Saa Andrew Gbongbor
President
Saa Andrew graduated from Saint Thomas University in Fredericton NB with a degree in Human Rights Law. He is the Chief Creative Officer for Battle of the Arts NB (BOTA-NB), a youth-led art-based show that works with diverse community members and partners to promote cultural awareness through the arts.
Since 2011, Gbongbor’s youth-led art show has included artists from across the East Coast working to empower youth, bring community together and create excitement around arts, and learn in a safe space. Saa Andrew writes, composes, performs, Emcee’s and produces music. Saa is also the creator for the dance, drum and drama group called M.A.P-Making Africa Proud, A group that comprises Black and African descent youth from all around Africa, that resides in NB. Saa Co-writes and produces “The Fofana Kingdom play, at the STU-Black Box. As Princess Ozanna of Fofana Kingdom, embarks on a quest in search of an answer to the timeless question, ‘Where is home?’. Told through the lens of ancient Africa from the seat of Sierra Leone – The Lion Mountain, this epic tale examines globalization and immigration in the modern era.
Saa does cultural awareness presentations in schools for children and youth, and educators, dismantling racism, team building and why representation matters. He also worked with diverse artists around Canada and across the border on numerous art projects. Work with groups, organizations, and individuals with the aim of building stronger communities using the arts.
Gary Weekes
Vice President
Gary Weekes’ Fine Art Photography Exhibitions celebrate his Black identity in Canada, his upbringing in the UK, the ten years spent in the USA and his constantly changing role as a father to three amazing young women. He stands proudly as a creative individual who does not follow the stereotypical boundaries placed on Black artists. His art reflects himself; his likes, dislikes, loves, hates, and his ability (or inability) to initiate dialogue.
In 2022, Gary became the first Black NB Artist to have a Solo Show at the prestigious Beaverbrook Art Gallery, subsequently having one of his works purchased, becoming part of their Permanent Collection. In 2023 Gary received The CBC Black Changemaker Award for his Community Work. Gary is now moving into Short Documentary Filmmaking with Cinematography/Directorial Credits added to his increasing list of accomplishments.
Gary is represented by Gallery on Queen.
Roxanne Knight
Secretary
Roxanne Knight is the current interim secretary and one of the founding members of NBBAA. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, she is a graduate of St. Thomas University where she completed a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies for Communications with a double minor in Spanish and Journalism. Her main focus in the arts involve writing and photography but she also has a knack for painting and drawing in her spare time and takes interest in film criticism and directing. Roxanne has an extensive background in the performing arts including dancing, singing and reciting spoken word poetry for various audiences. In addition, she has participated in a number of competitions held by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) since she was 5 yrs old, later retiring early at the age of 18.
Roxanne has a deep passion for volunteering and giving back to the community and has been involved with various other organizations and non-profits over the years. She hopes to further her advocacy in Fredericton through NBBAA and help make a difference in our community of artists one step at a time.
Oladapo Adekolu
Treasurer
Oladapo badged a First-Class degree in Economics from the University of Lagos Nigeria and graduated top of his class. He is a chartered accountant of Nigeria, United Kingdom and Canada. Oladapo hasworked in the capacity of a finance specialist for over a decade. His experience cuts across financial reporting and Accounting, Data Analysis, Budgeting, Strategy, Financial Planning and Performance measurement for public and private sector. He has worked on various projects with proven track record of excellence. Asides this, He is a seasoned facilitator and trainer. His facilitating and training career emanated from Guaranty Trust Bank as all new hires are trained by Oladapo in the training school on the fundamentals of finance and the business of banking. He trained across the west and east African subsidiaries of the bank as well.
He has facilitated for various companies in consulting capacity under W & A Consulting. Some of the companies under the purview of W & A Consulting includes Mandilas Group, Paga, Access Bank Plc, Greenwich, Bank of Industry, among others. His expertise is premised on continuous interest in learning and leveraging new knowledge to take on evolving challenges and opportunities in the finance and accounting space.
He started his career in Investment Banking at Index Investment Advisors after which he moved to the Financial Control Department of Guaranty Trust Bank where he spent 6 years. He briefly went into Finance in Stockbroking at Coronation Securities Limited as the Financial Controller and Subsequently spent about 2 years in JOF Nigeria Limited a foremost indigenous supply chain company in Nigeria where he served as the Financial Controller and Radar Oil and Gas as the Lead of Pricing and Negotiation.
Oladapo currently works as a Manager in Day and Ross for Financial Data Management and runs his MBA currently in University of New Brunswick in Management Analytics. He is the Treasurer of NBBAA.
Sydona Chandon
Board Member
Sydona Chandon is an Alumna of St. Thomas University with a BA’ in Criminology and Public Policy. Sydona lives by the philosophy of “Service above self” and has dedicated most of her life to advocacy work within the province. Her philanthropist attitude has helped many students to have an affordable and accessible education this province while her spirit of faith and hope lights up each room she enters.
Sydona is multifaceted and so wears many hats; She is the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Student Alliance and also sits on the board of the New Brunswick Black Artist Alliance as a conceptual photographer. Much of her work involves creating policies for Post-secondary education and bringing this forward to the provincial government . She has led many events as an organizer and motivational speaker.