Vice-Chair

Anna Forth has been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) since 2006. She is an officer in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS), based in the National Capital Region. 

Multilingual in French, Spanish and Czech, Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts w/Honours in French and Spanish Studies (University of Winnipeg), a Certificate in Women in Leadership (S.C. Johnson School of Business, Cornell University) and a Master of Arts in Global Leadership (Royal Roads University). Her greatest successes in the military have been her contributions to the training, education, and mentorship of others. Anna has deployed in support of domestic operations such as Op LENTUS, and also internationally as part of Op REASSURANCE in Latvia; a valuable opportunity to work together with NATO colleagues.

Anna believes in the power of compassionate leadership and is active in a number of organizations that promote women and 2SLGBTQI+ persons. Anna is supported in all of her endeavours by her best friend and partner.

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Secretary

Katryna Johnston is a senior international emergency management and security professional at Global Affairs Canada (GAC), currently serving as Acting Director, International Emergency Preparedness and Planning. She provides leadership on global crisis readiness, contingency planning, and coordination in support of Canada’s international priorities.

At GAC, Katryna has held key roles, including Senior Advisor to the Director General, Deputy Director for Emergency Management Training and Exercises, and positions supporting Canada’s 2025 G7 Presidency. She contributed to responses to international crises, including Lebanon and Afghanistan evacuation operations and the largest repatriation effort in Canadian history during COVID‑19, returning over 50,000 citizens from 100 countries.

Before joining GAC, Katryna served in the Royal Canadian Navy, worked in hospital protective services, and was an Incident Commander in wildfire management with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. With 20 years of operational experience, she is a recognized leader in security, emergency response, crisis coordination, and an advocate for women’s leadership.

Treasurer

Ellen is a passionate advocate for gender equity and intersectionality, with significant experience in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and international security. As Senior Human Resources Manager at 4th Canadian Division HQ, they lead personnel administration and initiatives to ensure CAF policies are inclusive and equitable, advising on Gender-Based Analysis (GBA+) and intersectionality.

Ellen’s experience extends internationally, having served as the Gender Advisor for Operation UNIFIER and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Advisor for NATO in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she received the Ukrainian ‘Badge of Honour’ for advancing gender inclusivity. They have led efforts to align national security legislation with WPS policies and enhance gender integration within NATO’s framework. Ellen has also managed key operational tasks, including overseeing a multimillion-dollar budget and ensuring security and safety protocols.

She holds a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on gendered human security, and has contributed to global WPS discourse through teaching and international representation.

Mentorship Lead & Strategic Planning

Sara holds a PhD in Political Studies from Queen’s University, where she taught as a Fellow before joining the Department of National Defence. She has held various roles, including Senior Policy Advisor to an External Review Board, Advisor to an Assistant Deputy Minister, and Assistant Professor at the Canadian Forces College. Currently, Sara is a Policy Analyst in Chief Military Personnel and a Research Collaborator with the Canadian Defence and Security Network. She is also an Executive Member of her local Canadian International Council branch.

Sara’s academic focus is on international relations, with research in great power competition, international security organizations, defence diplomacy, and gender and security. As a Policy Advisor and Gender Advisor, she has worked to identify barriers to the leadership of diverse women. Her work integrates Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Women, Peace and Security into academic and policy settings. Sara is committed to amplifying marginalized voices, applying evidence-based decision-making, and confronting biases and privilege.

Grants & Fundraising

Mabintou (Mabi) Ouattara is a nonprofit and community leader recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30for her leadership in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She has extensive experience in program development, project management, fundraising, and strategic partnerships across national and international initiatives. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ubora Women’s Initiative, she has led organizational governance, secured and administered multiple grants, and coordinated donor stewardship for programs advancing women’s leadership and global diplomacy. Mabi has convened young women leaders with policymakers and senior stakeholders through initiatives such as the Lead-HER-Ship Summit, and represented Canada as a delegate to the69th UN Commission on the Status of Women. She serves on the Women in NATO Committee with YATA Canada and as a youth advisory council member to Senator Marilou McPhedran, advocating for gender equality, climate action, youth engagement, and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). Fully bilingual and an engineer, Mabi brings an intersectional perspective and strategic fundraising expertise to her work.

Membership & Outreach Lead

Frieda García Castellanos is a Women, Peace and Security (WPS) practitioner, researcher, and strategic communicator with deep experience at the intersection of security, gender, and multilateral policy across the Americas. She has spent more than a decade working within the inter-American system, including with the Inter-American Defense College and in direct support of U.S. SOUTHCOM and NORTHCOM, advancing gender integration and operational gender analysis in security and defense contexts of the Americas.

Frieda is a passionate Research Assistant on Conflict and WPS, bringing a practitioner’s lens to feminist and policy-relevant research. Across her work, Frieda is known for bridging high-level policy with lived realities, centering community and survivor-led approaches, and translating evidence into actionable change.

She is a Co-Director at MERIDIANA, a Canadian consulting firm focused on strategic alignment for gender justice, and Co-Founder of CG&A Translations, serving multilateral and policy institutions across the region.

As Director for Membership and Outreach at WIIS Canada, she also produces our first official podcast, Bylines & Frontlines, amplifying key insights on international security for a global audience.

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Membership & Chapter Engagement

Colleen Bell is a faculty member in the Department of Politics at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research and teaching focus on international theories, and critical security and war studies. She is currently working on projects examining international policing, feminist foreign policy, and the role of public relations in military operations. She is excited to serve on the board of WIIS and looks forward to meeting more women in the field. She also hopes to promote and celebrate the work of (especially junior) scholars and to contribute to professional and career development events and initiatives. She is an editor of the journal Critical Studies on Security.

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Membership & Strategic Planning

Astrid Arzu is Counsel with the Department of Justice Canada, where she advises primarily in the area of administrative law and related national security issues.

After completing an undergraduate degree in political science and a J.D. from the University of Alberta, an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and participating in an exchange at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Astrid has developed a growing interest in global perspectives on international security, international humanitarian law, and international human rights. Her appointment to the board of WIIS Canada marks a pivotal moment for her, offering an opportunity to contribute to advancing intersectionality and women's leadership within the realm of international security.

Social Media & Communications Lead

Teanna has over two years of experience working at Global Affairs Canada, ranging from managing Canada's relations with several European countries to advancing Canada's trade policy priorities in major multilateral fora. She also brings international experience from her work as a consultant at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and her time supporting the Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organizations in Vienna. Teanna holds an M.A. in Advanced International Studies at the Vienna School of International Studies and a B.A. with Distinction in French and Political Science from Simon Fraser University. 

Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Teanna is deeply committed to making a positive impact through her volunteer engagement. She actively supports initiatives that promote gender equality and empower women in the field of international security. As she continues to grow in her career, Teanna remains committed to making organisations stronger by breaking down systemic barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups.

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Education & Training Lead

Isabela has made significant contributions to advancing WIIS Canada’s mission through her leadership in outreach, LGBTQ+ engagement, and equity-focused initiatives. A committed researcher and advocate, she holds a Master’s in Political Studies at Queen’s University, specializing in Nationalism, Ethnicity, Peace, and Conflict, with research on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and the prevention of gender‑based atrocity crimes. She has worked with Professor Stéphanie von Hlatky on researching gender integration in defence and security institutions, and is a Junior Data Analyst at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

As Founder and President of Bleed the North, Isabela led large‑scale community engagement efforts, collecting over 140,000 period products and influencing policy, including the 2023 Federal Food Bank Pilot Project. She also secured a MINDS Targeted Engagement Grant to support research on organizational culture within the Canadian Armed Forces.

Isabela brings a strong record of policy leadership, social justice advocacy, and community‑driven programming. Her experience positions her to strengthen WIIS Canada’s EDII and youth outreach and contribute meaningfully to its national leadership.

Member-at-Large

Christina brings over thirty years of strategic leadership and experience in the public service and private sector. She is a seasoned public service executive and foreign policy expert with extensive experience in responding to global crises and conflicts and advancing international development. Christina currently leads a team responsible for multilateral and thematic policy at the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat of the Privy Council Office. 

Christina has worked in Ottawa and abroad to champion gender equality and leadership opportunities for women in international peace and security. She has received public service awards including an Operational Service Medal for her work in Afghanistan. 

Originally from Vancouver, Christina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Simon Fraser University and has taken graduate courses in law and international affairs. She lives in Ottawa with her husband and daughter, and enjoys painting in her spare time.

Member-at-Large

Germaine is an African-Canadian professional with a track record of leadership in government and community sectors. She brings 16 years of senior advisory roles at the federal and provincial levels, complemented by more than two decades of service to communities locally and internationally. Her career in the international development field and as a public servant has cultivated a deep understanding of governance systems, cross-sector relationships, and the dynamics that shape both public institutions and the development of global initiatives.

Recognizing the persistent underrepresentation of African women in Canada’s international security landscape—often linked to limited access to policymaking spaces—Germaine is committed to driving change. As a WIIS board member, she works to amplify African women’s voices and strengthen their participation and leadership in international peace and security spheres.

Germaine holds a PhD in Public and International Affairs and an MA in Social and Public Policy with a specialization in peace studies.

Member-at-Large

Brook is a PhD candidate at the University of York Law School and the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR). Her research interests include the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, military gender advisors, NATO, and international human rights law. She earned her LLM (Distinction) in International Human Rights Law and Practices from the University of York and CAHR; additionally, she completed an MA (Hons) in Human Security and Peacebuilding at Royal Roads University and a BA at the Royal Military College of Canada.

Before moving to the UK to study, Brook served for over 25 years as a logistics officer in the Canadian Army, with postings in Edmonton, Montreal, Yellowknife, Ottawa, UK, Kingston, and Kenya (International Peace Support Training Centre). She has on-the-ground experience in complex operational environments supporting security sector reform and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Her operational deployments include Op SCULPTURE (Sierra Leone), Op CALUMET (Egypt), and Op PROTEUS (Israel & Palestine).

Member-at-Large

Polina Vingert is an International Policy Analyst at the Standards Council of Canada and a graduate student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. In her role, she advances international standardization in emerging technologies, trade facilitation, and strategic coordination, supporting Canada’s foreign engagement and strengthening the country’s influence in global standardization. 

Her academic focus centers on international trade and economic policy, with additional specialization in cybersecurity. Her interest in foreign relations developed during her time as a student at the Embassy of Canada to Germany and at Global Affairs Canada in the Eastern Europe and Eurasia Division, where she worked on regional policy files, as well as bilateral and multilateral coordination. 

She has been a Communications Assistant with Women in International Security Canada for the last two years, leading on the monthly newsletter. She remains committed to strengthening the WIIS network by elevating members’ work, fostering meaningful connections across the community, and building a more visible and cohesive platform for professionals in international security.

Member-at-Large

Mariam Karmazanashvili is a governance and international affairs professional specializing in women’s leadership, institutional strategy, and multilateral policy engagement. She is the Founder and National Lead of Canada’s SDG 5 Fellowship, at the United Nations Association of Canada. A national initiative advancing women’s leadership in diplomacy, public policy, and international security through structured mentorship, policy education, and cross-sector collaboration.

Mariam brings senior governance experience at the political and civil society levels, currently serving as President of a federal Electoral District Association and as a Board Member of the Alberta Women’s Liberal Commission, where she contributes to strategic planning, policy development, and member engagement. Her work focuses on strengthening pathways for women and emerging leaders into decision making spaces, aligning grassroots action with national and international policy priorities.
With active engagement in transatlantic security dialogue and youth-focused multilateral platforms, Mariam is committed to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda through practical coalition building, policy innovation, and measurable institutional impact.

Member-at-Large

Katie brings over a decade of experience in defence policy, national security, intelligence, and strategic leadership across the Government of Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 

She currently serves in the Privy Council Office’s Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat, leading on defence investments to rearm and rebuild the Canadian Armed Forces, military and security assistance to Ukraine, Canada’s engagement in NATO, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. 

Katie has also worked in Parliamentary and Cabinet Affairs at National Defence, in intelligence at the Privy Council Office, and in Brussels at NATO’s Supreme Allied Command Europe headquarters. 

Katie holds a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from McGill University.