Meet the Team
Our team: Supporting impact and social innovation
Kathy Manners (she/her)
Deputy Director
A doer and a dreamer
Kathy is a results-oriented, values-based community leader and entrepreneur with a passion for innovation. She has worked in both the private sector and public sector, along with contributing extensively in the non-profit environment. Kathy is one of a handful of Canadians who have completed graduate work in Social Innovation and is driven to change the way we change the world. In her spare time, Kathy loves spending time with her family and is an avid cyclist!
Samantha Jourdain (she/her)
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director and Team Administrator
Free-spirited and cheerful
Samantha Jourdain is the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director and Team Administrator for the Indigenous Innovation Initiative. She is Anishnaabe from Couchiching First Nations and currently resides in Northern Ontario. Samantha brings her ten plus years of administrative experience to the team, as well as her passion for Indigenous community and drive for Indigenous peoples to be on the forefront of innovation and change.
Nabeela Jivraj (she/her)
Knowledges Mobilization Manager
Calm optimist
Nabeela grew up in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) and lives in Tiohtiá:ke / Mooniyang (Montreal). She has experience supporting impact measurement for global health innovations, stakeholder reporting, and organizational learning initiatives. She is passionate about supporting locally-led and strengths-based approaches to community development. In her spare time, Nabeela enjoys dancing, writing and curating meme collections for her friends.
Jillian Sutherland (she/her)
Investment Associate
Creative catalyst
Jillian is an Investment Associate for the Indigenous Innovation Initiative.
Jillian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries from Toronto Metropolitan University. Before joining Grand Challenges Canada, Jillian spent three years supporting granting programs for Canada’s largest public arts funder.
Alexandra Langford-Pezzo (she/her)
Program Associate
Creating abundance in community
Alexandra (Felix) is Ililiwiskwew from Missanabie Cree First Nation who currently resides in Tkarondo. An earth-worker by spirit, Felix has held space with the Indigenous Innovation Initiative team as one of the program associates since 2021.
Before joining the team, she ran an earth working business, bringing plant knowledge to her urban community. Her role within the team is centred around the Indigenous community; she works to continue to connect Indigenous Peoples with each other and opportunities through the Indigenous Innovation Initiative. Felix is passionate about creating abundance for Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island that is led by community, for community, and with community.