TFO Canada delivers its trade information, advice and contact services through a team of Canadian-based project professionals and a network of over 40 Associates from around the globe: experts in a wide range of trade-related activities, including sector-specialists for the Canadian import market, trade trainers, and product development and marketing advisors.
TFO Canada’s staff members (listed below) are located at our Ottawa headquarters. To contact a staff member by e-mail, please address it to [email protected] and indicate the name of the staff member in the subject line.
OTTAWA HEADQUARTERS
Steve Tipman, Executive Director
Steve Tipman leads the organization in fulfilling its mission of catalyzing economic growth through international trade. Directing the successful execution of TFO Canada’s strategic plan, Steve is responsible for overall administration, operational management, and reporting to the Board of Directors.
With over 24 years of senior management experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, Steve has spent much of his career working in the areas of international trade and development. He spent eight years working at Livingston International, a trade services company focused on customs brokerage and compliance. He also served as a Vice President of fundraising, communications and marketing with CARE Canada and President and CEO of Volunteer Canada.
Steve is a member of the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) School of Management Sciences International Program and sits on Blue Global Canada Institute’s Advisory Group. Actively involved with Cooperation Canada, He is also a member of its Civil Society Policy Advisory Group, which is co-chaired with Global Affairs Canada and VIDEA. Steve holds an international master’s in business administration degree from the University of Ottawa and is fluently bilingual in both French and English.
Marysabel Gonzalez, Program Director
Marysabel Gonzalez has over twenty-five years of experience working in international trade. She joined TFO Canada in 2008 and has advanced in her career, taking on new responsibilities and challenges within the organization. As Program Director, Marysabel leads the implementation of different programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa. She is also responsible for the Trade Support Services area in the Organization, developing and leading the execution of TFO Canada’s Canadian market trade information services.
Prior to joining TFO Canada, Marysabel worked as a business development manager in the high-tech sector at « Invest Ottawa ». She has also worked as a diplomat, in the Economic and Commercial section of the Embassy of Venezuela in Canada, where she became very familiar with TFO Canada and its services.
Marysabel holds a bachelor’s degree in international Affairs from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and a master’s in international Trade from Carleton University.
Zakiullah (Zaki) Munshi, Program Director
Zaki Munshi has over sixteen years of experience working in international development. He joined TFO Canada in 2013 as Project Manager-Asia & Middle East and has advanced in his career to currently working as Program Director. Working closely with TFO Canada’s roster of associates (trade and other subject matter specialists) and project management staff, he oversees planning, implementation and ongoing communications with donors/partners for TFO Canada’s projects/programs in Asia and Anglophone Africa.
Prior to joining TFO Canada, Zaki worked as a Project Manager in International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group managing advisory projects in the areas of Corporate Governance, Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) banking, Financial Infrastructure and Micro-finance. He has lived and worked in a number of countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Pacific Islands.
Zaki is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from University of Texas at Austin, USA and an MBA in Finance from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Stéphane Roberge, Program Director
Stéphane is Program Director at TFO Canada. He brings over 25 years of experience in international affairs and development, with extensive work in Sub‑Saharan Africa and at Global Affairs Canada. His career has focused on advancing inclusive governance and economic growth through trade, regional integration, and agriculture‑led development, including diplomatic assignments in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.
Before joining TFO Canada, Stéphane held program manager and Deputy Director roles in federal government institutions, including Global Affairs Canada and Elections Canada, where he led complex international development portfolios and provided strategic advice at the executive level. He has managed multi‑million‑dollar programs, supervised multidisciplinary teams, and built strong partnerships with governments, multilateral and regional organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
Stéphane has worked closely with a range of bilateral and multilateral partners and has contributed to program design, policy dialogue, and funding proposals across diverse development contexts. He holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval and was a member of the Quebec Bar for 18 years. He is fluent in French, English, and German.
Viviane Rossini, CPA – Director of Finance and Administration
With more than 20 years of programmatic and financial management experience in the not-for-profit sector, she specialized in international programs managing GAC-funded projects and training partners in South America, Asia, and Africa. Her experience includes the leadership of a Finance team for a nationally focused, government-endowed environmental fund for five years. Viviane has a master’s degree in business administration, is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA), and is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French.
Viviane has joined TFO Canada in August 2025, where she is responsible for all financial and administrative operations, reporting, budgeting, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, donor frameworks, and supporting the organizational strategic planning.
Nahomie Millien, Program Manager - Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Nahomie JB Millien has over 15 years of experience in international development. She combines deep expertise in project evaluation with gender specialization, advancing gender equality, social inclusion, and results-based project management. She joined TFO Canada as Program Manager, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI), where she leads the integration of GESI considerations across the organization’s trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building projects.
Before joining TFO Canada, she worked with various UN agencies and international NGOs, where she contributed her expertise in gender analysis, inclusive policy design, and institutional capacity building. She has led and supported initiatives aimed at preventing gender-based violence, promoting women’s leadership, and ensuring equitable access to services in fragile and conflict-affected settings. A recognized speaker and advocate, Nahomie is deeply committed to advancing gender equality within global development frameworks.
She holds dual master’s degrees in project management and project evaluation. She brings a strong intersectional and participatory approach to advancing inclusive economic growth through trade.
Patrick Ntunga Mico, Program Manager - Thematic Research and Training
Patrick Ntunga Mico is an experienced development professional with a strong background in project management, gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and international trade across Africa, Haiti, and Canada. He has successfully designed, managed, and monitored complex projects that integrate gender perspectives, promote gender-responsive budgeting, prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in regional and global markets.
Patrick has held key leadership roles in institutions such as the Rwanda Gender Monitoring Office, MIGEPROF, RWAMREC, and Best Legacy Foundation. He has collaborated with governments, civil society organizations, and international partners including PROMUNDO, UN Women, UNFPA, Sida, COMESA, ICGLR, EAC, and Global Affairs Canada.
Fluent in French and English, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda, Patrick holds a master’s degree in social studies with a focus on Gender and Development, along with several international certifications in gender auditing, gender mainstreaming, and gender statistics. He combines technical expertise, strategic leadership, and cross-cultural experience to lead high-impact projects that advance gender equality and inclusive international trade.
Fatima Zahra Idrissi, Program Manager – Trade Information and Communications
Fatima-Zahra Idrissi is Project Manager for Trade Support Services at TFO Canada, a role she has held since July 2025. She leads the planning and execution of initiatives that support trade development, applying her certified Project Management Professional (PMP) expertise and a strong command of project management tools and methodologies to drive organizational goals.
Previously, Fatima-Zahra served for five years as Project Officer for Asia and Middle East region, where she supported the delivery of workshops and seminars, managed program logistics, and conducted research and data analysis to inform strategic decision-making.
Before joining TFO Canada, Fatima-Zahra lived and worked in Morocco, bringing over 12 years of experience in the financial sector, including data analysis, portfolio risk management, and credit risk management. She has built a strong foundation in project management, culminating in her PMP certification and current leadership role. Fatima-Zahra holds a State Engineering Diploma (Master’s equivalent) from the National Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics (INSEA) in Morocco. She is fluent in English, Arabic, and French.
Danielle Mulligan, Project Support Manager
Danielle Mulligan has been an integral part of TFO Canada since 1986, bringing decades of experience and dedication to her role as Project Support Manager. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of office administration, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and effective coordination with local suppliers. Danielle plays a key role in maintaining TFO Canada’s online database, which includes Canadian importers, trade partners, and exporters from developing countries—an essential resource that supports the organization’s mission to facilitate sustainable trade.
In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Danielle manages the records for TFO Canada Associate roster, keeping detailed and up-to-date information on consultants and collaborators. She also provides vital support to the organization’s accounting procedures, including processing invoices and payments, managing travel claims, and maintaining commitment files. Her attention to detail and organizational skills contribute significantly to the efficiency and reliability of TFO Canada’s internal operations.
Mahmud Hossain, Project Manager
Mahmud Hossain is Project Manager at TFO Canada, where he has worked since January 2020. He brings extensive experience in private sector engagement, market systems development, value chain strengthening, biodiversity-linked enterprise development, and trade-focused development programs. He oversees project implementation, negotiations, progress monitoring, and quality assurance across Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Jordan under Global Affairs Canada (GAC) initiatives. He also led a three-year research project funded by IDRC, implemented in Vietnam, Cambodia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Senegal, and Ghana. In addition, Mahmud contributes to TFO Canada’s Senior Management and Leadership Team, supporting strategic planning, new business development, and organizational efficiency.
Before joining TFO Canada, Mahmud managed large-scale projects for over 12 years, funded by USAID, DANIDA, SIDA, Irish Aid, SDC, UKAID/DFID, and private sector partners. His international experience includes work in Afghanistan, the Tibetan Autonomous Region (China), and Tanzania.
Mahmud holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree from East West University in Bangladesh and is a Chartered Professional Marketer (CPM). He is also a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) accredited by FITT – the Forum for International Trade Training. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Management Ontario (CIMMO) and the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM).
Janin Mendoza, Project Manager
Janin Mendoza joined TFO Canada in March 2022 and currently serves as the Project Manager. In this role, she leads the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects across the LAC region. Janin also served as Project Manager for Trade Support Services (TSS) from December 2023 to June 2025, where she contributed to the development of communication materials, conducted research on the Canadian market, and helped disseminate trade-related information through internal and external communication channels.
Janin has more than 15 years of project/program management experience at international, governmental, and pro-profit organizations. She had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects promoting sustainable development, capacity development, and climate change resilience. Areas of expertise include strategic planning, stakeholder analysis, capacity building, project management, public policies, result based management and monitoring and evaluation.
Janin holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, a master’s in environmental management from Simon Bolivar University and a Project Management Diploma and Management Certificate from University of Winnipeg.
Brenda Garcia, Project Manager
Brenda is Project Manager at TFO Canada. She is responsible for the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects within Africa.
Prior to joining TFO Canada, Brenda pursued a master’s degree in international development at Sciences Po Paris, through which she specialized in project management and diplomacy. She was trained in project design, implementation and negotiation for humanitarian and development projects. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from McGill University in Montreal.
Brenda has experience working with NGOs, international organizations as well as with the private sector. She namely worked for Equitas International Center for Human Rights in Montreal, as well as for the International Economic Forum of the Americas, both in Montreal and in Paris.
Ashraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Project Manager
Ashraf is Project Manager at TFO Canada. He is a finance specialist with over 11 years of experience in development finance, investment analysis and project management. Before joining TFO Canada, Ashraf held various positions at the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), the largest development finance institution in Bangladesh, which has expanded its operations across Eastern and Southern Africa. He worked in Malawi, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, managing off-grid energy funds for The World Bank. He also oversaw a USD 2 billion portfolio of projects in infrastructure, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Additionally, he contributed to technical assistance projects supported by UN agencies, bilateral, and multilateral donors.
Ashraf has advised clients on credit processes, loan pricing models, fund structuring, management, and facility capitalization processes. He has in-depth expertise in structuring electrification and off-grid solar funds in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Ashraf holds an MBA from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and a master’s degree in international development from Cornell University, USA. Ashraf is a Certified Development Project Manager (CDPM) and an active contributor to scholarly and policy-oriented publications. His writings focus on electric mobility, energy policy, and renewable energy, reflecting his thought leadership in sustainable development finance.
ELY MIKAN, Financial analyst
Ely Mikan is a Financial Analyst at TFO Canada (since February 2026). She supports financial planning and oversight by preparing project‑level analyses for senior management, assisting the Finance Director with corporate reporting and day‑to‑day accounting, and providing finance support to programs.
Before joining TFO Canada, Ely spent eight years working with nonprofit organizations supporting global initiatives aimed at empowering women and strengthening food security in several countries in Africa and Latin America. She also brings experience from the private sector, having worked for Canadian multinational companies in the renewable energy and pharmaceutical industries, as well as four years in public accounting in Calgary, Alberta. Early in her career, Ely spent nearly nine years as a Fiscal Auditor in Colombia, where she worked with government institutions and private companies. This experience allowed her to build a solid foundation in auditing, financial control, and compliance.
Ely holds a Public Accountant designation from Externado University of Colombia and has further strengthened her expertise through courses at Cincinnati Community College, Xavier University, and the University of Calgary. She is fluent in English and Spanish, with professional proficiency in French.
Ines Mungayizi, Project Officer
Ines Muganyizi joined TFO Canada in November 2022 as Project Officer for Africa. Her role is to support the Director and Program Manager in coordinating trade missions and delivering workshops and seminars to partners and stakeholders in Africa. She is responsible for supporting program logistics, data collection, conducting research and overall program support.
Prior to joining TFO Canada, Ines lived and worked in Tanzania in areas of program design, coordination, and implementation, across agriculture and development finance sub-sectors.
Ines holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in public policy from Connecticut College (USA) and McGill University (Canada) respectively.
Diana Romero, Project Officer
Diana Romero is Project Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, Francophone Africa, and Haiti at TFO Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a specialization in International Economics and Trade. At TFO Canada, she supports project implementation across emerging economies, including capacity building, market access initiatives, and private sector engagement with SMEs and trade promotion agencies.
Before joining TFO Canada, Diana coordinated the Yukon Francophone Immigration Network, where she led strategic planning and mobilized partnerships to support the recruitment, settlement, and retention of French-speaking newcomers, contributing to the region’s economic development in a linguistic minority context. She also represented the Yukon at national and international forums, including outreach missions in Africa and Europe to promote francophone immigration opportunities.
Diana has contributed to international cooperation projects in Europe, West Asia, and Central America. She is a certified leader in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and an active member of the national EDI Community of Practice coordinated by the Fédération des Communautés Francophones et Acadiennes (FCFA). Her linguistic skills, social development expertise, and intercultural sensibility make her a valuable asset in facilitating collaboration and ensuring effective communication with diverse stakeholders.
Murtaza Ahmed, Project Officer
Murtaza is Project Officer at TFO Canada. He brings over 12 years of project coordination and management experience in the international development sector, including six years in Bangladesh and over six years in Canada. In Bangladesh, he worked with Hunger Free World, a Japanese not‑for‑profit organization operating across Africa and South Asia.
Before joining TFO Canada, Murtaza held key project roles with a Toronto‑based non‑profit and later led multiple projects in Ottawa. His work has focused on sustainable food security in Bangladesh, and in Canada on workforce and community integration for immigrants, as well as national workforce development programs in the electricity and renewable energy sectors for youth and Indigenous communities. He has collaborated with hydropower and clean‑energy partners across Canada to advance these programs.
Murtaza has managed end‑to‑end projects funded by several Government of Canada departments, including Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Employment & Social Development Canada (ESDC), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). He has also worked with global donors and small foundations. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology and Development Communication from Independent University, Bangladesh, and has completed training in project and grants management, workplace emotional intelligence, and participatory planning, research, and evaluation.