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Russell brings leadership, marketing, and change management together toward the joint success of businesses and their people. He has developed and delivered custom leadership training programs for many design firms to support people-leaders in their confidence and contribution to workplace culture, leadership, and business. Russell is Founder of Framework Leadership and Pride Talks, Past-President of SMPS Ontario, and a mentor for CGLCC, diversity and inclusion in professional services communities. Russell has a Master of Business Administration, bachelor of interdisciplinary leadership, and Certificates in leadership and inclusion.

Daniel Grisales, current project and office manager at UNIQ Dimensions Inc., is a well-rounded individual boasting a Bachelor's degree in international business. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for efficiency, he is able to project management precisely. Daniel's journey is characterized by a commitment to excellence, fostering collaboration and driving success in every project. Embracing challenges as avenues for growth, he thrives on the relentless pursuit of both personal and professional achievement.

Lisa is a highly skilled consultant with over 30 years of experience as a facilitator, educator, speaker and strategist working with clients in the Public, Private and Non-profit sectors. She holds certificates in Diversity and Inclusion, Psychological First aid and Psychological Healthy and Safety in the Workplace. She is also an ICF certified Coach and Prosci Change Management practitioner. Lisa is curious, openminded and compassionate as she navigates systemic change and innovation within the focus of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA). As a WELL AP, WELL Faculty and WELL Advisor, she focus on physical and psychosocial interventions through the certification process.

Lisa is a Program Development Advisor for the University of British Columbia for their Equity, Diversity & Inclusion certificate and co-teaches for the University of Toronto’s Rotman Executive Program, specifically for Innovating DEI and the undergraduate MBA program. Lisa has held the volunteer position of DEI Co-Director on the ICF Toronto Board of Directors, served on the ARIDO DEI Foundation committee and Deloitte’s National & Global DEI committees. While at Deloitte she published two papers on Well-being and ESG.

Her lived experience includes being a first generation immigrant settler who navigates systemic barriers as a woman of color with a dyslexic brain. To recharge Lisa practices yoga, walks, reads, gardens and sews. Her purpose is to guide organizations and individuals in advocating for and creating environments that embed inclusive workplace well-being.

Victor Ayoub, Director of Marketing at Häfele, is deeply passionate about design and everything related to it. With a wealth of knowledge and a decade of dedicated service to the cutting-edge German brand, Victor brings a unique perspective to the table. Originally from Brazil, he was reallocated to Canada in 2022. Armed with a degree in Design and an MBA in Marketing and Business Management, Victor’s enthusiasm extends to all aspects of product design, function, architecture, and interior design.

Dr. Fatima Samji is an education policy researcher and consultant, Education EDI specialist and advisor. She completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education, specializing in Educational Policy at OISE, University of Toronto. Her doctoral study is on differentiation and system-wide change across Ontario’s higher education sector. Specifically, she analyses the disconnect between access and excellence policy and practice within a political context.

She values knowledge dissemination earning awards to present at respected international conferences where she advocated for broadening the perspectives held by leaders in the education sector.

She is highly passionate about advocacy policy, organizational change management, and innovation in education for greater social justice and has had experience in this area within Ontario Colleges and Universities.

She has had a role in implementing national-level policy reforms in the higher education sector internationally and locally in Canada.

She holds a MA degree in Higher Education specializing in educational policy from the University of Toronto, and a Masters of Education degree in K-12 School Leadership in the 21st century.

Brian hails from Six Nations of the Grand River. He has been a business leader for
many years, designing and overseeing the construction of projects for First
Nation communities across Canada and the United States. He has demonstrated
success in designing culturally appropriate projects for these communities and
has worked to maximize the participation of First Nation skills and trades. Two
Row Architect promotes meshing traditional symbols into current building
technology while actively promoting the creative and environmentally conscious
use of building materials.

Sharon has worked in the not-for-profit sector since 1997, starting in the financial sector with the Institute for Advanced Financial Education. In 2011, she transitioned to the design and construction sector in the role of Executive Director and Registrar with the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO). Her professional experience includes the development and enforcement of qualification standards for professions, regulatory frameworks and lobbying for public policy in support of safe interior environments in Ontario. Starting in 2014, Sharon led several projects intended to provide a more inclusive and fair pathway into qualifying as an interior designer in Ontario through competencies-based frameworks. In 2020, ARIDO undertook a commitment to the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within ARIDO as an organization, the profession and the community.