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. In this role, she provides support to MANSO member agencies, and external stakeholders and partners across the province, who provide services and programs for non-permanent residents, including temporary foreign workers, international students, refugee claimants and citizens. She also works closely with settlement partners and many Province of Manitoba departments and programs, to promote equitable access to government services for all newcomers, and to support effective communication and collaboration between the settlement sector and Province of Manitoba on a number of key issues affecting newcomers (ie. housing, healthcare, income supports, interpretation, etc.).

From April 2022 to March 2024, Emily was seconded to the role of Ukraine Response Coordinator, and played a lead role in the coordination of settlement services for Ukrainian arrivals to Manitoba. This position transitioned to a broader Humanitarian Response Specialist role from April to June 2024, during which time Emily was able to utilize some of the learnings and best practices from the Ukraine Response, to build collaborative relationships across sectors (ie. homelessness, settlement, health) in response to increasing numbers of refugee claimants arriving in Manitoba. This work continues as part of her role as Provincial Coordinator.  

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.

The bio will be updated soon.

Adia Koodoo joined MANSO as a practicum student in May 2022. She transitioned to the role of part-time Resource and Event Assistant later that year, a position she held until May 2024. In her next step at MANSO, she took on the role of Communications and Project Coordinator as a maternity cover.

Throughout her time at MANSO, Adia has focused on addressing the resource needs of the settlement sector. She has updated and created new resources to meet emerging needs, ensuring that the organization stays responsive and relevant. Adia is beginning her third year working in the non-for profit sector and holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Winnipeg.