SARAH BUKHARI

President

My name is Sarah Bukhari and I’m running for President at OPSEU Local 596. I am passionate about making our workplace equitable and resolving conflicts on behalf of the membership. I currently work as an Administrative Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Community Services and also serve on the Ryerson Board of Governors as a staff-elected member.

I participate fully in University life as co-chair of the Ryerson Muslim Staff and Faculty Community Network, as well as a member of the Black Community Network, and the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Project.

My leadership style is democratic and empowering. I listen to my team and delegate effectively, making it possible for me to separate the operational tasks from planning ahead and developing a long term vision that takes into account competing priorities. I’m not afraid to make the tough decisions and ask the hard questions that will protect my community and move everyone forward.

I have also served as Board Chair of CultureLink Settlement Services, a settlement and community organization and I am a founder of Anisa’a, a community development not-for-profit association. My leadership roles in these organizations have given me over the past 20 years of experience in putting together effective teams that know how to work together to get things done on behalf of the larger community they serve. In these roles I worked with newcomer communities, largely from North and South Sudan in support of their own community development initiatives.

My professional life began as an elementary school children’s librarian in Egypt for 9 years until I began working as a Program Manager for The Ford Foundation and the Population Council. I have a Master’s in Political Science with a focus on International development from the American University in Cairo and my work concentrates on social research, justice and advocacy on policy analysis and change.

I am a consummate world traveler, a voracious reader and Trekker.