Michelle joined the federal public service through the Advanced Policy Analyst Program, a rotational development program that includes placements at the three central agencies. Over the course of her career, Michelle has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of files, including mental health, youth employment, pharmacare, and coordination of the federal Budget. In 2017, she was selected to participate in Canada Beyond 150, a Government of Canada leadership and skills development program, where she explored innovative policy tools through a project on reconciliation.

Michelle also serves as a Director on the Board of the Education Foundation of Ottawa, whose mission is to remove economic barriers to successful learning and participation in school.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University and a Master of Public Policy from Simon Fraser University.

Drawing on Alexandra’s lived experience as a caretaker, her PhD research seeks to understand how colonization impacts Red River Métis health by exploring the connection between identity and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  Alexandra draws on Body Mapping, an art-based approach whereby participants create body maps to help them tell their stories, centering a relational understanding of health.

Having worked in governmental and non-governmental sectors, Alexandra is dedicated to using a strength based, rights based,community engaged participatory methods to improve Indigenous health through addressing anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare, reforming medical education, and designing Indigenous health policy.

She is a Board Certified Athletic Trainer and graduate from Minot State University and a Masters in Development Practice from the University of Winnipeg where she graduated with highest distinction. Alexandra speaks English, German and is an advocate for the Michif language. Alexandra is the current lead on the STEM Fellowship Indigenous Advisory Circle and serves as the McMaster University Indigenous Graduate Students (MIGS) Chair.

Dale’s aspirations include the creation of an organization in Alberta which will advocate for and empower iyiniw children, families, and their communities. Dale currently works for the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre which provides second and third-level support services for band-operated schools across Alberta ensuring that iyiniw children learn their ways, their history, their customs, and their traditions.

Outside of school and work, Dale is a newly appointed kanawemawasîwapîwin Board Member for the maskêkosak newowacistwan nâtamâkêwin society which oversees the support services for children, youth, and families in maskêkosak (Enoch Cree Nation, AB). She is also a volunteer with Weaving Threads: An Indigenous Engagement Program with Kids Help Phone which aims to increase awareness of Kids Help Phone Services amongst iyiniw children and youth.

Dale notes that her greatest and most important role is that of a wife, mother, and grandmother. In her spare time, she can either be found in the bleachers of a hockey rink or a baseball field cheering on her children.

Deanna is passionate about providing excellent Occupational Therapy Services and runs her own business. Miskihnak Occupational Therapy provides pediatric occupational therapy services to North Battleford and Northern Saskatchewan. Deanna is also the current President of the Saskatchewan Society of Occupational Therapists.

A former Chief of Staff to a minister of the Government of Quebec, Daria has intimate knowledge of the workings of the highest levels of policy and decision-making, as well as of the legislative and regulatory processes. She has led work on a cross-departmental portfolio of pan-Canadian issues and was instrumental in the elaboration and implementation of a new vision for this portfolio. She also served as the content director for an outgoing Premier during a provincial electoral campaign.

Today, Daria helps corporates, investors, and public organizations understand and manage their climate risks, including setting a climate ambition and governance structure and a disclosure strategy. Before founding Clearsum, Daria completed an Executive MBA (HEC Montreal – McGill). She holds bachelor’s degrees in civil and common law (McGill) and is a member of the Quebec Bar (2006).

In her free time, she learns through reading, volunteering, and travelling.

She also loves to dance.

André’s holds a B.C.L/LL.B. from McGill University’s Faculty of Law, where he earned the distinction of being selected as class valedictorian. Additionally, he holds an honours degree in Speech Communication and Business from the University of Waterloo.

Throughout his career, André’s work has largely reflected his commitment to community engagement and equity. For example, as the first-ever Indigenous Liaison Officer at the University of Waterloo, he pioneered significant changes in recruitment and admission policies to better serve Indigenous students and communities.

Presently, André actively contributes to his community as a volunteer with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), where he assists in search and rescue operations in Nunavut, and as a board member and volunteer at the Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank.

James works with business, government, and community partners to understand the root causes of our complex challenges, and to shift our entrenched behaviours, cultures, and policies to create long-term change. His current professional and volunteer roles are focused on changing how investment and philanthropic capital can be directed in different ways in the pursuit of social equity and justice.

Outside of work, James is an outdoors enthusiast, rec league athlete, and couch potato in roughly equal measures.

A former Crown Ward, Joey’s life path has informed his journalism and community involvement. He plans to use the skills he obtains during the Action Canada Fellowship to improve his understanding of policy-making processes and solutions being implemented across Canada to the challenges he covers as a local journalist.

At one time, Joey was a member of a competitive pinball league, once ranking among the top 1000 players in Canada. He is presently rated 43720th in the world by the International Flipper Pinball Association.

Joey lives in Downtown Hamilton, Ontario, where people joke that his usual seat at the farmers’ market is his real “office.”

Japman is passionate about learning and applying new skills, technologies, and frameworks to create more resilient, innovative, and valuable products, organizations, and systems. He is a past Board Member of the Trans Canada Trail and serves on a number of global committees related to education and skills development.

Driven by a more equitable, more accessible, and a higher quality of education, Japman focuses on enabling and empowering individuals through skills validation. Currently, Japman serves as Executive Vice President of Vametric Corporation, and is responsible for the overall growth and operationalization of the business.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Japman spent seven years living in Alberta, and now lives in Toronto. Outside of his work with Vametric, he facilitates real estate financing for large commercial projects, focusing on multi-residential housing amidst Canada’s current housing crisis. Outside of work, he’s most likely to be found on his bike, at a coffee shop, at a stand-up comedy show, or with family and friends.

Her thesis focuses on social representations of the ecological transition and their effects on the social acceptability of proposals related to this transition. Justine is the recipient of a doctoral research grant from the Fonds de recherche du Québec, société et culture (FRQSC). She also holds a Master’s degree in Administration (MSc), a DESS in International Development and Humanitarian Action Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Université Laval.

Before embarking on her doctoral adventure, Justine obtained the Jean-Charles-Bonenfant Foundation scholarship in 2017-2018, allowing her to complete a parliamentary internship at the Quebec National Assembly. She then worked until 2022 as a senior consultant in a public relations and government relations agency, working with clients in various sectors.

In addition to her work, Justine is involved in her community, as a member of various boards of directors in the past, she is now the general secretary of the Academy of Controversy and Sensitive Communication. She is also a member of the first cohort of the Natural Resources Canada’s Youth Council.

Madison holds a Joint Honours in Math and Physics (McGill University, 2014), Master’s in Medical Physics (ULaval, 2016) and a PhD in Physics (ULaval, 2020), after which she worked as a clinical medical physicist in radiation oncology. She was a student advisor to Québec’s Chief Scientist (2016-2019) and a member of Canada’s Chief Science Advisor’s inaugural Youth Council (2020-2023), acting as a strong advocate at the science-policy interface for the next generation of scientists.

As an Optica Pivoting Fellow, Madison pursues her commitment to building bridges between science & society. She contributes her expertise as board member, mentor, and dedicated volunteer within local and international scientific and policy-focused organizations. Over the years, Madison co-led several initiatives for girls and women in STEM within her community as well as creative science outreach projects like La Terrasse Optique. Born and raised in Québec City, Madison loves to be outdoors – either (ultra)trail running, playing beach volleyball, or cycling.

Megan is an outspoken ally and a strong advocate for disabled artists and has published and presented internationally on topics related to disability art and culture, critical access studies, infrastructural politics, public and cultural policy, and environmental studies.

Megan holds a PhD in Theatre & Performance Studies from York University. Currently, she is the Research Facilitator in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Dalhousie University. She is also Reviews Editor for Performing Ethos: International Journal of Ethics in Theatre & Performance and a member of the Research Working Group with Mass Culture, an organization and network that seeks to enhance the equitable mobilization of arts and culture research.

Megan is also a classically-trained mezzo-soprano. She sings across a wide range of genres with particular expertise in new music and expanded vocal techniques. She is an active community volunteer and serves as a board member with Independent Living Nova Scotia and a member of the Canadian Caregivers Advisory Network (Caregivers CAN) with the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence.

Before joining the McKenna Institute, Melissa oversaw a portfolio of national ocean impact projects with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and supported the growth of 40+ new ventures through the management of a business accelerator program. In 2017, she was a Global Accelerator Network Managing Director-in-Residence and spent three months working with ABC Accelerator in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Melissa holds a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Mount Allison University. During her undergraduate studies, Melissa served as President of the Mount Allison Students’ Union and lobbied all levels of government on issues facing Canada’s post-secondary students.

Melissa lives in her hometown of Saint John, New Brunswick with her partner and their cat. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys connecting with nature through gardening, camping, and trips to the beautiful beaches throughout Atlantic Canada.

Paul has spent the last decade designing interventions focused on improving outcomes for Black children, youth and families as it relates to: health and well-being, community violence, mental health and addictions, and the social service sector. His work is currently focused on social planning, health equity, and addressing the causes of neighbourhood distress and inequality.

Merryn’s career has been focused on alleviating food insecurity in Canada through work in public, academic and non-profit organizations, including the national youth charity Meal Exchange. She currently serves on the board of directors of Community Share Food Bank in the Don Mills neighbourhood. She is a believer in cross-sectoral collaboration to address complex problems and public policy as a key lever for change.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Merryn currently lives in Toronto with her partner and their dog, Joni. She holds a Master of Science degree from the School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Psychology from McMaster University.

And as a government geek, he’s helped advance policy within 3 government space agencies, 2 divisions of the UN, the Canadian Urban Institute, Banff Forum, and the Yukon Government. Thrilled to be a new dad, Ben and his family live together in an off-grid home (100% solar) near Whitehorse.

Originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Scott is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Immediately after graduating from Georgetown, Scott worked at Goldman Sachs Inc. in New York City. Scott was recognized as the 2018 Telus LGBTQ Innovator of The Year by The Inspire Awards, a 2019 Young Impact Leader by Future of Good, and a 2022 Changemaker by The Globe and Mail. Scott has contributed to or been featured in The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Forbes, Future of Good, The Chronicle Herald, and The Georgia Straight. He has also appeared as a commentator on CBC News Network and BNN Bloomberg.

His work has roots in where he grew up, supporting underserved rural and remote communities, building teams, and connecting groups to focus on a common purpose through intersecting community partnerships, population health, and business efficiencies.

Trevor holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Diploma in Respiratory Therapy from Thompson Rivers University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry with a Minor in Kinesiology from the University of Regina. Additionally, he is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders and has recently completed his Certificate in Population Health Management through Johns Hopkins.

As the Vice-Chair of Southeast College, the co-chair of the Policy and Bylaw Committee, and previous chair of the professional conduct committee for the Saskatchewan College of Respiratory Therapy, as well as the co-founder of the Dr. Mulder Health foundation; he strives to bring teams together in health and education. Born in Saskatchewan, he is proud to continually share knowledge in presentations and support the community he serves through purposeful partnerships.

Throughout his postgraduate studies, Anh-Khoi’s commitment to drive positive impact through science remained undaunted as he engaged in science communication, science education, and science policy initiatives. With a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, his work aimed to make science and research more accessible by inspiring the next generation to pursue science careers, improving physics educational curriculums, and improving policies in support of the next generation of researchers.

Anh-Khoi is a recipient of McGill’s Clark Science Executive Leadership Fund in 2020 which financed his enrollment in McGill’s mini-MBA program, and he is a past-President (2021) and current member of the Board of Directors for the student-led non-profit Science & Policy Exchange. In his spare time, he enjoys playing sports and exercising.

Ian grew up in a farming community in central Alberta: for the first ten years of his life his parents had a dairy farm and since then they have farmed bison. His grandparents immigrated to Alberta from the Netherlands.

Ian now lives in Montreal. In addition to his overseas experience, he has also lived, worked and studied in Moncton, New Brunswick; Gatineau, Quebec; and in Ottawa and Toronto. He is a board member at Citizens for Public Justice, a faith-based public policy and advocacy organization, and has also been involved in refugee sponsorship initiatives in Ontario and Quebec.