Susan Henry

Director of Community Impact and Financial Inclusion, Alterna

Susan is responsible for the strategic direction of Alterna’s Community Impact Department, overseeing a portfolio encompassing affordable housing, nonprofits, and the charitable sector, microfinance, financial education and granting programs. In this capacity she led the launch of Alterna Savings’ award-winning Community Microfinance Program and Community Loan Funds Partnership Programs, which have disbursed over $9.6M in loans, directly improving the economic participation of underserved communities, new and racialized Canadians, women, and others who face barriers to financing. A leader in the field of community economic development, Susan has advised policy makers and practitioners in inclusive lending, microfinance and social finance tools, including participating in the design of the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund with the Federal Government, financial institutions and Black business service organizations. Susan serves on the advisory councils of the Financial Resilience Institute and the Canadian Women’s Foundation Economic Development Committee.