Gilary Massa Machado Email & Phone Number

As a key member of UPD’s leadership team, I shape the company’s strategic direction, cultivate meaningful business relationships, and coach executives to drive success. I am equally committed to fostering the growth and development of our internal team. In addition, I spearhead the development and execution of UPD’s DEI Organizational Change Management practices, ensuring we deliver impactful tools, streamlined processes, and actionable resources that support sustainable, inclusive change for our clients.

Toronto, Canada Area

As the founder and principal consultant, I specialize in diversity and inclusion, change management, and management consulting, empowering community organizations and private sector companies to tackle complex challenges. My approach integrates human rights principles with strategic organizational change to foster inclusive environments.Diversity & Inclusion: Design and deliver interactive training programs that promote equity, address systemic oppression, and combat issues such as anti-Black racism and Islamophobia.Change Management: Lead organizations through transformative change by conducting equity and anti-oppression audits, ensuring alignment with human rights and equity frameworks.Management Consulting: Provide strategic support in policy evaluation and implementation, advising labor unions, nonprofits, and government agencies on best practices for advancing equity.

Canada

I led the development and implementation of organizational change strategies and initiatives, as well as the strategic and operational plans for the Human Rights Office, focused on advancing human rights and preventing workplace harassment.Educational Programs: Developed and delivered engaging web-based and in-person training sessions, workshops, and curricula to enhance knowledge of human rights and workplace harassment policies, legislative requirements, and related competencies.Policy Development: Reviewed, revised, and evaluated policies and procedures related to human rights and workplace harassment, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.Advisory Role: Provided interpretation, advice, and guidance to the Board, including school administrators, staff, parents, students, and community members, on resolving complex human rights issues in educational settings.Representation: Acted as a representative for the Board and the Human Rights Office at Ministry of Education roundtables and community events, advocating for effective human rights practices.

Toronto, Canada Area

I provided key strategic support in addressing complex human rights cases, identifying systemic trends, and developing board-wide outreach and engagement strategies to promote human rights awareness and compliance.Advisory Support: Offered interpretation, advice, and guidance to the Board—including school administrators, staff, parents, and students—on resolving complex human rights issues within educational settings.Implementation Leadership: Led the rollout of PR728, TDSB’s procedure for reporting and responding to racism and hate involving students, which included training development and support for procedural implementation.Portal Oversight: Managed the launch of the Racism, Bias, and Hate Portal, providing training and collaborating with users and IT to identify and implement enhancements.Monitoring Trends: Monitored and tracked human rights and harassment issues in schools, identifying systemic trends and opportunities for intervention.Outreach & Engagement: Developed and implemented strategies to increase awareness of TDSB human rights policies and legislation, utilizing the Human Rights Office’s website, factsheets, webinars, and events.Liaison Role: Acted as a liaison between the Human Rights Office and various TDSB teams, including Equity, Caring and Safe Schools, Communications, and Disability Services.Strategic Human Rights Support: Provided strategic advice on TDSB policies and procedures related to human rights.Event Coordination: Planned and coordinated the inaugural two-day Human Rights in Schools Symposium.

I coordinated the organization’s national strategic response to issues impacting Muslims in Canada by conducting research, influencing policy, enhancing civic engagement, and creating educational opportunities to combat Islamophobia.Training Development: Developed and delivered training sessions on anti-oppression and Islamophobia for educators, police boards, and community agencies.Volunteer Management: Managed a team of volunteers from over 80 ethno-cultural communities across Canada, providing relevant training and resources.Campaign Development: Created research-driven local and national campaigns aimed at combating racism and Islamophobia.Policy Analysis: Offered key insights on equity considerations in policy analysis and contributed to the development of government policy briefings.

Toronto, Canada Area

I coordinated the development of educational tools and community events focused on preventing gender-based violence. At METRAC, I collaborated with individuals, communities, and institutions to shift ideas, actions, and policies aimed at ending violence against women and youth.E-Course Development: Designed an e-course employing effective conceptual and analytical approaches to support violence prevention programs for women.Strategic Direction: Provided strategic guidance to various stakeholders to achieve project outcomes effectively.Community Engagement: Coordinated METRAC’s involvement in the City of Toronto’s ‘Toronto for All’ initiatives, focusing on anti-Black racism and its impact on the safety of women and children.

Toronto, Canada Area

I served as a key strategist responsible for developing and implementing policies, as well as establishing long- and short-term organizational goals and critical communications functions.Communications Strategy Development: Developed the organization’s communications strategy and utilized various media platforms to enhance visibility and engagement.External Communication Management: Managed external communication strategies to increase the organization’s visibility through press releases, media advisories, and talking points, and prepared board members, staff, and volunteers for media interviews.Staff Training & Supervision: Trained and supervised full-time unionized staff and part-time student staff, providing advice and support to the executive management team on labor relations and collective agreement administration.Board Orientation Support: Assisted with the transition and orientation of new members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committees.Student Union Representation: Represented the interests of the student union on various university decision-making bodies.

I was responsible for developing and facilitating public engagement initiatives to improve the accessibility of post-secondary education, promoting equity and inclusion in university policies and program implementation.Equity Training: Collaborated with TMU stakeholders to introduce mandatory equity training for student leaders, fostering an inclusive environment.Advocacy Coordination: Supervised staff in Equity Service Groups, coordinating advocacy efforts and campaigns for equity-seeking student groups.Community Engagement: Built networks with community stakeholders to develop advocacy resources and assist with policy changes related to provincial accessibility requirements.Support Initiatives: Led the creation of a sexual assault survivor support line and facilitated university-wide discussions on race and racism.

Master'S Degree, Leadership And Community Engagement

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science And Government

Certificate In Teaching English As A Foreign Language, English Language Instructor