Staff Members
Meghan Neufeld
Executive Director
Meghan’s passion for community investment can be traced back to her pre-professional days. Her volunteerism and advocacy work growing up inspired her to quickly move into the non-profit sector after graduating from university. Most recently, she held a role with the Cloverdale Community Kitchen and Fraser Valley Regional Food Bank where she worked to create an inclusive community of care for the vulnerable across the Lower Mainland. In addition to her full-time work in the sector, for the past 15 years she has run a consulting business that works alongside grassroots organizations to plan and execute fundraising and community-building initiatives. Meghan has been instrumental in projects that have had a lasting impact on the communities and organizations she supports.
A common thread amongst the organizations Meghan has worked with is the emphasis placed on providing dignity, which is something she deeply values about BabyGoRound’s program and unique offering. Meghan is also studying Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of British Columbia and has been working as part of a team to develop policy positions on Canada’s Transit System and Women, Childcare, and Pay Transparency Legislation with the hopes of creating social change.
In her free time, you will find Meghan exploring new places – near and far – alongside her husband and daughter.
Kelly Nelson
Operations Manager
Kelly joined the team at BabyGoRound as Operations Manager in March 2024. As a parent herself, Kelly understands how important resources like BabyGoRound are to new families, and she is passionate about supporting and empowering new parents on their journey. She brings with her a passion for community engagement, and is deeply committed to fostering a supportive environment where every parent feels heard, valued, and equipped with the tools they need to thrive.
Kelly believes in the power of empathy, inclusion, and continuous learning to create positive change in the lives of parents and their children, and she is deeply honored to be part of a team that shares her values and passion for making a difference.
Born and raised in the sunny Okanagan, Kelly now resides in Vancouver with her husband and son. In her downtime, you’ll find her camping, hanging out at the beach, and spending time with her friends and family.
Courtney Lang
Volunteer Services
Courtney joined the BabyGoRound team in March 2022, bringing with her enthusiasm, and an eagerness to learn. In school, Courtney studied both Psychology and Sociology. After graduating with a BA from Queen’s University, she was introduced to the non-profit sector through her job as a program coordinator at Dress for Success Vancouver.
Courtney understands that in order for communities to flourish, we must develop systems that foster connection and support, enabling everyone to rise together. She appreciates the way that BabyGoRound facilitates is through a circular flow of resources that benefits everyone involved. She is so grateful to join a team of passionate and forward thinking staff and volunteers, and looks forward to working together to expand the scope of the programs offered to families.
Pre-pandemic, Courtney spent one year living in the vibrant city of Berlin. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, spending time in nature, and making accessories for her small business, Eudaimonic.
Patricia Senft
Client Services Manager
Patricia’s journey at BabyGoRound started in 2018 as a volunteer, officially joining the team in February 2021. Patricia spent the previous 15 years working in different businesses in customer-centric industries, where she led diverse teams as a consultant, brand manager, and entrepreneur. Most recently she owned a small business in Vancouver, where she employed a team of 15 women.
Patricia is inspired and motivated by BabyGoRound’s mission to help families in need safely care for their babies and toddlers. As a mother of two, she understands how challenging the entry into motherhood can be, and knows the significance of the assistance we provide in not only reducing the financial stress of the families we serve, but also in helping them feel seen and supported.
Born in Brazil, Patricia lived in 6 different countries before moving to Vancouver, where she now resides with her husband, two daughters and dog. Patricia has an MBA degree from London Business School. She loves nothing more than travelling to new places and discovering different cultures. She is happiest at the beach, loves doing puzzles and baking, and can’t say no to a good oat milk latte.
Caterina Banducci
Resource Manager
Caterina has always been a very strong believer in volunteering and giving back to her community. After many years of volunteering in her various child-focused programs and non-profits, including BabyGoRound, Caterina was excited to move into a more formal role as our Resource Manager.
Caterina is excited to be meeting parents accessing our services, preparing bundles for families, as well as connecting with BabyGoRound’s wonderful community of supporters for baby item donations. She is drawn to this organization because she believes that creating a healthy community starting from the very beginning of parenthood and the arrival of a child. Supporting these young families at a very vulnerable time is crucial for a positive start.
Caterina’s background is social work and has worked with a variety of populations such as children in inner city schools, family counselling, and adoption. She has a Bachelor of Social Work from UBC. Although she was born in Vancouver, she grew up living and working in a vineyard in the Okanagan, Caterina now lives is Vancouver with her husband and three children. Her favourite things to do are to spend time with her family, hike, bike, read, and play pickleball.
Andrea Dowsley
Community Development Manager
Andrea first joined BabyGoRound as a volunteer in 2019 after welcome her first child and moved into a staff role in 2022. Recognizing the impact of having a network of support personally when becoming a parent, Andrea sought opportunities to create this kind of support for others. Since her time with us began, Andrea has actively engaged her community to help spread the word about the work BabyGoRound is doing and to collect gear donations.
Bringing with her a love of customer focused work and a fast paced environment, Andrea brings excellence to her role engaging with families, donors, and volunteers alike. Andrea loves that BabyGoRound provides support to families who are already facing barriers during a critical, and oftentimes delicate, season of their lives. She works daily to make BabyGoRound a safe space for families to come and feel the kindness of the community around them in a tangible and sustainable way.
In the summertime, you’ll usually find Andrea watching or playing baseball, or spending time with her family.
Beata Si
Program Coordinator
Joining the BabyGoRound team is a thrilling opportunity for Beata, aligning with her passion for helping others and her desire to give back to her community.
With a BA in Psychology and a minor in Family Studies from the University of British Columbia, Beata’s educational background has provided her with a deep understanding of others and family dynamics. Her volunteer work with Vancouver Coastal Health has yielded meaningful contributions across various programs.
She provides support for mothers at risk of postpartum depression, offering assistance during a challenging period and fostering healthy relationships. Beata has also contributed to child immunization clinics, prioritizing the well-being and health of the community’s children. Driven by her passion for helping others, Beata works as a counsellor at a women’s family planning and sexual health clinic. These experiences ignited her deep-seated commitment to supporting diverse women, providing the necessary support and empowering them to make informed decisions. Her empathetic nature and ability to connect with others from all walks of life have made a significant impact.
In her leisure time, Beata enjoys spending time with friends, exploring different cuisines, watching her favorite shows on Netflix, and playing soccer.
Board Members
Lynda Phinney
Board Chair
Lynda joined the board of BabyGoRound in October 2021. A seasoned communications professional, Lynda has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and community investment. She also brings experience in public consultation, government relations, and brand management. Lynda has held senior communications positions in finance and telecommunications, as well as several years working at marketing communications agencies and as an independent consultant.
Introduced to BabyGoRound while volunteering with her teenage daughter, Lynda was struck by the care, respect and practicality of the non-profit’s service delivery model. She was particularly impressed with BabyGoRound’s ability to deliver essential services creatively and safely to vulnerable families throughout the pandemic.
Lynda has served on the boards of Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland, YMCA Vancouver as well as on the Campaign Executive Committee for Collingwood School in West Vancouver. Other passions include strategic support to the Porter Foundation, an animal rescue organization in the Yukon and fundraising campaigns to support Jipe Moyo Nursery School in Mombassa, Kenya. She lives in North Vancouver with her husband, two children and two fur babies.
Niki Cumming
Board Director
Niki Cumming is one of the founding members of BabyGoRound. Niki formerly held a career as an Ultrasound Technologist in Obstetrics at BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, where working with families from diverse backgrounds ignited her passion for helping expectant parents in need. Now a busy and active mother herself, Niki values the concept of parents supporting one another to provide the items necessary to bring up safe and healthy children. She has a vested interest in the global effort to support marginalized families fleeing war-torn countries and has been instrumental in creating partnerships with social service agencies that support refugees in the Lower Mainland.
Niki was born and raised in British Columbia and resides in Vancouver with her husband and their two children and dog.
Cecily Lawrenson
Board Director
Cecily Lawrenson joined the Board of Baby Go Round in 2021. Cecily brings 20 years of experience as a fundraiser, leader, and engagement professional in the non-profit sector. Currently, Cecily is Director of Development for the UBC Sauder School of Business, where she works with some of the school’s most valued donors and alumni.
Cecily learned about BabyGoRound when she became a mother herself and considered the social and environmental benefits of donating her gently used items. She is passionate about helping vulnerable women and children, and feels that easing the transition to motherhood through the provision of basic necessities is a powerful way to do this. Cecily began her relationship with BabyGoRound as a donor and is excited to be able to contribute to its impact as a member of the Board.
Cecily was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and now lives in Crescent Beach with her husband and three young children.
Theresa Pearson
Board Director
Theresa Pearson joined the board of BabyGoRound in February 2018. Theresa has over 25 years experience working and volunteering in the non-profit sector in Vancouver. She has worked with BC Children’s Hospital, Science World, YWCA Vancouver, and Ronald McDonald House BC. Theresa contributed to these organizations as a fundraiser and event manager and has been consulting to local non-profits the last several years.
Theresa is passionate about helping others, especially children and vulnerable women. After several months as a volunteer, Theresa knew she had more to contribute to BabyGoRound through her experience with fundraising. BabyGoRound is particularly compelling to Theresa because it is such a small, grassroots organization, focused on improving the lives of little ones and their families.
Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Theresa now lives in Vancouver with her husband Brian, three kids and her English Bulldog, Wilma.
Jacqueline Misshula
Board Director
Jacqueline is a proud mother to 3 children and has been involved as a volunteer with Baby Go Round over the past five years. She has hosted many collection drives in partnership with her family and throughout her community. She discovered Baby Go Round after moving to Vancouver in 2017 and has helped collect items and then her mother, Laurie, volunteers onsite to help connect those same items to families who need them.
With over 18 years of experience as an HR professional, Jacqueline Misshula is currently a VP of People & Culture at lululemon. She collaborates with executives, cross-functional partners, and peers to develop and manage people strategies for growth across their Global & North American business operations. Jacqueline recently celebrated her 10th year with lululemon, and to date, one of her career highlights was the opportunity to lead the development and execution of their Parenthood program. This program has had a huge impact on parents throughout the Globe by providing paid leave & other support for lululemon families.
Jacqueline is also passionate about health & fitness and completed her yoga teacher training in 2010. Prior to moving to Vancouver, she used to teach yoga at a local women’s shelter in Toronto. She is community focused and continually looks for ways to contribute in a positive social manner.