Board Members

Tanya is currently an IT Business Support Lead in the utility industry. She is a Project Management Professional acquiring her PMP credentials in March 2020. Tanya’s career covers both the IT and legal field working as a Paralegal for the first 17 years and the last 3.5 years as a Project Manager in IT. Tanya has been a volunteer with the Nova Scotia Chapter for the last three (3) years as a Social Media Lead as well as served as Study Group Building Facilitator in the Fall of 2016 and the Fall of 2019 . Tanya is trained in Agile and Waterfall Methodology and her most recent projects focused within the customer care portfolio. Tanya has a passion for health and wellness and is an avid sports enthusiast actively participating in boxing, basketball and hockey.

Mahbubur Rahman is the current President of PMI Nova Scotia Chapter. He has been on PMI Nova Scotia Board since 2021.Mahbubur Rahman has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology and MASc of Civil Engineering and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Dalhousie University. He obtained his PMP in 2019 and is now working as Program  Manager at the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development  in the Government of Nova Scotia. He has more than twenty one years of combined working experience in Project Management, Engineering and in Academia . Mahbubur Rahman is an active community leader and volunteer in Halifax Community. Mahbubur’s leadership and community engagement was recognized through multiple awards including Guy Hanson Gold Medal 2022, Top 25 Immigrant of the Maritimes 2018, Province of Nova Scotia Volunteer Award 2017, Halifax Regional Municipality Volunteer Awards 2017, Dalhousie Board of Governors Award 2015. He is  from Dhaka, Bangladesh and has been living in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the last thirteen years. He is happy to call Halifax his new home where he lives with his wife and two children.

Stefanie DeYoung has been an active volunteer with PMI NS since 2021 and was recently named Volunteer of the Year. She's currently a Project Manager at Nova Scotia Power with 10 years of experience working in the utility and finance industries and obtained her PMP credentials in September 2021. Stefanie enjoys learning new skills, travelling, tennis and yoga.

Erandi is a professional with manufacturing, Operations and Project management back ground. She has moved to Halifax in 2021 from Sri Lanka and joined PMI NS Chapter in year 2022. Erandi has experience over 18 years across multiple industrial sectors, specialized in the areas such as Business process improvement, business transformation, Operations / project management & Business systems.

Erandi is graduated from Saint Mary's University for Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) & also posses degrees - Master degree of Technology & Bachelor of Industrial studies in Sri Lanka. Erandi is a certified Lean  practitioner & Lean six sigma gReen belt Licensee. Erandi loves Music & travel she also has a passion for networking, volunteering and engaging with multiple community activities.

She is an Architect and Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 14 years of experience delivering complex healthcare and public-sector infrastructure projects. She works with Build Nova Scotia’s Healthcare Division, supporting major initiatives including the Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project.

She is multilingual, fluent in English, French, and Arabic, and looks forward to contributing to the Chapter and serving its membership.

Nnenna is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience at the intersection of strategic leadership, project management, and marketing. She holds an MBA in Marketing and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and Certified Product Owner (CPOA). Her academic foundation in Mass Communication and Marketing reflects a strong commitment to effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and value-driven delivery.

Nnenna brings extensive experience leading complex initiatives across government, healthcare, consulting, and private-sector environments, including marketing and advertising, financial services, construction, and consumer goods. Her work includes supporting large-scale digital and operational transformation initiatives within highly regulated environments, as well as delivering advisory and implementation services through consulting engagements. She has successfully operated across both traditional and agile delivery models, with a strong focus on governance, change enablement, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Within PMI Nova Scotia, Nnenna has demonstrated consistent leadership and service. She served as Director of Events (January–December 2024) and Director of Volunteers (January–December 2025), where she strengthened member engagement, improved volunteer experience, and supported sustainable chapter operations. In her current role as Vice President, she is focused on advancing the Chapter’s strategic objectives, strengthening board effectiveness, and fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and professional excellence.

Sandra Thomson is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a strong background in the events industry. 

As the Events Manager for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, she has successfully led numerous high-profile events over the past four years, including the prestigious Halifax Business Awards. Sandra is also the co-owner of On It Event Solutions Inc., a boutique company specializing in registration management systems and event consulting. 

Sandra is excited to contribute her expertise and enthusiasm to the PMI NS board, with a focus on enhancing educational opportunities and fostering valuable networking for its members.

Michelle Forrest is a Solutions consultant at Grand Lake Logic Datawhere she partners with clients to build and scale data capabilities and governance.  
With a background in Computer Science, Project and Engineering Management, Michelle has always focused on Technology sectors and for the past several years more particularly in the data and AI space.  
She has worked in both professional services and product companies across several domains in both Canada, the US and the United Arab Emirates. 
In her downtime when she isn't playing sports or enjoying NS lake life she is traveling to new destinations.

Rasheed is an experienced Construction Project Manager with over a decade of hands-on experience overseeing large scale Engineering, Oil and Gas Construction, and Installation projects. Throughout his career, he has developed a deep understanding of the complex intersection between Engineering, Project Management and Community Engagement.  
His primary focus has been ensuring that deliverables are met in a timely and efficient manner and with the highest standards of quality.  
His notable achievement in his career include: Leading multi-million-dollar Fire-Water Dry Network Installation Scope of OML 58 Upgrade project that enhanced gas export capacity. 
Rasheed’s decision to seek elective office with PMI Nova Scotia chapter is driven by his desire to apply his skills in project management and community-building at a broader, policy-making level. He is committed to improving the efficiency and accountability of Construction Project Management, advocating for policies that promote sustainable development and cost-effective governance. 

Joycelyn Swamidoss is a Lead Sustainability Verifier with expertise in ESG data verification, particularly GHG emissions, across various industries. In her role, she partners with organizations to enhance the accuracy of their data through external audits. Joycelyn holds a Master of Environmental Science from Miami University, with a focus on pollution prevention and sustainability. She earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in November 2023. 
With over five years of project management experience, Joycelyn has led sustainability initiatives focused on waste reduction, diversion, and sustainable procurement, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams. She is also a LEED Green Associate and a Certified Lead Auditor for ISO 14001, using her knowledge to actively engage in sustainability efforts and volunteering to help nonprofits improve their environmental practices. 
As a newcomer to Halifax, Joycelyn enjoys exploring local beaches, farms, markets, and coffee shops in her free time.

Nigel is a certified Project Management Professional with over 20 years of experience in international business, stakeholder engagement, and event coordination. Since joining PMI Nova Scotia in 2024, he has helped deliver inclusive, community-focused programming such as the Great NS Pick-Me-Up, networking socials, and professional development events.

He also served on the planning committee for the 2024 PMI R2/R3 Regional Leadership Conference in Halifax, where he organized the highly praised Friday evening Harbour Cruise. Nigel holds a Master’s in Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Saint Mary’s University), an MBA in International Business, and certifications in Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, and Generative AI.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago and now based in Dartmouth, Nigel is passionate about building connections, supporting newcomers, and advancing diversity within the project management community.

Lela Machaidze is the Director of Education for the PMI Nova Scotia Chapter, a position she
has held since January 2026. She holds an MBA in General Management from European
School of Management, a Master's Certificate in Project Management from The George
Washington University, and a degree in Production Management and Organization from
Georgian Engineering-Economic Institute. Lela has also completed executive education
programs in Artificial Intelligence at MIT Sloan School of Management and Saïd Business
School, University of Oxford. She is a Central Eurasia Leadership Academy Fellow (CELA10,
2013).
Lela earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2012, PMI Agile
Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) in 2022, and PMO Certified Practitioner (PMO-CP) in 2024.
She also holds the Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP) certification.
Lela currently serves as Director of Programs and Service Delivery at Capstone Project
Solutions and as Project Manager for the TraZic Management Centre at Halifax Harbour
Bridges. With over 20 years of experience in project and program management, her career
includes leadership roles at Bechtel Corporation, CH2M, and consulting engagements with
NATO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She was an
Invited Lecturer in Project Management at the Georgian Institute of Public AZairs (GIPA) and
has taught Change Management at Caucasus University.

A passionate advocate for the project management profession, Lela is the initiator, co-
founder, and first President of the PMI Tbilisi, Georgia Chapter, where she served for nearly five years (2018–2023). She also contributed to the global PMI community as a member of
the PMI Community Collaboration Council (2023–2024) and served as Director at the
International Institute of Time Management in Prague (2021–2025). Originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, Lela moved to Nova Scotia in April 2025. She lives with her
husband and child.

Franklin Iyebutemeh is a banking and project management professional originally from Nigeria who immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2024. He joined the PMI Nova Scotia Chapter in July 2024 and has been actively engaged in the chapter’s activities, volunteering with the PMI NS Events Team since February 2025.
Franklin brings over 15 years of combined experience across the finance industry and
construction sector, having previously held roles such as Sales/Relationship Manager and
Construction Project Manager. He earned his Project Management Professional (PMP)
certification in November 2020 and currently works as an Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
Analyst with RBC.
In addition to his corporate experience, Franklin has worked as a Project Coordinator with a
community-based not-for-profit organization in Dartmouth, where he led a province-wide
health and wellness project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, focused on
increasing vaccine awareness and uptake among Black communities across Nova Scotia.
Outside of work, Franklin enjoys road trips, building meaningful connections, volunteering, and making positive, lasting impacts within his community.

Ifeyinwa (Ify) Anaele moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia from Nigeria in 2017 and has spent 25 years working in STEM, with 17 of those years focused on Project and Program Management across telecommunications, cloud transformation, SaaS delivery, and public-sector digital modernization. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics Engineering from the University of Nigeria and an MBA in Project Management from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.
She is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI-RMP, SAFe Agilist, Certified
Scrum Master, and AWS Cloud Practitioner, with a strong track record of delivering complex,
high-impact initiatives for organizations such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Canada,
Halifax Harbour Bridges, and the Government of Nova Scotia.
Ifeyinwa is the Founder and Consulting Partner of FVA Projects Consultants Inc., where she
supports organizations with project and program delivery strategy, and the CEO of Fortvera
Events Effects, an Halifax based events and stage effects services company serving clients across Nova Scotia.
Her career spans senior leadership roles including Senior Engagement Manager at AWS, Senior Project Manager with Nova Scotia Digital Services, and Project Manager / Lead Scrum Master at IBM Canada, where she led large-scale cloud migrations, cybersecurity initiatives, ERP programs, and agile product delivery across geographically distributed, cross-functional teams.
Earlier in her career, Ifeyinwa spent over a decade with MTN Communications, progressing from engineering roles to Project Lead for nationwide core network implementations, delivering mission-critical infrastructure projects that supported tens of millions of subscribers.
Within the PMI Nova Scotia Chapter, Ifeyinwa has actively volunteered in several capacities,
including serving as a mentor, contributing as a member of the ATP Strategy Committee, and
most recently supporting the PMI NS Student Outreach Program.
Ifeyinwa is committed to giving back to the professional community through service, leadership, and collaboration.

Himank Kumar (Ph.D., PMP, PMI-ACP) is a Senior Scientist and Project Lead at a leading biopharmaceutical CDMO in Nova Scotia, with over seven years of experience leading biologics drug substance development projects that improve patient health. He leads cross-functional teams on process development projects, facilitates scale-up and technology transfer, and delivers risk-responsive solutions in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Himank holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from India and completed Postdoctoral research in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University. He has authored 18 peer-reviewed publications in biophysical chemistry and enzymology and is certified in PMP and Agile (PMI-ACP). Passionate about exercising emotional intelligence into agile delivery, Himank translates complex pharmaceutical challenges into actionable project management insights that deliver value across industries.

He is committed to fostering a vibrant, collaborative chapter community by sharing knowledge and advancing professional and community-driven initiatives.

In his spare time, Himank enjoys photography and reading on leadership.

Adil Saiyed, MBA, PMP® is a senior project management professional with over 15 years of global experience supporting organizations through change, growth, IT and digital transformation across higher education, healthcare, telecom, technology, and professional services.

Adil has been in the Canadian higher education space, having worked with Saint Mary’s University and Dalhousie University. In addition to his corporate and public-sector experience, Adil is a former business owner who founded and led a consulting firm delivering marketing, digital and technology projects for clients. This entrepreneurial experience shapes his practical, outcome-focused approach to leadership, and value delivery. He has a natural mindset in driving optimizations, partnerships and alliances.

As a former Director of Technology with PMI Nova Scotia, Adil supported the chapter’s digital platforms and operations, helping ensure smooth member experiences and effective use of technology, and continues to do so as an active Technology support Volunteer. He is passionate about giving back to the project management community and supporting the growth of the profession in Nova Scotia.

Outside of work, Adil is a fitness and sports enthusiast, an avid traveler, and part of the “live to eat” gourmet category. One of his long-term bucket list goals is to open his own restaurant someday.