Sampada Kukade, Vice President, External Relations & Development

Sampada Kukade is the Vice President of External Relations & Development at Skills for Change, a national nonprofit organization serving more than 20,000 newcomers, refugees, and underserved communities annually. With over a decade of senior leadership experience, she leads fund development, strategic government relations, policy, and communications - advancing partnerships and influence across federal, provincial, municipal, corporate, and philanthropic sectors. 

Known for her political acuity and ability to build trusted, cross-sector relationships, Sampada has successfully elevated organizational profile through compelling impact storytelling, strengthened government engagement strategies, and positioned Skills for Change as a thought leader in equitable workforce integration.

A unifier of high-performing teams, Sampada blends strategic communications, policy insight, and cross-functional leadership to advance ambitious agendas and build public trust. She has presented at major national forums, including Metropolis, Elevate, and AFP, contributing to critical conversations on labour market transformation and equity.

Currently a student at Maytree’s Policy School (2026) and a Board Executive with the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), Sampada brings a systems-level lens to policy and advocacy—working to build more inclusive, innovative, and opportunity-rich communities.

Above all, Sampada’s greatest joy is being with her children. Whether supporting their school activities, exploring new places together, or simply sharing everyday moments, her role as a mother grounds her leadership and fuels her commitment to creating a more equitable future for the next generation.