Bahar Karimi is the Executive Director of Clinical Practice and the Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Innovation at Thrive Group. With more than 22 years of experience across long-term care, community services, and healthcare leadership, her journey in nursing began as a Personal Support Worker before becoming an RPN, both through Mohawk College, then RN, and healthcare executive.

She holds graduate degrees in Nursing and Health Administration and is currently completing her PhD in Nursing at Western University, focusing on workforce sustainability and the future of care in the long-term care sector. Bahar also holds adjunct academic appointments and is deeply committed to leadership development, innovation, and building more compassionate and sustainable healthcare systems. In 2025 Bahar was honoured by Mohawk College and inducted into the Alumni of Distinction.

Debbie has spent more than 40 years strengthening Hamilton's health and social-service sector. She began her career in child life before moving into public relations and fundraising, where she advanced some of the city's most respected non-profits by breaking barriers, expanding access, and securing vital resources.

Her work has consistently improved services for individuals and families in our community. Across every role, and through her extensive volunteer leadership, Debbie has championed dignity, equity, and ease of access for those facing serious life challenges. A compassionate, ethical, and visionary leader, she empowers others to lead with courage and purpose. Debbie's influence is woven through many of Hamilton's health, education, and social service organizations, making her a true force for public good. In 2012 Debbie was recognized by Mohawk College for her work and advocacy and inducted into the Alumni of Distinction. 

Since joining Good Shepherd in 2005 as Chief Development Officer, Cathy Wellwood has played a transformative leadership role in Hamilton’s social-service sector. A graduate of Mohawk College’s Executive Leadership Program, she oversees fundraising efforts that generate nearly one-third of Good Shepherd’s operating revenue through major gifts, planned giving, direct mail, and special events.

Under Cathy’s leadership, Good Shepherd successfully completed a $55-million capital campaign that led to the creation of Good Shepherd Square, a landmark downtown development featuring affordable housing and essential community services. Her work has helped strengthen one of Hamilton’s largest providers of human services and community health care, supporting vulnerable individuals and families with dignity and compassion. Prior to Good Shepherd, Cathy held fundraising leadership roles at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare, where she advanced major initiatives including a Children’s Hospital Telethon and planned giving programs.

Beyond her professional achievements, Cathy is a dedicated community volunteer, supporting numerous local organizations. Her contributions have earned her many honours, including Mohawk College’s Alumni of Distinction Award for Business and the Paul Harris Fellowship.

Jason DeBoer is a Partner at KPMG LLP in Hamilton, an international professional services firm. He is an accomplished accountant with over 30 years of experience advising privately held clients with their accounting and tax needs in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, agriculture, services, hospitality and tourism. He is a dedicated advocate for his profession, as well as a business leader and mentor within his firm, and frequently applies his expertise to charitable initiatives both locally and internationally.

Jason graduated from Mohawk College with a diploma in Business Administration in 1992 and from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in 1994.  He received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1997 from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and in 2021, was named a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario – the highest distinction bestowed upon a CPA in the profession. In 2025, he was a recipient of the Alumni of Distinction Award from Mohawk College.

John Lane is a Mohawk College alumni – a graduate of the Architectural Technology program in 1988. John is a long-time instructor and advisor at Mohawk College. For over 30 years, John has served at the college as a casual instructor and as a Program Advisory Chair. John has always been steadfast in his dedication to the development of future building professionals in Ontario.

For over 38 years, John has served in four different municipalities as a Building Official and is currently the Director of Building Services and Chief Building Official (CBO) in the Town of Caledon.

John was recently elected as the President of the Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA), is a Certified Building Code Official, a Certified Property Standards Officer as well as a Member of the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario.

John is also deeply engaged in community service, including volunteer roles as a member of the Caledonia Fair Board and President of the Middleport Heritage Society in Brant County.

Dilini Fernando is a 2020 graduate of the Business Analysis program at Mohawk College. She is the Co-Founder and Operations Lead of Certitude by K, a sustainable fashion brand rooted in her family’s long-standing Sri Lankan batik business. The brand transforms discarded materials into wearable art while empowering underprivileged women and has been featured at New York and Los Angeles Fashion Week. In 2025, she was also selected as a Top 12 finalist in Women4Climate Toronto, where her brand aligned with the City of Toronto’s mission toward Net Zero by 2040.

Dilini currently works as a Manager at TD Insurance, where she focuses on creating a positive environment for her team to thrive, grow in confidence, and succeed. She is committed to TD’s broader purpose of being more human and giving back to the communities it serves.

Her community involvement includes volunteering with Achilles Canada, supporting non-profits through the Taproot Foundation, and fundraising for the United Way campaign—efforts that have earned her the TD Community Champion Award.

Dilini exemplifies purpose, resilience, and connection, and was inducted into Mohawk College’s Alumni of Distinction in 2025.

Akram El Mlafi, P.Eng. is a Professional Engineer licensed with PEO, with proven experience in construction delivery, cost control, and civil infrastructure estimating. He graduated from the Civil Engineering Technology program at Mohawk College in 2015 and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Lakehead University in 2017.

Akram joined Dufferin Construction that same year as a Construction Coordinator, gaining hands on experience in project execution, scheduling, and resource management. In 2022, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent, where his role expanded to leverage his technical expertise, field leadership, and coordination of complex construction activities. He has since progressed into his current role as an Estimator, preparing competitive bids and strategic pricing for large scale civil infrastructure projects.

Akram’s project experience includes various MTO Major Capital roadway and structures projects as well as runway and taxiway rehabilitation at Toronto Pearson International Airport. He brings a strong practical understanding of constructability, risk, and cost drivers, with proven capabilities in cost estimating, tender strategy, constructability analysis, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement.

Brian Hogben is a passionate entrepreneur, investor, and speaker dedicated to helping people achieve financial freedom through real estate, mortgages, and smart investing. As the founder of Mission 35 Mortgages, he has built an award-winning brokerage that not only funds homeownership but also empowers mortgage agents with the tools and mindset to succeed.

Beyond mortgages, Brian is the largest Liberty Tax franchise holder in Canada, ensuring thousands of clients receive expert guidance on taxes and financial planning. He is also a partner in Shore Capital, a mortgage investment company offering investors secure, high-yield opportunities in real estate-backed lending.

A firm believer in real estate as a wealth-building tool, Brian has an extensive property portfolio across Southern Ontario. His deep market knowledge and strategic approach have helped him create lasting financial success. Brian enjoys sharing his knowledge with students and in 2023 was inducted into Mohawk College’s Alumni of Distinction for his involvement and career achievements.

Despite his many ventures, Brian's greatest pride is being a dedicated father to his daughter Lyla.  Whether mentoring agents, guiding investors, or speaking on national stages, his mission remains the same: to inspire, educate, and empower others to build wealth and live with purpose.