York University has announced its Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2025, and this year eight alumni come from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. This outstanding group of alumni under the age of 30 were selected based on their work creating real-world impact and positive change. They continue to use their skills learned at York towards causes and endeavours that benefit and inspire others.
“Now in its fifth year, the York University Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program has continued to highlight the positive change that York’s young alumni have created at home and abroad,” says Julie Lafford, assistant vice-president, alumni engagement. “This new group of 2025 recipients will join our growing Top 30 Alumni Under 30 community of leaders, innovators, artists and humanitarians.”
The LA&PS Alumni in the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2025 are:
Hunain Amir
Cybersecurity leader and mentor
BA ’19, School of Information Technology
Hunain is a strategic cybersecurity leader with over nine years of experience enhancing security operations at Herjavec Group, RBC, Geotab, Rogers, Binance.US and Flashfood. Specializing in both offensive and defensive security, he implements proactive measures to stay ahead of emerging threats while ensuring operational resilience and compliance. As the founder of Syfera—a groundbreaking cybersecurity consulting firm—Hunain delivers bespoke, cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses to strengthen their digital defenses and navigate the complexities of today’s cyber threats. Hunain’s impact also extends beyond his corporate roles. Through his mentorship program Cyber Sensei, he is cultivating the next generation of cybersecurity leaders by offering free, one-on-one mentorship and resources.
Patricia Dada
Women's health advocate
BA ’18, Department of Sociology
Patricia is the founder of the Black Fertility Agency (BFA), a social enterprise dedicated to connecting Black individuals and couples with trusted fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy and egg or sperm freezing. BFA aims to transform Black fertility care and access, creating lasting change for families in Canada and beyond. Through advocacy, education and community-building, the agency works to close equity gaps in fertility care and supports clients with services that acknowledge their cultural values and lived experiences. In addition, Patricia plays a vital role as the project manager at Egg Bank Canada, Canada’s first egg bank recognized by Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Patricia has contributed her voice to national conversations on fertility care, advocating for human-centred, inclusive, and culturally informed approaches to family building. This landmark achievement enhances third-party reproductive options, helping to bridge the gap in available pathways for all Canadians to build their families. In 2024, Patricia was honoured as one of Canada's Top 100 Black Women to Watch by Canada International Black Women Excellence. She was also named Global Impact Advocate by the LeadHERship Gala Advisory Board in the United States. Patricia earned her Master’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2021 and plans to further her impact by pursuing a PhD to contribute to the scholarly understanding of Black experiences in reproductive health.
Samir Janmohamed
Public policy leader and community volunteer
BA ’18, Department of Economics, Department of Social Science
Samir is a community volunteer and leader who aims to shape public policy, particularly in development across the Global South. For the past three years, Samir has worked at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce supporting policy initiatives on files including infrastructure, housing and workforce development and developing the organization's federal and provincial election campaigns. After graduating, he volunteered with the Ontario Council for International Cooperation before taking on a leadership role in a federal election campaign, focusing on communications and marketing. This experience led him to work in his MP’s office, where he managed casework and communications. During the pandemic, Samir played a key role in informing constituents about government benefits, vaccine availability, and business support programs. In September 2024, he began a Double Master’s in Public Administration and Global Affairs at the London School of Economics and the University of Toronto. A recipient of York University’s Global Leader of Tomorrow Award.
Jasrin Kaur
Women in STEM mentor and EDI advocate
BCom ’23, School of Information Technology
Jasrin is a senior IT project coordinator at CIBC, specializing in technology project management. With CSM and PMP certifications and three years of experience, she leads cross-functional teams to deliver results. Jasrin started as an intern at CIBC and grew into her role through hard work, tenacity and skill. As a South Asian woman and the first in her family to enter the corporate world, Jasrin is passionate about mentorship and diversity in tech. She has mentored women in STEM through LOTUS STEMM and serves as a WomenTech Network Ambassador, advocating for inclusivity and career growth. With 9,000+ LinkedIn followers, Jasrin shares insights on career development, storytelling and personal branding. She also hosts coffee chats and speaks at events to support early-career professionals. Beyond work, Jasrin is dedicated to community impact. She volunteers as Young Alumni Ambassador at York University and major industry events like Elevate Festival and Collision Conference. Jasrin is committed to helping others grow in their careers and making a positive impact in the tech industry.
Tinotenda Mutsvangwa
Financial literacy and community development advocate
BA ’20 , Department of Politics
MMgt ’21, Schulich School of Business
Tinotenda Mutsvangwa is a CIBC Imperial Service Financial Advisor with a passion for financial literacy, wealth management and economic empowerment. He specializes in investment strategies, lending and personalized financial planning, helping clients achieve long-term financial success. Beyond his professional career, Tinotenda is an active advocate for Black excellence and community development. He is a member of The Black Wealth Club, where he collaborates with like-minded professionals to build generational wealth and a participant in The Black Diplomats Academy where he hones his leadership and advocacy skills. As co-founder of Incorporate Zim, a non-profit empowering young Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, Tinotenda helped foster networks for innovation and collaboration. Tinotenda has also led impactful initiatives, including wealth-building workshops at York University’s Black Excellence program (BE YU) and mentorship through the Career Ready Conference and mentor circles with York’s Alumni Engagement team.
Blessing Owusu
Educator and children's book author
BA ’17 , Department of Social Science
BEd ’19, Faculty of Education
MEd ’24, Faculty of Education
Blessing is a dedicated educator, author and advocate for equity and inclusivity ineducation. As a proud three-time York University alumna, she holds multiple degrees, including a master of education with a research focus on intersectionality within schools. Her master’s research project focused on the experiences of Black students in schools, exploring themes of identity, belonging and representation. This research led to the creation of Abena’s Adventures: A Taste of Home, a children’s book inspired by her childhood as a Ghanaian-Canadian growing up in Vaughan, Ontario. The book is now used in classrooms and school boards as a teaching tool, celebrating cultural representation and belonging. She also extends her impact through Lessons With Blessing, a social media platform that provides educators with resources to create equitable and affirming learning spaces. Through her teaching, research and advocacy, Blessing remains committed to bringing inclusivity and equity to the forefront in education, inspiring both educators and readers alike.
Nilufer Walimohamed
Lawyer and community advocate
BA ’17, Department of Social Science
JD ’21, Osgoode Hall Law School
Nilufer is an employment lawyer and workplace investigator dedicated to advocacy and community engagement. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Community Legal Clinic of York Region and volunteers with the Aga Khan Council for Canada on legal matters. She is also the co-founder of Empower Speaks, a platform fostering community-building, knowledge-sharing and authenticity. Previously, she served as in-house legal counsel for a national company advising on consumer protection, contracts, privacy and employment law. Nilufer has contributed to several pro-bono initiatives, including serving on the Aga Khan Education Board for Ontario and conducting research for the “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the Justice System” website refresh. She has supported individuals at the Toronto Small Claims Court Pro Bono Ontario Help Centre, fought for workers’ rights at the Toronto Workers’ Action Centre and assisted low-income populations with employment and administrative law matters at Parkdale Community Legal Services and the Community Legal Aid Services Programme.
Nathan Yiu
Disaster management expert and community leader
BA ’19, Department of Social Science
MDEM ’21, School of Administrative Studies
Nathan is a passionate, community-focused leader dedicated to humanitarian action and disaster management. As the Emergency Planning Advisor for the City of Vaughan, he has developed local preparedness efforts while contributing globally through his volunteer work with the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). Nathan has worked on various initiatives, including ensuring the safety of over 40,000 participants at the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea. He has helped WOSM navigate challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the European Region’s response to the invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, Nathan has assisted countries in the Inter-American Region as they laid the groundwork for their humanitarian action programs. As a strong advocate for grassroots emergency preparedness, Nathan firmly believes in empowering communities to build resilience in the face of disasters. His passion extends to inspiring young people through his roles as a scout leader and advocate for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, where he encourages them to realize their potential. Nathan emphasizes individual responsibility and service, promoting the idea of leaving the world better than we found it.
Launched in 2021, York’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program seeks to highlight the success and diversity of the University’s alumni community, while inspiring the next generation of young alumni leaders. To view the full list of 2025 recipients, and learn more about them, visit the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 web page.
Originally published in YFile.