Board of Directors
Our Board
Executive Committee
Laban Lin – Chair
As someone who grew up in an immigrant community in Canada, Laban understands the struggles that accompany those with language and literacy barriers. He feels strongly that in addition to providing competitiveness in the job market, language skills offer people peace of mind and a sense that they belong to the communities in which they live. For this reason, Laban was drawn to volunteer at PTP.
Laban currently works at Stripe, focusing on pricing analytics. Previously, he was a consultant at Bain & Company, a leading global management consultancy. There, he worked in a variety of industries including financial services, mining, distribution, and non-profit.
Laban holds honours degrees in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business and Software Engineering from the University of Western Ontario.
Regnard Raquedan – Vice Chair
Regnard knows what it feels like to be a newcomer and needing to build the skills and experience required to create a better life for his family. With the support of the right services and resources, he was able to build a career in technology in Toronto. Regnard feels that many deserve this kind of opportunity, a value he shares with PTP.
Regnard is a Solutions Architect with GitLab and Co-founder of TechGuides, with over 20 years of experience in Digital Transformation, Systems Architecture, and Innovation. Regnard is committed to using technology to improve people’s lives.
Despite having completed advanced studies (he has an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, a Masters in Information Management from Ateneo De Manila University, and an executive certificate on Strategy and Innovation from MIT Sloan School of Management), Regnard is most proud of his completion of the Improv Program at The Second City Training Centre.
Jason Basch – Treasurer
Motivated by the positive impact PTP has had on individuals and families, Jason chose to join the Board of Directors to help ensure the success of PTP continues well into the future. Jason firmly believes that providing individuals a solid educational foundation paves the way for a lifetime of meaningful employment opportunities.
Currently, Jason serves as Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Groundlayer Capital Inc., a Toronto-based hedge fund, where he has worked since 2002. He has also actively contributed as a volunteer, board member, and committee participant for various local not-for-profit organizations.
Jason holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University, in addition to being a CFA Charterholder.
James Orlando – Communications Officer
James chose to volunteer at PTP because of a strong desire to enhance education and work mobility within the community. The organization’s mission to improve social outcomes strongly aligns with his own values, and together they have successfully introduced new classes with the shared goal of building better futures for all those that PTP supports.
James is currently Director of Economics at TD Bank. His work covers a broad range of economic issues, including inflation, monetary policy, and financial markets, providing actionable insights to navigate economic challenges.
James holds a CFA, MSc Economics, MBA Finance, and B. Commerce.
Lindsay Ellis
Lindsay’s first experience as a newcomer was in high school when she lived in Germany as an exchange student. She gained firsthand experience with language barriers and the challenges of adapting to a new environment. The mission of PTP aligns with Lindsay’s belief that everyone should have access to meaningful work that not only contributes to society but also fosters personal fulfillment and self-sufficiency.
Lindsay is a corporate culture and strategy consultant, specializing in designing customized workshops to drive meaningful change within organizations. In her spare time, she channels her irreverent comedic perspective into writing for The Beaverton, Canada’s leading online satirical news outlet.
Lindsay holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Warwick, and an MBA from Toronto Metropolitan University. As an avid learner, she has also completed certificate programs in Film, Improv, Satire Writing, and LEGO Serious Play Facilitation.
Jay Panchalingam
Jay, along with his family, was a newcomer to Canada in the mid-1990s. His parents relied on programs and services similar to what PTP offers to help build a better life. As a result, Jay is passionate about giving back and supporting PTP’s impactful work to help individuals and families build the future they want.
He is currently an Investment Associate at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, where he focuses on supporting portfolio companies with their value creation plans and enhancing board governance and effectiveness. Prior to his current position, Jay worked at Accenture as a Management Consultant and at Toronto Hydro as a Program Specialist. In addition to his professional life, Jay enjoys being actively involved in social impact projects. He was the Site Lead for the CIBC Run for the Cure and led the development of a scholarship to give future Black students the opportunity to pursue a Rotman MBA.
Jay holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toronto, and certificates in Project Management (PMP) and Management Information Systems.
Gabriella Selvarajah
Having family who have adapted to the Canadian society and workforce with little to no support, Gabriella truly appreciates the work PTP continues to do, strengthening community members and empowering individuals to continue their learning journey. Much of her work has been dedicated to helping and supporting others to overcome those obstacles.
In her previous roles and experiences, Gabriella has worked closely with the community to build employment skills, fundraise, and support individuals through their educational journey. With over a decade in post-secondary, she has been part of building and re-mapping what programming can look like for students, and looks forward to working with PTP to collaborate and assist in building these journeys.
Gabriella holds a Masters of Education in Social Justice Education from OISE, University of Toronto, and is completing her Doctorate in Education in Educational Leadership, focused on Community Leadership with the University of Western Ontario.
Colan Wang
After hearing from others who had found meaningful work through PTP’s programs, Colan joined the Board of Directors in 2018 to help further PTP’s mission of providing tailored, positive pathways to success.
As a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group, Colan advises Canadian and multinational organizations across a variety of industries with their strategic and transformation initiatives. Prior to his current position, he worked as a Business Consultant at TD Bank in their wealth management group and as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Canada. Colan has also served on the Board of Directors and Committees of other local organizations, including the CFA Society Toronto and LGBT Youthline.
Colan received his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Palmer Scholar. He also graduated from Ivey Business School’s HBA program and is a CFA Charterholder.