Board of Directors
Andrea Van Leeuwen, Board Chair
avanleeuwen@waldorfacademy.org
Andrea Van Leeuwen is Chair of the Board at Waldorf Academy, where she draws on her extensive experience as a global business leader to support the school’s mission and community. A parent alumni to two boys who attended Waldorf Academy, Andrea is passionate about nurturing environments that inspire curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. Her background includes leadership roles at Meta and Microsoft, where she championed inclusive practices and drove innovation. In addition to her role at Waldorf Academy, Andrea also serves on the board of the Toronto International Film Festival. She holds a degree from the University of Waterloo and has completed executive leadership training at the Rotman School of Management.
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.
Ana Aur, Board Secretary
Ana is a lawyer by profession and has worked for over a decade as a corporate attorney at Shearman & Sterling LLP and White & Case LLP, two leading global law firms based in New York where she practiced in their capital markets and banking finance departments, respectively. Ana is admitted to practice law in both New York and Ontario. She graduated from University of Toronto, Faculty of Law in 2009 as well as University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science, with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology (cum laude) in 2006. Ana’s daughter has been in the childcare program at Waldorf Academy for close to 2 years and, throughout this time, Ana has grown connected to the school and committed to assist it achieve its full potential in the community.
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.
Emily Thiagaraj
Emily Thiagaraj is a Californian who moved to Toronto in 2021 in order to open her law firm’s first international office. Emily is an attorney who has devoted her career to representing employees in matters of discrimination, harassment, and wage theft. Emily received her JD from the University of San Francisco and her BA in Political Science from UC San Diego. Emily has an energetic daughter, Remi, who is currently enrolled at Waldorf Academy. Emily also lives with her partner, Felipe, who is an intensivist, and Sweetie, the family’s rescued rabbit. In her free time, you can find Emily portaging in Algonquin Park, learning French, growing vegetables, and traveling.
Yew-Thong Leong
Yew-Thong is a professor at Toronto Metropolitan (Ryerson) University and an architect in private practice as the Managing Director of SSG Architecture Inc. With close to 4 decades as an educator, he is interested in curricula design and learning environments (specifically for experiential learning). In addition to a general-buildings practice, he has designed teaching and learning facilities from child care to high schools, universities, and research facilities. He is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, a member of the Ontario Association of Architects, and a past-Chair of the Toronto Society of Architects.
Diana Spacca
Diana is an experienced board member and business professional with over three decades of leadership contributions driving the success of both public and private organizations. Diana runs an independent insurance brokerage providing insurance solutions for both personal and commercial insurance needs.
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.
Doa Demirsu
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.
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.
Grace Vaccarelli
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.