PEI Coalition for Women's Leadership Board of Directors 2025/2026
Bukola Afolabi is passionate about making an impact in any community she finds herself; this is what drives her and led her into the non-profit sector. She is a Nigerian, a graduate of Law with over 10 years post-call. She has an interest and passion for issues around girls, women and young people, which has afforded her the opportunity to acquire experience in project/program planning and implementation across several thematic areas. Back home, she was able to make strategic interventions on women's issues like drafting of Gender Bills, simplification of Gender Laws, submission of memoranda, participation in the development of Shadow reports, and contributed to publications.
Bukola started her career as an intern in a non-profit organization, where she rose to the position of a Project/Program manager. In the course of her work, she worked on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Project as the Project Officer, Gender Equality and Accountability Influence Project, Gender and Anti-Corruption Project, Legal Aid and Counselling pro bono for the indigent, Court appearances for violated women and policy drafting, among others. An individual with strong communication skills, she facilitates training, workshops and seminars across different thematic areas locally and internationally.
She has worked with several organizations in the non-profit, Business Membership Organization and the Theatre Industry across several roles (Program/Project Manager, Head, Programmes & Membership, Lead, Gender and Safeguarding). She has experience working with Boards and senior management of companies viz-à-viz training on board composition/evaluation, risk management, board dynamics, etc. She just completed her Master's program in Island Studies with a focus on Sustainable Island Communities.
Chelsey Rogerson is a senior communicator with 10+ years of experience in political communications, providing strategic advice and support to Members of Parliament. She has led communications and marketing in both the private and public sectors and is currently the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL). An avid volunteer, along with her role as Board Chair for the PEI Coalition for Women in Government, Chelsey serves on the boards of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown, Downtown Charlottetown Inc., and the PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Prince Edward Island and a Diploma in Public Relations from Algonquin College. Chelsey lives in Charlottetown with her partner Sarah and their two Westies.
Caroline MacRae has been a nurse for 10 years and has worked in primary care, women’s health, critical care, and rural and remote nursing. She has previously served on the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, PEI Family Violence Prevention Services board of directors, and the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre board of directors. Caroline grew up in Charlottetown and now lives in Summerside, but she has lived in five different provinces and three different countries.
Elena Deagle (she/her) serves her community in various roles. Along with being on the board at PEICWL, she is also the current treasurer of PEERS Alliance, co-organizes a poetry club for the queer community with a local poet, and works as an accountant with a firm in Charlottetown.
She believes in building community through small actions, through consistently showing up and following through, and approaching every situation with kindness and due care.
Katie Baker (she/her) is the Director of Operations with SRL Solutions, a boutique consultancy that supports non-profits with strategic planning, organizational functioning, leadership, and team development, as well as government with systems change projects. She brings with her a wealth of experience in leadership training, people development, facilitation, coaching, program management and communications.
Growing up in Argyle Shore, Katie spent nearly two decades in Vancouver before returning home to this beautiful island. Katie’s background includes an extensive athletic career, followed by serving as Programs Director for Minerva BC, a Vancouver-based organization dedicated to changing the face of leadership by elevating the visibility, contribution, and influence of women.
Katie deeply values connection and fun, and so brings humour and warmth to most things she does. She loves the magic of a great dinner party, in or out, and can usually be found around Charlottetown with her daughter, Dusty Jean.
Kim Bethke (they/them) is a queer settler punk kid, born and raised in the 1923 Williams Treaties (Scarborough, Ontario) in a priority neighbourhood by two teachers. They hold a BA in English Literature from the University of Ottawa - a city where they met and fell in love with their wife of 15 years, an Islander. Kim has been a public servant for over a decade, working in Toronto and Charlottetown, in roles that use their research, data analysis, and facilitation
expertise.
Kim’s work centres the voices of people pushed to the margins and focuses on advancing intersectional approaches to research, analysis, service and policy that address inequality. They are an avid cyclist and gardener; you might see them volunteering as a Garden Mentor with the PEI TN “Transplants and Blooms Garden Club” and the BIPOC USHR Garden Club, with a pitchfork strapped to their bike for easy transport. Kim is passionate about community building and change-making - from grassroots to influencing the establishment.
Leah-Jane Hayward first became involved with politics in the early 90’s by volunteering on a few provincial campaigns where she fell in love with the challenge and excitement of the whole process. She took a break from politics in 2000 to care for her husband, who became ill. Leah-Jane returned to politics in 2015, where she ran at both the provincial and federal levels for the NDP. She has run a total of three provincial campaigns and two federal campaigns, remaining steadfast to the NDP. Though it was a great deal of work, she has enjoyed the journey.
Leah-Jane is currently serving her second term as a councillor on the Rural Municipality of North Wiltshire council and finds great pleasure in contributing to the health and vibrancy of her community. Since 1992, she has enjoyed a wonderful career as a tour guide and has even run her own guide business. Leah-Jane’s greatest achievement has been raising three fabulous children who have blessed her with six wonderful grandchildren.
Suzanne Iwankow, CPA, CA, is an accomplished financial professional with three decades of experience, known for delivering clear insights and strategic business solutions. She brings a unique blend of skills, combining the structured training gained through her accounting designation from PricewaterhouseCoopers in Toronto with practical experience from the messiness of early-stage and start-up businesses.
As CFO for over a decade, Suzanne played a key role in guiding Atlantic Beef Products to profitability. Most recently, she co-founded an impact-driven start-up focused on improving food safety with hand hygiene compliance technology. She is currently in a term CFO role at Holland College. Suzanne has called PEI home for the last 15 years. She appreciates its natural beauty and spends as much time as possible outdoors hiking, swimming, kayaking, snowshoeing, and running.
Meet Teresa Tu, a determined and passionate leader dedicated to fostering inclusive communities across PEI. Her journey and work experience shaped her deep understanding of the challenges new islanders face and inspired her lifelong commitment to community engagement.
Teresa believes that diversity is not just something to support, it’s something to celebrate and invest in. She sees the unique strengths and contributions that individuals bring, especially those whose talents and potential often go unnoticed. Through her leadership, Teresa works to create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Her vision is a future where women and minorities are not only included but actively represented at all levels of decision-making. Teresa is driven by the belief that a diverse and collaborative government leads to a stronger, more resilient society.