Shriya Shah, Co-Chair

Shriya Shah, serving her second-term as Co-Chair, is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania in the Huntsman Dual Degree Program, combining International Studies and Business while pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Human Rights from Penn Law.

Her research and advocacy focus on the intersection of human rights with emerging technologies, accessibility, and youth empowerment. Through her comparative disability legal research at Penn Law and her Wharton Honors Thesis examining Generative AI patenting strategies, she works to ensure technological advancement serves human rights objectives.

Shriya’s commitment to human rights extends to field research, including her fellowship travelling to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to investigate human rights dimensions of the conflict. She has also shared her insights through various platforms, including delivering a TEDx talk exploring the concept of the Privilege of Movement.

Koko Sanginga, Internal Communications Officer

As a Congolese international student Koko Sanginga is dedicated to advocating for underprivileged and underserved populations around the world. She is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology and Political Science at McMaster on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations. She serves as the president of Amnesty International’s McMaster chapter, finding unique and innovative ways to engage the community in human rights activism. Koko first became involved with Amnesty at her high school in the Kingdom of eSwatini and contributed to many other social justice and human rights initiatives.

Since then, she continues to be involved in her communities, at home and abroad, in person and online. By combining her activism with her creative pursuits, Koko hopes to demonstrate that we can all be involved and support each other using the tools we already have. In this role, Koko aims to create an accessible, inclusive environment within Amnesty for all youth to find safe spaces within activism spheres.

Linnea Nguyen, Strategy & Global Partnerships Officer

Linnea Nguyen is a third-year student at McGill University pursuing a double major in Political Science and Sociology. She finds learning exchanges and global opportunities for the youth committee, and is spearheading the implementation of Amnesty’s National Youth Strategy. Involved with Amnesty since 2020, Linnea led and managed successful youth mobilization campaigns as a National Organizer. She has participated in takeovers of official Amnesty Canada social media accounts and published articles on issues central to young activists.

Linnea is also a U-Report Ambassador for UNICEF Canada and a UNESCO Global Youth Community member. Her leadership reflects a passion for youth empowerment and inclusion in processes that are missing their essential input. She delivered a TEDx talk in February 2024 on youth global citizenship.

Akanksha, Youth Engagement Officer

Akanksha is currently a fourth year student at McMaster University. She is studying Justice Political Philosophy and the law with a minor in French and Sociology. She first got involved with Amnesty at 16 years old when she went to the Toronto Human Rights College. After that she co-founded her high school’s Amnesty club and began working as a national organizer. Akanksha first started her advocacy journey through the RCMP national youth advisory committee when she was 13 and then went on to raise awareness on children rights inn Canada. Outside of school she likes to read, and go on walks.

Rajaa Berry, Youth Engagement Officer

Rajaa Berry is a climate advocate with over six years of experience in climate finance, policy, and youth-led initiatives. As an Eco Action Accelerator grantee, she led a national campaign focused on green financing to support Canada’s 30×30 Initiative, advancing marine conservation and biodiversity goals. She has represented youth perspectives at global platforms, including the Ocean Climate Dialogue and CSW68, where she championed climate justice and human rights, with a focus on climate migration for women and children. She serves on advisory boards for Amnesty International, World Ocean Day, and the UN Ocean Decade, bringing a solutions-driven approach to climate advocacy. Through her work with Fora for Change, she focuses on equitable climate policies that empower youth leaders. As a COP29 delegate with UNAC, she aims to foster actionable pathways toward a more sustainable and just future.

Annaliese, Digital Activism Officer

Annaliese is a dedicated advocate with a strong passion for human rights and social justice. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Calgary, her activism journey began during her international travels, where she witnessed many instances of gender inequality. This experience led to her commitment to creating change, inspiring her to join Amnesty International’s University of Calgary chapter to educate and empower students toward a positive global impact.

Now serving as the chapter’s President, Annaliese continues to inspire others to take action for human rights. In addition to her work with Amnesty, Annaliese is actively involved in SAAVE (Stop Addicting Adolescents to Vaping and E-Cigarettes), a student advocacy group focused on shaping public policy to protect youth health. Outside of her advocacy work, she enjoys teaching piano, singing, and travelling.

Hayley Yip, Digital Activism Officer

Hayley Yip is a passionate advocate for social justice and youth empowerment with a strong commitment to human rights. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McGill University, and is currently working at the BC government. Hayley’s activism journey began in Hong Kong, where she witnessed the erosion of freedoms during the pro-democracy movement, inspiring her to advocate for human rights and youth empowerment. She has led advocacy efforts with organizations like Heart4Heart McGill, advocating for social and medical justice for kids with congenital heart diseases, HanVoice, advocating human rights for North Korean defectors. Beyond her work, Hayley finds joy in baking and playing the cello.

Maria, Chief Development Officer

I’m a third-year University of Toronto student studying neuroscience and biochemistry. I’m very passionate about medicine and social justice. I got involved at Amnesty in 2021, and the first Amnesty campaign I was a part of was lobbying with Members of the Parliament about the Safe Third Country Agreement. This experience was very meaningful for me. Since then, I’ve been a part of other campaigns such as Write for Rights in Toronto. I’m so excited to be a part of NYAAC this year!

Jasmin Smith, Chief Development Officer

Jasmin Smith is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto, St. George, where she received her Bachelor of Science in the fields of English and Psychology. She is incredibly passionate about writing, and hopes to pursue her Masters and PhD in Literature or Journalism, with hopes of pursuing a career in investigative journalism or academia.

Jasmin began her advocacy journey at age 13, volunteering with local human rights groups in her community of Malton in Mississauga, Ontario. Her journey with Amnesty International began as a general member, and then student journalist, on the campus level, between 2020 and 2021. She has since gone on to explore other youth positions within Amnesty Canada, serving as a member of the National Organizer Program, the previous president of Amnesty International’s University of Toronto chapter, and as a previous member of the Human Rights College Planning Committee.

Jasmin is incredibly passionate about anti-racism work, LGBTQ+ advocacy, harm reduction, and gender equity, and hopes to one day report on marginalized communities and bring light to underrepresented issues.