Shad Athabasca
Program Directors
The Echo
Monika Ninova
Monika embarked on her Shad journey in 2019 as a participant at Western University. Since then, she has worked as a program facilitator at Laurier University in 2021 and was part of the team that launched ShadAnywhere in 2023. Monika believes that Shad offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that helps participants develop their skills and shape their future.
With a degree in International Economics and Finance from Bocconi University, Monika has gained professional experience at JP Morgan Chase and Capital Group. Her roles have involved financial analysis, strategic planning, and client relationship management.
Monika is deeply committed to volunteering, earning recognition with the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award. She has also contributed to AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run organization, supporting young people in gaining leadership experiences through international internships and volunteer opportunities.
A dedicated travel enthusiast, Monika has explored over 15 countries in the past year alone.
The Nova
Emily Jones Joanisse
Emily is a faculty member at Carleton University and the Director of the Sprott Social Impact Hub, and she is also the CEO and co-founder of Connected Canadians, Canada’s largest digital inclusion charity for older adults. Emily holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and an MBA in International Development Management and has worked in Information Technology for over 15 years, both in Canada and internationally (Europe and Australia). She is also completing her PhD in Management, Information Systems with a focus on the digital inclusion of marginalized groups. Emily is also a proud Shad alumna and is a campus lead of the Shad Anywhere program, this is her sixth year as a team member. As well, Emily has released music on the Italian jazz label Schema Records. Learn more about her musical activities both in Canada and Europe at djemilyjones.com.
The Void
Mindy Tindall
Mindy (she/her) joined ShadAnywhere during its inaugural launch in 2023 as Academic Mentor! She is an experienced entrepreneur and loves supporting future leaders with mentorship and business ideation and development, especially within Shad’s unique energizing and socially impactful environment.
She has studied nursing and has worked in healthcare for 20+ years, returning to study architecture, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience to understand how design impacts health and wellbeing – particularly for people with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent. Mindy is Founder & CEO of Biotecture Inc., an architectural design studio and biotechnology startup, and is working on her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is also an Accessibility Analyst at Fable, where she tests innovative digital accessibility products.
Deeply passionate about human-centered design, Mindy loves giving back to her community. She has worked with Alberta Innovates, the Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Support Unit, and the Alberta Clinical Research Consortium as a Research Advisor and now serves the Patient Advisors Network as a Board Member, working to improve patient engagement and outcomes across Canada. She volunteers with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and serves on two City of Edmonton boards – the Edmonton Design Committee and Accessibility Advisory Committee.
In her spare time, Mindy loves painting, gardening, hiking with her family and dogs, attending concerts, learning new languages, and travelling internationally.
