Welcome to Your QES Alumni Community

Juanita Lawson is Chief Executive Officer of NorWest Community Health Centres in Thunder Bay, Ontario, a leading not-for-profit provider of community-based primary care, mental health, harm reduction, and health promotion services. She has led significant organizational growth, expanding programs to address evolving community needs, particularly in mental health and addictions.

Lawson played a key leadership role in establishing Thunder Bay’s supervised injection site through strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaboration. With more than 20 years of experience in social services, clinical leadership, and community health, she previously served as Director of Clinical Services and held roles supporting psychiatric patients, victims, witnesses, and mental health advocacy.

She holds a Master of Social Work from Lakehead University, a PhD in Social Work from the University of Calgary, and certification in marriage and family therapy from the University of Guelph.

Gareth Leung is a Senior Internal Medicine Resident Physician at the University of Alberta, where he provides comprehensive care for patients with a broad range of acute and complex medical conditions.

A Queen Elizabeth Scholar, he participated in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Scholars in Strengthening Health and Social Systems project in Trinidad and Tobago, gaining valuable international experience in global health.

He earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) from McMaster University and an MPhil in Public Health from the University of Cambridge before completing his medical degree at the University of Ottawa. He then pursued residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta.

In his spare time, Gareth enjoys fishing, canoeing, and spending time outdoors.

Marc Robert Landry is the Director of Regional Projects at the Southeast Regional Service Commission, overseeing tourism, transport, and recreation infrastructure across 13 communities in Southeast New Brunswick.

With over two decades of leadership experience, he has served as City Manager of Moncton and Chief Administrative Officer in both Beaumont, AB, and Bouctouche, NB.

Marc holds a MBA from Université de Moncton and is recognized for expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder collaboration, and municipal governance. He is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.

Addis Aschenik Alaminie is a Schmidt Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, where she develops AI-driven approaches to sustainable and climate-resilient water resources management.

She holds a PhD in Water Resources Engineering and Management from Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, an MSc in Meteorological Science, and a BSc in Applied Mathematics from Arba Minch University, Ethiopia. Her research integrates hydrological modelling, climate science, and water allocation tools, with expertise in climate impacts, flood and drought prediction, watershed management, and water security.

A Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Addis was an inbound scholar from Ethiopia at the University of Calgary in 2014, an experience that contributed to her international research perspective and commitment to global collaboration. She has published extensively, received international research awards, and held academic leadership roles supporting education, community engagement, and sustainable development.

Jamal Temirova is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Growth Spark (TGS), where she helps organizations navigate the future of work through innovative workforce solutions, business transformation, and people-centered growth strategies.

With more than 20 years of global experience in business development, SaaS innovation, and digital transformation, she is known for connecting strategy, technology, and human-centred leadership to drive sustainable results.

Prior to founding TGS, she served as Global Head of Programs at SAP, leading cross-functional teams to develop pricing, contracting, and digital transformation initiatives across industries including energy, retail, telecommunications, and healthcare. She holds an MBA from Royal Roads University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Management Consultant (CMC).

Amin Azad is a researcher, educator, and entrepreneur whose work explores the intersection of systems thinking, engineering education, and entrepreneurship. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto’s Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice (ISTEP), with a collaborative specialization in Engineering Education. His research examines how engineers develop systems thinking skills and apply them to entrepreneurship and innovation.

As a Fulbright Scholar at MIT Sloan, he further advanced this work within the Department of Business and Management. A Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Amin participated in the 2014 Inclusive Innovation for Development project in Cape Town, South Africa.

Beyond academia, he has consulted for leading technology companies including Google and Meta and brings real-world industry experience into his teaching and entrepreneurial ventures.

Nancy Johnson is a labour relations professional with more than 10 years of experience in the federal sector, specializing in collective agreement interpretation, grievance management, arbitration preparation, and collective bargaining across multiple bargaining units and jurisdictions.

Her experience spans core government departments, agencies, and separate employers under both federal and provincial jurisdictions. She has expertise in workplace investigations, conflict resolution, mediation, and the delivery of labour relations and adult education training.

Nancy is currently completing a Human Resource Management Certificate and is a CHRP/CHRL candidate. She is also an active community leader with several years of board service experience and is an alumna of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) Class of 2015.

Sharon Sajan Thomas (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker, researcher, and 2025 Queen Elizabeth II Scholar currently completing a Master of Social Work in International and Community Development at the University of Calgary. Her research uses arts-based and narrative methods to explore the settlement experiences of immigrant Indian women in Canada, with a focus on storytelling, belonging, and community resilience.

As part of the 2025 Queen Elizabeth Scholars partnership between the University of Calgary and the University of Auckland, Sharon studied climate resilience, refugee well-being, and community-based approaches to collective care through a decolonial social work lens. Her experience in Aotearoa included research collaboration, community engagement, and learning from Māori perspectives on well-being, reconciliation, and environmental stewardship.

Her work seeks to reframe narratives from deficit-based perspectives toward stories grounded in connection, community, creativity, and resilience.

Eric McGoey is Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, with more than 20 years of experience spanning government, energy, and mining. He specializes in Indigenous and public engagement, stakeholder relations, and government affairs, and has played a leading role in advancing nuclear and clean energy projects across Canada.

Prior to joining CNL, he held senior roles with Global First Power and Ontario Power Generation, where he led Indigenous engagement and intergovernmental collaboration supporting the development of Small Modular Reactors.

Earlier in his career, he spent a decade at the Ontario Legislature, including five years as Chief of Staff to the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines and Natural Resources. Eric is also an active community volunteer, serving in leadership roles with the Climate Action Partnership, Cycle Toronto, and the 24V Basketball Club.

Olu Olugboji is a technology and data professional with experience across public-sector IT, data engineering, business intelligence, cloud platforms, and research analytics. Originally from Nigeria, he moved to Canada for graduate studies and completed a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Winnipeg, where his research focused on applying systems and complexity science to healthcare process improvement.

As a 2016 Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Olu combined academic research with community engagement in Winnipeg, including inmate mentorship at Stony Mountain Institution, homelessness census work, and volunteering with the University of Winnipeg food bank. His graduate work included research at Seven Oaks General Hospital, where he used data and agent-based modelling to study emergency department operations and support better decision-making.

Olu currently works in public-sector technology and analytics, with a focus on trusted data systems, cloud transformation, business intelligence, and digital service delivery. His long-term goal is to grow as a strategic technology leader who uses data, research, and community-informed decision-making to improve public systems.

Louis Seabrooke began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in financial audit and tax before moving to the public sector with roles at Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Office of the Comptroller General.

Since 2015, he has held leadership positions in internal audit and evaluation, becoming Director General at the Canada Revenue Agency in 2019. In 2022, he was appointed Director of the Eastern Ontario TSO and serves as Director Champion for Ontario Region committees.

Louis holds a BComm and a Graduate Diploma in Accountancy from Concordia University, along with CPA, CA, and CIA designations. He is an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference.

Shannon Ganter is a Technical Public Works Consultant with the Government of Manitoba, supporting rural and remote communities in Northern Manitoba with challenges related to sanitation, public infrastructure, essential services, and emergency response. She previously worked as a Drinking Water Officer and Resource Officer, providing technical, regulatory, and environmental expertise to communities across the province.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in International Development, along with specialized training in water and wastewater treatment, emergency response, and conflict resolution.

A 2017 Queen Elizabeth Scholar, she participated in a food security and agricultural science project in Sri Lanka, researching fertilizer optimization to support sustainable rice production.

Darran A. Fernandez is the University Registrar at McMaster University, appointed following a nationwide search and officially beginning his role on August 1, 2024. He brings extensive higher education leadership experience and is recognized for his strong commitment to student success, service excellence, and institutional transformation.

Before joining McMaster, Fernandez served as Assistant Vice Provost and University Registrar at York University (2019–2024), where he led a large team overseeing student records, admissions, financial services, student systems, and enrolment services. He is credited with strengthening service culture and collaboration across the university Prior to York, he held several leadership roles at the University of British Columbia (UBC) over an eleven year period, including Associate Registrar and Director of Student Support & Advising. His work focused on improving student services, advising models, and operational processes supporting a large student population.

Fernandez holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) from Western University, where his research examined educational leadership, social identity formation, and their relationship to service delivery.

Helena Osei-Egyir is a PhD candidate in History at the University of Saskatchewan whose research explores the relationships between forests, communities, and colonial governance in Ghana. Her work focuses on environmental history, Indigenous knowledge, and community-engaged research, with a particular emphasis on the social and environmental impacts of the post-war timber boom in the mid-twentieth-century Gold Coast. By combining digital tools, archival records, and community memory, she examines how logging reshaped landscapes, livelihoods, and local experiences.

A 2023 Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Helena spent six weeks at Carleton University in Ottawa, where she expanded her academic networks and deepened her interest in collaborative research and leadership. As an African scholar, she is committed to centering local voices, challenging dominant historical narratives, and highlighting knowledge produced by African communities and scholars. Through the Jeanne Sauvé-QES Mentorship Program, she continues to strengthen her leadership skills and broaden the impact of her research beyond academia.

Rebecca Davidson is Chief Programs Officer at UNICEF Canada, where she leads program funding, government engagement, policy advocacy, and youth engagement initiatives that advance the rights and well-being of children.

With more than 20 years of experience in international development, Rebecca has focused on improving access to quality health care in low-resource settings and advancing rights-based, gender-equal programming. Before joining UNICEF Canada, she held senior leadership roles with CARE USA and CARE Canada, including Director of Programs, Innovation & Impact, Chief of Party in Zambia, and Head of Global Health.

Rebecca also serves on the Board of RESULTS Canada and is a member of the Canadian Association of Midwives’ Global Programs Advisory Council. She holds a Master’s degree in International Development with a specialization in Human Rights.

Caitlin Piccone is a PhD Candidate in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy and the International Centre for the Advancement of Community-Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR) at Queen’s University. Her doctoral research examines the integration of mental health supports into Community-Based Rehabilitation programming in Ghana and is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program.

A 2023 Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Caitlin completed a placement in Accra, Ghana as part of the project Community-Based Participatory Research in Health Equity and Inclusive Education Systems for Persons with Disabilities and Their Families. Her broader research interests include mental health, health equity, participatory research, women’s health, and community-based programming.

Caitlin also works as a Graduate Research Assistant on global disability support initiatives and holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Global Development from Queen’s University.

Jody‑Lynn Rebek, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Business and Economics at Algoma University and a seasoned social entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience across corporate, non‑profit, and government sectors. Her expertise spans strategic management, leadership development, high‑performing teams, intercultural learning, and restorative sustainability.

She is the founder of Vive Strategy Consulting, where she guides organizations in building sustainable growth, meaningful cultures, and impactful leadership practices. She is also the co‑founder of Hearterra, a women‑led initiative advancing zero‑waste living, food sovereignty, and circular economy practices within the community.

A dedicated researcher and educator, her work bridges evidence‑based strategy, transformative leadership, and community‑based action research, with a strong focus on sustainability and decolonizing approaches to learning and organizational development.

Steven Sheppard is a teacher, doctoral researcher, and inclusion advocate based in Calgary, Alberta. He works with the Calgary Board of Education and supports undergraduate education courses at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education.

Currently completing a Doctor of Education in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Steven’s research examines how educational and athletic environments can foster belonging and inclusion for diverse learners, including students with disabilities.

A 2025 Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Steven completed a placement in Auckland, New Zealand through the project Our Changing Climate: Community Resilience and Education. He is also a longtime wrestling and Special Olympics coach and an advocate for accessibility and inclusive practices in schools and communities.

Ijade Maxwell Rodrigues is Chief of Government and Community Relations & Protocol at York University, where she leads the university’s engagement with government, community, and corporate partners and oversees institutional protocol activities. Previously, she served for nearly a decade as Chief of Staff to York University’s President.

With more than 25 years of experience, Ijade brings expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, relationship building, communications, and organizational leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from York University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.

An active volunteer and community leader, Ijade serves on the Board of Trustees of Lakeridge Health and is Vice-Chair of the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers Network. She participated in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in 2022 and received the 2024 Gillian A. Wood Award for Excellence in Government Relations.

Dr. Yvonne Ndelle is Program Manager and Research Associate with the Open African Innovation Research (Open AIR) Network at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Law, Technology and Society. A researcher and policy scholar, her work focuses on the governance of emerging technologies, agricultural data governance, public engagement, and science, technology, and innovation policy.

A former Queen Elizabeth Scholar and Postdoctoral Fellow with Open AIR, Yvonne joined the University of Ottawa as an inbound scholar from Cameroon, where she researched digital and data-driven agriculture. She has extensive experience in research, program and grant management, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge mobilization, supporting international research partnerships and policy initiatives that advance inclusive innovation and sustainable development.

Yvonne holds a PhD in Public Policy and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea, Cameroon.

Myroslava Tataryn is an international public health and disability rights leader with over 15 years of experience advancing inclusive health services, humanitarian response, and rights‑based development initiatives. She currently serves as the Chief of Movements Division at the Disability Rights Fund, bringing deep expertise in global disability justice and grantmaking.

Born and raised in Canada to Ukrainian parents, Tataryn built her foundation in social justice through studies at Queen’s University and later earned an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her career spans work in Haiti, Malawi, Uganda, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Jordan, where she led disability‑inclusive health research, humanitarian programming, and partnerships with UN agencies, donors, and grassroots disabled persons’ organizations.

Before joining DRF, she spent six years at the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, managing disability rights grants and refining equity‑centered philanthropic practices. Tataryn also serves on the board of Propeller Dance, a disability arts organization in Ottawa.

Lynn Yu Ling Ng is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Politics at York University. Her research focuses on global care labour migration, aging, and care policy, with particular expertise in East Asia, including Singapore and Taiwan. Through her current research program, she examines migrant care work and advocates for more inclusive, anti-ageist approaches to care that centre the voices and experiences of care workers.

Lynn completed a PhD in Political Science at the University of Victoria, an MPhil in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, and a BA (Hons) in Geography at Durham University.

A former Queen Elizabeth Scholar, she completed a placement in Singapore in 2014 through the project Crossing Borders: Experiential Learning and Scholarship across the Commonwealth. Her work has been widely published and reflects a commitment to advancing public understanding of aging, caregiving, migration, and social equity.