Kirsten Cooney

Kirsten is delighted be part of the Institute for Change Leaders team as their Development Officer. Her desire to create social change and build stronger communities was first ignited when she graduated from the Faculty of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). She has held a variety of roles in the non-profit sector over the past 20 years, and has championed numerous social justice issues, including hunger, homelessness, gender inequality, and violence against women. As a grateful family member of an organ transplant recipient, Kirsten is a passionate advocate for organ donation and is a member of the University Health Network’s Transplant Campaign Cabinet, raising funds for the world-renowned Ajmera Transplant Centre. Her love for building relationships, connecting people to their purpose, and her belief in the power of storytelling to create change are the cornerstones of her career in fundraising.