IJM Canada Leadership
Management Team
Anu George Canjanathoppil
Anu has 13 years of leadership experience with International Justice Mission (IJM). In South Asia, she served as the Director of Operations, the Director of National Interventions and the Director of Legal. During her time with IJM, Anu has worked extensively to impact justice systems by collaborating with state and local governments in South Asia.
Anu initiated and led IJM’s first ever partnership program and oversaw the training of more than 17,000 police officers, government officials, and NGO’s on the rescue and rehabilitation of individuals trapped in slavery and bringing criminals to justice. As a result of Anu’s leadership, more than 10,000 individuals have been rescued from forced labour slavery.
Anu holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Edith Cowan University, Australia and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University. She successfully completed her B.A., B.L. from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College and acquired a special diploma in Intellectual Property Law.
Anu has used her creative communications skills to bring social issues to the public’s attention by writing and producing radio dramas and street theatre with social messages. Her dedication to the empowerment of people who are vulnerable to poverty and violence, her vision for social change, and knowledge about international issues, have all led to Anu being awarded several honours; one of which was being recognized as a Sauvé Scholar by the Canadian government. She represented South Asia as a Youth Ambassador to Dhaka in 2003 through the National Cadet Corps, with the status of a Diplomat as a Cultural and Military Attaché.
Cheryl Hotchkiss
Cheryl is IJM Canada’s Director of Strategy and Operations. She is an experienced non-profit leader providing support to efforts to change government policies and public attitudes, raised funds and awareness to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people for over 25 years.
Cheryl has been working in the social justice field for over 25 years with experience ranging from local community advocacy projects to international advocacy campaigns. She started her career with a local anti-violence organization moving on to campaigning for the rights of women globally at Amnesty International Canada and then to World Vision Canada where she help build their public advocacy campaigning efforts.
She has a BA in Political Science and History from Carleton University, an MA Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University and is currently working on advanced certification in Integral Coaching. She lives in Waterloo, Ontario with her husband. She has two young adult children pursuing post-secondary studies.
David Pollendine
David Pollendine is IJM,'s National Director of Development Growth. Born and raised in the UK, he came to Canada with his family and started working for IJM in 2017 focusing on an ambitious vision by 2030, to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and prove that justice for people in poverty is unstoppable.
David is a trained teacher, actor and cut his teeth as a fundraiser working for Christian Aid and St. John Ambulance in the UK. During the 90's David spent 10 years in the Czech Republic working with students after the velvet revolution which ended communism in the former Czechoslovakia to help pioneer and establish a National Student Christian Union (UKH).
David has a BSC Hons in Sports Science from St Mary's College, University of Surrey and a master's degree in applied Drama from Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Before coming to Canada, David ran his own theatre company writing and directing plays for schools and using drama as a vehicle for transformation, working in youth clubs, libraries, museums, and youth offender centres. Over the years he has partnered with a number of NGOs running arts and development projects in communities across Europe, Africa and Asia. David lives in Winnipeg and is married to Irfana and has two children, Zara (17) and Zane (14), and a faithful dog called Biscuit.
Joash Thomas
Joash Thomas is International Justice Mission Canada’s National Director of Mobilization & Advocacy. Born and raised in India, Joash has served with IJM teams in 3 countries over the past decade. Prior to joining IJM, Joash ran a political consulting and lobbying firm in the United States.
Joash has a master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University and is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Christian Leadership & Systematic Theology. A sought-after speaker, Joash is frequently invited to teach about justice at churches & conferences across North America. An Oblate in the Diocese of St. Anthony, Joash is also the author of ‘A Just Gospel’, a forthcoming book in partnership with Brazos Press to be published in Fall 2025.
Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Joash leads a dynamic team that is building the Canadian movement to rescue millions and protect half a billion people from slavery & violence by 2030.
Sheldon Fernando
Sheldon has 5 years of leadership experience before he joined International Justice Mission Canada in July 2022. He has a passion for working with social justice organizations and has been working with nonprofit organizations since 2011 after graduating from university. Sheldon is a graduate from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Finance and Accounting. He has also been a part of several mission trips to India and Colombia where he was part of a team building and leading schools. The time he served on those mission trips gave him a passion to use his education and experience to serve charitable organizations with a mission to bring change to those in need.
Board of Directors
James Peters
James is the president of Hadrian Manufacturing Inc. and has led the company through significant growth and change. James has extensive experience serving on boards in the charitable sector and is passionate about using his skills in furthering IJM Canada’s work. He is also one of the founders of 541 Eatery & Exchange, a social enterprise located in downtown Hamilton. James earned an HBScF degree from Lakehead University and an MBA Co-op degree from McMaster University. James has served on the Board for 3 years
Marvin Devries
Recently retired, Marv DeVries is the Past President of Trojan Technologies, a global leader in water treatment with customers in over 100 countries. Prior to his 30 years of work with Trojan, Marv and his wife, Peggy, served for approximately 8 years in Bangladesh, India, and Haiti with World Renew – a church-based relief and development agency. In his retirement, Marv is engaged with a variety of non-profit agencies, including engagement in water issues for Indigenous communities in Canada. Marv joined the IJM Canada Board in 2018.
Kelly Semkiw
Kelly joined the Board of Directors of IJM Canada in May of 2018. Since graduating from the University of Toronto, Kelly Semkiw has relentlessly pursued her career in not-for-profit development in both Canada and the United States. Semkiw currently works as a consultant for not-for-profits who want to increase their impact.
Jon Faber
Jon currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Pason Systems, Inc. in Calgary, Alberta. Prior to joining Pason Systems, Jon was Vice-President of Investment Banking at National Bank Financial. His role as CFO specializes in finance and accounting, risk management, investor relations, information technology, and supply chain. Jon has over 15 years of experience in capital markets and executive leadership, where he brings strategic and financial perspectives to create team-based solutions for the priorities and challenges of a business. Jon also volunteers in his local community, as well as the Chair of Council at Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church.
Angie Redecopp
Angie Redecopp practices business law with a focus on small businesses and social enterprises. She also advises organizations on their ESG frameworks and policies. Prior to starting her own legal practice, Angie was an associate professor in the business program at Ambrose University, a development director for IJM Canada, a corporate law partner at Borden Ladner Gervais, and a small business owner. Through her work with IJM and Ambrose, Angie has visited 8 IJM field offices. Angie has bachelor’s degrees in education and law, a master’s in business administration, and is a PhD candidate in the field of business and human rights.
Jonathan Shui
Jonathan currently serves as the Director of Investments at Good & Well, Inc. in Toronto, Ontario. In this role, Jonathan leads the deal team which invests in early-stage ventures with a social or environmental impact to create a more purposeful and sustainable global economy. Previously, Jonathan was a Portfolio Manager and Vice President & Director at TD Asset Management, directly managing over $3 billion in assets under management. Jonathan is passionate about solving problems through the power of entrepreneurship and creativity. He also has volunteer experience across Toronto and globally, as well as previously serving as an Elder at FreeChurch Toronto.
Wayne Alguire
Wayne Alguire joined the Board of Directors of IJM Canada in May of 2018. Wayne lent his expertise for over 20 years to the corporate and education sectors before transitioning into not-for-profit leadership, first with the Willow Creek Association and has recently retired from his role as senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, BC.
Leigh Schumann
Leigh is a Principal at Fawkes + Holly where she co-leads a team of consultants that specialize in non-profit communications and fundraising for charities across North America. Leigh has over 15 years of global non-profit experience, a BA from Trinity Western University and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. She lives on the Sunshine Coast, BC with her husband Rob and two children.
Marv Penner
Marv has given his life to caring for the next generation and the men and women who love and lead them. He has served in camp ministry, local church pastoral ministry, and has spent much of his life as an equipper and educator of those pursuing vocational ministry. In addition to serving on the faculty at Briercrest Seminary for over 20 years, Marv has taught in dozens of seminaries and colleges around the world. He also maintains a private practice as a clinical therapist specializing in work with adolescents and their families. Marv is an author having written extensively in the area of youth and family ministry and frequently speaks at conferences and conventions. He earned his MA in Marriage and Family Counseling at Grace Seminary, and his PhD at Oxford Graduate School. Marv and his wife Lois live in Lake Country, British Columbia, and have three grown children and a little herd of awesome grandchildren.
Sharon Cohn Wu
Sharon serves as IJM's Regional President of North America, leading the strategy and teams responsible for IJM's constituent, government and corporate partnerships in the United States and Canada.
Sharon has more than 20 years of leadership experience with IJM. Prior to her current role, Sharon managed and led all of IJM’s programs in the field for 10+ years before she began pioneering IJM’s Justice System Strengthening projects. Sharon also led IJM’s anti-trafficking efforts in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including establishing anti-trafficking operations and implementing IJM’s first USAID police training grant in Cambodia. Most recently, as Principal Advisor on Violence Against Women and Children, Sharon led IJM’s center of excellence in addressing violence against children, trafficking, and intimate partner violence, and developed globally applicable best practices for IJM’s extensive programs worldwide.
Sharon received her B.A. with honors in Government & Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She lives in the DC area with her husband and three children.
Linda G. Yang
Linda is honoured to serve on the IJM Canada Board starting March 2023. After obtaining her BA from the University of British Columbia and JD from Dalhousie University, she practiced in the areas of commercial litigation, employment, and business immigration at a national law firm. Passionate about pursuing the cause of justice around the world, she resigned from her job to spend two years in Cebu, Philippines as an IJM Legal Fellow, supporting the Cebu Field Office in combatting the online sexual exploitation of children. Since returning to Canada in December 2019, Linda represents institutional lenders at a boutique law firm in Vancouver and has engaged with a variety of non-profit agencies, including on issues of transitional housing for refugees in Canada. Linda and her husband Clayon live in BC’s Lower Mainland and enjoy running together and chasing after their toddler, three grown children and a little herd of awesome grandchildren.
Thomas Turner
Thomas is currently the Director of Data, Insights, and Information Systems at Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization whose mission is to educate and equip people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. He is also an adjunct professor at Cairn University, teaching data analytics courses. Prior to his role at Bread for the World, Thomas was International Justice Mission’s Regional Vice President of Data & Insights, since joining IJM in 2012, he supported the North American fundraising and marketing teams in various leadership roles. Before joining IJM, Thomas worked at KPMG and held various research, data and compliance roles.
Thomas received his master’s degree in English from Rutgers University and earned his bachelor’s degree in education and Bible from Cairn University. He lives in northern Virginia with his wife, a special education teacher, and their two children.
About IJM
International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. We partner with local authorities to combat trafficking and slavery, violence against women and children and police abuse of power.