontario, Canada.
Borna graduated in Psychology from York University in the summer of 2012 and is currently working as a Product and Market Research Manager at the Group of Gold Line.
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Gordon Naylor
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Gordon Naylor
Educator & Lecturer
For over 25 years, Mr. Gordon Naylor has served as the Executive Director of his privately owned social service agency.
Hatts Off Specialized Services Inc. (www.hattsoff.com), provides over 200 residential treatment beds.
The agency is designed to provide therapeutic care for troubled teens and support for their families.
He is the founder and Executive Director of Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute (www.hattsoff.com) in London, Ontario.
NCCI is an international private school with students from kindergarten to grade 12.
The school has a number one academic rating by the Fraser Institute.
As one of nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of Canada he gives public talks throughout the world on mental health and
the education of the youth. His lectures inspire people of all ages, races and religions to arise and serve society.
He has been instrumental in creating, developing and successfully implementing programmes for the education and empowerment of youth and families
in North and South America.
The development of human potential has been the focus of his work for more than thirty years.
He has completed graduate studies in International Education, Clinical Psychology and Educational Administration.
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Robert Stockman
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Robert H Stockman
Educator, Scholar and Author
Dr. Robert H Stockman is currently the director of Wilmette Institute, an agency established by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is if the
United States which offers academic, professional, and service-oriented courses related to the Baha'i Faith. He completed his doctorate in
History of Religion in the United Sates at Harvard University, and has held a number of teaching positions in such educational establishments as
DePaul University, Bentley College, University of Lowell, Boston-State College, and Community College of Rhode Island.
Dr. Stockman's extensive publications include areas of Baha'i history, interracial & interfaith relations, ideas of social concord and discord,
commitment to social change, Christianity, and much more. He has also edited works by other distinguished scholars and coordinated various research
projects for a number of agencies.
In addition to his position as the Director of Wilmette Institute, Dr. Stockman is involved in a number of other highly effective educational and
scholarly projects. He is a Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, Chair of Baha'i
Studies Colloquy, and Member of the Editorial Board of the Baha'i Encyclopaedia Project.
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John Woodall
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John Woodall, MD,
Dr. John Woodall is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and the Founder and Director of the Unity Project, a program that develops resilient strengths in children. After 9/11, the Unity Project was sought out by the City of New York’s Department of Youth and Community Development to implement resilience building programming in after school settings touching the lives of tens of thousands of children affected by that tragedy. Dr. Woodall has conducted many professional training programs in Mississippi and New Orleans on building resilience in children since Hurricane Katrina. The Unity Project has now partnered with large networks of after school programs to build a national movement of youth empowerment. Dr. Woodall is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and was the Convener of the Resilient Responses to Social Crisis Interfaculty Working Group at Harvard’s Mind, Brain, Behavior Interfaculty Initiative. He was also the Convener of the Task Force on Accountability for War Crimes in the Balkans at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University advising the US Congress and State Department, the US Ambassador on Human Rights to the UN Human Rights Commission, the International Commission on War Crimes in the Balkans and the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Dr. Woodall lived in Croatia as the Program Director for a USAID funded program on refugee relief in the Balkans administered through the Harvard School of Public Health. He has lectured, consulted and developed programs on conflict resolution, human rights, trauma response and resilience in Central America, the Balkans, Cyprus, Israel and the Palestinian Territories for universities, the US Department of State, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Woodall lives in Massachusetts, USA.
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