Teruni Walaliyadde (she/her) was born and raised in Sri Lanka, growing up during a period of war and conflict before making Winnipeg her home in 2009. Her lived experience of conflict, migration, and rebuilding community shapes her commitment to equity, safety, human rights, and community-led approaches to creating more just and inclusive systems.
Teruni is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and community development professional with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of equity, community well-being, social inclusion, and systems change. She currently works at SEED Winnipeg as a Program Coordinator Team Lead and volunteers with the Institute for International Women’s Rights–Manitoba (IIWR-MB) serving as Co-Chair. Across her professional and community work, she focuses on strengthening partnerships, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting more equitable and responsive systems.
Through her involvement with the Police Accountability Coalition (PAC) and other community initiatives, Teruni is committed to exploring alternatives to colonial emergency and policing responses, particularly approaches that centre dignity, lived experience, prevention, community connection, and accountability. She brings an equity, anti-racist, and human-rights lens to conversations about the 4th Emergency Response and its potential to support safer, more inclusive communities.
