Darryl Answer
(he/him)
Founder, Verge Solutions
Darryl offers consulting and training in entrepreneurial mindset and community development and works as a mobilizer and connector in neighborhoods to foster shared visions of power, healing, and abundance. Read Darryl's full bio here.
Event: Day One Panel Discussion: Shifting Power in Practice - Centering People in your Work
Becky Sasakamoose-Kuffner
(she/her)
Anti-Racist Practitioner
Becky has experience working within colonial systems at various levels of government. She is the founder of the Anti-racism Network in Saskatoon and collaborates with organizations and Nations across Turtle Island. Read Becky's full bio here.
Event: Day One Panel Discussion: Shifting Power in Practice - Centering People in your Work
George Aye
(he/him)
Co-Founder, Greater Good Studio
George co-founded Greater Good Studio in 2011 to use design for healing, justice, and restoration, after a career at a global innovation firm and the Chicago Transit Authority. He now guides clients through complex projects, speaks internationally, and teaches at Northwestern University. Read George's full bio here.
Event: Day One Keynote: Shifting Power Dynamics
Louise Adongo
(she/her)
Founder, Caprivian Strip Inc. (CSI)
Louise, founder of Caprivian Strip Inc (CSI) and co-steward with the Transition Bridges Project, is a bold leader with over 10 years of experience in systems change, policy, and evaluation. She focuses on addressing complex issues with care and intention, aiming to foster resilience and impact. Read Louise's full bio here.
Event: Day One Fireside Chat: Awakening Leaders in the Places we Live
Margaret (Meg) Wheatley
(she/her)
Writer, Teacher, and Speaker
Margaret has dedicated her career to fostering leadership that taps into people's generosity and community spirit. With a global reach spanning many roles, she has authored twelve books, earned advanced degrees from Harvard and NYU, and been honored for her work in leadership and organizational behavior. Read Margaret's full bio here.
Event: Day One Fireside Chat: Awakening Leaders in the Places we Live
Narlie Dapilos
(he/him)
Communities Building Youth Futures, Yellowknife
Narlie Dapilos, of Communities Building Youth Futures Yellowknife, supports stakeholder and youth engagement, coordinating projects, and connecting with other CBYF leaders in other communities across Canada. See Narlie's full bio here.
Event: Day One Panel: Shifting Power in Practice - Centering People in your Work
Jess Bolduc
(she/her)
Executive Director, 4Rs Youth Movement
As the Executive Director of the 4Rs Youth Movement, Jess has worked on centering the needs and role Indigenous young people play in moving forward reconciliation between individuals, communities & systems in Canada. Through her experiences with 4Rs, she has built up a community of mentors throughout inclusion, racial justice, social innovation and facilitation networks. See Jess' full bio here.
Event: Day Two Keynote: Centering Place in Our Work
Mercedes Morin
(she/her)
Director of Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada
Mercedes Morin is the Director of Sustainable Development Goals Unit within Employment and Social Development Canada since 2022. She’s had the fortunate experience to participate in the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act and different employment and economic programs across the country. With a background in urban planning and public administration, Mercedes is recognized for her strategic mindset and effective leadership in both public and private sectors.
Event: Day Two Government Panel
Workshop and Tool Share Leaders
Liz Weaver
(she/her)
Co-CEO, Tamarack Institute
As Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute, Liz leads the Collective Leadership practice and is recognized for her thought leadership and authorship of several influential papers. She collaborates with the Collective Impact Forum, Inspiring Communities New Zealand, and Collaborating for Impact, Australia.
Danya Pastuszek
(she/her)
Co-CEO, Tamarack Institute
Danya has a decade of experience supporting diverse, outcomes-focused partnerships in roles spanning operational leadership and facilitation. Her background includes working with refugees and individuals affected by the criminal justice system, and she integrates racial equity, continuous improvement, adaptive leadership, and more in her coaching.
Heather McCain
(they/them)
Executive Director, Live Educate Transform Society (LET'S)
Heather is Executive Director of Live Educate Transform Society (LET'S), a non-profit they founded in 2005. Heather’s own experiences as an asexual, disabled, neurodivergent, queer, trans person led them to become a well-known and respected advocate, educator, and speaker. See Heather's full bio here.
Natalie Johnston
(she/her)
Community Health Specialist, Fraser Health
Natalie Johnston holds a Master’s in Public Health and has been a Community Health Specialist at Fraser Health for the past 3.5 years. In this capacity, she works closely with municipal governments and community organizations to develop and implement health promotion initiatives and public policies designed to enhance community well-being. Her role involves creating strategies that address public health needs and foster environments where individuals can thrive. Natalie is deeply committed to working alongside the community on projects that advance resilient, sustainable communities. She is dedicated to meaningful community engagement and the power of collective action to create lasting positive change.
Becca Robinson
(she/her)
Director, Climate Adaptation Programs, Reep Green Solutions
During her tenure with Reep Green Solutions, Becca has helped hundreds of property owners create landscapes that are more resilient to climate change. She has led the design and construction of green infrastructure projects on residential and civic properties throughout Waterloo Region and beyond, striving to fold ecological and human equity considerations into the process. Becca received her Master's in Landscape Architecture from University of Michigan and a B.S. In Environmental Science from University of North Carolina.
Sharmalene Mendis-Millard
(she/her)
Director of Partners for Action, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
Sharmalene Mendis-Millard is the Director of Partners for Action, an initiative of the Faculty of Environment at University of Waterloo that aims to empower Canadians to become flood resilient through applied research with an equity lens, and by promoting awareness and preparedness actions that are inclusive and evidence-based. A mixed-methods geographer by training, She has worked for several interdisciplinary research centres that aim to advance community well-being and social justice through partnerships, program evaluations, and learning programs. She is passionate about community engagement, applied research, and the not-for-profit sector, with experience that includes being the Board Vice Chair and serving on the Equity Committee of Reep Green Solutions after having been an employee. Sharmalene's focus is now on multi-hazard resilient retrofits, community engaged preparedness, and equity in climate risk reduction and adaptation strategies such as managed retreat.
Lana Jelejev
(she/her)
Community Alchemist, Speaker, Healing-centered engagement and HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) facilitator
I guide leaders, founders, changemakers, and impact driven organizations to reconnect with their inner wisdom, collectively envision possibilities, and design healing-centered ecosystems with transformational and lasting impact.
My work resides mostly in the dreaming, designing and illumination of new systems. I work with impact driven organizations who are serving groups whose voices need to be heard through training, mentoring programs or are weaving communities of practice to deepen and integrate change. As a consultant, facilitator, mentor, board leader, I support these organizations by helping them collectively expand their vision, connect them with their inner compass, define strategic actions for their services, & design meaningful & engaging trainings, practices or cohort programs.
Lisa Attygalle
(she/her)
Director of Engagement, Tamarack Institute
At Tamarack, Lisa focuses on enhancing how cities, organizations, and coalitions engage with their communities by developing authentic engagement strategies and fostering involvement. Her work emphasizes simplicity in infrastructure and design, integrating marketing, advertising, loyalty, and user experience principles into community initiative.
Sylvia Cheuy
(she/her)
Consulting Director, Tamarack Institute
Sylvia is dedicated to community change and believes in the transformative power of a shared aspirational vision among residents and sector leaders. She emphasizes that recognizing and connecting community assets can be a powerful catalyst for driving change.
Marina Queirolo
(she/her)
Founder, marketcityTO
Marina is a multifaceted individual with a strong research, public speaking, and program design background. She founded marketcityTO, which unites stakeholders to unlock the power of public markets as places that foster social connection & resident wellbeing, enable climate action and regional resilience and foster inclusive economies in Toronto and globally. See Marina's full bio here.
Heather Keam
(she/her)
Consulting Director, Tamarack Institute
Heather is passionate about harnessing the power of people and communities as solutions to local problems. She advocates for building a sense of belonging to enhance community engagement and supports shifting municipalities from a "doing for" approach to empowering communities to act independently.
Chúk Odenigbo
(he/him)
Consulting Director, Evaluating Impact, Tamarack Institute
Dr. Chúk Odenigbo is a recognized changemaker in Canada with a background in environment, chemistry, public health, and medical geography. He also has extensive experience in environmental activism, adult education, and community engagement.
Sonja Miokovic
(she/her)
Consulting Director, Community Innovation, Tamarack Institute
Sonja Miokovic is a seasoned educator, social scientist, and innovator with over 16 years of experience across 80 countries. She excels in community-led innovation and development, known for transforming ambitious ideas into reality and helping communities connect creatively to address challenges.
Prachir Pasricha
(he/him)
Manager of Communities, Tamarack Institute
Prachir, Manager of Communities for the Building Belonging and Community Climate Transitions teams at Tamarack, focuses on enhancing community resilience in climate transitions and integrating social innovation with sustainability.
Yas Hassen
(they/them)
Associate Director, Tamarack Institute
Yas is dedicated to community development and engagement with a focus on ethical co-creation and collaboration. Yas works on driving systems change by addressing gaps in areas such as Black liberation, Indigenous sovereignty, anti-racism, belonging and more.
Duncan Field
(he/him)
Associate Director, Tamarack Institute
Duncan oversees the development and management of e-learning courses, supports consulting contracts, and contributes to creating learning resources.
Maureen Owens
(she/her)
Manager of Cities, Communities Ending Poverty, Tamarack Institute
Maureen holds Bachelor’s degrees in Health Promotion and Education. She advocates for equity and community involvement in poverty reduction.
Laura Schnurr
(she/her)
Director of Climate Transitions, Tamarack Institute
Laura holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master’s in Global Studies. She champions climate action and social innovation while balancing advocacy with family life across continents.
Colleen Christopherson-Cote
(she/her)
Coordinator, Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership
Colleen facilitates community partnership and evaluation for the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership, and co-leads the Evaluation and Analysis working group for the CFICE project. Her role enables her to catalyze, convene, and coordinate community-based efforts to drive change and build capacity.
Rochelle Ignacio
(she/her)
Inaugural Director, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Tamarack Institute
Rochelle leads Tamarack’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives, focusing on community building, volunteerism, and advocating for underrepresented groups. She works to advance anti-racism within the organization and support members and learners in achieving equitable outcomes.
Shanese Steele
(no pronouns)
Senior Community Animator, Tamarack Institute
Shanese, Senior Community Animator, specializes in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is passionate about writing, LGBTQAI2S+ advocacy, and creating inclusive spaces.
Jorge Garza
(he/him)
Associate Director, Communities Building Belonging, Tamarack Institute
At the Tamarack Institute, Jorge is leading a pan-Canadian, asset-based movement that supports municipalities, institutions, and individuals to increase the sense of community belonging reported by everyone. Previously, he worked at the Metcalf Foundation, where he supported the development of its poverty reduction program. He also spent five years at the McConnell Foundation, where he contributed to the development of its place-based work and explored the role of philanthropy in cultivating a more equitable society.
Jorge is a realistic optimist, and he believes in everyone’s potential to build more equitable & regenerative futures. He brings a diverse background of experience in strategy development, program design, and urban policy. Throughout his career, Jorge has collaborated with communities, funders, and international organizations working to achieve more equitable outcomes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation Béati.
Full Speaker Bios
George Aye
(he/him)
George co-founded Greater Good Studio in 2011 to use design to heal, be just, and be restorative. Previously, he spent seven years at a global innovation firm before being hired as the first human-centred designer at the Chicago Transit Authority. Since founding Greater Good, he has guided clients and teams through complex projects that honour reality, create ownership, and build power.
George will help us understand the mechanics of power and how to wield it with care as we move forward in our community change efforts. He speaks frequently across the US and internationally. George is an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University. Previously, he was a Full Professor (Adj) at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Narlie Dapilos
(he/him)
Narlie Dapilos was born and raised in Yellowknife, NT. Narlie's interests include basketball, music, and collecting trading cards and he has an educational background in Nutrition and Health Promotion. Working as the Project Coordinator for the CBYF project combines Narlie's passion for helping youth and doing community work in hopes of impacting systems changes. As the Project Coordinator, Narlie supports the initiative through stakeholder and youth engagement, coordinating projects, and connecting with other CBYF leaders in other communities across Canada.
Louise Adongo
(she/her)
Louise is a bold and grounded leader with 10+ years' of experience in systems change, policy and evaluation. She is the founder of Caprivian Strip Inc (CSI) and co-steward with the Transition Bridges Project.
She brings care and intention to uncovering the roots of tangled problems; enabling shifts to greater resilience, sustainability and impact.
She believes that co-creating more nimble, transparent and creative institutional spaces is key to the reinvention that we have learned through our most recent pandemic (and polycrises) that we all need.
Margaret (Meg) Wheatley
(she/her)
Margaret (Meg) Wheatley began caring about the world’s people in 1966 as a Peace Corps volunteer in post-war Korea. In many different roles–speaker, teacher, consultant, advisor, formal leader—she acts from the unshakable conviction that leaders must learn how to invoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity and need for community.
As this world tears us apart, sane leadership on behalf of the human spirit is the only way forward. Since 1973, Meg has taught, consulted, and advised an unusually broad variety of organizations on all continents (except Antarctica). Her clients and audiences range from the head of the U.S. Army to twelve-year-old Girl Scouts, from CEOs and government ministers to small-town ministers, from large universities to rural aboriginal villages. She has served as full-time graduate management faculty at two universities, and been a formal advisor for leadership programs in England, Croatia, Denmark, Australia and the U.S. Through Berkana, she has advised leadership initiatives in India, Senegal, Brazil, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mexico, Greece, Canada and Europe.
Meg has authored twelve books and received her doctorate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University, her Master's in Media Ecology with Neil Postman from N.Y.U., and her Bachelor’s from the University of Rochester (with a year’s study at University College London). She has been honoured for her ground-breaking work by many professional associations, universities, and organizations.
Darryl Answer
(he/him)
Darryl was born in London, England. He is currently co-pastor of New Community Church, and founder of Verge Solutions. Through Verge Solutions, he provides consulting, training and facilitation for organizations and communities in the areas of entrepreneurial mindset (ELI), and community development through an Asset-Based lens. In addition to serving in a consulting role, Darryl works in neighborhoods as a mobilizer and connector of residents and institutions around their shared vision of power, healing, and abundance.
Becky Sasakamoose-Kuffner
(she/her)
Becky is an anti-racist practitioner from Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Treaty 6 Territory. She has worked within colonial systems at all levels of government, and is the founder of the Anti-racism Network in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She is grateful to work with organizations and Nations across Turtle Island with the National Urban Indigenous Coalitions Council.
Jess Bolduc
(she/her)
Jess Bolduc is a community member of Batchewana First Nation and lives, works and plays in Baawating (Sault Ste. Marie), the traditional territory of her Ojibway ancestors. Jess comes from a mixed family of Anishinaabe, French & Irish people who love the outdoors, music, dancing, plants and animals and is an auntie to many niblings.
As the Executive Director of the 4Rs Youth Movement, she has travelled across Turtle Island and internationally, in order to learn about the conditions that might be necessary for communities to shift and transform complex systems through dialogue and strategic action. The work of 4Rs is about centering the needs and role Indigenous young people play in moving forward reconciliation between individuals, communities & systems in Canada. Through her experiences with 4Rs, she has built up a community of mentors throughout inclusion, racial justice, social innovation and facilitation networks.
As a volunteer, Jess is the co-chair of the Algoma Community Foundation, lead faculty for the Circle on Philanthrophy's Indigenous Abundance Accelerator program, and an advisor on strategy & governance for FLIP - the Foundation for Leadership, Imagination and Place.
When she is home Jess can most often be found next to the water, stacking wood (or sitting on wood piles), tending to her garden, hanging with her cat Beans, and harvesting from the land with her friends and relatives.
Heather McCain
(they/them)
Heather is Executive Director of Live Educate Transform Society (LET'S), a non-profit they founded in 2005.
Heather’s own experiences as an asexual, disabled, neurodivergent, queer, trans person led them to become a well-known and respected advocate, educator, and speaker. Heather recognizes that those within the disability community have intersecting identities and works hard to ensure a multitude of voices and experiences inform their work. Heather is committed to centering decolonialization, using an intersectional lens and disability justice framework, and engaging in cross-movement organizing.
Heather is proudest to be called a Crip Doula. This is a community given Disability Justice term for someone who helps disabled people navigate our complex systems, providing resources, support, and building community. This title was gifted by community members who have felt the positive effects of Heather’s work.
Marina Queirolo
(she/her)
Marina is a multifaceted individual with a strong research, public speaking, and program design background. She founded marketcityTO, which unites stakeholders to unlock the power of public markets as places that foster social connection & resident wellbeing, enable climate action and regional resilience and foster inclusive economies in Toronto and globally. Marina holds a BA in Graphic Design and a Master's in Environmental Studies from York University. Her entrepreneurial journey began with making empanadas at Foodshare Toronto, and later, she managed Food Programs at Evergreen Canada. Previously, she was a Toronto Food Policy Council member and is currently a St. Lawrence Market Precinct Advisory Committee Member and MarketCities Global Network. She aims to foster collaboration for a robust regional local food economy and a city that ensure everyone feels welcome and included.