Our xChange 2026 Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Conference MC
Joel Hilchey
CEO, Beanstalk Creative
Joel is an ideas guy. His gift seems to stem from a strange combination of observation, insight, and blatant disregard for conventional thinking.
He's also a juggler (literally and figuratively). In addition to leading the Beanstalk Creative team, he maintains a busy schedule as a keynote speaker on workplace culture, creating unforgettable spectacles on stage. He's the father of 3 kids, 2 of whom co-habitated a uterus, and he attempts to be a good husband. Joel has authored 4 books - most recently The 6-and-a-half Habits of Highly Defective Bosses - Serious Lessons for Accidental Managers, and he taught engineering for over a decade at McMaster University, where he was named one of the Top 150 Alumni. He’s a seasoned barbershop quartet singer, he formerly chaired the board of the world-renowned Hamilton Children’s Choir, and he's a semi-competitive joggler (that's right... juggling whilst jogging).
Conference Day 1 Speakers
Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at the Arctic Economic Development Corporation
Bud Sambasivam
Bud Sambasivam works at the intersection of engineering, public policy, and business, bringing a systems-level view to how change happens — and the role engineers play in shaping it. He is Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at the Arctic Economic Development Corporation, leading infrastructure and logistics initiatives in one of the world’s most challenging regions. Previously, he served in the Office of the Minister of Finance, helping deliver four federal budgets, and also worked in the Prime Minister’s Office. A longtime EWB leader, he helped launch the University of Saskatchewan Chapter. Bud is a licensed Professional Engineer with graduate degrees from Harvard and Cambridge.
Founder, Managing Director, Mining Shared Value programme of EWB Canada
Jeff Geipel
Jeff Geipel founded Mining Shared Value in 2012 and continues to serve as its Managing Director. The program strengthens the development impacts of mining by systemically increasing local procurement of goods and services in resource-rich countries. Before launching Mining Shared Value, Jeff founded and served as the first executive director of Fair Trade Vancouver, which became a model for municipal fair-trade organizations across Canada. Originally from Vancouver, he holds a master’s degree in international development from the London School of Economics. Jeff’s work and commentary have been featured by The Guardian, the World Economic Forum, the Globe and Mail, the National Post, Mining Weekly, and Hill Times Magazine.
Founder & CEO of Valence
Parker Mitchell
Parker Mitchell is an entrepreneurial systems leader focused on building organizations that combine purpose, impact, and innovation. He co-founded Engineers Without Borders Canada, helping mobilize a generation of engineers to tackle global challenges. Today, Parker is Founder and CEO of Valence, an AI-powered coaching platform supporting teams and organizations worldwide. Through Valence, he drives enterprise-scale transformation by equipping leaders with tools to strengthen collaboration, culture, and performance. With a background spanning engineering, strategy, and early-stage ventures, Parker brings a rare systems-change perspective—rooted in EWB—that emphasizes cross-disciplinary work, rapid iteration, and people-centred design to turn ideas into lasting impact.
Director of African Programs and Partnership at EWB Canada
Herbert Kisara
Herbert Kisara is the Director of African Programs and Partnerships at Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Canada, leading a portfolio that advances sustainable development and systems change across sub-Saharan Africa and Canada. With over a decade of experience in international development and volunteer management, he oversees initiatives in renewable energy, youth leadership, and inclusive economic growth, ensuring engineering and technology drive equitable impact. A strong advocate for collaboration and localization, Herbert strengthens EWB partnerships in Zambia, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. He has helped shape flagship programs like Engineering Brighter Tomorrows and innovation projects supporting the next generation of STEM leaders.
Co-Founder and Head of Solutions, Valence
Levi Goertz
Levi Goertz is a purpose-driven leader dedicated to advancing human potential through technology, coaching, and culture transformation. As Head of Client Solutions at Valence, he partners with global organizations to design scalable, human-centered development programs that strengthen leadership, trust, and inclusion. With experience spanning entrepreneurship, consulting, and global operations, Levi has led initiatives that bridge innovation and social impact, empowering teams to grow and thrive.
Founder and CEO of Localize
Meghan Dear, P. Biol, ICD.D
Meghan Dear is a systems-change leader and entrepreneur who builds companies that put sustainability, technology, and impact at their core. Recognized with honours such as Top 40 Under 40, NACO’s Startup of the Year, Woman of Impact in Geospatial, and multiple B Corp Best for the World awards, she is defined by her commitment to solving meaningful problems. Meghan is the Founder and CEO of Localize, a mission-driven tech company that helps organizations act on sustainability, equity, and impact data. Her career spans space and geospatial innovation, AI, big data, and digital marketplaces. Meghan’s early work with EWB in Ghana shaped her belief in collaborative, tech-enabled systems change.
Senior Manager, Sustainability Strategy & Business Development, Schneider Electric Canada
Swati Vora-Patel
Swati Vora-Patel is a sustainability leader and strategic business development professional with over 20 years of experience across the energy and sustainability sector. As Senior Manager, Sustainability Strategy & Business Development at Schneider Electric Canada, she leads initiatives to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient and resilient solutions, aligning go-to-market strategies with a global low-carbon vision. She also champions community impact and corporate social responsibility through the Schneider Electric Foundation. Previously, Swati led strategic content marketing for Schneider Electric’s Advisory Services, shaping global thought leadership on climate action and the energy transition. Before joining Schneider Electric, she spent over 15 years at Electro-Federation Canada advancing sustainability, safety, and industry collaboration.
Software Engineer at Trail
Joanna Roy
Joanna Roy is a software engineer at Trail, an AI governance startup in Munich, where she helps make AI policies—such as the EU AI Act—practically implementable. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 2024 with an Engineering Science (ECE) degree, completing a thesis on social media content moderation. During her studies, Joanna served as co-president of the UofT EWB Chapter (2021–22) and co-founded its virtual food bank to support students during the pandemic. She also contributed to mental health advocacy through the Engineering Society and the Inlight Student Mental Health Research Initiative.
Digital Transformation Director, Schneider Electric
Bershu Nkwawir, M.Sc. P. Eng
Bershu Nkwawir is a business leader and Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience in consulting, automation, and digital transformation. As Digital Transformation Director at Schneider Electric, he helps manufacturers achieve operational goals through accelerated, agnostic, data-driven automation strategies. Previously, Bershu guided organizations through advanced manufacturing and digitalization at Honeywell Connected Enterprise and as Founder and President of P3 Inc., and held leadership roles at Siemens across diverse industrial sectors. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Munich and is passionate about advancing productivity and living standards through technology. Bershu serves on program advisory councils at Sheridan College and Niagara College.
Senior Director, Portfolio Management, Grand Challenges Canada
Adetunji Eleso
Adetunji is Senior Director, Portfolio Management at Grand Challenges Canada, where he leads the strategic design and performance of a global innovation portfolio spanning seed to transition-to-scale investments. He works closely with executive leadership, funders, and partners to drive impact, learning, and long-term sustainability across health and development contexts.
With over 20 years of cross-sector experience, Adetunji brings deep expertise in impact investing, public-private partnerships, and implementation across Sub-Saharan Africa and globally. He is known for a systems-level, evidence-informed approach to strengthening scale readiness, managing portfolio risk, and translating promising innovations into sustainable, integrated impact.
Program Manager at Global Aviation & Aerospace Skills Taskforce
Casey Ferriter
Casey Ferriter is a sustainability and international development professional based in Montreal, Quebec. Her work spans policy advocacy, responsible resource development, and industry-led sustainability, sitting at the intersection of global development and innovation. She began her career with Engineers Without Borders Canada, supporting efforts to strengthen Canada’s international development policies, and later worked with Mining Shared Value to advance local procurement practices in the mining sector. For the past two years, Casey has worked in the aviation sector with Airports Council International (ACI) World and the Global Aviation & Aerospace Skills Task Force (GAAST), managing sustainability-focused projects and programs. She is passionate about systems change and aligning private-sector practices with global development goals.
Vice President of Community and Government Relations at Planetary Technologies
Diana Philip
Diana Philip is Vice President of Community and Government Relations at Planetary Technologies, where she leads strategic partnerships and community engagement across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. A seasoned policy strategist and international human rights lawyer, she brings nearly two decades of experience across government, industry, and global institutions. Diana has served in Ontario’s Ministry of Education and held senior policy roles at Dell Technologies. Her international work spans four continents and includes advising governments on diplomacy, conflict resolution, environmental policy, and international law, including contributions to the High-Level Panel on Water and Peace. Diana holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and serves on non-profit boards in Canada, the U.S., and India.
Master of Applied Science candidate at UofT’s Centre for Global Engineering, EWB Policy & Advocacy Distributed Team Member
Ashna Jain
Ashna Jain is a Master of Applied Science candidate at UofT’s Centre for Global Engineering, researching the implementation of irrigation control systems in water scarce agricultural communities. During her undergraduate studies at UofT in Industrial Engineering, she engaged in several sustainable development projects through the Reach Alliance, Engineering for Change Fellowship, and Humanitarian Engineering Internship at Lingnan University. Through her internships at BBA Consultants and Green Island, she has explored different facets of the global energy transition. She has been involved in EWB in various capacities over the years, as a 2022 Canada-Africa Innovation Fellow, Co-President of the UofT EWB Chapter (2023-24), and currently as a member of the Policy & Advocacy Distributed Team.
Campaigns Manager at ONE Campaign
Najiba Sardar
Najiba Sardar is a Toronto-based organizer with deep roots in community engagement and advocacy. Her work began at the University of Toronto Students’ Union, where she served as Vice-President Equity and led initiatives across multiple campuses. She has held roles in provincial government and NGOs, including as Outreach Officer for Ontario’s Official Opposition (NDP), where she led electoral campaigns and trained thousands of activists nationwide. At ONE, Najiba leads supporter engagement and digital advocacy, launching Canada’s first nationwide Global Activist program and partnering with Engineers Without Borders on G7-related advocacy. She holds an M.A. from McMaster University and an Hon. B.A. from the University of Toronto.
Deputy Mayor for Etobicoke
Amber Morley
Councillor Amber Morley represents Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ward 3. She also serves as Deputy Mayor of Toronto for Etobicoke. For over 20 years, Councillor Morley has been working on behalf of the residents of Etobicoke-Lakeshore, while pursuing advocacy at all levels of government. As a member of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Amber works towards enacting policies that support resiliency, sustainability, and responsible growth across the city of Toronto. She has also used her voice to bring attention to various issues such as poverty reduction, youth equity, good governance, and access to city spaces and services.
Member of Turtle Clan from Couchiching First Nation
Thomas Sinclair
Thomas Sinclair is a member of the Turtle Clan from Couchiching First Nation in Treaty 3 territory. A woodland artist with art in collections and galleries around the world. Taught by master woodland artist Isadore Wadow in childhood, he adheres to the old teachings and lives life as closely as possible to the teachings of the Anishnaabe way of life.
Co-founder of Enyana Health, UWaterloo Engineering Undergradaute Student, EWB Policy & Advocacy Distributed Team Member
Gabriel Luis Jabile
Gabriel is a co-founder of Enyana Health, an agri-tech startup that is making livestock healthcare support accessible to every farmer in Uganda through simple mobile technology. He co-founded this venture with Ugandan engineering students after living with the Nyakayojo grape farming community in Uganda through EWB’s Canada-Africa Innovation Fellowship in 2024. This experience sparked his interest in complex problems which he has explored through his engineering studies at the University of Waterloo, interning as a business analyst at McKinsey, and participating in the systems thinking research competition Map the System at the University of Oxford. He’s been involved with EWB since 2020 (first attending a UW EWB session as a high school student!) and is currently organizing student meetings with MPs as part of the Policy & Advocacy Distributed Team.
MarComms Officer and Policy & Advocacy Lead at EWB Canada, International Relations Student at the University of Toronto
Grace Choi
Grace is the MarComms Officer, as well as the Policy & Advocacy Lead at EWB Canada. Grace supports Communications and Marketing efforts at National Office, as well as spearheads the Advocacy campaign, Flip the Switch!, leading the PADT to ensure student advocates to have their voice heard in the policy space. Outside of EWB, Grace is a fourth-year International Relations undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, who is interested in questions of global governance and justice. She is also the Co-Chair of Summit Studies for the G20 Johannesburg Cycle at the G20 Research Group, which is an independent research and monitoring body based at the University of Toronto that analyzes G20 summits, tracks member commitments, and assesses global governance performance to strengthen accountability and policy impact.
Associate Professor and the Turkstra Chair in Urban Engineering at the University of Waterloo
Dr. Nadine Ibrahim
Nadine Ibrahim is an Associate Professor and the Turkstra Chair in Urban Engineering at the University of Waterloo. She holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate in Civil Engineering, as well as a Certificate in Preventive Engineering and Social Development from the University of Toronto. Her work bridges industry and academia, collaborating with municipalities on sustainable, climate-resilient urban infrastructure. Nadine focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation, urban energy and material flows, and sustainability in global cities and megaregions. A past President of the Canadian Engineering Education Association, she advocates for engineers as municipal leaders and recently launched initiatives advancing future cities, engineering leadership, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Conference Day 2 Speakers
Vice President of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric Canada
Hugo Lafontaine
Hugo Lafontaine is a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in commercial and industrial automation. As Vice President of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric Canada, he oversees national operations across industrial products, software, and both continuous and discrete business lines. Hugo began his career in controls consulting and building automation, later holding progressive roles in sales, marketing, and management. Before joining Schneider Electric, he spent 11 years at Regulvar and later served as General Manager for Canada and the Northeast U.S. at Daikin Applied. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, an Executive Master’s from Telfer, and completed leadership programs at INSEAD.
Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker and Coach
Lisa Tong, MBA, PCC
Lisa Tong is an ex-consultant, corporate strategist, and engineer turned entrepreneur, researcher, author, and professionally trained and certified coach and facilitator. She founded This Project Called Me and The Leader As a Coach, projects that use data to think about your thinking and systemically train the power of words in conversation. When Lisa is not writing or experimenting with words, you will likely find her cycling or making soups for her other fun persona, The Chinese Soup Lady.
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CEO of e-Zinc
James Larsen, P.Eng., MBA
James Larsen is a cleantech and energy leader with over 20 years of experience spanning strategy, operations, finance, and engineering. He is the CEO of e-Zinc, a Toronto-based energy storage company commercializing proprietary long-duration technology to enable 100% renewable energy systems, and has raised more than $100 million to advance the company’s growth. Previously, James led business development at MaRS’ Advanced Energy Centre and worked as a management consultant at Bain & Company. His engineering background includes renewable energy technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, micro-hydro, and geothermal systems. James holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University, an MBA from Ivey, and is a Professional Engineer with an ICD.D designation.
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Co-CEO and Managing Partner of CPCS
Marc-André Roy, MBA
Marc-André Roy co-leads CPCS's global operations. He has led over 250 transportation-sector management consulting assignments for public and private sector clients in North America, Asia, South America, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Africa. He has an international MBA from the Schulich School of Business (top graduate) and holds the ICD.D designation. He is fluent in English and French and is based in Ottawa, Canada.
CEO and Founder of Green Salvaged Materials
Carly Connor, P.Eng.
Carly Connor is a professional engineer and national leader in circularity and existing buildings. Her work spans heritage restoration, building science, and systems design, and she now leads Green Salvaged Materials, advancing material reuse, adaptive reuse, and portfolio-scale circularity across Canada’s built environment.
Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC in Civil Engineering
Pamela Wolf, P.Eng.
Pamela Wolf is currently an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC in Civil Engineering. Her work is at the intersection of communication and design, with a focus on communication for collaboration, the community consultation process, storytelling, and decolonization. She is also author of the book Decolonizing the Engineering Curriculum and enabling system change in engineering curriculum. Pamela serves as a Board Member for EWB Canada and was a professional fellow with EWB’s ‘amplify governance’ team in Ghana.
UManitoba Finance Undergrad Student
Muhammad Isfandyar
Muhammad Isfandyar is a third-year Finance student at the University of Manitoba with a background in engineering and a strong interest in how funding, partnerships, and leadership enable sustainable impact. As President of Engineers Without Borders uManitoba (2024–2025), he focused on growing the chapter and expanding opportunities for student engagement. He led fundraising and partnerships supporting projects in clean water, food security, and renewable energy, including work in Puerto Rico and rural Pakistan. Through EWB, Muhammad developed a passion for using finance and leadership to advance community-driven development and sustainable energy initiatives.
UManitoba Computer Engineering Undergrad Graduate
Jaskaran Sarkaria
Jaskaran Sarkaria is a Computer Engineering graduate from the University of Manitoba’s Price Faculty of Engineering, completing his degree in December 2025. He served as Director of Operations for Engineers Without Borders uManitoba (2024–2025), focusing on building teams and systems that turn ideas into action. Jaskaran coordinated local and international initiatives in partnership with community organizations, including projects on clean water and food security in Puerto Rico and solar energy in rural Pakistan. Through EWB, he developed a strong interest in using engineering and technology to enable long-term, community-driven impact.
UWaterloo Master of Applied Science Student
Laurel Pierroz-Wong
Laurel Pierroz-Wong is a recent Environmental Engineering graduate from the University of Waterloo and served as Waterloo EWB President in 2024–2025, with involvement since 2021 .At the end of her final year, Laurel founded Pyroneers, an initiative that converts invasive buckthorn into biochar to support soil regeneration, urban green space restoration, and student education. Laurel is beginning an MASc in Waterloo’s Collaborative Water Program, focusing on climate change adaptation, engineering education, and curriculum reform. She plans to remain active with EWB as a national office volunteer and Waterloo Chapter member.
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UManitoba Computer Engineering Undergrad Graduate
Munaam Naveed
Munaam Naveed is the Leadership Education Specialist at Troost ILead in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto. She holds a Master of Education in Student Development and Student Services from OISE, an Honours BA in Sociology and CCIT from UofT, and a Certificate in Digital Communication from Sheridan College. With over seven years of experience across higher education institutions in the GTA, Munaam focuses on students’ professional, personal, and leadership development. Her work spans career education, mentorship, residence life, orientation, co-curricular design, and leadership programming, with a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and purposeful student engagement.
Ontario Program Director at Product Care Recycling
Holly Lafontaine
Holly Lafontaine is the Ontario Program Director at Product Care Recycling, where she specializes in bridging the gap between regulatory complexity and operational success of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. With over a decade of experience in stakeholder engagement and EPR regulatory compliance, Holly works closely with producers, municipalities, recyclers and regulators to develop sustainable and cost effective material recovery systems for a wide range of products. Holly is passionate about building a circular economy for the valuable resources embedded in the materials and products we use.
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CEO of EM-ONE Energy Solutions
Mir Islam
Mir Islam is the CEO of EM-ONE Energy Solutions, a Canadian engineering and technology firm advancing Africa’s transition to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power. With over 25 years of experience in engineering, power systems, and renewable energy, Mir leads the delivery of scalable solar and energy storage solutions for commercial, industrial, and critical public infrastructure, particularly healthcare. Under his leadership, EM-ONE has deployed more than 300 modular solar microgrids powering hospitals, schools, universities, and industrial facilities across Africa, alongside large-scale solar and battery storage projects. Mir holds an Electronics Engineering degree from the University of Nigeria and an International MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business.
President of Calgary Professional Chapter
Aditya Chaudhuri
Aditya, or lovingly known as Adi, has been an EWBer since 2012. From being a chapter member to completing a junior fellowship to leading the Calgary Professional Chapter, Adi has helped shape the organization’s story. For his 9-to-5, Adi’s engineering career has taken him from Alberta’s energy sector all the way to transforming and modernizing the Canadian public sector. As an impact-driven person, Adi lends his mind and heart to many nonprofit organizations. Adi has been recognized for his leadership and work, including being a former Alberta Top30Under30. When not at his desk, he can be found rehabilitating animals, exploring the Rockies and swimming in glacial waters, and pursuing Indian classical music.
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Team Lead, Solar Independent Engineering at DNV
Anthony Candelario, P.Eng
As a leader in DNV’s Solar Independent Engineering team, Anthony Candelario provides technical due diligence and consulting services to the renewable energy sector. He works at the intersection of technical expertise, project construction and finance to accelerate the deployment of high performing and sustainable solar energy assets. With over a decade of industry experience, Anthony has a reputation for fostering stakeholder trust through collaboration and a commitment to mutual learning. He believes in an equitable energy transition, through innovative technologies, transparency and engagement of all stakeholders so that we can build an energy system that is more inclusive and sustainable.
Fourth-year Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto
Ziana Suleman
Ziana is a fourth-year Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto, specializing in the Math, Statistics, and Finance major with a minor in Artificial Intelligence. Ziana began her journey with EWB in her first year through the UofT chapter, where she later served as Programs Director for two years. She also played a key role in organizing the 2024 EWB Ontario xChange as Event Manager, helping bring together students and professionals to collaborate on systems-level change.