As a non-profit corporation and registered charity, Waldorf Academy has a Board of Directors which is responsible for the short and long-term strategic advancement of the mission and values of our school.
Waldorf Academy has established five committees to support the strategic plan of the school. Meeting monthly, the Board of Directors also extends an invitation to our community to participate in these strategic discussions.
Please view our board committee mandates here.
We are seeking new Board Members to join our team! Please find our call for Board Member applications here: Waldorf Academy Call for Nominations February 2023
ethiagaraj@waldorfacademy.org
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 seven year old daughter, Remi, who is currently enjoying Grade 2 at Waldorf Academy. In addition to Remi, Emily also lives with her partner, Felipe, who is an intensivist, and Sweetie, her family’s rescued rabbit. In her free time, you can find Emily portaging in Algonquin Park, learning French, growing vegetables, and traveling.
Bill Ross, Chair of Finance Committeebross@waldorfacademy.org
Bill has had a career in business but his passion is art. He recently had two showings of his work in Toronto. He believes that imagination and creativity are two key qualities that are lacking in traditional education. No matter what career path students choose, it is critical that they participate and be encouraged to foster their creativity and innovation. He currently teaches at the University and College level. He has a unique mix of skills in that he has his CPA in Canada and the U.S., but most of his career has been with Ernst & Young and IBM in Sales & Marketing. He was fundraising chairman for Humber Valley United Church, Chairman of the Toronto Christmas Seal Campaign and President of The Toronto Don Valley Rotary Club.
Yew-Thong Leong, Board Secretaryyleong@waldorfacademy.org
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.
Rami Bazzi, MBA, BSc, CFA, Chair of Board Nominations Committeerbazzi@waldorfacademy.org
Rami is a seasoned executive with 20+ years of experience in leading successful diversified business groups and working for international consulting and financial institutions. He worked extensively with large business groups to manage portfolios of operating companies, setup and lead investment functions, lead M&A and exit transactions, and advise on optimal subsidiary governance models. His experience covers sectors such as retail, real estate, auto leasing, healthcare, education, petrochemicals, ICT, poultry, financial services, shopping malls, F&B, and hospitality.
His investment experience encompasses multiple asset classes such as Public Equity, Private Equity, and Real Estate. He has been appointed as a subject matter expert in the area of corporate strategy and shareholder value creation to advise several multinational companies. Rami started his career with the Royal Bank of Canada, followed by stints at Deloitte Consulting, Litat Group, Injazat Capital, Zubair Corporation, and Sedco Holding, where he assumed senior executive roles.
He is a Certified Professional Director by the Mudara Institute of Directors and has served on the board of various companies in different geographies over the last 15 years. Rami holds an MBA and MSc in Finance from Concordia University in Canada. He has also earned a BSc in Computer Science from the Lebanese American University in Lebanon and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Anoosha Reddyareddy@waldorfacademy.org
Anoosha is a graduate of Waldorf Academy (Class of ’08) and holds a BA in Psychology from Concordia University and an M. Ed in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University. Anoosha is passionate about increasing access to alternative education and has worked with youth and adults in a variety of settings. She spent two years as a middle school teacher in the Indian public education system and most recently taught youth and adults involved in the US criminal justice system. During her time in graduate school, she specialized in advocacy and non-profit governance and had the opportunity to visit and observe a number of alternative schools. Her approach to education has been profoundly shaped by her experience at Waldorf Academy and she looks forward to contributing to the continued success of the school.
Emerson Rajaram, MBA, BScerajaram@waldorfacademy.org
Emerson Rajaram is a performance-driven technology leader who is valued for the trust, confidence and respect he has earned from his nine-member team at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
He thrives in environments where he can effect change, create value, help to work through complex organizational problems and favorably impact organizational strategy and culture.
Emerson holds an MBA from Laurier University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of West Indies.
Tyler Colford, MBA, B Commtcolford@waldorfacademy.org
Tyler holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University.
He is the co-founder of the Village Juicery, a highly-successful wellness hub with 15 brick and mortar locations and more than 150 staff.
Tyler was previously a high-outcome business analyst with Accenture, among other organizations with a particular expertise in complex negotiations and business excellence.
