At the heart of the Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) is a team of dedicated volunteer board members who are passionate about making a difference in our community. Leading this incredible group is our Board of Directors Chair, Margo Crawford. Get to know Margo and discover what drives her passion for ensuring every student in Ottawa has access to the resources they need to thrive. Stay tuned as we spotlight all our remarkable board members in the coming months.

1. Can you share a bit about yourself and your professional background? 

I have grown up in Ottawa and completed my education and all of my professional career here.  I started my career in Human Resources in several organizations, including many years at the Ottawa Catholic School Board. However for most of my career I have been an entrepreneur – I was a co-founder of a technology company and then followed up with my second business, a professional services company, Business Sherpa Group, where we support small and mid-sized businesses by providing fractional resources to address core internal business functions like finance, bookkeeping, HR, and recruitment. I am now semi-retired, so I work as an Advisor for companies associated with Invest Ottawa, and serve on Boards, currently ONFE and CHEO Research Institute.

2. What motivated you to get involved with ONFE as a Board Member? 

I have had a long association with ONFE – going as far back when it was named OCRI and I was working at the Ottawa Catholic School Board. I have been familiar with the important work that ONFE does and supporting children in ways to position them for success.  Working with many businesses and mentoring professionals – I have been inspired to see graduates from our school systems to go on and be successful in their careers. My ‘give back’ has focused on governance and supporting organizations that align with my own values and interest and ONFE was a natural fit for that.

3. How do you envision the future of ONFE and its impact on the community? 

I really see ONFE as a key organization in Ottawa to be a future thinking partner with our school boards in supporting our youth to achieve all of their potential. As more demands are placed on educators, ONFE I feel will play a key role in addressing gaps that emerge on the trajectory of a child’s school journey. This will certainly have focus on food security and other areas where additional supports can give our students the best chances for success.

4.What is one goal you hope to achieve during your tenure on the board? 

For me I think the most important goal is to ensure that ONFE is on a path for long term sustainability. This will involve strategic choices and ongoing refinement around what it does and how it evolves with changes over time

5. What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved with ONFE? 

One of the great things about ONFE is the number of volunteer activities that individuals can get involved with. It is a great way to understand what ONFE does, but most importantly offers a great direct connection with the impact ONFE has. 

A heartfelt thank you to Margo for her invaluable insights and unwavering support of ONFE’s mission over the years. Our Board of Directors plays a crucial role in helping us nourish students and inspire learning every day. Stay tuned for next month’s feature, where we’ll spotlight another dedicated member of our Board!