2022 40 Under 40 Winners

In the last 12 months, Nana has secured over $2.5 million in philanthropic contributions to support health research initiatives that will benefit patient care in Alberta and beyond. This includes her first $1 million gift that was closed in support of Alzheimer's research at the University of Alberta. 

She provided key support for the World’s Longest Hockey Game, which raised more than $1.1 million for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. 

Nana is an active volunteer, serving organizations like the Health Quality Council of Alberta, the New Edmonton Hospital Project, and Cancer Control Alberta.

She has also served on the board of directors of the Connect Society, a nonprofit organization designed to meet the needs of families affected by hearing loss.

I have worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade. My original plan when graduating from University was to work in the financial sector, but I always felt a pull back to nonprofits and the impact those organizations have on our communities and the quality of healthcare and services available.

I had experience working with a few different healthcare non-profits but when I had the opportunity to join a provincial cancer foundation and be a part of the impact donors could make in care and research for people living with cancer I was inspired. In 2018, I joined the University of Alberta and continued supporting donors who were making philanthropic investments in health research, spanning from mental health to dementia to MS. Being able to see the impact research has on our communities both immediately and in the future brings me joy. I like the idea that I can help change healthcare delivery and support clinicians and researchers in meeting the  health-care needs of our communities.

I have met and worked with so many donors that give for many different reasons. But one of the pivotal points in my career was work with a donor who had made the decision to honor special folks in her life by having them create awards in areas that are significant to them. This opportunity was so special to the folks being honoured and to the original donor.  But the ongoing impact in areas of health research and student support will really be the most important. 

Creating accessible pathways to healthcare. 

My parents are both Deaf and as a hearing person with privilege I can see how accessing healthcare when you do not speak English as a first language can be much more difficult. 

We all have a role in ensuring everyone has access to healthcare. 

Just as we work to help our donors find their passion areas - as fundraisers we need to do the same for ourselves. Then we can become passionate advocates for the work our clinicians, researchers and educators do. 

Also - use your database. Collective knowledge and giving data is crucial to our work.