Board of Directors and Management Team
Tania Spilchen, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
Tania was born and raised in Sherwood Park, AB and still calls it home for part of each year. Tania never dreamed her one-year university internship to Mumbai, India in 1999 would lead her on a personal journey that finds her running schools for over 200 street children. During her year in India, she came to realize that one person helping one child can make a difference not only for the child, but for the child’s family and future generations. Motivated by that knowledge she founded the Canadian registered charity called One! International Poverty Relief on January 29, 2001. In May of 2001 she started to teach eight children of a small slum area in Khar Danda, a suburb of Mumbai. Tania is a very practical young woman who lives her beliefs in the challenging world of today, in a country she has come to love and appreciate for all its beauty and challenges.
Gordon Sustrik, BOARD DIRECTOR
Gordon was the first person that Tania talked to about forming One! International. As a friend, mentor, swim coach and lawyer, his opinion was very important to her. Gordon assisted with the founding of One! International as a not-for-profit entity and as a registered Canadian charity. He has remained involved since those first discussions as a member of the Board of Directors for One!.
Brianne Klingspon, BOARD DIRECTOR
Brianne has been volunteering with One! International since 2013. She began as a volunteer at her high school, a community information representative, and as an Edmonton Gala celebration volunteer. Brianne was able to visit the Khar school in 2015. As a Board Member, Brianne brings new ideas, and wants to promote youth involvement on both the Canadian and Indian sides of our organization.
Vijay Balan, BOARD DIRECTOR
In addition to being a principal/counselor/teacher/manager in India, Vijay joined the Board of Directors in 2019. He has been an important member of One! International since 2008.
Marilyn Spilchen, MANAGER CORPORATE SUPPORT
Marilyn has been part of One! International since the beginning. Before retiring she was a Senior Manager/Social Worker with the Provincial Government of Alberta. Marilyn has found the whole organization development of a non profit non-governmental organization (NGO) fascinating and extremely rewarding. It has been exciting to watch and to be a part of, not only the growth of the organization, but also to see the expanded horizons for the children in Mumbai and their families.
