Incubator, Co-Founder, Chair

Asya Gündüz is a community builder, Ontario Community Changemakers awardee, PhD candidate, and advocate with over a decade of experience advancing gender justice, trans political advocacy, health equity, and migrant rights across Turkey, Sweden, and Canada. She leads at the intersections of public health, harm reduction, and community organizing, bringing both frontline and leadership experience in HIV/STBBI and 2SLGBTQ+ movements. Through her PhD in Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies at York University, she merges academic research with grassroots action. Asya serves as Board Chair at Maggie’s: SW Justice Organization, Board Secretary at CBRC, and co-founder of LubunTO, a collective supporting queer and trans newcomers. Her work builds bridges between people, systems, and movements toward collective justice.

Treasurer

Orçun Turan (he/they) is a PhD candidate and research assistant at the Schulich School of Business, York University, where their research explores how markets, stigma, and consumer culture intersect. Alongside their academic work, they have been active in Toronto’s queer and migrant communities for several years, volunteering with the Hassle Free Clinic and contributing to research projects and organizations that support newcomer and LGBTQ+ wellbeing. Outside of Lubunto, you can find Orçun watching (or playing) volleyball, journaling or reading at locally owned coffee shops, and fostering meaningful friendships.

Board Member

Blue (they/them) is a genderqueer artist and designer from Turkey, now based in Toronto. After rebuilding their life as a newcomer, Blue became dedicated to supporting others navigating similar experiences. They volunteer with nonprofit organizations that assist newcomers from Turkey while running their independent fashion brand, creating bold rave, kink, and camp-inspired designs. Through both community work and art, Blue explores resilience, identity, and collective care.

Board Member

Şimâl Görmüş is an award-winning visual artist and designer whose work weaves creativity with social impact. Their practice spans digital media, illustration, and community design, centering visibility and storytelling for marginalized voices. They bring their expertise in digital advocacy and visual communication to LubunTO, shaping the visual identity of our events and campaigns. From crafting powerful Pride visibility materials to designing vibrant event visuals, Şimâl transforms our collective ideas into art that speaks, moves, and connects.

Board Member

Mudasir is a dedicated community advocate, Mudasir fosters inclusivity and empowers displaced communities through gender-inclusive communication and multilingual engagement. Their work creates meaningful opportunities for connection, growth, and self-expression while shifting refugee narratives through storytelling, amplifying unheard voices, and promoting equity.

Board Member

Tolga Akaydın is a law graduate from Ankara University with extensive experience in newcomer employment and training programs. Formerly a Bridge to Work Specialist at Skills for Change, they coordinated workplace-language and data analytics programs, helping newcomers navigate career pathways and connect with employers. With a background spanning law, settlement, and human resources, Tolga brings a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and building meaningful opportunities for immigrant communities.

Oz is a nonbinary artist and coordinator originally from Turkey, now based in Toronto. After settling in the city as a newcomer, they are dedicated to support others facing similar challenges. They volunteer with NGOs while working in fine arts logistics, striving to bridge the gap between community-based initiatives and the corporate world. They are trying to create meaningful connections and foster a sense of belonging through their work.

Sinemis is a dedicated volunteer with LubunTO, where she has supported Pride celebrations and community picnics that bring queer newcomers together in joy and solidarity. Trained as a medical doctor in Turkey, she brings her expertise and compassion into community health work. She is currently exploring ways to strengthen LubunTO’s health programming, aiming to build models of care that are more inclusive, informed, and responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ immigrants.

Sertaç is a multidisciplinary storyteller and creative director who blends performance, film, and digital art to create imaginative and visually driven narratives. Their work moves fluidly between mediums, exploring new ways to express stories through sound, movement, and image.

As a former Board Member and one of the co-founders, Eren Deran has been instrumental in shaping LubunTO from its earliest days—even before incorporation, when the group was organizing as G+. Eren’s long-standing commitment and vision helped lay the foundation for what LubunTO has become today.

Beyond his leadership within the organization, Eren brings deep professional experience as a Clinical Manager and registered Social Worker (MSW), with many years of work in settlement and mental health services across Toronto. His calm presence and thoughtful guidance have supported countless community members over the years.

Eren continues to stand by LubunTO as a dedicated community member and resource. You can reach out to him directly for support or to learn more about the private services he offers—always with peace of mind and trust.

Pinar Akinci is one of the co-founders of LubunTO and a key force behind its growth and spirit. Her dedication, organizing energy, and tireless outreach—especially in bringing Kurdish community members into our circle—helped shape who we are today. Though she no longer serves on the board, Pinar remains a constant supporter and friend to our work. Beyond community organizing, she runs her own cleaning business and is available for all kinds of cleaning requests.

Korcan is a co-founder and former board member of LubunTO. Driven by personal experience and years of independent community support work, he helped establish the LubunTO community to create a safe and welcoming space for immigrant lubunyas, and a collective dedicated to human rights advocacy and justice. Although no longer on the board since 2025, he remains dedicated to the pursuit of equality, justice, and community resilience.

As a co-founder, Irem helped LubunTO grow into a thriving collective for advocacy and mutual support. Through a series of creative and academic initiatives, Irem worked to nurture conversations around migration, class, and social justice. Although no longer serving on the board since 2025, they continue to support LubunTO’s mission of community empowerment and collective care.