Who We Are
From our dedicated project team, to our volunteer Board of Directors and advisory committees, we work together to co-design safer, more inclusive learning and working environments.
Our Team
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Anoodth Naushan (she/her)
Project Director
Anoodth Naushan is an award-winning researcher, educator, policy specialist, and community advocate committed to advancing gender, racial, and economic justice. Her work focuses on creating safer, more equitable, and liberatory futures through the design of programs, policies, and campaigns that drive meaningful social change. Over the past decade, Anoodth has partnered with organizations and institutions across Canada and the UK to strengthen responses to sexual and gender-based violence and improve support for survivors. Grounded in compassion, joy, curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and equity, Anoodth brings a values-driven approach to her work and leadership.
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Tehreem Fatima (she/her)
Interim Project Director
Tehreem is a civic innovator, impact strategist and researcher toying with new solutions to old systemic problems, taking a keen interest in understanding the impact of deep rooted socioeconomic constructs on our day-to-day lives. Her experience spans a decade of work within the national and international civil society sector, driven by her passion for advancing gender equity, economic justice, digital rights and dignity for all. Beyond her dedication to advocacy, Tehreem enjoys learning about the world and human condition through books, travel and by immersing herself in nature.
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Deem Tattan (they/them)
Project Operations Lead
Deem is a third-culture, transmasculine queer refugee with Assyrian/Aramaic roots who has navigated multiple displacements and systemic barriers in pursuit of a liberated life. With over seven years of experience leading complex, equity-driven initiatives, and trained as an engineer, Deem integrates data and process-informed decision-making with trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches. Their international work experience spans event planning, grassroots organizing, nonprofit program development, operations and project management. They prioritize team well-being, accessibility rooted in disability justice, and collective impact. Their leadership is always grounded in the principle of “nothing about us without us".
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Aubrianna Snow (she/her)
Student Engagement Lead
Aubrianna is a dedicated storyteller, educator, and feminist of mixed Mi'kmaw/settler descent living with gratitude on Treaty Six Territory. Her passion for addressing and preventing gender-based violence in educational spaces developed during her undergraduate degree in journalism at MacEwan University. She holds a master's degree in educational policy studies, and continues to channel this learning into uplifting safer STEM-focused learning opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Outside of this work, she is focused on her writing practice.
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Britney De Costa (she/her)
Research & Strategy Lead
Britney is a settler living and working in Thadinadonnih, or “the place where they built,” Treaty 3 territory. She is a social researcher and policy analyst with a Master of Social Work and a Master of Laws, who learns from the expertise of community advocates, persons with lived experience, and critical scholars. She works in the areas of gender and disability justice to support community-driven change towards safe, accessible education and workplaces.
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Kris Erickson (he/him)
Partnerships Development Lead
Kris Erickson, PhD, is a higher education professional and strategic consultant with over a decade of experience in instruction, applied social research, youth employment strategy and policy, and cross-sector partnership building in cultural and workforce development. He has worked with partners and clients from public sector and nonprofit organizations in arts and culture and creative industries, immigrant employment, and youth social development contexts in Toronto and across the country to effectively engage community stakeholder groups in research and program evaluation initiatives involving Experiential Learning and Work-Integrated Learning and in support of greater inclusion and improved access to opportunities for a wide range of students, particularly those from equity-deserving and equity-denied communities and historically marginalized populations.
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Salina Abji (she/her)
Evaluation Lead
Salina is a sociologist and consultant specializing in social justice research, education and evaluation. Her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Toronto focused on the intersections between precarious immigration status and gender-based violence. As an evaluation consultant, Salina supports feminist and migrant rights organizations to integrate evaluation using trauma-informed, intersectional, and participatory approaches. As a scholar and educator, Salina has published ten research studies on citizenship and migration, gender-based violence, and social justice activism in scholarly journals like Citizenship Studies, Signs, Social Politics, and Studies in Social Justice. For the past decade, she has also been an active organizing member of the Rights of Non-Status Women Network, a grassroots education and advocacy network based in Toronto.
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Alex Cherry (she/her)
Bilingual Program & Events Lead
Alexandra is a bilingual events and program specialist dedicated to creating meaningful participant experiences and building cross-sector partnerships. She has led large-scale events and volunteer programs, including the 2023 North American Indigenous Games and Nocturne: Art at Night and the Halifax Volunteer Fair in 2025. She previously worked in the museum sector (including the AGO, ROM, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and the Canadian Museum of History) and in education, programs and digital exhibitions. She has a masters from the Université du Québec à Montréal in Museum Studies, focusing on technology in visitor spaces. Outside of work, you can usually find her by or in a body of water, reading a good book, or discussing pop culture.
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Jocelyn Courneya (she/her)
Communications Strategist
Jocelyn is a communications strategist dedicated to advancing social change. She leads marketing and communications for the Courage to Act Foundation and is the Founder and Creative Director of 558 Media, a boutique agency that helps nonprofits and startups amplify their impact. Jocelyn has over nine years of expertise in managing strategic digital communications projects for social impact organizations like QueerTech, Startup Canada, and the Office of Social Innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also a passionate workshop facilitator and public speaker and has published articles on the role of social innovation in higher education.
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Kitty Rodé (they/them)
Design Lead
Kitty is a multidisciplinary artist who is passionate about storytelling, community building and design. They have been empowering organizations to connect with audiences for over a decade. Their community work includes disability justice education, organizing community arts events and volunteering with Parkdale-High Park for Palestine, Turtle Protectors / Mishiikenh Gizhaasowin and Toronto Street Medics.
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Leon K (they/them)
Web / Instructional Designer
Leon K. is an interdisciplinary designer specializing in user-centric information design. They are passionate about art, storytelling, and community building. In the span of a decade, they have taken various multimedia roles across non-profits, post-secondary institutions and corporate environments. They find joy in reforming complex information into an accessible, digestible format. As a feminist and a Luddite, they advocate for responsible technology development that empowers marginalized communities. They are currently studying Critical Information Policy Studies at the University of Toronto.
Board of Directors
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Anoodth Naushan is an award-winning thought leader, researcher, policy specialist, and community advocate who finds joy in supporting people and projects to advance gender, racial and economic justice. She has worked with multiple organizations and institutions across Canada and the UK to strengthen support for survivors of gender-based violence. Recently, she co-led Possibility Seeds' Courage to Act project, aimed at addressing gender-based violence on Canadian post-secondary campuses; this initiative has been recognized as a promising practice and modelled internationally. Anoodth holds a Masters in Social Policy and Social Research from UCL. Compassion, curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and equity are cornerstones of her work.
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Rebecca is a Toronto-based lawyer with a long history of examining psychosocial and scientific concepts like intersectionality and the neurobiology of trauma, and their impacts on legal issues. She has worked as a federal public servant and in private practice, litigated in public and private law matters, and has experience in both criminal (as crown and defence) and civil law.
While she now works primarily in commercial litigation with a focus on property-related disputes, Rebecca's focus has always been to apply an open-minded, creative and human-centred approach to her work and perspectives on the world around her. Through her pragmatism, empathy, fact-based thinking and regulatory compliance experience, Rebecca looks forward to making meaningful contributions to the Board.
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Dr. Jesmen Mendoza has been registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario since 2008. He’s provided counselling and psychotherapy services since 1999 on a range of issues, and in a variety of settings. He is located at TMU’s Centre for Student Development and Counselling where he provides therapy to university students, training to psychology practicum students and consultation to faculty and staff on tricky issues. Prior to TMU, he has provided services in a number of social service and criminal justice settings, and applies an integrated, inclusive and positive psychology approach to all of the clinical and community work he delivers.
Project Advisory Committee
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Trevor Buttrum is an award-winning leader with 20+ years of experience in recruitment strategy, career education, and building inclusive talent pipelines.
Since May 2022, he has served as Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE), which provides national leadership, resources, and professional development to empower members in their work supporting students from post-secondary to career success.
Previously, Tevor was Director of Operations at TalentEgg and led a national career education program and talent attraction strategy at the Insurance Institute of Canada.
A recognized advocate for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), he shares his lived and professional experience through speaking engagements and initiatives advancing IDEA in career development and recruitment.
His innovation and leadership has earned accolades including the Moe Ktytor Award of Merit (CACEE, 2017), Campus Recruiter of the Year (TalentEgg Awards, 2018), and Best Recruitment Branding Strategy for a Professional or Industry Association (TalentEgg Awards, 2021).
His passion is anchored by post-graduate studies in Adult Education and Career Development.
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Bonnie's 20-year experience as an engineer and leader in food manufacturing developed her passion for solving problems, transforming the workplace, and advocating for women in the sector. She is proud to be using her skills to support the work of accelerating change for gender equity in science, engineering, trades, and technology at CCWESTT. Bonnie is a Project Management Professional (PMP), has a B.Sc. in Biological/Food Engineering and knows a lot about making ice cream!
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Martin Edwini-Bonsu is a 5th-year chemical engineering student attending the University of British Columbia (UBC) on the Vancouver campus and a department student representative for the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at UBC. He is wrapping up a 16-month co-op term as an Urban Water Treatment Co-op Student at Associated Engineering. In addition to being on the At the Root Project Advisory Committee, he is also a member of the National Student Advisory Council with the Courage to Act Foundation. As a Project Advisory Committee member, Martin is elated to work with the committee to create and foster safe and inclusive spaces free from sexual harassment and violence. In his free time, Martin enjoys cross-country running, working out at the gym, yoga, and learning about personal finance and economics.
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As the Assistant Dean, Student Success, Careers, and Experiential Learning, Blessie Mathew leads a comprehensive portfolio of units under Student Success and Experience (formerly Office of the Dean of Students) at the University of Alberta including the Career Centre, the Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI), Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology (WISEST), and Orientation and Transition Programs.
Blessie's portfolio is a hub of student support, powered by a dedicated team of approximately 35 staff members, over 30 student staff and interns, and hundreds of volunteers. Each unit is strategically aligned to empower students, postdoctoral scholars, and alumni by fostering engagement in crucial orientation and transition programming, career development, and experiential learning activities. The ultimate goal is to equip individuals with the essential skills, knowledge, experience, and connections needed to navigate their academic and career journeys resourcefully, and with a strong sense of hope and resilience.
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Richard Wikkerink, PhD is the Director of Student and Faculty Relations in Co-operative and Experiential Education at the University of Waterloo. In this role, he leads a team dedicated to aligning co-operative education with the university’s academic mission and enhancing the student experience. His portfolio includes faculty and student engagement, co-op student advising, program development, and strategic initiatives that support Graduate Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), equity and accessibility, and data-informed decision making. Richard is committed to fostering inclusive, student-centered approaches that strengthen experiential learning across disciplines.
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Adriana Berlingieri (PhD) is an organizational consultant, researcher, and educator/facilitator. Her professional and scholarly interests are centered on harassment and violence at work. Adriana has extensive professional experience in senior positions in the areas of learning and development within organizations in an array of sectors internationally. As a Research Partner and Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC), at Western University, she works with various multidisciplinary teams, union leaders, corporate representatives, and community-based organizations to conduct actionable research on harassment and violence at work that shapes the development of prevention and intervention practices.
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Dr. Gnidehou is an Associate Professor at Campus Saint-Jean, the Bilingual Faculty at the University of Alberta. She is adjunct associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and in the School of Public Health and holds a PhD in molecular biology and endocrinology from the University of Paris XI in France. Dr. Gnidehou is at the forefront of research on infectious diseases, especially those affecting pregnant women in developing countries. Her research investigates the impact of infectious diseases on pregnancy, maternal and neonatal mortalities. A further focus is to study Francophone’s health in language minority settings such as the Canadian Prairies. Dr. Gnidehou was born and raised in Benin (West Africa) before moving to France for her undergraduate and graduate studies. Her expertise, professional and personal experience have enabled her to contribute to several university departments. Outside university, she also contributes to the community in several areas including Francophonie, immigration, education, youth, women's health, mental health, and entrepreneurship.
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Guided by intersectional feminism, anti-oppression, and critical pedagogy, Wil is an enthusiastic educator with several years' experience working in health promotion; equity, diversity, and inclusion; and sexual violence prevention in higher education. He holds a BSc (Hons) in biology from McMaster University, a BEd from the University of Western Ontario, a MA in peace education from the UN-mandated University for Peace, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Calgary's Werklund School of Education focused on governance, leadership, and policy relating to sexual violence in higher education. Wil is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (200-hour) with Yoga Alliance, a safeTALK trainer with Living Works, and a Certified Hike Leader with Hike Ontario.
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Dr. Imogen R. Coe is a professor of Chemistry and Biology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and affiliate scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She is an active researcher and former academic leader, being the founding dean of the Faculty of Science at TMU. Dr. Coe is also an award-winning scholar-activist in Canada with respect to the integration of principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) into research cultures in science. She was the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and has been invited by the federal government to serve on numerous committees to evaluate rigorous inclusive research for NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, CFI, ISED and others. She is widely known for her contributions which sit at the interface of scientific research, academic leadership, organizational culture and social justice and she is much in demand as a reviewer, speaker, panelist and consultant.
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Jodie is an experienced Project Engineer who has dedicated their career to sustainability and community driven climate solutions. Currently she is working as the Innovation and STEM Manager for Iron & Earth, a non-profit that reduces barriers for those looking to transition into the green economy. Jodie also works with Coast Build Consulting to build low carbon energy solutions for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. She has experience leading the design and construction of large, low-carbon district energy systems including geo-exchange and waste heat recovery technologies. Jodie is a strong advocate for intersectional climate justice and community-led solutions.
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Jasmeen Sidhu is Associate Director of Partnerships & Special Projects at Co-Operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL), which oversees a +$60 million funding portfolio supporting transformative work-integrated learning initiatives across Canada. With a Ph.D. in Sciences des Radiations et Imagerie Biomédicale from Université de Sherbrooke, she brings extensive expertise in neuroscience research, educational strategy, and evidence-based decision-making.
Previously, Dr. Sidhu served as a Limited-Term Associate Professor at Bishop's University, where she developed and taught 20+ courses, earning four teaching awards for her groundbreaking pedagogical approaches. She has led impactful research on barriers facing underrepresented students in STEM fields, securing significant funding including PRESE and CEWIL grants.
Currently contributing to AI governance as an Expert Drafting Team member for Canada's National Standard for Ethical AI (CAN/DGSI 128), Dr. Sidhu is passionate about creating safer learning environments and advancing innovation in education.
Thank You to Our Collaborators!
Joannie Fogue Mgamgne, Dr. Falak Mujtaba, Zoie Haider, and Kirsty Pazek.
