Isabella Grajczyk (she/her)
Co-founder and Executive Director

Isabella is passionate about helping girls and gender-diverse youth grow their confidence and develop as leaders. She holds a BA Honours in International Studies and a Bachelor of Education in English and French from the University of Regina. Currently, she is completing her MA in Political Science at McGill University. Her studies and work have taken her from Saskatchewan to Rwanda and Zanzibar, where she has focused on education, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Isabella has also been recognized with awards such as the Diana Award and the McCall MacBain Scholarship for her leadership and commitment to social change. Through SGU and beyond, she is dedicated to creating spaces where young people feel supported to express themselves and are able to reach their full potential. In her free time, Isabella loves spending time with friends and trying out new hobbies!

Sasha Valgardsson (she/her)
Cofounder and Director of Marketing

Sasha Valgardsson was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and most previously lived and worked in New York City and Vancouver, BC. After studying International Business at Carleton University and abroad in Germany, she pursued a career change that landed her an internship in New York City, where she had the incredible opportunity to work with leading international design agencies that are creating work that makes an impact, and speaks to and represents the world around us. Sasha is passionate about feminism, social and environmental justice, and empowering girls to make their own way in the world. She is thrilled and grateful to be a part of such an extraordinary group of women, brought together by a shared desire to inspire and create an inclusive community for the future leaders of Saskatchewan.

Zahin Rahman (she/her)
Cofounder and Director of Transformation & Inclusion

Zahin has grown up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and has been involved with SGU since its conception. She has a BSc from the University of Saskatchewan, and enjoys conducting research related to her specialties. Zahin’s favourite part of working with the SGU is learning from women and girls from all around Saskatchewan and Canada about their respective experiences and passions. In her free time, Zahin enjoys writing, hanging out with her cat, and philosophizing nonsensically with her friends.

Hannah Elich (she/her)
Director

Hannah's heart and soul belong to Saskatchewan and is thrilled to be bringing that passion to Sask Girls United. She has a Masters in Public Administration and has been working with community service agencies in Moose Jaw for more than 15 years. Additionally, Hannah has three cats (Harry Styles, Mr. Joe Alwyn, and Autumn Leaves Falling Like Pieces Into Place) and holds the title of 'cat lady' with a solid measure of pride and purpose.

Gillian Francis (they/she)
Director

Gillian is a prairie-born, values-driven, young professional and artist with a versatile skillset and over five years of experience in a range of industries.
Originally from Treaty 4 Territory in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan but now living in Treaty 7 Territory in Alberta, they earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Calgary. In their professional work - currently as Client Development Coordinator with the Centre for Sexuality - Gillian meets people where they are to build meaningful connections and build bridges between communities, strengthened through their experience applying human-centric, equitable, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches.
A genderfluid lesbian with a deep love for their spouse, three animals, family, friends, community, and the land they call home, Gillian strives to consistently lead with integrity and heart in all that they do.

Lauren Hill (she/her)
Director

Lauren is from Saskatoon and is currently attending law school at the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to, she received her Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from McGill University. Her favourite parts of SGU are working with the incredible women a part of the SGU team, as well as fostering a welcoming and empowering community for girls across the province. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys reading, crafting, and curating Spotify playlists for every occasion.

Jaylyn Kim (she/her)
General Manager

Jaylyn was born in South Korea and has spent the majority of her life in Regina, Saskatchewan. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law. Previously, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Criminology and Sociology, along with a minor in Earth Science.As the General Manager of Sask Girls United, Jaylyn oversees financial, administrative, and programming operations. She has extensive experience working with children, families, and newcomer communities, having previously supported immigrant and refugee youth in a settlement agency and assessed family well-being in the Government of Saskatchewan.Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Jaylyn enjoys travelling, camping, art, and playing musical 

Mariah Perkins (she/her)
Director

Mariah was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and currently resides in Kipling with her four sons and husband. Mariah has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Regina and is pursuing a master’s degree in counselling psychology. She has been working as a Learning Support Teacher, in a small town in southeast Saskatchewan for the last 11 years, and is passionate about supporting children and families. In her spare time, Mariah enjoys reading, learning new things, and connecting with friends and family. She seeks to empower women-both young and old to take control of their health and wellness and step into their power and excited to be a part of the Sask Girls United team.⁠

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