Samara Lijiam

Samara Lijiam currently serves as an Advisor for Stakeholder and Constituency Relations at the City of Toronto, where responsibilities include coordinating meetings and assisting constituents with municipal policies. In addition, Samara holds the position of Young Director at Fora: Network for Change, focusing on empowering emerging leaders and promoting gender equity through board placements. As the Outreach and Communications Coordinator for the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, Samara develops promotional materials and enhances online presence, while also coordinating communications for various initiatives. Previous roles include Chief Analytics Officer at Step Above Stigma, where the mission is to empower young adults regarding mental health stigma, and a fellow at the 1834 Foundation, aiming to inspire young Black Canadians in public policy. Other notable experiences include being President of the Queen's Student Alumni Association and Editor in Chief for the Queen's Journal of Ethnic and Racial Studies, along with campaign management for the Ontario Liberal Party. Samara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies from Queen's University.