Blessing Akpan joins Waterloo Region Community Foundation as Director, Community Impact

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Blessing Akpan as Director, Community Impact at Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF). 

Blessing has over 10 years of work experience in the HR and project management sector focused on economic development, and sustainable livelihoods, for both public and private institutions including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, FHI 360 and The British Council. As Lead, or part of the strategy and execution team, these varied opportunities required excellent communication and facilitation skills, creative thinking, high-level interpersonal skills, and the ability to turn ideas into action.  

Blessing relocated to Waterloo Region in December 2018, and has been actively involved in community building since her arrival, including her current role as Vice President of the Board of Nigerians Living in Waterloo Region (NIROW), and Director on the Board of Rising Oaks Early Learning. In addition, she brings a depth of experience assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses with growing and maximizing their social enterprises.

Blessing holds both a Bachelor of Sciences, Economics from the University of Calabar in Nigeria, and a Masters of Sciences, Finance and Economics from the University of East Anglia in the UK. She also has several Post Graduate Certificates focusing on Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurial Management and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace.

As the Director of Community Impact, Blessing is accountable for WRCF’s Granting Programs. She will also help drive the outreach and interaction with charitable and social purpose organizations for the purposes of granting/funding and attracting impact investees. In addition, Blessing manages opportunities to convene conversations and mobilize networks in order to generate ideas and actions to respond to current and emerging needs across our community.

If you would like to reach out to Blessing, you can contact her at blessing@wrcf.ca or by phone at 519-725-1806 x 206.