Our Team

Meet the passionate individuals behind Music Share for Seniors!

Coming from different backgrounds and industries, each team member brings a unique perspective and valuable expertise.

Julian smiling.
Julian Powell

Founder & Executive Director

Julian Powell is Music Share for Seniors’ Founder and Executive Director, and is responsible for overseeing the organization, managing the day-to-day operations, and orchestrating the short- and long-term vision for the organization.

He founded Music Share for Seniors in 2017 while completing his B.A. in Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU, formerly Ryerson).

With a pre-existing passion for social entrepreneurship, he was inspired by his time volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and thought that a similar volunteer-driven model could function to support isolated seniors living in long-term care communities.
Jarret smiling.
Jarret Maxwell

Director of Programs

Jarret Maxwell, Director of Programs at Music Share for Seniors, oversees student placements and volunteers, develops new initiatives, and ensures effective implementation of programs across all the healthcare facilities we support.

Jarret acquired his B.A. in Psychology from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2016. He was accredited as Volunteer Sibling for the Sibling Coping Together Program under the supervision of Dr. M. Barrera from 2013 to 2015 at Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital, and is a certified grievance counselor with the Bereaved Families of Ontario.
Danyel Ore

Program Coordinator

Danyel Ore is the Program Coordinator at Music Share for Seniors. He aids in program operations, supports and trains Program Facilitators, and helps ensure smooth program delivery across care homes.

Danyel first joined the organization in October 2021 as a Program Facilitator, bringing music and conversation to residents for over three years as a volunteer before stepping into his current role.

He holds an Honours B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Toronto, with additional studies in Criminology and Sociology. Danyel’s work is grounded in an interdisciplinary background that includes crisis intervention, culturally sensitive counselling, and inclusive program delivery across diverse communities.
Music Share for Seniors Board Member
Dunja Ilic

Board of Directors

Dunja has a Bilingual B.A. in Psychology from Glendon College, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in HR Management from George Brown College.

She completed her HR internship in Volunteer Resources at Toronto General Hospital, where she helped volunteers find meaningful placements within the University Health Network.

Having spent four years in Recruitment, she is currently an HR Systems Business Analyst at Willis Towers Watson, where she develops and implements tools and processes to support organizational change.
Music Share for Seniors Board Member
Patty Clark

Board Member

Patricia Clark has worked in the health and fitness field for over 40 years at both the provincial and national level.

She recently retired last year from full-time employment, where she was the National Executive Director for Active Aging Canada, a national charity that promotes healthy active aging for older adults.

Patty is currently in her second four-year term as a Councillor for Mulmur Township.
Music Share for Seniors Board Member
Marlene Benavides

Board Member

Marlene works as an Emergency Department Registered Nurse at Hamilton General Hospital.

Marlene cares for patients from every demographic, including geriatric patients from home, retirement communities, and long-term care facilities.

In addition to guiding the Music Share for Seniors team on matters relating to health and safety policies, Marlene's passion for teaching has helped support the experiences of our volunteers and placement students.
Music Share for Seniors Board Member
Chris Goodwin

Board Member

Christopher Goodwin holds a BA in English literature and an MBA in international business.

Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, Christopher has spent much of his 20-year career in finance, in both commercial and corporate banking, as well as the tech industry.

He currently works for a major financial institution in the commercial finance space.

Christopher resides in midtown Toronto as part of an active family, and spends his spare time playing ball hockey, biking, and volunteering on the boards of two charities.

He is thrilled to be involved with Music Share for Seniors, and believes passionately in their mission statement.
Nikki Gore

Board Member

Nikki is a global marketing leader with over 30 years of experience developing and implementing integrated marketing strategies and building high-performance marketing teams for B2B technology companies.

She has worked with numerous companies at various stages of growth, from start-ups to enterprises, developing and executing marketing strategies to drive growth and market leadership.

Beyond her professional achievements, Nikki is a passionate advocate for the autism community, an avid music fan, and a firm believer in the healing power of music.