UforChange Board of Directors

Peter S. Newell, Jennifer Samarco, Mark Lovewell, Gina Gentili, Martin Abell, and Bill Culkins

Mark Lovewell

Mark Lovewell is the President of the Board of Directors for UforChange. He grew up in Newfoundland and Bermuda, before moving to Red Deer, Alberta, to attend high school. He discovered a passion for economics during his undergraduate years at the University of Alberta. After earning his M.A. in the history of economic thought at the University of Toronto, where he was a resident at Massey College at the time when Robertson Davies was its Master, he spent several years at Balliol College, Oxford.

In 1981, Mark Lovewell began teaching economics at Ryerson University, and has enjoyed witnessing the institution’s evolution since then. His own professional evolution has turned him into a rather eclectic-minded economist. Besides teaching at Ryerson, he was for several years a senior tutor at the University’s distance education arm, Open College, and worked intermittently as a broadcaster on Toronto’s classical, jazz and education radio station (now JAZZ-FM).

Between 2003 and 2007, Professor Lovewell was Director of Ryerson University’s humanities-based Arts and Contemporary Studies program, and participated in teaching two of the degree’s foundation courses: Learning and Development Strategies and Ideas that Shape the World I. His journalistic interests continue unabated – though now in the medium of print rather than in radio. He co-publishes the Literary Review of Canada (the LRC), this country’s answer to the New York Review of Books. Besides his editorial work and writing for the LRC, he is the author of an economics textbook, Understanding Economics (published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson), now in its sixth edition. After interim stints as Chair of Ryerson’s Department of English, Director of its School of Occupational and Public Health, Dean of Arts, and Senior Advisor, Office of the Provost, he is now interim Secretary of Senate.

Jennifer Samarco

Jennifer is the Treasurer of UforChange. She is a manager in the Valuation & Dispute Services group of Deloitte’s Financial Advisory practice. Jennifer has been involved in a variety of valuation projects and dispute matters, including valuations for purchase and sale agreements, purchase price allocations, valuations for tax reorganizations, damages quantification and litigation support. Clients served have included both public and private companies in the mining, software, financial services, retailing, construction and various other industries. Prior to joining the Valuation & Dispute Services group, Jennifer worked in the Deloitte assurance and advisory practice where she has served public and private companies in the travel and leisure, automotive, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries. Jennifer has also performed audits of public sector healthcare clients. Jennifer is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Gina Gentili

Gina is the Chair of the Board of Directors.  She is member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, where she brings more than fifteen years experience in the field of Intellectual Property Law. Gina is a graduate from York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science, including course work in international relations. She received her Bachelor of Law from the University of Ottawa.

Gina’s career began with Royal Bank of Canada in the Film Finance Division where she worked with independent film producers and commercial producers. As in-house counsel at Corus Entertainment Inc., for thirteen years, she focused on the areas of television licensing, commercial production, privacy law, trademarks, digital rights management, rights clearance, music clearance, internet law, information technology, contract law, advertising and marketing law.

In addition, she is very active in the community, having volunteered on the boards of directors of The Child Development Institute, YTV Daycare Inc., the Reel World Film Festival, the Ontario Minister of Culture’s Advisory Council on Arts and Culture and The Royal Ontario Museum’s Institute of Contemporary Culture. She was also the President of the Meta Centre for People with Special Needs, where she now serves as board member of the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble and President of Integra (serving children and youth with learning disabilities).

Peter S. Newell

He is a senior partner at Norton Rose and brings a global expertise in construction and engineering; outsourcing; information technology; mergers and acquisitions; communications, media and technology.

Martin Abell

Martin Abell understands the value of every dollar as a hardworking entrepreneur and father of four here in Toronto. He has tirelessly supported the community through his business and volunteer efforts, from coaching local youth hockey to his focus on business sustainability. As past chair of the Nature Conservancy of Canada for the Ontario Region, Martin has demonstrated leadership in protecting and preserving Ontario’s great outdoors.
As a lifelong citizen of Toronto, Martin and his wife Kim are raising their four young children in our community. He understands the intricate economic and social issues we are all facing. He has served Toronto Centre’s most vulnerable residents for more than 10 years as a team leader and active volunteer for the local Out of the Cold program.

Bill Culkins

Bill Culkins has continued to be involved in community activity regarding the rights of seniors, youth and HIV/AIDS individuals. He served as a member of the Capital Campaign team for the Cabbagetown Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club. Bill joined the team of the Lake Scugog Camp Gala Committee in 2011. He was a member of the Executive for Toronto Centre Federal Liberal Riding Association since 2010. Bill participated in the leadership of the Metropolitan United Church Out of the Cold Program. He was a member of the Heart and Vision Award Ceremony team since 2009. Bill joined the 51 Division Community Police Liason George Brown Gala, a benefit for youth Scholarship. He was a Dixon Hall volunteer and a supporter in the Bob Rae and Glen Murray campaigns.