Our People | Board of Directors & Leadership Team | ICWSAO
Meet the ICWSAO leadership: Poolak Akhavan (Founder & President), Dr. Mehdi Hedayati, Ladan Alasvandian, Morteza Sadri, and Parsa Abbasian. Dedicated to advancing culturally appropriate healthcare, long-term care advocacy, and community support for Iranian Canadians in Ontario.
ICWSAO (Iranian Canadian Well-Being and Support Association of Ontario) is dedicated to advancing culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare, long-term care, and social support for Iranian Canadians and Farsi-speaking families across Ontario.
Board of Directors and Leadership Team
Poolak Akhavan, MSc, MLT, CIC
Founder & President — ICWSAO
پولک اخوان
Poolak Akhavan is an Infection Prevention and Control professional with over 20 years of Canadian experience in healthcare, microbiology, infection control, and long-term care. She founded ICWSAO to advance the health and well-being of Iranian seniors and their families through culturally appropriate programs, education, advocacy, and community partnerships. Her long-term vision is to establish Ontario's first culturally appropriate long-term care home for the Iranian community.
Mehdi Hedayati, BSc, MSc, PhD
Director & Advisor — ICWSAO
مهدی هدایتی
Mehdi Hedayati is a biochemist, Visiting Scholar in the Department of Biology at Trent University, and researcher specializing in moral philosophy, bioethics, and artificial intelligence in medical research. He provides scientific and strategic guidance to support ICWSAO's commitment to innovation, education, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Ladan Alasvandian, RN
Director — ICWSAO
لادن علاسوندیان
Ladan Alasvandian is an Oncology Registered Nurse and Patient Care Coordinator with extensive experience in cancer care and patient advocacy. She is dedicated to improving health outcomes through compassionate, patient-centered care and supports ICWSAO's mission to enhance the well-being of Iranian seniors and their families.
Morteza Sadri, P.Eng., PMP
Director — ICWSAO
مرتضی صدری
Morteza Sadri is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional with over 30 years of experience leading complex engineering and infrastructure projects in the mining and mineral processing industries. He supports ICWSAO by providing strategic guidance in project planning, governance, and organizational development.
Parsa Abbasian
IT Support & Website Developer — ICWSAO
پارسا عباسیان
Computer Engineering Student
Parsa Abbasian provides IT support and website development for ICWSAO.