Applications close in:

Don't miss your chance to join Shad2026!

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Applications close in:

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Don't miss your chance to join Shad2026!

Applications close in:

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Don't miss your chance to join Shad2026!

Team

President & CEO

Tim Jackson

Leading a strong and dedicated team, Tim is responsible for the overall management and operation of Shad Canada.

For Tim, Shad is not only where youth learn skills in STEAM and entrepreneurship, but where the next generation becomes equipped with the tools and resources to solve the world’s problems. He believes Shads are a collective force, just as likely to transform Canada’s not-for-profit sector as they are to build the corporate sector.

Tim has an extensive background as an entrepreneur, business and not-for-profit leader. He has served as CEO of the Accelerator Centre, an incubator for technology startups, Vice President at the University of Waterloo and Executive Vice-President at the MaRS Discovery District, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs. He co-founded Tech Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm, and served as CFO and CEO at Waterloo-based technology firm, PixStream (sold to Cisco Systems). Tim has chaired boards such as The Ontario Trillium Foundation, The Waterloo Public Library, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region and the Centre in the Square Theatre. He has co-founded two charitable organizations. When not working you will likely find Tim at the poker table or practicing magic tricks.

Cynthia McConnell

VP, Finance & Resources

Jaime Jacomen

VP, National Programs

Jennifer Ross

VP, Marketing, Communications & Recruitment

Rob Esselment

VP, External Relations

Alvina Mardhani-Bayne

External Relations Manager

Amelia Yap

Office & Project Lead

Brendan Lowther

Manager, National Program Operations

Cheryl Thompson

Student Coordinator

Christine Freeman

Advancement Manager

Constantine Yu

Director, Lead Generation

Deborah Currie

Director, Shad Alumni Network

Ebony Demers

Director of Recruitment

Elissa Gelleny

Director, Digital Programs

Jennifer Murphy

Director, National Program Initiatives

Kafayat Balogun

Finance Manager

Katie Gillespie

Marketing & Communications Lead

Katie Gingerich

Manager, National Program Operations

Kyle Blaney

Data Analyst & Salesforce Administrator

Leanne O’Donnell

Director, National Programs

Mary Dever

Director, Advancement

Michelle McFarlane

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Manager

Miranda Carlson-Strain

Manager, National Program Operations

Mohamad Ayasso

Creative Marketing Lead

Morgan Hernandez

Social Media Lead

Rachel Maus

Marketing & Communications Lead

Sam Spizzirri

Manager, National Program Operations

Stacy Barzey

Accounting Specialist

Board

of Directors

Aaron Bennett CFA

Chief investment professional, University Pension Plan Ontario Toronto, Ontario

Shad Alum

Abdullah Al-Shaghay PhD

Instructor, Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University; Halifax, NS

David Brennan (Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Chair)

Lecturer, University of Waterloo; Waterloo, ON
Former CFO, ecobee

Gary Zimmerman

Founder and CEO, MaxMyInterest; New York, NY
Shad Alum

Jennifer Stott (Board Chair)

Former SVP and Chief Data Officer, RBC; Toronto, ON

 

Jessica Cohen

Jessica Cohen, President & CEO, Junior Achievement Southern Alberta; Calgary, AB

Katharine Bambrick

CEO, Ontario Trillium Foundation; Toronto, ON

 

Patrick Lor

Managing Partner, Panache Ventures; Calgary, AB

Paul Ledwell

Deputy Minister Veterans Affairs Canada; Charlottetown, PE

Sarah Gauthier

ISAP STEM+ Coach, University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, SK
Shad Alum

Shawna Pandya

Physician, Scientist-Astronaut with International Institute for Astronautical Sciences & Director of Medical Research at Orbital Assembly Corporation; Edmonton, AB

Simone Cavanaugh (Governance & HR Committee Chair)

Senior Manager of Strategy & Operations, McKinsey; Montreal, QC
Shad Alum

Twinkle Mehta

Software Engineer, Google; New York City, NY
Shad Alum

Early Bird Advantage

Be among the first 650 students to submit your application before Nov. 3rd, 2025, and lock in your top choice campuses!

Spots are limited! Don’t miss out!

Early Bird applies to the first 650 completed applications submitted by Nov 3, 11:59 PM (ET). Guarantee applies only if accepted into the program, and placement will be made at one of the applicant’s Top 10 campus choices. Shad reserves the right of final interpretation.