Agnes
Board Member
Agnes is a respected community leader, retired senior executive, and longtime advocate for immigrant families and youth in Canada. She brings more than five decades of experience in social work, community development, public administration, and international relations.
Prior to her retirement in 2023, Agnes served as Senior Program Manager at Catholic Community Services of York Region, where she led major settlement and newcomer programs serving immigrant families across the region. She has also worked as an affiliate counsellor with Warren Shepell and Ceridian employee assistance programs in Canada for 15 years and held leadership positions with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs for 10 years, including service at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York, where she represented the Philippines in various UN committees and international bodies. She also served as community organizer and management positions at the National Housing Authority and National Cottage Industries Development Authority. She also played a significant role in the establishment of the Philippine Refugee Processing Center for Indo-Chinese refugees, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a candidate for a Master’s degree in Business and Government Administration from Ateneo de Manila University, Agnes has dedicated her career to empowering communities, fostering leadership, and promoting cultural understanding.
She currently serves as President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Toronto (UPAAT) for almost 6 years and is actively involved in numerous charitable, educational, and cultural initiatives within the immigrant community. She is also a founding member of Gawad Kalinga Canada and serves in the Board of Directors. Her contributions have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Filipino Centre Toronto Outstanding Filipino Canadian Senior Award (2025) and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto (2017).