Team Category: Presenter

Kory Wilson (Kwakwaka’wakw), BSc. JD, (she/her) is the Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships for British Columbia Institute of Technology. She created and led the launch of BCIT’s Indigenous Vision. In June 2022, BCIT Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships was awarded the Gold Award for Excellence in Global Indigenous Education. She is Co-chair of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Indigenous Affinity Group. Kory has over 20 years of experience in post-secondary education, community development, and legal profession. She was instrumental in the creation of six open-sourced BC Campus Indigenization Guides. She serves on many boards from Pearson College, BC Women’s Foundation, Downie Wenjack Fund, Future Skills Canada, to the BC First Nations Justice Council. A sought-after speaker and strategist on advancing and ‘truth-telling’ about the past and moving forward towards Reconciliation. With a deep commitment to education, she knows innovative and creative solutions are a must to move Reconciliation into ReconciliACTION. Education and access to knowledge are key to move everyone forward. When people know better, they do better.

As Next Gen Men’s Executive Director, Jake Stika (he/him) is passionate about changing the way we see, act, and think about masculinity among youth, in communities, and at the workplace towards a future where boys & men experience less pain, and cause less harm.
Jake has earned recognition from Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40, Ashoka, the British Council, and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. He has spoken at the United Nations as part of the Canadian Delegation and has also served as a proud advisor to the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Canadian Women & Sport, as well as Men &.

Elissa Strome (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at CIFAR. She works with leaders at Canada’s three national AI Institutes in Edmonton (Amii), Montreal (Mila), and Toronto (Vector Institute) and across the country to advance Canada’s leadership in AI research, training and innovation. She is a champion of equity, diversity and inclusion in science, and an ambassador for Canada’s position in AI research, innovation, and policy internationally. Elissa is a member of the federal government’s AI Advisory Council, where she co-chairs the Public Awareness Working Group, and the OECD Network of Experts on AI.

Elissa completed her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. Following a post-doc at Lund University, in Sweden, she decided to pursue a career in research strategy, policy, and leadership. From 2008 – 2017 she held senior leadership positions at University of Toronto’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, advancing major institutional strategic research priorities, including establishing and leading the SOSCIP research consortium. She recently earned her black belt in taekwondo.

Craig Wellington (he/him) is the Executive Director of the Black Opportunity Fund, a national community-led charitable organization which aims to address longstanding underinvestment in Canada’s Black communities due to systemicracism, by securing and deploying sustainable funding to promote social and economic empowerment. Wellington has held progressive leadership positions in not for profit organizations for almost 30 years, with extensive experience working in partnership with corporations, educational institutions, and all 3 levels of government.

Craig is an experienced Diversity Equity & Inclusion consultant helping organizations in Canada and the US to develop impactful DE & I strategies. He was recently a member of the Toronto Chief of Police’s Black Community Consultative Committee, is a current member of the City of Mississauga’s Mayor’s Black Caucus, and an advisory board member of the Black Community Action Network of Peel Region (BCAN).

Sally Milne, a Woodland Cree (nehithaw) elder from Northern Saskatchewan, is an artist who has elevated the traditional craft of birch bark biting to an art form. Using only her teeth and carefully harvested birch bark, she transforms the delicate, papery layers of bark into distinctive and unique pieces of art. This ancient and timeless craft allows her to create intricate patterns that captivate the imagination and carry deeper messages to those who recognize the symbolism in her designs.

Sally’s artwork is truly one-of-a-kind, showcasing her skill and creativity. Each piece is a testament to the enduring beauty of birch bark biting, inspiring respect and curiosity for this traditional practice. Through her art, Sally is a cultural ambassador, preserving and promoting the art of birch bark biting.

The Woodland Cree word for Birch Bark Biting translates to Design Bite. By using the teeth to make marks on thinly-peeled, folded pieces of birch bark, one creates design templates, which can then be used to apply patterns to clothing, tools, and other items. Passed down through generations of teachings, birch bark biting holds a special place in Sally’s family history. Under the gentle and patient instruction of her mother and grandmother, Sally remembers holding up these templates to marvel at the way light filtered through the pattern, admiring the templates for their own ephemeral beauty.

Sally’s fascination with this art form stems from the endless possibilities it offers, allowing her to connect with her cultural roots and share her skills with others. Her dedication and talent have propelled her to become a renowned birch bark biter, with her artwork being sought after and cherished in public and private collections worldwide.

Sally Milne’s art is a testament to the power of creativity and the ability to breathe life into nature’s gifts. With each delicate layer of birch bark, she creates masterpieces that transport us to a world where ancient traditions and contemporary art intertwine. Her birch bark bitings serve as a reminder of the beauty and significance of this unique art form, preserving its legacy for future generations.

Woodland Cree does not use capital letters. For style consistency, please do not capitalize “nehithaw.”

Michael Regis is a results driven Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) leader with over a decade of experience designing and implementing transformative strategies in public, private and non-profit sectors across Canada. His career has spanned roles in manufacturing, environmental education and sustainability, federal and municipal government and post-secondary institutions.  

Michael holds a master’s degree in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria, where he facilitated critical trust-building dialogues between racialized communities and the Greater Victoria Police. He has led high-impact EDI initiatives for organizations such as the University of Victoria, City of Red Deer, and Indigenous Services Canada both in Whitehorse and Toronto. Currently, he serves as an EDI Advisor for the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board and continues to support healing and liberation through Anti-Oppression Re-evaluation Counselling.  

Michael is committed to justice, healing and truth, and continues to advocate for systemic change while remaining grounded in community care. 

Janna Hines’ experience in diversity, equity & inclusion is rooted in her desire to create holistic and accountable approaches to advancing equity within organizations. She has more than seven years of experience managing DEI strategy development and implementation, programs, and community engagement, and more than nine years of experience delivering DEI keynotes and training.​ 

Prior to creating her own consultancy, Janna managed the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for Central Health, which focuses on providing healthcare services to low income populations in Austin, Texas. In this role, she provided strategic guidance on DEI data and initiatives to the CEO and executive leadership team, facilitated the organization’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion training, and managed the organization’s Equity & Inclusion Task Force.​  

Janna’s experience also includes launching Employee Resource Groups and supporting organizational social responsibility and community engagement in alignment with DEI. ​  

Janna holds a BA in Social Work and is a CQ® Certified Facilitator in Unconscious Bias and Cultural Intelligence.  

Rhodes Thompson-Chase is a dedicated legal professional and community advocate based in Toronto, Ontario. Currently serving as the Program Supervisor and Information and Referral Coordinator at mediate393, as well as Student Caseworker at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Legal Clinic, he plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to justice and connecting clients with essential legal and community resources. 

Pursuing his Juris Doctor at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Rhodes is committed to transforming the legal landscape to be more inclusive and equitable. As a Black transgender man, he brings a unique and vital perspective to the field, emphasizing the importance of representation and advocacy for marginalized communities. 

Beyond his academic and professional endeavours, Rhodes actively contributes to public legal education. He has authored informative pieces, for Toronto Family Mediation Service’s blog aiming to demystify legal processes for the public. His involvement with organizations like the Lincoln Outlaws and the Black Law Students’ Association at Toronto Metropolitan University further underscores his dedication to community engagement and support. Rhodes Thompson-Chase exemplifies the integration of lived experience with professional expertise, striving to make the legal system more accessible and just for all. 

Evelyn Bradley moved to Epetwitk (P.E.I.) in 2020 from the United States. A member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC community, Evelyn believes that learning the importance of cultural competency through expanding one’s knowledge of unconscious bias is the first step to fostering an inclusive workplace.  

In the past Evelyn has filled such roles as; Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Kiona Technologies, and Instructional Design Consultant for the Queer Doula Network. Evelyn was also a founder and Managing Partner at Brim Consulting, leading the Professional Services and Training Delivery department. Evelyn’s experience has made her an expert in her field and the go-to source of knowledge in the Charlottetown community. 

She is recognized through her own consulting company, Bradley Consulting, for developing and facilitating workshops, strategic planning, policy revision, and coaching and mentoring.  

Outside of work, you can find Evelyn on CBC with her radio DEI segment, “Just Ask,” as well as her many opinion and first-person pieces.