Sara Asalya recognized among Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit by Women We Admire

TORONTO (ONTARIO) August 30, 2024 - We are proud to announce that Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW) Executive Director, Sara Asalya, has been named as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit by Women We Admire. The remarkable women on this list are recognized for their inspiring work and initiatives making a positive impact for a range of causes, including healthcare, education, the environment, and social justice.

Sara Asalya is an award-winning leader who brings more than 20 years of experience working internationally and in Canada in various sectors including not-for-profit, NGOs, think tank and higher education institutions. 

She is a recognized champion of immigrants' rights. Her lived experience as an immigrant woman in Canada inspires her advocacy on key issues impacting the immigrant community. Her leadership and dedication to advancing newcomers’ economic resilience, and civic engagement have led to her being named one of Canada’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants and Women of Influence.

Sara joined NEW as Executive Director in 2021 and has since scaled up the organization; tripling its annual revenue and expanding its operations from two to four service delivery sites across the GTA. Under her leadership, NEW has not only expanded its client base from 800 to 8000 but also quadrupled the services it provides, significantly enhancing its impact on the community. 

Sara Asalya’s recognition as Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit highlights her outstanding leadership and commitment to fostering innovation and growth at NEW, she continues to be a role model for aspiring women leaders in the non-profit sector.

About Women We Admire

Women We Admire is a membership organization of the most accomplished women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada. The organization is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing influential women across various fields who have made a significant impact in their respective industries. They provide members with a valuable resource that connects extraordinary women across all sectors and enriches each member’s career journey. 

About Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto

The Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto is an award-winning not-for-profit charity organization that was founded by a group of Latin American refugees in 1983 with a vision of strong women building strong communities. A multi-service agency with operations in four Toronto locations serving thousands of immigrants and refugees annually. With more than 40 years of operations, NEW has been providing settlement, employment, youth and seniors programs and services, mental health, mentorship, labour market orientation as well as English language training for newcomers and immigrants. 


Elona Canellari