Board of Directors

Doug Engler, is an experienced business leader, advisor, and entrepreneur with 25+ years of success in manufacturing, technology ventures, and strategic growth. He has held senior leadership roles in aerospace, plastics, and millwork manufacturing, and most recently served as Regional Manager at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he supported dozens of startups and growth-stage companies. With an MBA and a background in engineering, Doug combines deep operational expertise with a passion for scaling businesses, mentoring entrepreneurs, and driving innovation. 

Matin(Hojat) Hassanzadeh, CMA: Matin Hassanzadeh is an accomplished finance and accounting professional with extensive international and Canadian experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and organizational growth. He holds a Master of Accounting degree and was a PhD student in Finance. His doctoral studies remained unfinished due to his immigration to Canada.

With more than 18 years of combined international and Canadian experience in accounting, finance, and organizational leadership, Matin has built a distinguished career across both the private and non-profit sectors. He has held senior leadership positions across various industries and served as a member of the Board of Directors for several companies, contributing to corporate governance, financial strategy, risk management, and organizational development.

In 2019, Matin joined the Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS), a leading non-profit organization in British Columbia, where he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In this role, he played a key role in strengthening the organization's financial foundation and supporting its rapid growth. He helped build a robust finance department, enhance financial reporting and internal controls, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. During his tenure, RAPS successfully tripled its revenue while maintaining strong financial stability and operational effectiveness.

Matin later joined Englobe, one of Canada’s leading engineering, environmental, and infrastructure consulting firms. Advancing to the role of Financial Controller, he became responsible for overseeing the financial performance of one of the company’s divisions. Through financial leadership, operational analysis, and strategic decision-making, he contributed to increasing divisional profitability signifitianly over a three-year period.

Matin possesses extensive experience in the non-profit sector, with strong expertise in fund accounting, donor relations, grant management, and regulatory compliance. He has worked closely with donors, executive leadership teams, and Boards of Directors, and has significant experience evaluating the financial feasibility of grant applications, developing funding proposal budgets, and supporting successful grant acquisition initiatives.

Matin is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and is currently in the final stages of completing his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation in Canada. He is recognized for building high-performing finance teams, strengthening financial controls, improving operational performance, and providing strategic insights that drive sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

Combining international leadership experience with Canadian business expertise, Matin brings a proven track record of financial stewardship, organizational development, and strategic leadership. His ability to align financial strategy with organizational objectives has enabled organizations to achieve sustainable growth, improved profitability, and enhanced financial resilience.

My name is Salma Yarjani and for over a decade I’ve worked alongside newcomers in different roles and settings. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of supporting immigrant and newcomer families across Canada, and I’ve seen firsthand both the challenges they face and the resilience they bring to our communities.

I believe deeply in our mission to share kindness by making food accessible to newcomer families. Food security is a basic human need, no one should have to worry about how they will feed their family.

With Foodeliver, I manage the grants and research team, supporting the work behind the scenes so we can continue growing our impact. What inspires me most is being part of an organization that not only reduces food waste, but also ensures families feel respected, welcomed, and supported as they build their new lives here.  I’m truly grateful to work alongside such a compassionate, like-minded team and to play a small part in bringing comfort and relief to the families we serve.

Pantea Kabiri brings years of experience in the non-profit sector, along with a strong passion for supporting people with care, dignity, and compassion. Her work has been shaped by a deep commitment to helping individuals and families feel seen, respected, and supported during times of need.

Alongside her community-focused experience, Pantea is also involved with Puraparm, an organic skincare brand rooted in wellness, natural care, and thoughtful service. Through both her non-profit work and entrepreneurial background, she brings a unique blend of compassion, professionalism, creativity, and dedication to Foodeliver’s mission.

Pantea is proud to support Foodeliver’s dignity-first approach to food access and believes in building a community where every person can receive help in a respectful and meaningful way.

Ali Shaker, PhD,  is an educator, researcher, and nonprofit leader with a background in education, community development, and program design. As an immigrant to Canada, he has seen firsthand how systemic barriers, including food insecurity, affect families’ ability to build stable lives.

He founded Foodeliver to address a critical gap in the food system: the lack of dignified, accessible support for families who cannot or do not access traditional food programs. Under his leadership, Foodeliver has developed a dignity-first, last-mile delivery model that combines food rescue with direct distribution to support newcomer and low-income households.

Ali leads Foodeliver’s strategic direction, partnerships, and program development, working with community organizations, institutions, and private sector partners to advance a more inclusive and effective response to food insecurity.