Vicki Sinclair joined the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO) as its first Executive Director in 2016, after 10 years working at a Winnipeg settlement service agency. She is currently the Sector co-chair of the national IRCC and sector led Settlement and Integration Policy and Program Committee (SIPPC). She represents Manitoba on the National Settlement and Integration Committee, and several other national sector and research tables. Vicki was elected to the 2022 Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council and is part of the Manitoba RIF and Immigrant Partnership Winnipeg Council. She has a background in journalism and EAL and became a Canadian Citizen in 2009. 

Seid Oumer Ahmed began his career as Journalist in Ethiopia and has lived experience as a refugee resettling in 2003 in Canada. Seid has held a number of positions in the settlement sector at IRCOM, Red River College, Manitoba Nurses’ Union, and Immigrant Centre. As a result, he has developed a strong understanding of the various needs and challenges new Canadians face both personally and in workplace environments. In his current role with MANSO, he is able to pursue his sincere desire to help. Seid is thrilled to be a part of the MANSO team, supporting the (re)settlement and language providers as well as newcomers.

Don Boddy began his work with MANSO in March 2017. Before that, he was the Settlement Services Coordinator at the Newcomer’s Welcome Centre (Portage Learning and Literacy Centre) in Portage la Prairie. Don has lived in rural Manitoba for more than thirty (30) years and has worked and volunteered in the non-profit/volunteer sector for more than twenty (20) years. Along with his work, Don has served on the MIRSSA and MANSO Boards and has co-chaired the MANSO Housing Committee. Don understands the value of expanding his capacity through building a network of professional peers, organizational partners and a “constellation of mentors.” During the time that Don has been working and walking with Newcomers to Canada, his life has been changed by the gifts of wisdom, courage, and kindness he has received from this work. He is excited to be serving in this role and to be part of the MANSO team.

Valeria Castellanos joined MANSO as Program Manager in January 2021. Before that, she worked at Immigrant Centre Manitoba until 2020, first as a Pre-Arrival Facilitator, and later on as the Executive Assistant, where she managed the centre’s media and communications. Prior to that, Valeria worked at the Winnipeg School Division in various positions.

Back home, Valeria worked in the country’s Central Bank; she’s also worked as research support and as a university instructor in Canada and in her home country. She holds a B.A. in Economics and a M.A. in Economics and Public Policy, and in 2018 she obtained her Teaching English as an Additional Language Certificate from the University of Winnipeg. In her free time, she volunteers as an English tutor and instructor.

Emily Halldorson joined MANSO as the Provincial Coordinator in July 2021, transitioned into the Research and Data Coordinator role in April 2022, and was quickly seconded to work on the Ukrainian Response. As the Ukraine Response Coordinator, she led MANSO's role in coordinating settlement services for Ukrainian arrivals to Manitoba.

In early 2024, this role broadened to Humanitarian Response Specialist, building on the success of the Ukraine Response and responding to the increased need for coordination of humanitarian initiatives across the settlement sector. In addition to the ongoing Ukraine Response efforts, Emily is also coordinating services for newly arrived refugee claimants, especially those staying in emergency shelters in Winnipeg.

Her broader MANSO work focuses on addressing key research and data needs in the settlement and integration sector, and on building capacity to support newcomers with temporary status, including refugee claimants and migrant workers. 

Emily has a background in community planning, participatory research, and front-line service provision, and has worked in the non-profit sector for over 10 years, primarily in roles supporting Indigenous and newcomer communities. Her diverse interests include housing, education, health, and criminal justice. She has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Winnipeg and a graduate degree in city planning from the University of Manitoba.

Justine Trinh joined the MANSO team in August 2019 as a Program Assistant, became the Communications and Program Coordinator in December 2020, and subsequently advanced to the role of Communications and Project Coordinator in July 2022.

Justine graduated with a Bachelor of International Business degree in Australia. Upon her graduation, she moved to Canada to reunite with her now-husband in Winnipeg. She then found her passion in supporting immigrants and newcomer communities, which led her to return to school to earn her certificate in Community Development/ Community Economic Development at Red River College.  As part of her role at MANSO, Justine is responsible for membership support and engagement, social media management, membership and PD organization, event and training coordination.

The bio will be updated soon.