LGP Alumni Society Executive - Local Government Program

The Alumni Society is always looking for volunteers to join the Executive, to help on their committees, and organize events. If you would like to participate or have any specific questions regarding the LGP Alumni Society, you can reach them at: lgpalumnisociety@gmail.com

LGP Alumni Society Constitution 2012

2026 Executive

The annual nominations for Executive positions are received in December and if an election is needed, that takes place at the AGM in early February (see Events page).

PRESIDENT: Patrick Brault, MPA (2012)

Patrick has been with the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, for over 12 years. He brings over 20 years of experience in government related positions and in Community Economic Development. Patrick came to Western to complete his MPA (2012) after starting his graduate studies at the National School of Public Administration (ENAP) in Montréal. He is currently finalizing his Economic Development Program certification. Over his career, he has held bilingual management positions in Québec and Ontario.

VICE PRESIDENT: Kathy Deschamps, GDPA (2021), MPA (2025)

Kathy brings over a decade of experience in the transportation industry, with a significant portion of her career spent in diverse roles within the City of Toronto's Transportation Services. Graduating from Mohawk College with an Advanced Diploma in Transportation Engineering Technology, Kathy has established a strong foundation in the field. Her dedication to professional development is evident through her attainment of the Certified Engineering Technologist designation with OACETT. Throughout her tenure at the City of Toronto, Kathy has consistently demonstrated her expertise and commitment to excellence in transportation-related projects. Her roles have encompassed various aspects of transportation management and planning, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved. In 2021, Kathy further expanded her knowledge and skill set by completing Western's GDPA and then the MPA in 2025.

TREASURER: Joe Reid, GDPA (2025)

Joseph Reid is the Director of Transportation and Operations Services for the City of Belleville, Ontario. In this role, he oversees key municipal services including public transit, Road maintenance, Parks and Horticulture, Corporate Fleet. Some key initiatives recently that have been tasked include implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement, Transit Master Plan, and overseeing of the Transition of Recycling to a Producer Responsibility model and the dissolution of a joint municipal service board. He has been with the City of Belleville for 25+ years. Currently enrolled in the MPA, Joe completed his GDPA in 2025. He is eager about the opportunities ahead both personally and professionally.
Reid holds several professional designations, including Certified Municipal Officer (CMO), Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), Certified Road Supervisor Senior (CRS-S), Certified Engineering Technologist (CET), and Certified Municipal Manager II (CMM II).
Joe is a Past President of the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors and where he sits on the Board of Directors, and volunteers with Ontario Good Roads Association as a course Director and Instructor for the annual TJ Mahoney Road School where well over 500 municipal staff attend annually to be trained. His commitment to public service and infrastructure development has made him a respected leader in Ontario’s municipal sector.

SECRETARY: Nina Lecic, MPA (2025)

Nina has worked in the municipal sector for over 15 years, including three municipalities of varying sizes, challenges, and budgets. Nina prides herself on working on innovative, change management solutions, and enjoys working with staff throughout corporations to determine practical, efficient solutions. Nina has served on the AMCTO Board of Directors, has obtained her CMO, AOMC, CMM III, and Masters in Public Administration.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Rachel Yantha, MPA (2024)

Rachel Yantha graduated with a Master of Public Administration in 2024, following her undergraduate degree with an Honours B.A. in Political Science from Western University. She aspires to work in the municipal sector and views her role on the alumni board as a valuable opportunity to broaden her experience by working alongside local government experts. As a young professional, Rachel feels privileged to continue learning and contributing to the community that has been instrumental in shaping her career.

PAST PRESIDENT: Sandra Datars-Bere, MPA (2006)

A proud and committed public servant, Sandra Datars Bere has held many leadership roles with several provincial ministries and three municipalities including the City of St. Thomas, Bruce County and the City of London, where she is currently the City Manager. Sandra has always been passionate about the delivery of essential, quality services within communities, especially to those citizens who are most vulnerable.
Sandra holds degrees from Western University, where she completed both a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours Psychology) and a Master of Public Administration (Local Government).
Volunteering within her community and more broadly is important to Sandra and she has been fortunate to hold volunteer leadership roles with Western, Huron University College, and Vanier Childrens Services. She now serves as a Board Member of the Children’s Aid Society of London/ Middlesex, and is the President of Western’s Local Government Program Alumni Society. She has also held elected board roles on the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Spencer Sandor, MPA

Spencer is a Senior Advisor at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) where he leads files related to land use planning, resources, energy, and economic development. He previously spent a decade with the Ontario Public Service in various positions related to municipal affairs, primarily related to policy, governance, and capacity building.
Spencer is driven to help organizations deliver positive impacts to their communities. He has served as Director to many organizations including with the Institute of Public Administration’s Toronto Region where he currently leads public service awards programs. He is also a member of the Celiac Canada Federal Advocacy Committee, and the City of London’s Community Advisory Committee on Planning.
Spencer holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario’s Local Government Program. He also operates www.pinquest.com, showcasing lapel pins from municipalities across Canada as a vehicle to share stories about the history of each community.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Cori Dooling, MPA (2025)

Cori is a seasoned public servant with over a decade of experience in provincial and municipal government. She has spent the last 10 years working at the City of London in Emergency Management and Emergency Communications, currently overseeing the City’s Public Safety Radio System portfolio. Cori provides strategic advice, supervises consultants, and manages high-profile projects that support critical public safety initiatives.
She prides herself on leading with empathy, political acuity, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset. Her leadership philosophy comes from Tina Fey: “Hire talented people and get out of their way”. She is a recipient of the City Manager’s Award for Collaboration, extending her inclusive, team player mindset in both her professional and private life, and is always willing to offer assistance or support.
Cori’s expertise extends beyond municipal operations—she has also contributed to academia as a Part-Time Faculty member at Fanshawe College and the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, where she developed curriculum and facilitated courses on emergency and incident management.
She is a proud Western Alumni, BA 2009 (Political Science/American Studies) and MPA 2025. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Emergency Management from Sheridan College and certifications in Emergency, Incident, Project, and Change Management.

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE: Sofiat Ajibowu

Sofiat Ajibowu is a current Full-Time MPA student in Western University's Local Government Program. She brings a strong background in public policy, data analytics, and program evaluation to her graduate studies, drawing on experience across the federal public service. As a federal public servant, she has supported major social development initiatives and contributed to evidence-based policy work aligned with Canada's national and international commitments, earning a prestigious Assistant Deputy Minister's Award of Excellence in Client Services.
Sofiat holds an Honours Specialization in Politics and International Relations from King's University College at Western University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Research and Evaluation from Fanshawe College, and has studied Law, Public Policy, and French as a Second Language. She is passionate about leveraging data and evidence-based approaches to drive meaningful change in the public sector. She is committed to civic engagement, having contributed to community rights and responsibilities awareness initiatives, the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign, and student government throughout her career.

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE: Juman Al-Jumaili

Juman is a current Master of Public Administration student at Western University. She completed her bachelor's degree in criminology at Western in 2024 and has several years of experience supporting vulnerable and marginalized communities, particularly in the areas of gender-based violence as well as resettlement. Juman has a passion for advocacy, community services, and public service. She looks forward to applying the knowledge and skills she is developing in the MPA program to future work in the public sector. In her role as a student representative, she is eager to foster engagement and support strong connections within the program.

2026 LGP ALUMNI CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR: Jacob Sookraj, MPA (2024)

Jacob Sookraj graduated from Western University's Local Government Program in October 2024. He was the recipient of the Andrew Sancton Award for academic excellence, as well as the winner of the IPAC/CAPPA National Award for Student and Thought Leadership. He is currently the Strategic Initiatives and Government Relations Officer for Zorra Township, and credits his MPA with providing him the knowledge, experience and network to succeed in municipal government.

2026 LGP ALUMNI CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR: Jonathan Graham

Jonathon Graham is a senior municipal leader with over 15 years of experience in public sector administration, infrastructure, and economic development.
Currently serving as Divisional Manager of Geomatics with the City of London, he provides strategic leadership in geospatial data governance, utility coordination, and infrastructure support services, while overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets and complex regulatory compliance.
Jonathon has held progressive leadership roles, including Director of Operations & Development and Chief Administrative Officer, where he led multidisciplinary teams across engineering, planning, public works, and environmental services. He brings deep expertise in municipal governance, capital program delivery, risk management, and data-driven decision-making.
He holds a Master of Public Administration (2021) and a Master of Economic Development & Innovation (2025), along with multiple professional designations. Jonathon is recognized for his analytical, values-driven approach and his ability to align operational performance with long-term strategic objectives.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jonathon is dedicated to spending time with his family. He enjoys staying active and engaged, whether at home or out in the community.

DIRECTOR, LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM: Zack Taylor

Zack Taylor has taught in the Local Government Program since arriving at Western in 2015 and became Director in July 2026. Zack is responsible for all academic aspects of the program, including its curriculum and admission and progression requirements.