Meet our Team

John Melinte immigrated to Canada in 1987. After graduating from the University of Toronto, he lived all over the city and eventually settled down in the Bayview-Cummer neighbourhood with his family in 2008. An actuary with 25 years of experience, John is also an entrepreneur and has been involved with several startups and charities in various unrelated fields, including technology, real estate and medical travel. 

John initially became involved with the BCNA out of concern for one specific issue, but decided to stay on in order to try to continue the good work that the past president and board of directors had already started in the community  prior to his arrival.

John believes in dialogue, good communication, and enjoys a laugh. He tries to stay calm in stressful situations and solve problems collaboratively.

In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his family, travel, food and being an avid fan of combat sports.

Natasha Mansouri is a seasoned educator specializing in architecture, urban planning, and fine woodworking with nearly three decades of teaching experience across diverse age groups, backgrounds, and various educational settings. Additionally, Natasha boasts over a decade of hands-on work experience as a designer, project manager, and assistant researcher.

Natasha holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering and Urban Design, along with a Bachelor of Education in Technological Studies, complemented by a variety of other diplomas and certificates. Regarding her personality traits, she exhibits a strong inclination towards conscientiousness and orderliness.

Among Natasha’s volunteer work and service to the community, she designed 200 homes free of charge for less fortunate families between 1993 and 1998. She served as a board member of the Upper Canada Skating Club from 2012 to 2014 and extended her assistance through volunteering at the North York Harvest Food Bank from 2019 to 2020. She is a member of the North York Gardening Club. Natasha joined the BCNA in early 2023. 

Natasha takes pleasure in gardening, swimming, baking, and reading. She is also deeply committed to nurturing a sense of community, marked by profound respect and gratitude for elders, along with a strong sense of responsibility for the next generation.

Natasha and her family have proudly called Willowdale their home since 2004. Their front garden earned them a notable achievement in 2017, as it emerged victorious in the Residential Environmental category of the North York Front Garden Contest.

Shalini Sethi is the Finance Officer for the AGE-WELL Network. She is responsible for the effective and efficient financial administration of the network’s research funding and business development activities. Shalini works closely with financial analysts and managers in Research Financial Services at UHN, the network’s host institution to ensure day-to-day operations are carried out in accordance with the established accounting principles, institutional, network and funding agencies’ policies, and objectives.