People Behind TREWO

Dr. Sudarshan Devanesen (Dr.D)

Director, Co-Founder & Chair

Dr. D (as he is affectionately known to his legions of friends and patients) is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and former Chief of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

Sudi is deeply committed to serving the community in various capacities and was instrumental in creating community service networks within the inner city. He has been a director of several boards including Casey House, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

He has been recognised for his volunteer work and academic standing by, among others, the University of Toronto, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, St. Michael’s Hospital, the Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2001.

Dr. Manish Maingi

Director & Board Member

Dr. Manish Maingi received his MD from the University of Toronto and completed his Cardiology training at The University of Western Ontario.

He served as Chief of the Department of Cardiology at The Credit Valley Hospital from 2003 to 2012 and Chief of the Department of Cardiology at Trillium Health Partners from 2013 to 2018.

He is one of the founding members of one of the largest free standing cardiology clinics in Canada, One Heart Care, which opened in 2018 and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. He is also adjunct clinical instructor at The University of Toronto. His professional interests are in cardiac imaging, quality improvement and medical ethics.

Ananthie Alex

Director

Ananthie Alex is a driven entrepreneur known for her strategic vision, resilience, and empathetic leadership.

• A University of Toronto, Mississauga science alumna turned business leader.
• Brings over two decades of experience in property development, financing, and real estate ventures.
• Recognized for her innovative approach and leadership within the real estate sector.
• Actively involved in health-related volunteer work, reflecting a strong commitment to community service.
• Dedicated to creating lasting impact through both professional excellence and philanthropic efforts.

Dr. Salim Yusuf

Board Member

Salim Yusuf, D.Phil, FRCPC, FRSC, O.C., is a Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at McMaster University, and Executive Director of the Population Health Research Institute.

He holds a Heart and Stroke Foundation Research Chair, was a Senior Scientist of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (1999-2004), and has received (among others) the Lifetime Research Achievement award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the Paul Wood Silver Medal of the British Cardiac Society, the European Society of Cardiology gold medal, the American Heart Association Clinical Research Award, and over 35 other international and national awards for research, induction into the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

He has led over 50 major internationalstudies in over 100 countries and several of these have changed medical practice. He has published over 1000 articles in refereed journals, was the second most cited researcher in the world for 2011 and has the 17 th highest H-index in history. He is a former President of the World Heart Federation, where he has initiated the Emerging Leaders program to build capacity for implementation and policy research in all continents of the world, with the aim of halving the CVD burden globally within a generation.

Jennifer Lynn

Board Member

Jennifer Lynn is the CEO of LCI Associates Inc. Diversity Advantage International.

Jennifer’s multi-faceted experience and wide-ranging body of work spans the private, public and non-profit sectors, domestic and international markets, a multitude of industries and cultures, and entrepreneurial enterprises.

Her pioneering work and precedent-setting initiatives with business and civic organizations are dedicated to areas of Leadership, Equity, Diversity, Economic and Social Inclusion, Education, the Environment, Women, Children, Youth, Seniors, Families, Art and Culture, and Wellness.

Jennifer is the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her notable contributions to Canada. A long-standing community leader and senior advisor, she has been recognized with the Province of Ontario Volunteer Service Award and the United Way of Canada Chair’s Award of Distinction.

She also holds the distinction as the first woman of colour to Chair the Board of the United Way of Greater Toronto (one of North America’s largest agencies) and served as Board Director for the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Tides Canada, among others. She has been at the forefront of major community and advocacy initiatives including the National Movement for Harmony in Canada, the Race Relations Advisory Council on Advertising, CivicAction and the award-winning B.O.L.D. (Broadening Opportunity Through Leadership Diversity) Program.

Neil Godara

Board Member

Biomedical engineer and executive committed to public health innovation.

• Led Canada’s national ventilator initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Inventor on 70+ patents for life-saving medical technologies used globally.
• Passionate about equity, access, and community wellness through healthcare.

Rajendra Prasad Gupta

Board Member / Treasurer

Senior Finance Professional having over 40 years of experience.

Subject matter expert on financial accounting, management and regulatory reporting, counterparty and credit risk analysis and management, internal controls, systems implementation and mergers and acquisitions.

Currently providing C-Suite services to multiple multinational companies in Canadian Financial Services industry.

Passionately involved with multiple Canadian Charities as a volunteer / officer.