Our Board

Board Chair

She is an award-winning journalist who has worked in several of Canada’s local and national newsrooms over her career. A former news reporter and anchor at CTV Montreal for more than a decade, she was also one of the first female sports broadcasters in the country. Lianne is a communications and public relations professional, having worked in not for profit, healthcare and education. An entrepreneur for more 20 years, she is the founder of Where Parents Talk and hosts a weekly podcast of the same name sharing evidenced-based advice on parenting. She is married with three children, dedicated to continuous learning, positive mentorship, and passionate about helping build tomorrow’s leaders.

Board Director

He is an accomplished public affairs and fundraising professional with over two decades of experience in government relations, advocacy, and community engagement. He has held senior leadership roles with notable organizations, including Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario and The Salvation Army Canada, where he has led provincial and municipal advocacy initiatives, built strategic partnerships, and secured significant philanthropic support. Known for his collaborative approach and strong network across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, Chris has successfully advanced causes in health care, children’s services, and social justice. Chris brings to the Board a passion for building stronger, more inclusive communities, along with expertise in governance, stakeholder relations, and sustainable funding models.

Board Director

He is a Corporate/Securities Lawyer at Aird & Berlis LLP. As a member of the firm’s Capital Markets, Corporate/Commercial and Mergers & Acquisitions/Private Equity Groups, he has expertise in a broad range of transactions and has led complex going public transactions and mergers and acquisitions. Danny advises both public and private issuers in a broad range of industries, including biotech, esports, Fintech, mining and cannabis. He is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada in Securities Law and in the Global Top 200 Psychedelics Lawyers Directory 2022 – 2024 . He is also an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Board Director

She has been an educator in various settings for almost 25 years, with extensive training in oral language and early literacy development. She enjoys creating and presenting workshops in these areas for colleagues and parents, and presenting at educational conferences when the opportunity arises. She has an undergraduate degree in Physical Anthropology and Psychology from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Science in Elementary Education from D’Youville College. In her leisure time, Dottie loves being with her animals, spending time in nature, and practicing yoga—in particular, aerial yoga. She is in the process of completing her yoga teacher certification.

Board Director

Ghazoua Ouerghi Saada is a trilingual project manager and international development specialist with extensive experience in equity-focused programming, monitoring and evaluation, and volunteer engagement. She has worked with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), and the Inter-Council Network (ICN), leading national and international initiatives supported by a variety of government agencies, international donors, and partners. She is currently with Brightlytica Consulting as Co-Founder and Consultant, where she supports organizations in project design, DEI strategies, and capacity-building. Ghazoua is also pursuing an MBA at the University of Guelph and is passionate about inclusive development, community impact, and building accessible opportunities through education and collaboration.

Board Director

He is a regulatory policy and strategic planning professional with about 10 years of experience. He has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Technical Standards Safety Authority (TSSA), Elections Ontario and the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), and he’s recently begun working as a senior consultant for the Ontario One Call. He holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Toronto, in addition to a master’s degree in Public Safety from Wilfrid Laurier University. James has had the opportunity to live in a variety of places including Seoul, Vancouver and Toronto. An archaeologist by training, James has participated in an expedition in Anyang, China and recovered bronze pieces from the Shang dynasty period more than 3000 years ago. In his spare time, James enjoys powerlifting, fishing, snowboarding and going on walks with his dog, Gamja.

Board Director

He is a faculty member at St. Andrew’s College. He has extensive experience teaching in the independent school system. His enthusiasm for education coupled with his dedication to student leadership align deeply with Future Aces mission. He is a father of three boys and an avid hockey fan who has coached community hockey in the GTHL for more than 15 years. Lawrence has a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University and a Master’s in Arts (Mathematics) from York University.

Board Director

She is the Vice President, Human Resources, Facilities and Communications for MCAN Financial Group, a publicly traded financial institution. She leads all aspects of People and Culture and plays a leading role in the development and execution of the organization’s strategy. As winner of Innovative HR teams by the Canadian HR Reporter, Best Places to Work, Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employer and Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures, Michelle is passionate and committed to a people-first and values-driven culture, that leads with investing in its people with a strong focus on continuous learning. She has an MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business and a BBA from the Schulich School of Business. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.

Board Director

She is a transformational HR executive and strategist with over 26 years of experience leading change across financial services, manufacturing, government, and e-commerce. As Founder and CEO of unHR, she delivers fractional HR leadership and strategic advisory to startups, SMEs, and non-profits. Nadia specializes in aligning people strategy with business goals, driving M&As, and leading digital, cultural, and workforce transformations. She has guided diverse, global teams through organizational redesign, hybrid work transitions, and agile implementation. She holds a CHRM designation and is an Executive Coach. Nadia is also a member of the Women Presidents Organization, a mentor to emerging leaders, and an active community volunteer.

Board Director

He is Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. He has previously been legal counsel to the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Regional Municipality of York and has practiced environmental law and intellectual property law. He was a founding member of Cycle Toronto and severed for eight years on a City of Toronto’s Sign Variance committee which he chaired for six years. He currently also serves on the board of the Landlord’s Self-Help Centre. He has a keen interest in non-profit governance and has a certification in parliamentary procedure.

Board Director

Board Director