Mariam Waliji, Vice-President - Equity, Impact & Governance
Mariam has a passion for connection – whether it be with people, place, or community. Her years studying evolutionary genetics and ecology sparked questions about how local food systems and restricted access to well-grown food impact society in multifaceted ways; this encouraged her to work towards addressing inequities and barriers to access more broadly in our current systems.
Her work with Pillar Nonprofit Network, and specifically past work with WOSEN (Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network) allows her to reframe the definition of success for social impact organizations while creating space to explore what it means to have intentional, meaningful impact in community in long-term and viable ways. Mariam’s experience and leadership as a Director of Urban Roots London uniquely equips her with the knowledge and skills required to understand nonprofit governance, social enterprise models, and community development work; a lens she brings with her to her work at Pillar Nonprofit Network.
Through education, an emphasis on sharing narrative, an understanding of intersectional environmentalism, ongoing personal development, and a genuine connection with her community, she aims to encourage growth and power in collaborative economy.
You can often find Mariam out in nature -- camera in hand and her best pal (and dog) Orion by her side.
Orion
Orion is a big dog with a misinformed sense that he is small. A friend to all and an enemy to clean, black clothes, he thrives in environments where he can be validated in how great he is. This sweet boy will sniff out discarded, stale pizza crust from half a block away yet only steals the good cheese from the charcuterie board. He likes to follow butterflies in the grass and will roll on his back at the sight of bunnies, hoping they will one day want to play with him too. His killer instincts are non-existent, but he’s the safest place to call home. He is the purest definition of a good boy; he hopes to inspire you to be your best “good boy” too.