Celebrating Talent:
Mena Gainpaulsingh

It’s also gratifying to see that many people ‘placed’ by KCI have stayed and thrived in their roles long past the average tenure that we see in the sector. These are people whose loyalty, expertise, and passion for the mission drives long-term impact for their organizations, and the people and communities they serve.

We are celebrating these individuals through this ‘Celebrating Talent’ series of short profiles and interviews. We hope you enjoy reading about these inspiring sector leaders and celebrating their success along with us!

Mena Gainpaulsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights; Vice-President, Development, Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Why did you originally consider joining the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights?

My connection to human rights work began long before my professional career. As a young person, I attended an Amnesty International youth meeting and learned about prisoners of conscience for the first time. I remember being struck by the idea that people could be imprisoned simply for expressing their beliefs or standing up for the rights of others. That experience opened my eyes to the profound impact that individuals and organizations can have in advancing justice and human dignity, and it set me on a path that has shaped the last three decades of my life.

For nearly 30 years, I have had the privilege of working with organizations dedicated to human rights, equity and social change, including helping lead a capital campaign in the United Kingdom to build a treatment centre for survivors of torture. When I first stepped into the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, I felt an immediate and powerful connection. I often describe it as the mothership calling me home. Here was a place where the values that had guided me since my youth were brought to life through stories, education and action. Joining the Friends of the CMHR felt less like taking a new role and more like coming full circle.

What’s kept you at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for 8+ years?

The people. Every day, I have the opportunity to work alongside incredible staff, volunteers, donors and community supporters who care deeply and passionately about human rights. Their commitment, generosity and belief in the power of education and dialogue are both inspiring and energizing. It is a genuine joy and privilege to be part of a community united by a shared purpose: building a more just, inclusive and equitable world. The work is meaningful because of the people who make it possible, and that sense of connection and purpose has kept me engaged and committed.

What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time there?

What I’m proudest of is probably less about a particular fundraising result and more about the relationships we’ve built. Fundraising can sometimes seem transactional from the outside, but that’s far from true. I love getting to know what matters to someone, hearing their story and then finding a meaningful connection between that and the work.

I’m also very proud of the team we’ve built. Seeing people grow in their roles, watching relationships deepen over time and knowing that we’ve navigated some complicated moments together means a great deal to me. Of course I’m proud that we’ve grown philanthropic support for the Museum, and have around us a community of people who believe in the importance of human rights.

Other accomplishments or “proud of’s”?

I am proud of building a strong and dedicated team, fostering meaningful partnerships, and helping tell the stories of the Museum in ways that connect people to the idea that human rights belong to everyone. I am also proud of bringing an international perspective to the work while continuing to learn from the diverse experiences and communities represented across Canada.

What’s Next for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights? What do you want people to know about the work of the Museum and the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights?

What excites me about what comes next is that there is still so much possibility. Human rights can feel enormous and overwhelming, and I’ve learned over the years that people sometimes wonder what difference one person can really make. I’ve seen enough to believe that small things matter — a young person encountering an idea for the first time, a conversation that shifts someone’s perspective, a donor deciding to help make an experience available to others.

For me, the Friends is really about helping create more of those possibilities. I’m excited to keep connecting people with work they care about and to keep learning alongside them.

One piece of career advice you’d give to others?

Stay curious, be yourself and don’t worry too much about having the whole journey mapped out. My own career certainly hasn’t followed a straight line. Some of the opportunities that have mattered most came because I was willing to have a conversation, listen to someone else’s perspective or explore something I hadn’t planned for.

I’d also say: pay attention to relationships. Particularly in fundraising, people know when you are genuinely interested in them and when you are simply trying to get somewhere. Listen well, be honest, stay connected to your values and be open to the unexpected. In my experience, that’s often where the most interesting parts of a career begin.