Rady Faculty announcement: New director of Office of Equity, Access & Participation
Message from Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and Dr. Marcia Anderson, vice-dean, Indigenous health, social justice and anti-racism, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and Dr. Marcia Anderson, vice-dean Indigenous health, social justice and anti-racism, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, are pleased to announce that Kagowa Kuruneri has been appointed director of the Rady Faculty office of equity, access and participation, effective Jan. 3, 2025.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Kuruneri is a lawyer with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion in employment law. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in legal studies and sociology from the University of Waterloo, a bachelor of laws from the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK, and a master of laws from the University of London.
For the last six years, she has worked with non-profit organizations in British Columbia and the UK. Most recently, as director of operations at the Atira Women’s Resource Society, she oversaw residential properties and advocacy and support programs across the Greater Vancouver Area and other communities in B.C. Among her accomplishments was opening new residential programs that provide safe housing for hundreds of women and children fleeing abuse or at risk of homelessness.
In that position, she also led negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement to ensure an equitable balance between Atira Women’s Resource Society and its unionizing workforce.
Kuruneri is a passionate advocate and activist for respect, diversity and inclusion, and has played a key role in several community and volunteer initiatives.
In Vancouver, she collaborated with community and government stakeholders to implement long-term initiatives to advance trans, gender diverse, two-spirit (TGD2S+) equity. This included the implementation and pilot of Vancouver’s first trans-only emergency weather response shelter, in collaboration with BC Housing.
She is also a founding member of Peace of the Circle Restorative Collective in Vancouver, a group focused on advocacy and support for safer and more equal communities through the use of restorative practices and principles. She was involved in research and policy support and as a liaison with police and local government to enhance the city’s use of restorative justice principles.
Kuruneri looks forward to contributing to the Rady Faculty’s and UM’s commitment to creating a brighter future for all.
Please join Dr. Nickerson and Dr. Anderson in welcoming Kuruneri to her new role.