Ercoph Bongomin - Chair ACRN
Ercoph was born in South Sudan, and immigrated to Canada in 2001. He has been involved in the Sudanese, South Sudanese and African community in Regina. He lives in Regina, with his family and four children (a daughter and three boys). Two of his boys were born in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Education: Ercoph holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from University of Regina, Canada as well as a Bachelor of Administration (B. Admin) from Middle East University, Beirut, Lebanon. Ercoph is also a Chartered Professional Accountant of Canada (CPA), Saskatchewan Chapter and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Saskatchewan Chapter. He has previously served with African Canadian Resource Network (ACRN) as Treasurer, Vice Chair and is currently Chair of the Board. Ercoph also love sport, cheering for the local football team the Rough Riders and coaching local soccer team for teens. His other favourite leisure time activities are reading and spending quality time with his family.
Abdi Gure- Vice Chair ACRN
Abdi is a Canadian of Somali origin and a resident of Regina, SK. Previously trained in public relations/public health and currently designated as Occupational health and safety administrator (HAS) as well as construction safety officer (CSO). He is also CLC journeyman working in the construction and oil/mining industry.
He has been a founding member and a board director in many community based initiatives in the past and was instrumental figure in the formation of ACRN.
Before immigrating to Canada he has extensively worked in the humanitarian field both in Kenya and Somalia with various international and local organizations such as ARC, UNHCR, ICRC, and others dealing with refugee crisis, poverty and community development as well as conflict resolution projects.
After moving to Canada he continued his involvement in the nonprofit sector in Winnipeg where he worked with the Manitoba Somali Association (MSA) as a program manager helping the newcomers in Winnipeg, MB. he was also a founding member and a project director of the now ceased Edmonton Global Relief and Development Center in Edmonton, Alberta undertaking relief and development initiatives in Africa.
After moving to Regina, SK in 2010 and realizing the need for a community based organization to assist and advocate for the Somali Canadians in the province and the new immigrants from East Africa, he spearheaded the formation of the Prairie Somali Canadian Community Centre in which he was elected as president, a position he continues to serve in his second term, providing immigration, integration and youth based services for the community members in Regina and the surrounding vicinity.
In addition to his family Abdi is a passionate and advocate for human rights, multiculturalism and youth engagement in Saskatchewan.
Al Kosteniuk, Director (Secretary, Director of Communications)
Al was born in Regina, and went to university in California, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a minor in Computer Science. After graduation, he went to Toronto Ontario, and began work at Royal Bank of Canada. Al has worked in Information Technology, and management consulting including project management ever since. Music is a passion. Al has established or played in musical groups since high school. His focus on African and Caribbean music started around 1990, but that is too big a topic to discuss here. Al is married to Lisa (25 years in 2017) who is from Barbados, and they have three children, all now finished high school. Al has extensive volunteer experience in the Caribbean community in Regina in the last ten years, including serving on the board of the Saskatchewan Caribbean Canadian Association (SCCA) for four years, two as secretary, two as Vice President Administration. He has also been the chair, co-chair, department head of the Caribbean pavilion for Regina’s annual Mosaic Multicultural festival.
Khadim Niang, Director (Treasurer)
I am originally from Senegal and I immigrated to Canada in 2008 as an international student. I hold a Master’s degree in Econonimics from the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec and a Bachelor degree in Econometrics from the University of Social Sciences in Toulouse France.
I am an active member in the African community. I started volunteering with the University of Sherbrooke where I was Vice President of the Economic Students Association for two years. I also volunteered with the Senegalese communities for two years. When I arrived in Regina in 2011, I pursued my involvement by continuously volunteering with several organizations such as Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity as well as with African and Fransaskois associations. I am a member of the African Francophone Community of Saskatchewan.
I am looking forward to play an important role in ACRN. My major objective will be to work towards reinforcing the relationship between ACRN and the all existing African associations within the Province. I have no doubt that with this organization I will have the opportunity to put my idea in action and achieve that objective.
Yassine El Bahlouli- Director of Nomination and Membership-Regina
Yassine El Bahlouli is a researcher in public policy in University of Regina, and a member of the Digital Governance Lab. Yassine has an IT Engineer Credential from Paris 8 University and an MBA in International Management from "Ponts et Chaussées School" in Paris. He held the position of Adviser to the Speaker of the Moroccan Parliament and led, from 2014 to 2016, the E-Parliament Project. Yassine is currently focusing on Citizen Engagement, Democracy 2.0 and Real Time Policy Analytics. He can be found at http://opengov.elbahlouli.com/
Isabelle Nkapnang D, Past Chair
Since her arrival in Canada in February 2012, Isabelle Nkapnang has volunteered with many organisations including the African Canadian Resources network (ACRN) and Association Canadienne Française de Regina (ACFR), the Agency in Charge for Francophone minorities in Regina. Between 2013 to June 2015, she was the Treasurer of ACFR, a position she cumulated in previously with that of the Secretary. From 2015 to date she is the Vice President of ACRN, and is involved in various projects that highlight bilingualism, multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance and anti-discrimination.
Isabelle also volunteered with the African Francophone community in Saskatchewan, promoting the organisation’s involvement and participation in multicultural programming and activities. She was also a Director with the Regina Multicultural Council and helps to organise and promote RMC events such as Mosaic. With the RMCP heritage she volunteered at different positions helping visitors to understand more better the Canadian history.
Isabelle is an Agronomist who holds a Msc. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri, a PhD in rural Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. She will soon complete a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with more than one decade experience in Economic Development, Agricultural extension and research, and communication. This broad education and professional background helped her to be more responsive to multiculturalism, which go beyond racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.
Having studied, work and lived around the world spanning Africa, Europe and North America. Isabelle enjoys giving her time to her community, travelling, meeting people and learning about cultures. She resides in Regina and works as an Accounting Operational Officer with the Indian Residential School Secretariat (IRSA).
Kiumbura Githinji, ACRN Executive Director
Kiumbura migrated to Canada with his family braving the very cold winter of 2012 under the skilled worker immigration program.
He is married to Nancy Wanjiku, a doctor (Ophthalmologist) and is a loving dad of four, two girls and two boys.
Between November 2014 and October 2016, Kiumbura held the position of Advisor with Sun Life Financial providing solutions to a growing portfolio of 100 plus clients with a suite of Life, Health and Wealth products.
As a mature professional, Kiumbura brings to ACRN 23 years of marketing and business development experience working with diverse products and services in Africa, Europe and Canada.
Kiumbura has been awarded and decorated for excellence and innovation all along his career.
Before migrating to Canada, Kiumbura held the position of business development advisor and worked with two international agencies - Intra Health International and USAID in a joint project designed to build capacity in the health sector in Africa.
He is very excited to play his role in ACRN where he hopes to make a meaningful impact to the community in Saskatchewan and Canada. He is optimistic too for a greater collaboration with the African community in Canada to exploit the full potential and wealth of multiculturalism stimulating faster integration and social economic inclusiveness.
Kiumbura is passionate about community development and is involved in various voluntary activities which include:Kenyan Community in Regina (KCR) where he is the President, Regina Qu’Appelle Heath Region as a Patient/Family Advisor, Open Door as a Translator, Regina Centre for Good Governance as a Director and finally,Harvest City Church/Christian Academy as a board member.
Paul Adekogbe, Chair Projects Committee
Born, bred and trained as an architect in Nigeria, Paul Adekogbe is a Nigerian-Canadian who has been working in the built environment field practicing Architecture and Construction for over 25 years in three continents - Africa, Europe and North America. He currently works as a Project Manager with the Government of Canada and he is ACRN’s Director of Projects as well as President of Yoruba Community Association, Regina. Saskatchewan. Paul is married to Anthonia Adekogbe and they are blessed with three boys and a girl.
Shamiso Musundire, Chair Membership Committee Profile to follow soon
Abullahi Dualeh, Saskatoon Representative Profile to follow soon
Madeleine Mutudi, Vice Chair Membership Committee Profile to follow soon
Aden Adawe, Vice Chair Finance Committee Profile to follow soon
