2025 Board of Directors
We're here to set the bar for excellence.
Gari Ravishankar
Gari brings extensive experience in government relations to CTPA. Currently, he is set to commerce his articling at the Ministry of Attorney General's Crown Office in the Northern Region of Ontario, his vision to elevate CTPA into a national organization, fostering professional growth and unity within the Tamil community across Canada
Neva Ratnakumar
Chair
Rubendran Janendran
Ruben Janendran is an emerging professional passionate about strategic partnerships, growth, and finance. He has played key roles in building strong organizational relationships for long-term success. At CTPA, his team supports the Board's goals and succession planning. Ruben aims to expand CTPA’s impact by connecting professionals with meaningful opportunities through its vibrant network.
Deepana Devadas
Deepana is a lawyer and marketing strategist pursuing her Master of Laws at Osgoode Hall. She empowers nonprofits and charities through purpose-driven storytelling, brand strategy, and community-focused communications. At CTPA, she brings a creative vision that challenges norms and fosters authentic representation, cultural pride, and lasting connections—promoting growth, unity, and impact within the Tamil professional community.
Gajan Selvananthan
Director of Finance & Grants
Suriya Niraimathikumar
Suriya is a Registered Cardiology Technologist training to become a Cardiac Device Specialist. She has been active in CTPA for over a year, previously as a Partnerships Associate and now as Director of Community Partnerships. In her role, she supports professional growth by offering resources and networking opportunities, aiming to build a strong, connected Tamil professional community and empower future generations.
Myuri Arujunan
Director of Internal Relations
Myuri is a Senior Underwriter at Chubb Insurance with a background in finance, risk, and banking, and holds a CRM designation. She’s passionate about purpose-driven work, community-building, and empowering Tamil professionals by fostering inclusive spaces and creating opportunities for growth and success.
Adrian Brodie
Adrian is a Financial Advisor at RBC, helping clients with personal lending and investment planning. Passionate about financial literacy, he supports others in reaching long-term goals. At the Canadian Tamil Professionals Association, he builds connections and promotes community growth through mentorship and collaboration.
Lakshmanan Sivapalan
Director of Fundraising & Growth
Lakshmanan is an expert in debt management and financial solutions, currently working as an Advice Specialist at TD in the auto finance sector. Beyond this role, Lakshmanan is deeply committed to advancing the mission of CTPA. Through strategic funding initiatives and sustainable financial mechanisms, Lakshmanan plays a key role in ensuring CTPA has the financial resources it needs to support and uplift the Canadian Tamil community.
Abisha Vignabalan
Director of Signature Events
Abisha Vignabalan is a Schulich MBA and professional accountant with a passion for leadership, mentorship, and community empowerment. With experience in banking, accounting, real estate, and compliance, she brings a people-first, strategic approach to all she does. For over six years with CTPA, she has worked to help Canadian Tamils break barriers and grow professionally. Her vision is to build CTPA into a strong national platform for leadership and unity in the Tamil community.
Keerthana Ravigulan
Director of Professional Development
Keerthana is a supply chain professional with 5+ years of experience in the CPG industry, combining technical expertise with strategic insight. She holds a Chemical Process Engineering degree and recently completed the Master of Management in Analytics at Ivey Business School. Since 2020, she has actively volunteered with the Canadian Tamil Professionals Association and now serves as a board member, championing mentorship, inclusion, and community growth for Tamil professionals across Canada.
Jeremy Francis
Jeremy is a Systems Engineer at Stellantis, working on next-gen hybrid and electric vehicle systems while pursuing his P.Eng. license in Ontario . He brings a solid foundation in Systems Thinking, Product Development, and Innovation to his work with CTPA. Through the Paalam program, Jeremy is committed to fostering mentorship, building meaningful professional connections, and empowering the next generation of Tamil professionals to thrive and grow together.
Past Board of Director
The Candian Tamil Professionals Association acknowledges Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada. This includes Inuit, Métis and more than 900,000 people living in more than 630 First Nations communities, and in cities and towns across these lands.