With mixed feelings and deep gratitude, we announce Dharshi Lacey, VP of Diversity and Governance, will leave her role with Pillar Nonprofit Network for an exciting opportunity in Kelowna, BC.
Dharshi joined the organization in 2015 to run the DiverseCity on Boards Program, striving to help nonprofits in our community find qualified board candidates from equity-seeking groups. Dharshi moved this work from a project to a process, challenging people and systems within the space we work and the greater London community to be critical of our policies, practices, language, and mindsets. We cannot begin to tackle the problems in our community if we can’t name them, and Dharshi has provided incredible leadership in creating that brave space to do just that.
Dharshi leads by example and is deeply respected by her colleagues across the sector. In 2018, Dharshi was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the London community in the Diversity and Race Relations category by the Mayor’s New Year’s List of Honourees.
Dharshi has accepted a new and exciting challenge as the inaugural Director of Inclusion, Diversity Equity & Anti-Racism at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, starting June 1 2023.
As many of you know, Dharshi’s daughter lives in Kelowna and, as she expressed to us, “the allure of being a physically close family unit again was impossible to resist, and of course, the environment is not too shabby either!” We couldn’t agree with her more.
While it will be tough to say goodbye to Dharshi, the Pillar Team wishes her all the best on her next adventure and thanks her for her work and contributions at Pillar and within the community.
We invite friends and colleagues in the community to celebrate Dharshi and to express gratitude for being a champion and catalyst for change. Please stay tuned for details for a planned celebration. For now, we hope you will join us in wishing her well as she accepts the challenge to create meaningful and transformative change in a new community.
～ The Pillar Nonprofit Network Team