ABOUT
Our Board
Dr. Edna Wakene
BOARD CHAIR
Dr. Edna Wakene
Board Chair
Dr. Edna Wakene is a multi-lingual Doctorate level Therapist and Clinical Manager, a Registered Professional Counsellor and a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling. She is the founding member of Zeeltbek Counselling & Wellness. She has ample experience in research and data analysis and specialized in child development and well-being research focusing on attachment and trauma. She was awarded the 2011 Gold Medal Award of King Harald V of Norway for outstanding research and contribution to the field study literature. She had the privilege to work with diverse population affected by trauma focusing on the well-being of children and youth and other marginalized community members, and is involved in regularly providing trainings in diverse mental health topics, clinical supervision and consultation to service teams. She has experience working for not-for-profit organizations in Canada and across many countries; namely The Family Centre of Northern Alberta, Doctors Without Borders-Belgium and Save the Children. She is an active member of the community and is pleased to serve as a Board member of the Africa Centre.
Joseph Luri Kichere
VICE CHAIR
Joseph Luri Kichere
Vice Chair
Joseph Luri Kichere, commonly known as Joseph Luri, is a respected natural community leader. He is one of the original members who founded the Africa Centre and made Edmonton his home in 1998. Joseph is a true community-minded individual with a passion for community development. He is a founding member of the Sudanese Christian Fellowship and the South Sudanese Community Association in Edmonton.
Joseph Luri enjoys soccer, watching hockey, and football. He has supported students while working in schools as a settlement practitioner between 2007 and 2014. With a background in business, Joseph holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Diploma in Social Work. He has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Provincial Crime Prevention Award twice and the Men of Honour Award.
Tony Agbonkhese
TREASURER
Tony Agbonkhese
Treasurer
Tony Agbonkhese is the Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Nerdia Connect Incorporated; an international trade and business development firm that specializes in the seamless expansion of foreign firms into Africa and African companies into international markets. The company was birth from his passion for the development of our motherland - Africa. Through Nerdia Connect, he has been able to create international partnerships for African firms, opportunities for international firms on the African continent, attract investors to finance African initiatives, and vice versa into international markets. Today, Nerdia has amazed a network of high-profile private sector leaders and government relationships which is leveraged for the benefit of clients.
Prior to Nerdia Connect, Tony was employed by the City of Medicine Hat in several capacities which includes a Project Manager role, a Manager of the Electric Smart Metering & Customer Advocacy Group, and the Accounting Lead for the City’s Power Generation and Distribution Utilities. Some of his major accomplishment while at the city includes leading the deployment of
several strategic initiatives for the City’s Commissioner group – i.e., a citywide Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system, a Maintenance and Work Management system, and the electric utility Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
Tony is a graduate from Acadia University’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) with a certificate in Project Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Strategic Management. He has over 17 years of work experience in corporate finance, strategic consulting,
international trade, business development, operations, and project management. Known as a change agent, Tony strives for continued excellence.
Andrew Owusu
SECRETARY
Andrew Owusu
Secretary
Andrew is a dedicated community-based occupational therapist with a profound commitment to improving the lives of the individuals and families he supports. His expertise spans the fields of pediatrics and mental health, where he empowers individuals to overcome barriers and access essential services, enabling them to actively participate and engage in everyday activities and their communities.
Having called Edmonton home for almost a decade, Andrew has embedded himself in the very fabric of this vibrant city. His passion for service and community-building has led him to the Africa Centre. Andrew brings a wealth of experience and a deep sense of pride to his role on the board of directors.
He is enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve the community by listening and amplifying voices. He is committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity and equity within the Africa Centre, ensuring that the organization continues to uplift and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures and communities it represents. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys playing soccer, live music and spending time outdoors.
Noora Badr
BOARD DIRECTOR
Noora Badr
Board of Director
Noora Badr identifies as an Egyptian, African, Arab, and Muslim woman. She is a second-generation member of Canadian Society and holds a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of Lethbridge.
Noora is an advocate for developing positive mental health, personal growth, and community building in all individuals. She has a passion for eliminating homelessness and combating the devastating effects of poverty and seclusion. Her goals are rooted in the desire to support the skillset and knowledge base of the African diaspora in Edmonton.
After finding great success working in sales, Noora decided to focus her efforts on supporting the non-profit services of Edmonton. She works with the Housing First sector in Edmonton, coordinating high-intensity clinical services, permanent supportive housing, and sector-wide training.
Noora believes all individuals can create sustainable change and improvement in their lives, with the right supports, and works with the services that are utilized by people and communities to lift each other up out of poverty, seclusion, homelessness, and lack of hope.
Our Partners & Funders
