Njeri (Jeri) Kontulahti

Njeri (Jeri) Kontulahti joined the Vancity Community Foundation in August 2023 as Managing Director, Homelessness and Housing initiatives. Having previously worked at Vancity for over 25 years her work involved developing and deepening connections with Not-for-profit organizations to build their capacity and create impact.

Njeri has developed and managed granting programs, financial products, services, and policies that support the Financial Inclusion of people in Indigenous, Racialized and Equity deserving communities to build assets, including overseeing work serving refugees and newcomers, supporting the low barrier branch -Pigeon Park in the Downtown Eastside, financial literacy, home ownership and access to credit.

Njeri has a BA in Economics from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Management of Cooperatives and Credit unions from St Mary’s University in Halifax . Njeri has a passion for community and her volunteer work includes serving as a volunteer facilitator for the Cooperative Development Foundation’s Women’s Mentorship Program in Ottawa since 2007. This program brings women from credit unions all over the developing world to learn about credit union operations in Canada. She has volunteered for nonprofit boards and networks and is a founding director of a Black Led Black serving non-profit, whose main aim is to support racialized individuals and families at risk of homelessness in British Columbia.

Njeri is humbled to live and work in Surrey, BC the traditional territories of the QayQayt , Kwantlen, q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), Semiahmoo, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) and Tsawwassen First Nations, with her husband and two sons, their dog Maddie and cat Max.