Shairoze Damji
Director
Shairoze Damji immigrated to Canada from Tanzania as a child. Growing up in Calgary, she was a beneficiary of a nurturing Ismaili Muslim community and caring neighbours. Empathetic and civic minded role models influenced her development. Drawing from the immigration experience of her parents, Shairoze has been an active volunteer in non-profit organizations working with immigrants and refugees, including as past Board Chair of CIWA and the Settlement Portfolio with the Ismaili Muslim community working with Afghan refugees. As a Policy Analyst for the Citizenship Division of the Manitoba government, she conducted a review of family class sponsorship defaults that negated the introduction of a proposed Sponsorship Bond by the federal government.
Shairoze participated in and supported the negotiations for the first Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement and the first Settlement Renewal program examining the funding of settlement services.
Shairoze holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Calgary and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Manitoba. As a lawyer for twenty years and a Qualified Mediator, she is passionate about access to justice. Shairoze is the Chair of the Regional Conciliation and Arbitration Board, serves on the Board of Vibrant Communities Calgary, is a volunteer lawyer with Calgary Legal Guidance, and is a Member at Large with CBA National ADR section.