Meet Our Team

Our Founder

Our Board of Directors

Joe Jamieson, B.A, Dip.Ed, M.Ed – President

Joe Jamieson is former Deputy Registrar of the Ontario College of Teachers retiring in 2020 after 20 years of service.

Certified to teach in Quebec in 1992, Joe began his career in education with the Halton Catholic District School Board. He has served as a teacher, writer, curriculum consultant and as a director of the Ontario College of Teachers’ Standards of Practice and Accreditation department and Investigations and Hearings department. He holds a MEd from the University of Toronto, a BA from the University of Waterloo and a Diploma in Secondary Education from McGill University.

He belongs to the Council for Licensure Enforcement and Regulation’s international relations committee and served as a publicly appointed member on the Council of the College of Nurses of Ontario.

In 2015, Joe was recognized by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) as the recipient of its national  Doug Bates Award for ethical leadership in education.

Joe speaks frequently at conferences on topics such as professional conduct, use of social media, leadership requirements, education law, and LGBTQ issues in education.

Amy Hanen – Vice President

Amy is the AVP, Citizenship and Community Advisory with TD Canada Trust. Previously, she worked with TD’s Diversity Leadership Council to develop and execute diversity and inclusion strategies impacting both employees and customers of TD. She is the leader of the Corporate Diversity and Inclusion team, a Centre of Excellence within the company.

Bill Byrd – Director

Bill Byrd is the President and CEO of the Canadian Safe School Network (CSSN). CSSN is a national, non-for-profit, registered charitable organization with a mandate to reduce youth violence in schools and communities, and increase youth safety, empowerment, and well-being. Prior to becoming the CEO of CSSN, Bill was the lead trainer and trained thousands of school administrators across Canada in all facets of safe schools, discipline, equity and crisis management.

Bill has worked in the fields of psychology, education and child and youth development since 1976. He has been a teacher, psychology consultant and counsellor. He was the Head of Day Treatment at what is now the Child Development Institute. From 1999 to 2017 he was the Coordinator of Safe Schools at the Toronto District School Board. He is a graduate of Memorial University in St. John’s, the University of Guelph, McGill University in Montreal, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the University of Toronto. Prior to his graduate work, Bill was a member of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He has also been a member of the faculty at Osgoode Law School/York University and at the Ontario Tech University.

In addition to his work life, Bill has been a social activist and volunteer for many years. In addition to his long-time work on equity and rights causes for LGBTI people, he has also been a board member of the Macaulay Child Development Centre, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Camp Ekon, a Jesuit-run children’s camp in the Muskoka region of Ontario, and the Chair of the Board of Directors at Central Toronto Youth Services. Bill is also a highly sought-after public speaker and keynote presenter at conferences and workshops.

Annabelle Menezes - Director and Finance and Audit Committee Chair

Annabelle Menezes was Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes’ Executive Assistant at Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and Rainbow Faith and Freedom. She has been with RFF since its inception and served in various capacities in her staff role; she managed the organization’s finances and administration, helped RFF obtain not-for-profit and charitable status, managed our first symposium and Pride and subsequent events, facilitated grant applications and fundraising initiatives, and participated in and administered the International Pillar, and Finance and Values Teams.

Annie currently volunteers on the RFF Board of Directors and is chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. She works at Friends of Ruby (a charity that supports 2SLGBTQIA+ youth) as the Manager of Finance and Administration and is a staff participant on their Board and Finance and Audit Committees. In 2023 Annie completed a Leading with Finance certification from Harvard University.

Annie also has an educational and work background in natural medicine (BSc. Honours Biomedical Science) from the University of Guelph, and post-graduate education with the Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine and the Reflexology Association of Canada (RAC). She served on RAC's National Board of Directors (and Executive, Policy and Ethics Committees), and their Ontario Chapter Board (Co-President) and won two national awards for her volunteer work.

Alain Mootoo

Our Leadership

Robert Milkovich – Technology Team Lead