Meet Your Board of Directors
We are an engaged group of volunteers dedicated to promoting the growth of secular humanism across our local community.
Sheila Ayala
Treasurer & Membership
Sheila has been active with Humanist Ottawa since the early 1990’s. She is currently HO Membership Secretary and Treasurer.
Robert Hamilton
President
Robert is a retired professional with a background in communications and business planning in the federal government. Robert serves on the board of several humanist organizations nationally and internationally. As President, Robert champions secular values and enlightenment principles.
Shameer Neroth
Board Director
Shameer has been a humanist activist for five years. Founder and President of “Wisdom Freethinkers”, A rationalist atheist organisation in India. A computer engineering graduate, Working as a Software architect in telecom industry. Hobbies: Swimming, Badminton and hiking.
Richard Thain
Board Director
Richard has been a longtime supporter of numerous humanist, atheist, and skeptical organizations, in addition to his professional affiliations. He shares Thomas Henry Huxley’s view that “skepticism is the highest of duties, and blind faith the one unpardonable sin.”
Now happily retired, Richard spent thirty-six wonderful years practicing as a family dentist in both a private clinic and a community hospital.
Rob Vanderkam
Board Director
Rob has been on the board of Humanist Ottawa since 2020. He worked in pulp mills on the north shore of Lake Superior in his youth and as a bio-geographer with Canada's federal government for 25 years.
Volunteer to Join the Board
Board Director
Humanist Ottawa is inviting passionate community members to step forward and help shape the future of humanism in our city by serving on our Board. If you have skills or interest in event organizing, activism, or community engagement, this is an opportunity to put your values into action and make a meaningful impact.
Join a collaborative team dedicated to promoting reason, compassion, and human rights in Ottawa—your voice and contributions can help strengthen our community and expand our reach.