Meet the Team
Rachel
Operations Manager
and Board Liaison
Rachel Kleiman is a lifelong resident of Niagara and a proud alumna of both Brock University and Mohawk College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Social Service Worker Diploma. With substantial frontline and leadership experience in brain injury across both non-profit and private sectors, Rachel applies her expertise in fundraising and brain injury rehabilitation as the Operations Manager and Board Liaison for the Brain Injury Association of Niagara. She is committed to guiding the organization towards both present and future success
Rachel has a rich history of volunteer work and is passionate about fostering community relationships and contributing to local initiatives. She previously held the position of Vice-President on the YWCA Niagara Region Board of Directors and currently serves as the Vice-President of the National Chronic Pain Society Board of Directors. Rachel is the proud recipient of the Hamilton (2021) and Niagara (2022) Top 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards.
Tamara
Program Coordinator
Tamara joined the Brain Injury Association of Niagara in September 2023 as the Program Coordinator, managing the daily operations of the Oasis Clubhouse as well as the delivery of programs and services offered at BIAN. She has an educational background in Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physiotherapy Assistant and Brain Disorder Management which lead her to working as a Case Manager in the Motor Vehicle Industry andjoining the board of the directors for the Brain Injury Association of York Region prior to joining BIAN. Her passion lies in creating a supportive environment with meaningful activities and programs that foster recovery, growth, connection, creativity and the overall well-being of our members.
Sarah Thomas completed her student placement with the Brain Injury Association of Niagara, and was later hired joined BIAN in August of 2023 as the new Community Engagement Coordinator, and as of May 2024 is BIAN's current Peer Support Coordinator with the OBIA Peer Support Program.
With a background in Mental Health and Disability, Sarah is passionate about bringing awareness and education to those directly affected by acquired brain injury as well as their family, friends and support systems. Sarah works closely with our Education and Advocacy Committee to highlight resources and professionals in the region in the field of ABI.
Sarah
Community Engagement and Peer Support Coordinator
Katarina has been working in the events and fundraising industry for the past 5 years. In 2017, she experienced a traumatic brain injury, which took many months to recover from. It was very challenging as she had to relearn to walk and structure sentences again. As a result of this experience, she has developed a strong interest in supporting others living with brain injuries. In 2021, she returned to school and obtained her graduate degree in Brain Disorders. She hopes to continue making a difference and raising more awareness about brain rehabilitation.
During her free time, Katarina enjoys spending time outdoors. She loves activities like camping, hiking, canoeing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. Even though she is very active, she also enjoys relaxing at home with her partner and their two dogs.
Katarina
Fundraising Coordinator
Cindy Clark has lived experience as a caregiver, which originally brought her to learn about the work of the Brain Injury Association of Niagara. Since officially joining the team in 2018, Cindy has held many roles and is currently BIAN's Finance and Administrative Assistant. Cindy's background in bookkeeping and management makes her an asset to the organization's overall operation.