Fanshawe Interior Design + Western ARIDO Community Industry Night

With more than 25 years of leadership across private and non-profit sectors, Dayna Bradley, President of Bradley Consulting, thrives on turning big ideas into bold actions.  As a natural change-maker with sharp business acumen, Dayna brings people together to

drive game-changing programs and initiatives. More than just a leader, Dayna is a hands-on mentor, championing top-tier talent, strengthening diversity, and fostering open, inclusive work cultures.  Dayna is a proud ARIDO Brand Ambassador and acts as the Central ARIDO Community Co-Lead, Co-Chair of the ROI Program and ARIDO Interim Volunteer+Committee Manager.

Leah is passionate about creating healthy interiors, from the lens of both human and planetary health, and has a deep interest in how specific building materials affect human well-being. She started her career in commercial interior design, but has spent the last 10+ years studying, researching, teaching and practising all things related to sustainable residential design, and is particularly interested in the connection between natural materials (aka- not plastics) and wellbeing.

Leah holds her BID from TMU, a Masters in sustainability from the University of Waterloo, a certificate from Parsons School of Design, is accredited in LEED® and WELL building standards, and is a mom of two. 

Melissa is an experienced healthcare Interior Designer at HDR Architecture. She has been a forefront in challenging the narrative on healthcare design, from small renovations in existing hospitals to large complex new builds.

Melissa’s passion for healthcare interior design goes beyond the act of designing and creating meaningful holistic spaces – it is about people, experiences, and atmosphere, each with their own distinctive standard and role. She is skilled in issues of healthcare standards, infection control requirements, materiality, and products appropriate for all healthcare settings.  She was compelled to push herself and gain a deeper understanding on how to elevate healthcare design but more importantly, how to take this knowledge, experience, and channel it towards educating and inspiring young future designers. As an advocate for interior design within her community, Melissa is also a Director on the board of ARIDO and Chair of the BID PAC Committee.

Vanessa Tantalo is the Principal and Owner of Tanolo Tech Inc. With over 20 years of experience as a Registered Interior Designer, Vanessa has developed comprehensive and versatile skill sets across multiple sectors, including Corporate Workplace, Higher Education, Government, Retail Banking, Seniors Living, Residential and more. Throughout her career, she has strategically honed her expertise with a particular focus on technical proficiency, building code compliance, and accessibility within the built environment. Vanessa is Large and Complex BCIN certified and a certified RHFAC Professional, reflecting her commitment to technical excellence and inclusive design.

Vanessa Tantalo is the Principal and Owner of Tanolo Tech Inc. With over 20 years of experience as a Registered Interior Designer, Vanessa has developed comprehensive and versatile skill sets across multiple sectors, including Corporate Workplace, Higher Education, Government, Retail Banking, Seniors Living, Residential and more. Throughout her career, she has strategically honed her expertise with a particular focus on technical proficiency, building code compliance, and accessibility within the built environment. Vanessa is Large and Complex BCIN certified and a certified RHFAC Professional, reflecting her commitment to technical excellence and inclusive design.

Vanessa holds an Advanced Diploma in Interior Design from the Sheridan College. She currently serves on the ARIDO Board of Directors and chairs several ARIDO committees, contributing to the advancement of the profession. Prior to founding Tanolo Tech Integration, Vanessa worked with some of the most respected interior design and architectural firms in the GTA. She has taught part-time in the Humber College Bachelor of Interior Design program and currently serves as Co-Chair of the City of Brampton Accessibility Advisory Committee. In 2024, Vanessa established Tanolo Tech Integration Inc., a Building Code and Accessibility Consulting firm dedicated to providing specialized and client-centered services. Leveraging her extensive background, Vanessa ensures that Tanolo Tech Integration stands apart from competitors through a detailed, project-specific, and personalized approach to every engagement.

Vanessa holds an Advanced Diploma in Interior Design from the Sheridan College. She currently serves on the ARIDO Board of Directors and chairs several ARIDO committees, contributing to the advancement of the profession. Prior to founding Tanolo Tech Integration, Vanessa worked with some of the most respected interior design and architectural firms in the GTA. She has taught part-time in the Humber College Bachelor of Interior Design program and currently serves as Co-Chair of the City of Brampton Accessibility Advisory Committee. In 2024, Vanessa established Tanolo Tech Integration Inc., a Building Code and Accessibility Consulting firm dedicated to providing specialized and client-centered services. Leveraging her extensive background, Vanessa ensures that Tanolo Tech Integration stands apart from competitors through a detailed, project-specific, and personalized approach to every engagement.

Melanie Scott is Design Department Manager and Senior Designer at Evolve Builders Group Inc. Evolve is dedicated to providing options for low-carbon, high performing homes and renovations through a combined knowledge of advanced building-science, meticulous care for craft, practical design sensibility, and expertise in estimating. Melanie joined Evolve in 2010 following an earlier career in retail design. Melanie is an ARIDO Registered Interior Designer, Ontario Qualified and Registered Designer (BCIN), a LEED AP, and member of the Program Advisory Committee for Conestoga College Interior Design Program. With a passion for passive solar and carbon conscious natural building materials, Melanie leads Evolve’s design team for in-house full-service design-build projects or as a supplemental service to aid bid-build projects. Melanie lives in an off-grid, uncertified passive-house quality home designed by her and built by Evolve to meet the goals of climate conscious design and construction.

Natalie Rowe is an internationally recognized leader in interior design education; she is a passionate professor dedicated to advancing the field of interior design. Her work champions a community-driven, collaborative approach – exploring how thoughtful design can create more inclusive, functional and inspiring spaces for all populations. Natalie champions opportunities that empower students to engage meaningfully with real-world design challenges. She fosters creative inquiry and innovation through a balance of academic rigor and hands-on experience. At the heart of her practice is a commitment to creative exploration, with every project driven by a deep curiosity and belief in design’s transformative potential.
As a researcher, Natalie explores design for long-term care environments, focusing on improving the built environment to enhance the well-being of residents, families and caregivers. Through both scholarship and practice she strives to create inclusive, supportive and human-centered spaces that elevate quality of life and connection.
Natalie is faculty in the Honours Bachelor of Interior Design program at Fanshawe College in London, ON, and is on the Board of Directors for the Retail Design Institute, Canada Chapter.
She holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from the School of Interior Design at Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Master of Interior Design from the University of Manitoba.
Natalie is the recipient of the Interior Designers of Canada + Milliken Design Research Award (2017), and was awarded Retail Design Institute International, Educator of the Year (2024).