Board of Directors
Doa Demirsu, Board Chair
Doa Demirsu is the Head of Keystone School in Toronto, bringing experience in education leadership and school operations. She holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and McGill University. Outside of her role at Keystone, she has also served on the McGill Alumni Board in Toronto and is passionate about fostering inclusive, globally-minded educational communities. As a Waldorf parent, Doa is deeply connected to the school’s mission and culture. She is committed to fostering a connected community and supporting the school’s continued growth with care, honouring its traditions and nurturing its long-term well-being.
Craig Dameron - Board Vice-Chair
Craig Dameron grew up in Markham Ontario and currently lives in Toronto’s Corso Italia neighbourhood with his wife Lisa and two children, who both attend Waldorf. Along with being a Certified Leadership Coach, Craig has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brock University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources from George Brown College. During the first 10 years of his career, Craig worked with leaders to develop HR and compensation programs that enhance performance, employee engagement, and career development at large public (CIBC, Scotiabank) and private (McCain Foods) companies. In his current role as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, he works alongside a talented HR team at Fengate Asset Management; a family owned asset management firm that invests private capital (mainly pensions) in real estate, infrastructure, and privately owned businesses. His team works with senior leaders to ensure that Fengate is a supportive and rewarding environment that enables all employees to succeed while exceeding the expectations of the Firm’s investors. He works directly with Fengate’s CHRO, Managing Partners, and the Human Resources & Compensation Committee to lead the design and governance of the Firm’s rewards programs. Outside of work, Craig spends most of his time with his family at home or visiting extended family north of the city. He loves to be outdoors and active, spending time with friends on the golf course or ski hills and has recently taken up running. People typically describe him as calming and thoughtful, ensuring that everyone feels supported and heard. He is excited at the opportunity to have a positive impact on a place his family has been closely connected with over the past 3+ years.
Amit Khanna - Board Treasurer
Amit Khanna, CPA, CA, is a dedicated finance leader renowned for his practical solutions and user-centered approach to business challenges. With a robust career that includes key roles at Deloitte Canada and as the Director of Finance and IT at Peel Children’s Aid Society, Amit has proven his expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and process innovation. He is a Certified Public Accountant who values collaboration and is committed to the professional and personal growth of his colleagues. Amit has been appointed to be the Chair of the Board Finance Committee.
Grace Vaccarelli, Board Secretary
I am a parent of a child at Waldorf. Having transitioned my child in grade 5 to Waldorf I have embraced Waldorf’s approach to pedagogy and supporting the whole child in their education and growth. I am a lawyer, investigator, and policy writer with over twenty years of experience in human rights, bullying, employment, and labour issues. Between 2008 and 2019, I held the position of Senior Counsel and Manager of Legal Services at the Ontario Human Rights Legal Support Centre. In 2020, I was the Interim Director of Human Rights Services at Toronto Metropolitan University. Since then, I have focused my career on investigations.
Dilan Purohit
Dilan comes to the board with a strong financial background, experience with strategic planning and loads of energy. Self-described as a “banker by day”, he currently serves as the Director of Global Payments Solutions at HSBC. Dilan is committed to service and founded a non-profit focused on educating communities about reducing food excess. Dilan hopes to expand his knowledge of Board governance and is ready to commit time and skills towards the school’s success.
Shereen Hassanein
Shereen Hassanein, PhD, is an alumni family of Waldorf Academy, her children currently attend the London Waldorf School in London, ON, where she served as a Board Trustee until December 2023. Shereen is a professor and program coordinator in the School of Arts and Science at Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto. She has a PhD from York University in Philosophy, focusing on how atypical language development provides insight into the nature of language and thought. At Seneca, she serves the community through committee work, including Academic College Council, The Seneca Art Committee; The Human Skills Project; Academic Integrity; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (initial working group), and more.
Ruchi Vij
Ruchi Vij brings a diverse background in media, advertising, and entrepreneurship to her volunteer work. She began her career in media production with Business World before moving into corporate advertising at BBDO/Proximity Canada and OgilvyOne, where she led campaigns for major clients including Bell, IBM, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. In 2002, she co-founded Kid’s Kitchen, a school lunch service that grew from 45 meals in a home kitchen to over 4,000 lunches daily across 100+ schools. She led the company through years of growth, innovation, and operational excellence before its successful sale. Currently, she volunteers with Parkinson Canada’s “Women for Parkinson’s” campaign while exploring new ventures. A mother of three university-age children, she is passionate about education and deeply values the role schools play in shaping strong, inclusive communities.
Jesse P. Macht
Jesse is a dedicated parent of two children at Waldorf Academy. He is a Professional Engineer in Ontario and currently a PhD student at the University of Toronto with a focus on making his research area accessible through his published work and experiential education opportunities. Jesse also serves as a Departmental Steward for CUPE 3902 Unit 1 representing the Teaching Assistants in his department at UofT, highlighting his commitment to collaborative problem solving in the workplace and deep respect for workers of all stripes. Jesse has held multiple community-oriented roles at Waldorf Academy, including time as a Class Representative and a two-year term as Community Council Co-Chair. He is committed to deepening and sustaining the trust, mutual understanding, and sense of shared responsibility that our community thrives on.
Amanda Yazdani
Amanda Yazdani is a Waldorf Academy parent to a child in the half day childcare program. She is an author under the name Amanda Orlando, and founder of Free To Be Me Society, a non-profit organization that provides mental health and community support for people living with anaphylactic food allergies, asthma, eczema, and mast cell diseases. She looks forward to helping bolster the school, and sharing her passion for this community.
Gary Wong
Gary Wong is a finance professional with over 15 years of experience in banking. He currently serves as a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Toronto, advising corporate clients on financial strategy, relationship management, and treasury services. Prior to joining JPMorgan, Gary held roles at leading Canadian banks including RBC and CIBC, where he applied a strategic and collaborative approach to driving client success and business growth.
Gary is passionate about supporting organizations that inspire the next generation of curious, confident, and creative learners. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from Ryerson University. Outside of work, Gary enjoys golf, traveling, and spending time with his daughters.