Carla Neto, Executive Director
Carla has many years of work experience and she combines her Bachelor of Social Work, current studies for an MBA (specializing in Management and Leadership), intersectional feminist lens, anti-racist/anti-oppressive, trauma-informed and harm reduction principles, make in this new role. Carla came to Women’s Habitat with over two decades of sector experience and quickly became an asset to the agency. She has up-levelled service delivery, led the creation of innovative approaches and new programming, as the Manager of Community Programs at Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke, where she managed Counseling Services, Housing and Transitional Supports Services, Parenting programs, Girls-focused programs and Life Skills Drop-in programs. Prior to coming to Women’s Habitat, Carla managed the YWCA Toronto Women’s Shelter and Transitional Housing and Support Program for over 10 years.
Carla believes that service delivery must support capacity, resiliency building and sustainability for the women and their dependents seeking services as well as be in alignment with strategies to end gender-based violence. Under Carla’s leadership, the Women’s Habitat Outreach Centre enhanced and delivered programs that focus on skill building and housing readiness as well as prevention-focused programing for boys and young men.
Carla is a transformational leader with effective problem-solving abilities and a mentor with the ability to build strong and creative teams by fostering a culture of collaboration, diversity and inclusion. Carla is a strategic and caring leader, who is well loved by her staff, and respected for her ability to make good decisions that balance our organizational goals with the needs of our people. She has also been instrumental in landing our ARAO and inclusion policies. Carla has demonstrated the ability to rebuild a strong organizational culture that values equity, and which will help Women’s Habitat attract and retain the talent it needs to take the organization to the next level. Over the years Carla has established strong sector network relationships, which has unequivocally raised the organization’s profile externally.
Office: (416) 252-7949 x 225
cneto@womens-habitat.ca
Lina Almanzan, Director of Philanthropy, Resources & Systems
Lina Almanzan started her career in 1995 in the IT field. She has worked in different industries in the areas of proposals, ERP systems, turn-key projects, supply management, media and advertising. With over 15 years’ experience as project manager, she leads the Philanthropy and Engagement team and she is also responsible for Women’s Habitat’s IT needs. She holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering with a major in Systems and a Fundraising Management Certificate from Ryerson University. She is proud to serve her Spanish speaking community.
Office: (416) 252-7949 x 232
lalmanzan@womens-habitat.ca
Alicia Whyte, Services Manager
Alicia Whyte is a trauma counsellor with over 9 years’ experience supporting survivors of sexual violence, gender-based violence and intimate partner violence . She completed the Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Advocate Counsellor program with George Brown College. She has worked with several organizations including TRCC/MWAR providing crisis line counselling, court support, face to face peer counselling, Take back the Night & SAAM Committees, training facilitator as well as Aura Freedom International as a trauma counsellor. Alicia has advocacy and activism in her soul, she has strong leadership skills which she uses to empower those around her and is committed to working herself out of a job by supporting the end of GBV, smashing the patriarchy and the stigmas surrounding GBV and sexual violence.
Office: (416) 252-1785 x 232
awhyte@womens-habitat.ca