Our People

Jennifer Corriero is a renowned Canadian social innovator and leading advocate for education and digital inclusion. For over 25 years, she has mobilized resources and technology to improve K-12 education. Jennifer holds a Masters in Environmental Studies and serves the Faculty of Health at York University as a Community Fellow with the Wellness Impact Lab (WIL), Dahdaleh Institute. She is a recent recipient of the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal and has previously been recognized by the Women’s Executive network Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Michael has appeared on Oprah, presented at TED, and was named one of Teen People's "Twenty Teens that will Change the World". Over the last decade, he has keynoted over 100 events, sharing his technology expertise and passion for youth engagement and educational reform to audiences in over 30 countries.

Tania’s passion for global issues and youth advocacy led her to TakingITGlobal, where she supports educators in inspiring others to become global citizens. She believes education is a continuous process that is shaped not only in the classroom but also by our lived experiences. When she's not connecting and mobilizing educators and youth to act on global challenges, you can find her sharing memes with her friends.

From Ecuador, Cristian came to Canada when he was young and that's where he used his first computer. Since then, he has become so fond of them that his degree is in Computer Science. He likes how TIG empowers youth to understand and act on the world's greatest challenges through the use of technology and as a web developer he would like to keep helping with this greater cause.

Waukomaun is an Ojibwe from Wasauksing First Nation. He has a background in the television and film industry and has travelled across Canada documenting and sharing inspiring stories from Indigenous communities across the country. He loves to experience the outdoors by camping, fishing, learning traditional survival techniques, and connecting with Mother Nature… and video games!

Mali is a retired teacher with 35 years experience as a classroom teacher. Over the past 18 years, she has used ICT and successfully integrated literacy and content area curriculum to have her students connect, communicate and collaborate with several classes from around the world. Mali collaborates with museums, art galleries, artists and a variety of individuals and institutions to develop content for students in remote areas of Canada for the Connected North program. In her spare time, Mali loves to travel, take photos and journal her experiences in scrapbooks.

Michael's role at TIG involves serving Connected North partner school communities as well as involving Indigenous youth throughout Turtle Island in leading projects supported by the Rising Youth Community Service Fund. He also loves to travel and has visited Peru, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany. On his spare time, Michael enjoys boxing, hockey, lacrosse and other sports.

Tinisha's love of mysteries and problem solving led her to I.T where she has found an endless number of interesting technologies to explore. She likes the way TIG uses technology to touch the lives of people in remote communities, making the world a larger place. Lover of puns, coffee and gardening, Tinisha finds the adventure in each day.

Anne-Marie Côté holds a Master's in Organizational Psychology, but began working with youth as a classroom teacher. She is committed to building engaging and empowering spaces to learn for all. Working for TakingITGlobal, Anne-Marie heads up the Connected North Francophone program and coordinates the personal and professional development of staff.

Jayson Moore is an OCT certified teacher by trade and holds an MA in Child Study and Education. His focus on culturally relevant pedagogy and social justice education led him to the Connected North program where he works as at engaging educators through curriculum-aligned virtual field trips and professional learning opportunities. Jayson is able to utilize his years of teaching experience abroad and his work with Northern communities as a researcher to help provide support to the TIG Team.

Katie Burch has worked as an Instructional Technology Coach for the past twelve years with Public Schools, First Nations Schools, and Private Non-Profit organizations. She brings her tech knowledge and best practices to her lessons and professional development sessions. Katie has taught in remote areas of Canada and continues to work with remote communities in her role as Education & Partnership Coordinator for Connected North. She is also a Google Certified Trainer and regularly works with schools in implementing GSuite into the classroom.

Devona has finally found a use for their chronic habit of balancing too many things at once in becoming the Office, HR, and Bookkeeping Administrator at TIG. Drawing from 9 jobs and 3 fields of study in the past 12 years of their life, they bring a wide range of knowledge tidbits wherever they go, hoping to form it all into a decent quilt of experience to keep them warm for the future. They're also a regular video game streamer on Twitch, but you can try to find that one on your own.

Kim is a high school educator with 8 years experience in the classroom and over 15 years teaching outside the box, including outdoor education, life skills training and entrepreneurial program development. While teaching in Nunavut, Kim was able to utilize the Connected North program for her students, and saw the huge impact it made on their learning. Since transitioning from the classroom, Kim has worked on both the Connected North team and with Future Pathways, ensuring students in the north have access to engaging content and experiences to widen their perspectives. In her free time, Kim loves to travel with her husband or work in her trial and error veggie garden.

Jennifer is a PhD student her focus will be researching virtual learning environments. She has taught every grade and worked as a Principal, Education Director and Bus Driver. Above all she is the proud mother bear of 3 children. She has a passion for making education fun for all and loves sharing Ojibway culture and traditional teachings of the Obishikokaang Anishnawbek.

Serei is a Cree Métis from the Michele Band in Alberta. She has completed her Master's in Education with a focus in Indigenous Perspectives in Curriculum. Serei loves working with teachers and youth to see creative solutions happen. She also loves reading, speaking Spanish and hanging out with her family!

Migwin is Ojibwe-Cree and Polish, born and raised in Sioux Lookout, and is a proud member of Bearskin Lake First Nation. With a background in film production and a wealth of life experience, she brings a unique perspective to her work with Connected North. Outside of work, Migwin finds joy in beadwork and reading, as well as spending time on the land and water. Fishing, hunting, foraging, and gardening are all ways she finds connection to nature and her culture.

Lily is from Montreal, QC. Mi'kmaq/French Canadian. Pastel digital artist and manga/anime painter. Martial Artist. Master of Taekwondo, Kung fu and Muay Thai. Student of the elements, student of the world. Fighter for the Youth, Indigenous and human rights. A rebel with a cause and a path red as the land. Wela'lin.

Loizza is a global motivational speaker and social activist. In 2018 Loizza was recognized as a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant and received the YMCA Peace Medal for her advocacy surrounding mental health. Currently, Loizza is in her final year of completing her H BSc. at the University of Toronto in Mental Health, International Development and Media Studies. Loizza is passionate about helping youth develop their leadership skills and empowering youth to create positive social change within their communities.

I am very passionate about giving back and supporting those who want to make a change. I was once mentored and able to develop the confidence to utilize the greatness within me. Over the last several years, I have worked closely with several organizations and all types of youth demographics and gotten to witness people turn to leaders. I intend to keep working towards this and helping activate the greatness within our communities.

Jacob Bluecoat is an Indigenous Swampy Cree member of Fort Severn, Ontario. Jacob has worked as an Education Assistant for 4 years at Fort Severn's elementary school, Wasaho Cree Nation School. He has built many healthy and meaningful relationships with many of his past co-workers throughout his position as an Education Assistant. In his free time, Jacob loves to research and study the art of assembling computers together, specifically 'gaming' computers. Jacob also loves the gym. Deadlifts, squats, and bench presses are his most favourite gym exercises!

With 15 years of dedicated experience in education and early childhood settings, Sara brings a deep commitment to nurturing growth, curiosity, and belonging in young learners. She believes that meaningful learning happens both in the classroom and through lived experience. Currently, Sara is pursuing a Bachelor of Education and Indigenous Studies at Brock University, where she continues to explore culturally responsive and inclusive approaches to teaching and learning.

Joëlle Kabisoso is a Congolese-born Canadian advocate and social impact entrepreneur dedicated to advancing equity and empowerment for Black women and girls. After surviving a racially motivated assault at 17, she founded Sisters in Sync in 2018, leading initiatives like the #MaybeNextTime Campaign, which combats victim-blaming and has impacted over 1,100 people. In 2023, she launched Yekola, a language-learning app preserving African and Indigenous languages. A Governor General’s Award and King Charles III Medal recipient, she has represented her work at the United Nations and One Young World and co-chairs Hamilton’s Hate Crime Case Review Team.

A member of the Fort William First Nation (Thunder Bay) where he maintains a home, Mr. Morriseau is based in Toronto. Over the past 20 years Andre has served on numerous boards of directors including the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, Native American Journalist’s Association (NAJA), the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre and is currently serving as a Director on the Anishnawbe Health Foundation board.

In 2003 Mr. Morriseau was chosen as one of the first three recipients of the City of Toronto Aboriginal Affairs Award. In 2015 he received the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) Canada’s Youth Role Model of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award for anti-bullying and gender diversity and serves presently as co-chair of their annual gala in Toronto.

Andre has gained a reputation for promoting and supporting Aboriginal arts and public affairs. As former host of Nation to Nation on the former Aboriginal Voices Radio network, CKAV 106.5 FM, and UrbaNative at CIUT University of Toronto, he shared countless stories of Indigenous peoples and their experiences. As well he has volunteered his time for many years with Nationtalk.ca Canada’s Premier Aboriginal Newswire where many of his interviews with the who’s who of the Aboriginal world can be listened to on the New Media section of the newswire.

For five exciting years Andre worked as the Secretariat for the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) now Indspire and three years as the Communications Officer for the Chiefs of Ontario (COO). He served 3 consecutive 3 year terms on the James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards Jury and currently is the Communications Manager for the Ontario Native Women's Association.

Aletha is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon and has been at Blakes since she was a summer articled student in 2013.

Her practice focuses primarily on debt financing and she works with borrowers and lenders on secured and unsecured financings, with a focus on cross border financing transactions. For four months in 2020 and 2021, she was seconded to Wells Fargo, N.A. to assist with their transition between interest rates, specifically LIBOR to SOFR.

Anureet Kaur lives in the City of Mississauga, which is the traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations. Working at the intersection of technology and sustainability, Anureet was appointed as Softchoice’s first Sustainability Manager. She is currently developing Softchoice’s sustainability strategy and roadmap and provides advisory on ESG reporting and disclosures. In addition, Anureet also serves as the co-chair of the Sustainable Softchoice Employee Resource Group. Since 2019, Anureet was also made a professor at Seneca College’s Sustainable Business Management Program, where she teaches responsible leadership, social impact, and climate justice. Anureet is committed to a just and sustainable future and continues to advocate for Canada's equitable, low-carbon economy, and most importantly – the inclusion of indigenous voices in climate and energy strategy as a path to true reconciliation. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto.

To ‘hustle with intention’ is at the center of Chivon John’s work as a Wellbeing Strategist, Speaker and Entrepreneur. In a world that encourages wearing our accomplishments and accolades as badges of honour, Chivon pulls back the curtain on what is revered as success (money, power and ‘likes’) to reveal a life of more meaning and purpose. Recognized as a Top 100 Black Woman to Watch in Canada and Black Canadian Role Model, Chivon uses her own experiences and research rooted in positive psychology to teach individuals and organizations how to bridge the gap between achievement and fulfillment.

As a Speaker and Advocate, she frequently presents on topics ranging from mental health & wellness, self care for entrepreneurs and workplace wellbeing. A Toronto, Ontario native, Chivon is an alumna of York University (Honours B.A) and completed a certificate in Positive Psychology from Laurier University.

Chivon currently works as Global Wellness Specialist at Shopify.

Derek is a vociferous advocate for Indigenous peoples and focuses much of his work on raising Indigenous issues to leaders in the private and public sector.

Derek is a descendant of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians of Southern California, the Quechan of Fort Yuma, and Choctaw. Derek attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated with a Baccalaureate of Science in Philosophy.

Derek served as an Artillery Officer in various units across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Derek previously led Amazon’s Global Indigenous Programs Office whose mission is to increase employment opportunities and access for Indigenous peoples around the world, invigorate Indigenous economic activity, and grow future generations of Indigenous leaders in STEM. Derek is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada but currently resides with his family in Owasso, Oklahoma on Cherokee Nation land.

Ellen Ratchye-Foster is Principal of Burning Glass Consulting. Previously Chief Context Officer at Fallon Worldwide, the ad agency, her clients included BMW, Citi, Purina, Nordstrom, Sony Europe, and Timberland. A trend analyst, her observations have been quoted in TIME, Newsweek, Business Week & AdWeek. Ellen earned a B.A. in Germanic languages and literature at Harvard College and a Masters in comparative literature from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on German film and literature. She has studied and taught in Norway and Germany.

Jasper is an Organizational Psychologist and Senior Consultant with EY’s People Advisory Services practice in Canada. His key interest is applying Positive Organizational Psychology to improve the world of work.

Jasper’s 15-year career has been focused on unlocking individual, team, and organizational potential through Learning, Strategy, Change Readiness, and Leadership initiatives. He has worked as a youth worker, soft skills facilitator, and training manager in South Africa, and as a strategic planning facilitator, Athabasca University director, and consultant in Canada. Consulting work to date includes Social Return on Investment analyses for federal, provincial, and municipal government agencies and social enterprises, and Learning and Change Readiness work for major natural resources companies and the federal government.

Jasper is also a certified health coach and an advocate/facilitator of workplace mental health and mindfulness initiatives. He has served on the boards of the Canadian Evaluation Society’s Alberta and NWT Chapter, and currently serves on the boards of Taking IT Global , and The PREP Program, with a focus on neurodiversity inclusion, professional development, and youth advocacy. Jasper’s formal education includes a Master of Social Sciences degree in Organizational Psychology from the University of Cape Town, Bachelor of Social Sciences and Honours degrees from the University of Pretoria, and certification as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach through the US-based Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. Jasper is a member of the International and Canadian Positive Psychology Associations.

He is also a classical singer occasionally guesting with Calgary’s Luminous Voices professional choir and more permanently with Spiritus Chamber Choir. Jasper lives in Calgary with his wife, two young daughters, and their Labrador.

Karen is a strong believer and proponent of financial planning and works tirelessly to educate her community - working with Senior Executives, Professionals, Incorporated Professionals, Owners/Managers, and Charitable Organizations. Karen was formerly the Renewable Energy and Housing Director at Batchewana First Nation, and is a Project Management Professional. She was the winner of the 2015 Influential Women of Northern Ontario’s Aboriginal Leadership Award, and 2019 ATHENA Leadership Award.

Karen is currently the Assistant Branch Manager for RBC Dominion Securities in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

With over 20+ years of experience in user experience (UX) design and digital marketing, Marilyn connects the dots between business challenges and, human-centered solutions across a range of technology platforms. Working closely with clients, she assists clients in translating their strategic roadmaps into effective user journeys that achieve key business results. Marilyn has helped transform client businesses by producing engaging end-user digital outcomes resulting in improved financial performance for global and Canadian organizations looking for impactful and meaningful outcomes, including American Express, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Canadian Blood Services, Kids Help Phone, Toronto Community Housing, The Richard Ivey School of Business, Lakehead University, and more. Being an active participant in the technology community Marilyn frequently participates in industry events as a keynote speaker and panelist on topics such as Inclusive Design, Women in Tech Leadership, and Data-Driven-Design. Finally, Marilyn recently completed a Masters in Analytics at Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC), building on her passion for data-driven design to improve the user experience, Designation 2022.

Matthew Pupic is the Director of Finance and Development at Project Ploughshares. Matthew has over a decade of senior financial management experience and brings proven abilities which include strategic planning, budgeting, business management and cost improvement. Previously Matthew was the Senior Director of Finance and Operations at Pollution Probe and was responsible for ensuring sound financial oversight and office management for the organization.