Shaping What's Next: Introducing New Members of Our Board of Directors
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) relies on the leadership of our Board of Directors to support our vision of ensuring our communities are equitable, connected, and sustainable; and people are thriving, to oversee our strategic direction, and to guide us toward lasting, meaningful impact.
We are proud to announce that Tim Jackson has been named WRCF’s new Board Chair. Tim joined the WRCF Board in 2022 and previously held a Board role at Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation prior to unification with the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation. He was integral to establishing WRCF’s impact investing strategy and continues to support our efforts to become 100% mission-aligned in our investments. We appreciate his continued leadership on the Board in this new role.
Manuel Martins has been named Vice Chair of the Board, and we are pleased to announce three new members who have joined our Board: Scott Macleod, Gabriela Polanco Sorto, and Vinay Tiwari.
From a rich mix of backgrounds and expertise, our Board Members bring the insight and dedication that move our community work forward. Below, you will find additional information about our new members.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Elizabeth Kim as she steps down from her role as Board Chair. During Elizabeth’s leadership, our organization embraced a new strategic plan focused on social infrastructure, and her dedication and contributions have strengthened WRCF to make an even greater impact across Waterloo Region. We look forward to Elizabeth’s continued contributions as Past Chair.
Finally, we want to take a moment to recognize Mike Braga for his leadership as Vice Chair, Chair, and Past Chair of the Board, and also Pedro Ribeiro and Laura Mae Lindo for their time on our Board. We’re truly grateful for their commitment to WRCF and to the community.
Tim Jackson, Chair
Tim Jackson (he/him) is President and CEO of Shad Canada, a live-in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and entrepreneurship program for high school students. Tim has an extensive background as an entrepreneur, business and not-for-profit leader. He co-founded Tech Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm, and served as CFO and CEO at Waterloo based technology firm PixStream (sold to Cisco Systems). Living in Waterloo, Tim has been an active volunteer in his community, chairing the boards of organizations such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Waterloo Public Library, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and Centre In The Square. He has cofounded three charitable organizations. In his spare time Tim practices his favorite magic tricks.
Manuel Martins, Vice Chair
Manuel Martins (he/him) is a partner in Gowling WLG Canada's Waterloo Region Office, a past leader and current member of the firm's Canadian Real Estate Practice Group, a member of Gowling’s Financial Services Industry Group and its executive committee, and the founding editor of the firm's Real Estate & Urban Development newsletter. Manuel's practice extends to the area of corporate commercial law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, and asset and share transactions. He has assisted clients in cross-border transactions in various jurisdictions including the UK, US, European Union, Mexico and China. Manuel was born in Portugal, previously resided in Cambridge and now lives in Kitchener. He is a past Board Member of Skills Canada (Ontario) and the United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries. Manuel is also a past member of Gowling WLG Canada's Board of Trustees. He has been recognized in both The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory and The Best Lawyers™ in Canada.
Scott Macleod
Scott Macleod (he/him) is an experienced financial services leader currently serving as Director of Wealth Management at Libro Credit Union, where he leads high-net-worth advisory and insurance teams and drives strategic growth across a rapidly expanding network. With a strong background in regional and branch leadership, he brings deep expertise in change management, team development, and collaborative business growth. Scott is a Certified Financial Planner, Fellow of the Credit Union Institute of Canada, and an active community leader with extensive board and volunteer experience.
Gabriela Polanco Sorto
Gabriela Polanco Sorto (she/her) is a senior executive strategist with over 20 years of experience in multinational financial institutions, currently serving as Vice President of Purpose, Sustainability & the Office of the CEO at Gore Mutual in Cambridge, where she leads enterprise-wide ESG, sustainability, and social impact strategy. An industry and community leader, Gaby chairs the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Sustainable Finance Working Group, serves on multiple nonprofit boards, and is deeply committed to advancing inclusion and breaking down barriers for immigrants and refugees.
Vinay Tiwari
Vinay Tiwari (he/him) is a senior system leader with over 20 years in education, currently serving as System Administrator, Equity & Inclusion at the Waterloo Region District School Board, where he is recognized for advancing equity-centred school and system improvement. His work focuses on disrupting inequitable outcomes through strong instructional leadership, culturally responsive practice, and human rights–based decision making, and he has led numerous initiatives supporting anti-racism, inclusive leadership, and student success. Vinay brings a deep commitment to data-informed, relationship-based leadership and holds advanced credentials in equity, education, and school leadership. Vinay has served as a volunteer on a number of KWCF and WRCF grant committees including Children and Youth and Racial Equity.
For a full listing of our Board of Directors and their bios, visit our website at wrcf.ca/board. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@wrcf.ca or by phone at 519-725-1806.
