Shannon Ryan

Shannon Thomas Ryan (he/him) is the Interim President and Program Director at The Sonor Foundation. He manages the Foundation’s relationships with community partners and leads systems change efforts, advancing work across the country in our areas of focus with Trans, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse communities, as well as with children and youth in care.  

Shannon is a senior leader in Canada’s nonprofit sector and brings more than two decades of experience, with a focus on advancing health equity, HIV /AIDS, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and racial justice. His work spans grassroots advocacy, public policy, and institutional grantmaking. 

Most recently, Shannon served as Director of Community Investment at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, where he led national community investments and contributed to anti-racism policy and capacity-building initiatives. Previously, Shannon served as Executive Director at both the Ontario AIDS Network and the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, where he championed health equity and racial justice for communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. Earlier in his career, he managed major grant portfolios at United Way Greater Toronto. 

Shannon's educational background includes a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership from the University of Toronto, and a Certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Shannon is recognized for relationship-based leadership, values-driven strategy, and is a trusted partner to funders and community organizations. He is driven by a deep commitment to shifting power, building trust, and ensuring systems are accountable to the communities they serve.