Foodeliver Team

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.

Taymaz Valley is the Social Media Coordinator for foodeliver, joining the team early on with the belief in the mission of the organization to eradicate food insecurity in Canada.

Ayesha Siddiqua: I am Ayesha a third-year student in IT at Carleton University. Avid in tech and always looking to learn, she was excited to join this venture in hopes to reduce food insecurity for newcomer families and reduce food wastage, thus also assisting the global climate change movement. My role at foodelive is to generate high-quality content, oversee social media accounts and successfully spread the message that foodeliver wants to convey.  

I believe in this mission because Foodeliver is a thoughtful and effective organization that bridges the gap between food access and food insecurity. By removing transportation barriers, Foodeliver ensures that newcomers who have limited or no access to reliable transportation can still receive healthy, dignified food support. This approach not only meets an immediate need but also helps ease the broader challenges newcomers face as they settle into a new community. 

I am super good at baking, like a pro. I've been told many times to sell the baked goods I make, but I'm going to continue to gatekeep my talent to just family.

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 work as an HR Manager, where I recruit, onboard, and support our volunteers, helping create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. 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.

Lijing Yu: With a Master’s in Urban Regeneration and a professional background in strategic planning across global cities such as Shanghai, Singapore, and Manchester, I bring a community-focused, spatial, and systems-based perspective to Foodeliver. As Research & Grant Manager, I lead the identification of funding opportunities, the development of evidence-informed grant strategies, and the preparation of compelling proposals that support Foodeliver’s growth and community impact.

I believe that access to food is deeply connected to community resilience, equity, and inclusive urban systems. Foodeliver’s commitment to bridging the gap between surplus and need aligns closely with my passion for creating more equitable, people-centred, and sustainable communities.

I describe myself as a “community-minded storyteller.” I enjoy translating community needs, program outcomes, and social impact data into clear and persuasive narratives that help mobilize support, strengthen partnerships, and turn ideas into meaningful action.

Momoe Oga: I work at the intersection of food systems, sustainability, sovereignty, public policy, and community-based research. I’ve contributed to policy-related projects in both Japan and Canada, including supporting the development of a Food Policy Council in Kyoto and researching the Toronto Food Policy Council from a comparative perspective.

Within the grant research team, my interest lies in how food programs operate on the ground and how they connect to broader policy and funding frameworks. My work involves qualitative research, policy analysis, and translating complex information into clear, actionable insights. I am particularly interested in how food systems can address issues of equity and access, and how funding structures can support these goals in practice.

In addition, I am currently working on an independent research and writing project on school food programs in Canada.

Outside of work, I have a strong personal interest in coffee and cafe. I enjoy roasting beans and working as a home barista.

Shazia Shah: My name is Shazia, and my work is in Client Relations. I was introduced to Foodeliver while supporting a family who had evacuated from Gaza for their daughter’s medical treatment. During that time, I saw firsthand the immense pressures families face when navigating crisis and care in unfamiliar surroundings.

What truly stood out to me about Foodeliver was its ethos — the commitment to reducing food insecurity and ensuring that families who may not have the means, time, or emotional capacity to seek out food can still access it with dignity. By removing the transportation barrier and delivering food directly to families, Foodeliver eases the burden on those who are already exhausted and overwhelmed. It’s one less thing for them to worry about — and that deeply resonated with me.

I felt strongly compelled to join the Foodeliver team because I believe in its mission. The impact is practical, immediate, and meaningful.

I am a Residential Designer by trade and I love traveling and spending time with family and friends. Connection is at the heart of everything I do, both personally and professionally — and being part of the Foodeliver team, whose dedication and compassion are truly phenomenal, aligns perfectly with that value.

Rahma Bouhajeb: My name is Rahma, and I work as a Client Intake and Onboarding Specialist at Foodeliver. I support individuals and families by guiding them through the intake process and helping them access our services in a smooth and respectful way.

Fluent in Arabic and French, I connect with people from diverse backgrounds and help bridge communication gaps. I believe in humanitarian work and the power of kindness in building a strong and supportive community.

Susana Pérez: My name is Susana, and I am part of the Donor Relations team. I combine my experience in administration and communication to cultivate lasting partnerships that support Foodeliver’s growth, ensuring our donors feel deeply connected to the tangible difference they make in the lives of our neighbors. I am passionate about connecting with people, listening to their stories, and building meaningful relationships. I love being part of a community that strives for equality and a better future for everyone.

I am truly inspired by how Foodeliver brings dignity and security to families; no one should ever feel uncertain about how they will feed their loved ones. I believe we need more people dedicated to building systems that work together for a better society.

When I’m not working, I find balance through writing, exercising, and being outdoors. I also cherish spending quality time with my family and friends.

My name is Ms Jamal and I am the Drivers Coordinator for Foodeliver. My role is to support clear communication and ensure effective, timely coordination between food pick-ups by drivers, and drop-offs to clients' home. I bring skill in time management, scheduling, conflict resolution, and planning in hopes of supporting volunteers and the families we are serving.

I believe in Foodeliver's mission to work together and reduce food waste and food security in Ottawa. Access to healthy, nutritional food in a dignified way should be a right for all.

I am a great listener, patient and have a natural joy for cooking and bringing people together through food.   

Abiola Adeyefa: My name is Abiola, and I’m a member of the Web Development team at Foodeliver. I contribute to building and improving our web platforms to ensure they are responsive, user-friendly, and aligned with our mission.

In addition to development, I serve as the Google Workspace Administrator, where I manage our email systems, user accounts, security configurations, and collaboration tools to support smooth communication and secure operations across the team.

I strongly believe in Foodeliver’s mission to support and provide for families in need. Access to food is a basic necessity, but it also represents dignity, stability, and hope. Being part of an organization that is committed to helping families during difficult times is something I truly value.

When families are supported, communities become stronger.

The best thing about me is my consistency and problem-solving mindset. I pay attention to details, take ownership of my responsibilities, and stay committed to delivering quality results. I’m always learning and looking for better ways to improve systems and processes.

My name is Kay Zhu, and I am a member of the Web Development team at Foodeliver. I have experience in web design, development, and digital content creation, with a focus on building user-friendly and accessible digital experiences. At Foodeliver, I support website design, development, update, maintenance, and ongoing improvements.

As someone who is new to Canada, I understand how important community support can be, especially during times of transition. I value Foodeliver’s work in supporting newcomer communities through reliable and dignified food access, and I care about contributing to a system that helps reduce barriers and provides practical support to people in need.