Toronto Office Staff:
Bryan Cox - Executive Director  Bryan has 12 years of international development experience and has lived and worked in Africa, Europe, North America, Central and South East Asia, and the Middle East. He has had the opportunity to work on a diverse cross section of international programs in partnership with communities affected by poverty, conflict, and natural disasters. Most recently, he was Director for the International Rescue Committee and the CARDI consortium in Jakarta, Indonesia. Bryan joined YCI as Executive Director in August 2008 and is excited to be a part of the growing global movement in youth development.
Erin Nesbitt - Youth Programs Director  Erin first became involved with YCI in 1996 as a volunteer in Guyana. This was a formative experience and inspired her commitment to the principles of global citizenship. She has held a number of positions within the organization, both in the Toronto office and overseas. Erin has a BA in International Development and a Masters in Adult Education with a focus on Comparative, International and Development Education. She has over 8 years of program development experience in the non-profit sector with a special focus on youth engagement and volunteering. As Youth Programs Director she oversees the international volunteer sending and domestic youth engagement programs at YCI.
Steve Cumming - International Programs Director  Steve joined YCI as International Programs Director in January of 2009 Having spent the past three and half years between Chad, Sierra Leone, Angola and South Sudan in field management roles, Steve has experience in a number of sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, as well as humanitarian de-mining.Steve has also worked in Sri Lanka and the West Bank in youth-focused initiatives and has an academic background in Post War Reconstruction and Social Work.
Amanda Stephens - Volunteer Program Manager 
Amanda Stephens has been working with YCI for almost 5 years, currently in the role of Volunteer Program Manager responsible for the recruitment, selection, preparation and training of volunteers participating on YCI projects in Africa. With a broad range of experience in training, customer service and administration, Amanda developed a sincere interest in community development in the rural Canadian context and since shifted her focus to the global context. Amanda travelled to Kenya with YCI's first group of volunteers to assist with implementation of new programming in Mombasa. Inspired by the drive of young Canadian volunteers as well as the energy of youth overseas engaged in YCI programming, Amanda is proud to be working with Youth Challenge International.
Ryan Tucker - International Partnerships and Development Director  Since first joining YCI 9 years ago Ryan has assumed a number of roles within the organization including having been a volunteer in Guyana, volunteer program coordinator in Toronto, co-founder of the central Australia program, and back to Guyana first as a group leader and later as HIV program coordinator. In more recent years at YCI headquarters he has managed international programming for YCI in 9 countries throughout East and West Africa, Central America and the Caribbean and the South Pacific. In his current role as the international partnerships and development director, Ryan works to expand global programming, grow YCI partnerships and identify new funding opportunities for the organization.
Jessica Lockhart – Program Coordinator 
A resident of northern Alberta, Jessica moved to Ontario in 2004 to attend Ryerson University. She volunteered with YCI in Vanuatu in 2006, before returning to Toronto to complete her Bachelor of Journalism. Formerly the editor of a feminist publication for young women, she has an invested interest in gender issues, both in Canada and globally. Jessica joined YCI in May of 2008 as the Office Manager, and now works with the International Programs team.
Adrienne Knowlton - Finance Manager  Adrienne Knowlton has been YCI's Finance Manager since 1998 and has kept the organization's finances running smoothly. She works as well for a number of other Toronto based non-profits and has extensive experience in financial management for the non-profit sector.
Lauren Chender - Volunteer Communications Coordinator
 Lauren joined YCI in April 2009 as the Volunteer Communications Coordinator. Her love of learning and commitment to global social justice has led to work experience in Ghana and South Africa and travel on 5 continents. A graduate of McGill University and Humber College's International Project Management Program, Lauren brings experience in youth engagement and program development, a knack for organization and a strong commitment to positive change. Most recently, she co-ordinated an in-school theatre project promoting active global citizenship to students across Ontario. She is excited to support YCI's overseas volunteers throughout their preparation process.
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