Maria is a non-profit manager in Calgary, Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of International Relations from the University of British Columbia, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Calgary, with a focus on social and health policy and holistic approaches to food insecurity. Her experience includes strategy development and implementation, program management, research and evaluation, and community building.
In her role as manager of the Community Hubs Initiative at the United Way of Calgary and Area, Maria employs an asset-based community development framework to support and expand third spaces and social infrastructure in the Calgary community. Concurrently, she is part of United Way’s Community Impact Strategy work and of the Communities Working Group of the Natural Supports Leadership Table. Maria is interested in the intersection of systems change and asset-based community development – how local initiatives can inform policy and social change, and how systems thinking can support community resiliency.
Maria joined the Board in 2025, and serves as Co-chair, Communications committee.
