Ashleigh Egerton
Strategic Planning
Ashleigh brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the public and social services sectors, with a focus on equity, evidence-informed decision-making, and systems change. Her career has included leadership roles with the Ontario Public Service, including the Ministries of Education and Children, Community and Social Services, supporting marginalized and equity-deserving communities. She also served as Director of Practice Transformation at the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, where she contributed to child welfare reform and system redesign. Her work is grounded in collaboration across government and community to create more inclusive and effective services.
Chaitanya (Chai) Deshpande
Program & Technology Delivery
Chaitanya (Chai) Deshpande is a strategic program management and technology delivery leader with more than 20 years of experience turning complex ideas into structured execution. His background spans enterprise modernization, product and platform delivery, operating models, risk management, and multi-party technology programs across Canada and internationally. Chai has worked with senior leaders, technology teams, vendors, and delivery partners across telecommunications, manufacturing technology, and operational systems. He also supports social-impact and early-stage initiatives by helping leadership teams translate vision into practical roadmaps, governance structures, pilot plans, and measurable outcomes.
Charlene Dunstan
Educator & Facilitator
Charlene Dunstan has been a Professor and Coordinator in the Social Service Program at George Brown College for 15 years, with a focus on anti-oppressive practice and social justice. She has supported international student field placements in India and Jamaica and has held leadership roles supporting Black student success at the College. Beyond the classroom, Charlene serves as Ombudsperson for Amnesty International Canada and contributes to several equity and human rights initiatives, including the Toronto District School Board's Equity Policy Community Advisory Committee and the VR simulation Let's Talk About Race. She also continues to volunteer in the social service field.
Kanem Noel
Cloud & Software Development
Kanem Noel holds a Diploma in Computer Systems Technology from Mohawk College and works in the transportation industry as an IT professional. His technical experience includes cloud and software development using C#, JavaScript, and Python. He is interested in applying technology to solve real-world problems and developing practical, efficient solutions.
Linton Garner
Non-For-Profit Consulting
Linton Garner has spent decades working across community development, education, youth, sports, journalism, and public service, particularly within Quebec's English-speaking and Black communities. His career has included leadership and advisory roles across municipal, provincial, and federal government, with work addressing race relations, policing, education, minority-language rights, and access to public services. He has also served in leadership roles with several Black community organizations and on the Lester B. Pearson and Western Quebec School Boards. Linton continues to contribute through community, journalism, public-policy, and youth initiatives, including coaching with the Intoure Canadian Basketball Academy.
Lyndsay Wilson
Higher Education & Instructional Design
Lyndsay Wilson is a higher education professional with nearly 20 years of experience in teaching, educational publishing, and learning design. Over 16 years as a professor, she developed and taught communications and literature courses at Seneca Polytechnic and George Brown Polytechnic and has also served as a faculty mentor and department coordinator. Her work focuses on accessible, practical, and future-focused uses of technology that help students and faculty build transferable skills. Lyndsay holds an M.A. in Literature, a Certificate in Copyediting, and training in instructional and visual design, with additional experience as a freelance writer, designer, and editor.
Michael Avis
Founder, Educator
Michael Avis is the founder and president of Tapvigo Solutions, an innovative communications company based in Toronto. With more than 25 years of experience as an educator, consultant, technologist, researcher, and curriculum designer, he has worked across multiple levels of education in Canada and internationally. His work focuses on purpose-driven immersive technology and accessible, equitable digital and communications literacy. Michael holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Before founding Tapvigo, he was a faculty facilitator at George Brown College, specializing in technology-enhanced learning and digital andragogy.
Rob
Financial Services & Co-operative Leadership
Rob leads Co-operators' efforts to build a more sustainable, resilient, and financially secure future for Canadians and their communities, helping guide the organization's evolution from an insurance-focused company to a broader financial-services provider. A strong advocate for co-operative values, he supports investment in communities and initiatives that strengthen social, economic, and environmental resilience. Internationally, he holds leadership and advisory roles with organizations focused on co-operative insurance, sustainable finance, and disaster-risk reduction. Rob holds a BA in Theoretical Mathematics, an M.Sc. in Applied Statistics from the University of Guelph, and a Chartered Insurance Professional designation.
Rita Karimwabo
Education & Student Leadership
Rita Karimwabo has a specialized degree in Economics and Business and more than 20 years of experience teaching high school. Her career has included teaching business, working as a guidance counsellor, and helping operate an alternative school while supporting students with a wide range of academic, social, and emotional needs. Rita brings learning to life through hands-on initiatives including school stores, marketplaces, stock-market challenges, community drives, and invention showcases. She is passionate about connecting with young people, developing leadership, and teaching financial literacy.
