Brina Ludwig-Prout

Brina is a change management & project management expert with over 20 years experience as an independent consultant. She specializes in implementing large, complex, strategic projects and is a certified Human Resource Leader with a background in operations and information technology management. Known for her collaborative, inclusive style, Brina has consulted to senior levels in corporate Canada for much of her career and now also consults to emerging entrepreneurs and organizations in the social enterprise field. Brina is passionate about inter-generational collaboration, diversity and inclusion and ensures that mentoring is a key component of any contract she undertakes. She has been a member of the Advisory Committee for the Toronto Regional Immigrant Employment Council's (TRIEC) Connector Program; a Strategic Advisor to the School for Social Entrepreneurs, Ontario; and, an inaugural member of the League of Intrapreneurs, Canada. Brina has a certificate in Medicine Wheel Facilitation from the Indigenous Certification Board of Canada and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Child Development Institute.

Stephanie Clark

Recreation Services Manager, City of Iqaluit

Involved in the Students Commission network since the late 1990s in Saskatoon, Stephanie joined the SCC family out in Toronto in the carefree days of the early 2000s. Here she found support for her involvement in projects that sharpened her engagement skills and crossed her path with countless young people that fundamentally shaped the way she looks at youth, the community and life. Stephanie stepped away from The Students Commission for a few years to try her hand at managing housing programs for youth. After five years of that eventually Stephanie found her way to Iqaluit where she currently oversees community programs for the Recreation Department with the City.

Romil Dharia

Senior Risk Analyst, President's Choice Bank

Romil attended his first SCC conference in 2007 and has been hooked on youth engagement ever since. Romil has had the pleasure of working with and for the SCC through various roles including volunteer, facilitator, conference planner, project coordinator, and now, with the Board. He believes in the power of bringing diverse young people together and watching the magic unfold. In his spare time, he enjoys podcasts, comedy shows, traveling, physical exercise, and coffee.

Gina Jeneroux

As Chief Learning Officer for BMO Financial Group, Gina Jeneroux leads the company's focus on advancing performance through learning.

Gina is accountable for enterprise learning strategy, design, operations and governance. She also manages BMO's corporate university – the Institute for Learning in Toronto – as well as learning sites in Montreal and Naperville.

Gina leads a diverse team of strategists, learning and experience designers, marketers, operational experts and hospitality professionals. They work with partners across the company to create innovative solutions that support all of the ways in which employees learn – for today's job, for tomorrow's career, and as they follow their personal passions. The goal is to build a culture of curiosity, agility and continuous learning, to engage and inspire employees, boldly meet the needs of our customers and drive results.

Gina is a business-focused professional, designer and storyteller who sparks new ways of thinking. Through more than 30 years in the financial services industry, Gina has built a reputation for innovation, thought leadership and action. She has deep experience in frontline banking, human-centred design, and strategies and solutions that make an impact.

She holds an MBA, Financial Services from Dalhousie University, and she is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers.

Debra D. Kerby

President & CEO, The Learning Partnership

Debra is President & CEO of The Learning Partnership, a national Canadian charitable organization with a mission to inspire and equip todays’ students, regardless of their circumstances, to become tomorrow’s problem solvers and change makers.

Debra’s leadership experience spans both the private (Labatt’s, Warner-Lambert) and non-profit (Right To Play, Canadian Feed The Children) sectors, blending international experience and entrepreneurial spirit to deliver a meaningful difference for children and youth in underserved communities. Her leadership hallmarks are creativity, curiosity and engaging teams for impact. Debra rejuvenates spending time in the wilderness, be it urban or remote.

With a strong background in not for profit governance, Debra holds an M.Sc. in International Development Management from the London School of Economics; an International MBA from the University of Edinburgh; and a B.A. from Queen’s University. Debra was honoured to receive a full scholarship to the Harvard Strategic Perspectives in Not for Profit Management.

Sharif Mahdy
info@studentscommission.ca

Sharif is the Executive Director of the Students Commission of Canada (SCC). Sharif has been with the SCC since 2010 when he joined the organization as a project coordinator. Sharif has an Honors Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He also has a Masters of Arts in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University. Sharif loves canoeing, being in the outdoors, dancing like no one's watching, working out and hanging out with his cat Zoey! If Sharif had a warning label it would say “Extrovert ALERT!”, if he had a superpower he would want to be able to fly!

Christa Romaldi
info@studentscommission.ca

Christa is an adventurous and energetic person, with a love of the outdoors, reading and traveling. She has been to Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and has extensively traveled North America; in many of these contexts she was working with children and youth. In fact, Christa has been working with children and youth for over 15 years: designing, implementing and supervising programs in various capacities and with diverse populations. She has spent the last 6 years supporting youth leadership and youth engagement in Canada, through organizational and personal mentorship, research and evaluation, and systems change projects, like Students Commission Collective Impact Toronto Youth.

Nishad Khanna
info@studentscommission.ca

Nish has worked with the Students Commission since 2002. He has been involved in developing and implementing various youth programs, events and youth-engaged research with the Students Commission, organizational partners and academic partners. Nish has a long history with the community-university partnerships we have developed over the past 10 years, as well as experience facilitating youth participatory action research. If he had a warning label, it would be "Asks inconvenient questions.

Stoney McCart
info@studentscommission.ca

Stoney, a co-founder of the Students Commission of Canada, began her journey at the SCC's first-ever conference in 1991 as an adult ally from Tiny Giant (TG) magazine. As publisher of TG, Stoney had converted an adult-written youth magazine into a youth-directed voice with an editorial board of 100 students from across Canada, reaching every high school in the country. As Executive Director of SCC from 1992 to 2017, she supported youth across Canada to turn their expressions of their ideas into action. She also helped establish and lead the Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement to establish an evidence base for youth-driven work. Now, as SCC's Director of Strategic Partnerships. she is focussed on generating big ideas with partnering organizations, youth and adult allies that will enhance and amplify positive futures for all youth in Canada.

Todd Ward
info@studentscommission.ca

Todd has been with the Students Commission from its beginning in 1991. A great believer in youth-adult partnership he combines a passion for the visual arts with a desire to encourage young people to share their thoughts and experience visually and affect positive change. In collaboration with youth he designs messaging that is relevant and meaningful for young people and the youth-serving organizations that promote youth well-being. He believes that, whether you're young or old, being part of something bigger than ourselves empowers us all. If Todd had a label it would read "Grey is the new silver".

Kwaku Agyemang
info@studentscommission.ca

Kwaku is the #CanadaWeWant Network Lead. His day to day consists of facilitating national and local SC projects and running our weekly Toronto youth group, YDM 416. He also supports the #CanadaWeWant movement through content development, storytelling and facilitation. Kwaku is studying Media Production at Ryerson University. Growing up in the neighborhood of Rexdale in Toronto, Kwaku has always had a passion for amplifying youth voice and mentoring his peers. This is exemplified through his work in his community to improve the quality of education of young men with Trust 15's Men of Distinction youth empowerment program.

Dave Shanks
info@studentscommission.ca

I love this job because I get to see young people's ideas put into action. I want to live in a city, and province and a country that values and cares about children and youth.

Waltta Kadane Headley
info@studentscommission.ca

Kadane is on Parental Leave. She is a certified Child and Youth Care practitioner who has experience working with children, youth and adults in community, residential & healthcare settings. These opportunities have provided her with teachings and personal experiences that contribute significantly to her relational practice along with strong foundations in meaningful youth engagement and The 4 Pillars: Respect, Listen, Understand, Comminicate ™!

Florence Bergeron
info@studentscommission.ca

Florence is a Lead Analyst for the Students Commission. She joined the SCC in 2019, after completing an Honours Bachelor in psychology and a graduate certificate in knowledge mobilization. This background made her realize how important it is to share the results of research and program evaluations to the communities to help them improve practices and policies. By being a part of SCC, she feels like she can actively take part in this mission with a group of devoted people. Florence is a positive and passionate person, a big foodie, and a CrossFit amateur.

KD Voss
info@studentscommission.ca

KD is a Network Facilitator for the Students Commission of Canada. They officially joined the team June 2020 however they were first introduced to the SCC in 2013 at the Top Left Conference. Growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, KD worked with local and provincial organizations to help improve the quality of life for vulnerable youth in his community and sat on the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities from 2014-2016 advising on provincial youth policy and programs, amplifying the voices of remote youth in Northern Ontario. They have always strived to ensure policy and decision makers properly engage with the young demographics of their communities and that they have a vital role in decisions that affect them. KD graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Women and Gender Studies from Lakehead University. They are now residing in Oakville, Ontario working from the Toronto office.

Amanda Bellefeuille
info@studentscommission.ca

Amanda is a Knowledge in Action Manager for the SCC. She is a community builder who thrives when she is innovating with a team of dedicated collaborators. She loves meeting new people and hearing their stories. Amanda is passionate about listening to and getting to know young people and enjoys co-creating on youth-led projects. She is a certified teacher in Ontario, and holds a Masters in Peace and Conflict studies, which helps drive her curiosity about how people build bridges and create healthy communities. In her role at the SCC, she helps create the flow of knowledge into action and action into knowledge. When she’s not working, you will find Amanda gallivanting in the woods, meeting a friend for bougie coffee, philosophizing on the meaning of life, or combing the racks of Value Village for the next great find.

Serena Surujbali
info@studentscommission.ca

Serena is passionate about amplifying the voice of youth and exploring the world through travel learning about people, food and culture. She has many years of experience working in youth engagement, capacity building and training for frontline staff who work with youth across Canada.

Olga Bolivar
info@studentscommission.ca

Olga has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and has good working experience with profit and non-profit organizations. She is fluent in Spanish and English. Her dream is to get both a Nutrition certificate and a French certificate. She loves the environment and tries to look after the planet. In her free time, she does volunteer work and likes to math tutor primary students.

Fiona Amara
info@studentscommission.ca

Hey everyone, my name is Fiona (yes, like in Shrek) but my friends call me Fio. I am currently completing my Master’s in Developmental Psychology at Brock University. My research will be looking at aggression and people with dark and psychopathic traits. It may come to no surprise that I love anything true crime and horror related. On a less sinister note, I am deeply passionate about mental health awareness. I appreciate everything the SCC does for mental health, as well as the inclusivity of safe spaces. Although I am an introverted network analyst, I love working with youth, and the Canada We Want conference changed my outlook on things. It feels rewarding to pursue meaningful work that impacts the lives of youth.

Kristine Divall
info@studentscommission.ca

Kristine joined the Students Commission of Canada in 2020 as a network manager. She had worked alongside the SCC as a network partner for 3 years delivering programs in Golden with youth at the middle years school and high school. Kristine has a back ground in Education and completed her master’s in Education in 2013 with a focus on social and environmental justice. Through- out her career Kristine has worked with many non- profits, all supporting youth programming and program development. Kristine, her partner David, and two children Awnya and Remi moved to Golden BC a few years back to spend more time outdoors. They live on a small acreage in the mountains where they spend tons of time skiing, hiking, mountain biking and adventuring.

Amanda Morgan
info@studentscommission.ca

I’m originally from a small town in Nova Scotia. I’ve spent the majority of my life working in the customer service industry and I’ve always been a bit unsure of what the right career path is for me. I realized recently that what I really love is working with others and the connections that can build in unexpected ways. Working with the SCC has given me the opportunity to do this in a different and more meaningful way. Being able to witness the difference youth can make when given the opportunity has been amazing to see. I’ve already learned so much from these young voices and I look forward to seeing what this new future has in store.

Chantelle Edwards
info@studentscommission.ca

Chantelle is a STS coordinator for the Students Commission of Canada. Before graduating with a B.Sc. Hons focused in Forensic Science, she didn’t realize her passion for psychology and mental health awareness until completing minors in both Law and Psychology to fill her final year. Now she uses the research and statistical skills from her science background to help in her work as a community action research facilitator. Whether listening to or creating it, music is Chantelle’s deepest passion and favourite art form. Also a huge foodie, you can usually find her attempting to recreate all the mouth-watering, delectable recipes she’s discovered while watching Food Network shows at the gym.

Jose Romero
info@studentscommission.ca

Jose works as a Finance and Data Coordinator for the Students Commission of Canada (SCC). He started working for the SCC in late 2020. Originally from Venezuela, Jose immigrated in 2006 with his family to Montreal, Quebec. He is a third-year Finance and International Business student at Concordia University. His passions include numbers, personal growth, and making the best of every day

He hopes to discover more and better ways to make young people feel valued and share these methods with others. At the SCC, he hopes to expand his social network and people, which will help him develop new interests and reach new objectives.

Tanya Halsall
info@studentscommission.ca

Tanya Halsall is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University and mother of three little people. Her main areas of interest involve research examining youth mental health promotion and system transformation. She is also interested in the application of the ecological systems theory and the influence of nature-based interventions on mental health. Within her research program, she applies participatory strategies to partner with minority young people to co-design research strategies and community-based initiatives. She has been contributing to the Students Commission of Canada since the summer of 2018.

Christian Everall
info@studentscommission.ca

Christian Everall works with youth to amplify their voices in ways that affect changes in their lives at all the individual, social, and community levels. She has experience in Participatory Action Research though her community involvement in Prince Edward County. In her position as a Network Facilitator, she works with the Sharing the Stories platform to help youth serving organizations to evaluate their programs and create reports that indicate why youth join their programs, why they stay, what qualities of the program youth like most, and which outcomes are the groups achieving through their work. She enjoys networking with all sorts of people that drive change in their communities and is always amazed at the ingenuity of youth.

Rachel Flores
info@studentscommission.ca

Rachel is a Network Facilitator who recently has formally joined the team after previously completing her placement at the Students Commission. While pursuing her BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) degree, she aspires to continue to work within the youth and policy sector. She has been able to apply her academic knowledge towards various projects, while still learning new skills and exploring experience opportunities. Rachel is eager to continue her work at the Students Commission and is determined to take on new challenges that lie ahead! Outside of work she enjoys trying new food, exploring and binge watching her favourite Netflix shows!

Victoria McLuckie
info@studentscommission.ca

Vic is a Network Coordinator with the Students Commission, she started working with us in November 2020. She grew up in Toronto and when she was 19, Vic went abroad to complete her BA(Hons) at the University of Glasgow in Political Science and Women and Gender Studies. She spends much of her free time volunteering with the Canadian Cadet Organization. The cadet organization sparked is where her desire to work with young people began. In her work life, she is most passionate about mental health advocacy and LGBTQIA2+ rights. Vic is an avid reader and camper, loves a good rainstorm and trying new recipes. When in doubt, you can find her tucked up on the couch with a warm drink and a good show!

Tara Tomlinson
info@studentscommission.ca

Tara is a Network Coordinator for the Students Commission. She joined the team in 2022 after completing a Specialized Honours Degree in Human Rights and Equity Studies and a Cross-Disciplinary Certification in Anti-Racist Research and Practice. She immigrated to Canada from Jamaica as a child and carries her passion for community connections from her life back home. Tara is also an artist who has a soft spot for creatives, she believes that art has the power to connect communities, create safe spaces and share stories. She is always excited to teach and be taught through the arts and many other mediums. Tara loves working with youth and her focus has been creating and connecting them to accessible resources, knowledge, opportunities, safe spaces, mentors and community!

Yana Berardini
info@studentscommission.ca

Yana has joined the SCC team in 2022 as a Network Analyst, after doing her Post Doc Fellowship there. She has a Masters and a PhD from Child and Youth Studies, from Brock University. Her hobbies include taking road trips and exploring new places with her family (which with two young children never gets old!), finding new snacks (especially over the border or in many communities across Toronto), and watching hours of good TV shows. You can always find her smiling about something and getting excited over the smallest things. She is obsessed with research and data analyses, but most of all, she likes it when she can turn simple results into meaningful stories that improve young people’s lives and promote mental health.

Alex Preagola
info@studentscommission.ca

Alex is a Network Analyst for the Students Commission of Canada (SCC), all the way from Saskatoon and even farther from the Philippines. She moved to Canada in 2014 and has since pursued an academic career in science. Now, she’s trying to get an MSc degree in Aquatic Ecology to fill the void that is her dream to be a veterinarian. Don’t worry, the dream is still alive; she just really loves the process of scientific research, for better or for worse. In 2021, she started working for the SCC which allowed her to apply her skills in data analysis, as well as contribute to the evidence-based ethos of the SCC to build a better Canada for youth.

Mélissa Raymond
info@studentscommission.ca

Mélissa is a Network Coordinator for the Students Commission of Canada (SCC). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sexology from UQAM and majored in child sexual abuse prevention during her studies. After completing her education, she worked as a counsellor to fight violence against women in Peru. Upon her return to Quebec, she was hired to help welcome immigrants in the National Capital. A passionate humanist and social justice activist, she is dedicated to the mission of the SCC and wishes to amplify the voices of youth. She believes that young people have the potential to change the world.

Riti Nawroz
info@studentscommission.ca

Riti is currently pursuing her undergrad at the University of British Columbia. She is passionate about volunteering and community engagement. At the Students Commission, she is hoping to uplift youth voices across the country to invigorate grassroots initiatives.

Janica Maya
info@studentscommission.ca

Janica is a Network Coordinator for the Students Commission of Canada. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Diversity and Equity Studies and a graduate certificate in Mental Health & Addiction from the Toronto Metropolitan University. She is passionate about creating safer spaces for youth and providing them with the tools and confidence to learn, grow and flourish in their communities and themselves. Outside of work, you can find Janica soaking in the sun while enjoying a book in the park or strolling through the streets of Toronto.

Emilie Verret
info@studentscommission.ca

Emilie got involved with the SCC in 2017 when she first attended a knowledge exchange with the Community and Youth lab from Bishop’s University and started working as a Network Analyst in 2018. In 2020, she took a break to focus on her masters and came back with renewed energy and dedication to use her skills and expertise to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.

Kaitlin Power
info@studentscommission.ca

Kaitlin is a Network Coordinator who joined the Student’s Commission of Canada in late 2022 after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. Kaitlin is a bubbly, charismatic person who is always looking to make new friends and build personal connections. She enjoys all things lifestyle (cooking, interior design, fashion, wellbeing) and is a total foodie!

In her early adolescent years, she recognized that she wanted to make a difference in the youth mental health space which led her to working and volunteering with various youth initiatives. She is eager to dive into her role at the SCC and amplify youth voices.

Hawi Ketema
info@studentscommission.ca

Hawi Ketema is a Network Coordinator at the Students Commission of Canada (SCC). She joined SCC in December 2022, after completing her studies in Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Ottawa. Hawi moved to Canada from Ethiopia as an international student in 2017 to do her undergraduate studies. Hawi has long been passionate about working closely with youth. At the Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa-Carleton, she was able to tutor and mentor younger youth with learning disabilities and also support the design and implementation of bilingual learning tools to make make resources more accessible. Being interested in research, evaluation and youth engagement, she joined SCC with an excited heart. She works to value youth voice and share their stories while community building. In her free time, Hawi likes binge-watching shows, is passionate about music and talking about guitars. She loves to walk and explore coffee shops in the city with friends.

Nadia Hanif
info@studentscommission.ca

Nadia joined the Students Commission of Canada in November 2022. Her dedication is to ensure that everyone has the space and tools needed to amplify their ideas and voices. Working with SCC has allowed her to feel like she can actively take part in this mission. Her background stems from Social Work and has worked with Employment Ontario for over eleven years. This afforded her an opportunity to hone her skills over the years and provided her with experience in networking, engagement, and capacity building. Outside of work you’ll be sure to find Nadia either on a dance floor, leisurely biking, hiking, learning a new craft, and or learning French!