Individual Associates

Becca Bishop has been a community development practitioner for over five years with a degree in community development from St. Francis Xavier and formal training from Coady International Insitute. She is an advocate for cross-sector collaboration, transparency, and accountability and takes an asset-based approach to engaging young people as global citizens. Through her work as a Community Developer for HRM, Becca has supported community and public sector organizations to enhance their facilitation, capacity building, and public engagement efforts. Alongside the local community development work she leads, Becca is a consultant for international development projects. Currently, she is leading the youth public engagement activities for CARE Canada’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project.

Bobbi Zahra is a public servant who works with Fisheries & Oceans Canada, where she teaches and trains in
IT/IM. Outside that role, she has always been active in her community and is presently the President of the
Board of Halifax Theatre for Young People, an independent theatre company that commissions and produces
work of enduring value for young people and their families. She is a Holocaust scholar, with a great interest in
post-Holocaust theology. Although she has a Twitter account, she is somewhat sporadic in its use, but you will
find her by the Twitter handle - @sleehah.

Camila is passionate about social justice and community engagement, and actively supports movements for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, active mobility, and sustainability. Her advocacy extends to addressing gender-based violence through a feminist lens, emphasizing holistic support services and culturally sensitive counselling. With experience as a Gender Advisor with Cuso International in Honduras and a Registered Counselling Therapist, she’s honed a deep understanding of intersectional oppression and the importance of mental health and gender equality. Committed to integrating decolonial, anti-racist, and intersectional perspectives, I advocate for awareness of compounded marginalization and prioritize clients' well-being in all endeavours.

Catherine has more than 10 years coaching and facilitating individuals/groups in career development

An educator, a chartered mediator, a sustainable world peace activist, Darlene Doiron specialises in interpersonal workplace and community based conflict. She is best known for her longstanding peace work and dedication to creating a more positive and harmonious province of New Brunswick.

Eliza Knockwood is a Two Spirit Mi'kmaq filmmaker living and working out of Epekwitk (also known as Prince Edward Island, Canada). She started her career in the broadcast television industry at the young age of nineteen. Within a year she became the production coordinator on a television series and held that role for three years. In 2006 Eliza began her journey with documentary films and has directed several self-produced shots and community productions. In 2021 Eliza directed her first longer form project called The Ice Walk which was initially created in partnership with Bell Fibe TV1 and then repackaged into feature length film. She has just wrapped filming another short form series titled Gina'matimg - Time of Learning and is currently developing a feature documentary titled The Rite of Passage.

Godspromise is a multi-skilled professional known for exceptional people and business friendly communications solutions through impactful mediation, product knowledge and portfolio management. An image-centric individual delivering strategic, clear and concise messages, product research and technical support with foundations in Conflict Resolution, Public Relations, Administration and Data Analysis, emerging GRC Specialist.

Hareesh Sahadevan is eager to join ACIC because he aligns with its mission of fostering equitable and sustainable communities. As a board member of an NGO in Uganda focused on refugee resettlement, he sees collaboration with ACIC as a way to enhance his impact. Professionally, Hareesh is affiliated with Emvigo BPO, Gex Logistics, Best Recruitment, Tranztrex Solution, and Tecnostac Systems. His volunteer roles include Board Member of Care Well Foundation, Vice Chairman of Uganda BPO Association, President of ATHMA in Halifax, and Volunteer at ISANS.

Heather brings with her over a decade of experience working in the field of International Development; this
includes work with the Canadian government, the United Nations, and several non-governmental
organizations in numerous countries across the globe. At present, she is completing a PhD within the Sociology
Department at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador; her thesis research is centered on the
nexus between International Development and Migration. She is also currently working on a SSHRC-funded
mixed-methods research project exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on Small and Medium-sized Organizations
working in Canada’s foreign aid sector. This research project is being led by the University of Guelph in
partnership with the Spur Change Program. Concurrently she is working on a separate SSHRC-funded
quantitative research project led by Memorial University in partnership with McMaster University. This project is exploring connections between remittance sending behaviors of Canadian immigrants and foreign aid. She
holds a master’s degree in Globalization and International Development from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from Carleton University.

Jennifer Fox has been interested in international development since youth. Through a post-graduate study in
International Education (School Leadership) and with 20 years of Home Economics and Health teaching,
Jennifer has established a commitment to building capacity internationally. Jennifer has a BSc from UPEI,
worked as a teacher in the Yukon and Northwest British Columbia, interned with CIDA in Malawi, Africa (2004-
05) and has recently been trained in Humanitarian Education from the Canadian Red Cross.

Jennifer King brings with her over a decade of invaluable experience in international development, with a specialization in gender equality, rural development, and fostering systemic change. Having recently relocated to Nova Scotia, she is eager to forge connections with fellow professionals in Atlantic Canada, enriching our network with her expertise and dedication to global development efforts. Welcome back, Jennifer, as you rejoin our vibrant community!

Kaitlyn is a recent graduate of Mount Allison University, with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE). Kaitlyn has worked for the federal and provincial governments and remains committed to active global citizenship and the promotion of the Atlantic provinces. Kaitlyn seeks to continue her career in politics and justice, with a focus on international policy.

Keith Forsyth was a public Chartered Accountant for many years in Nova Scotia. Since then he has become a nomad traveling the world. He has spent over five years as an international volunteer in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Carribbean as well as spending over three years in the Canadian North.

Kevin Deveaux is a Canadian lawyer who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1998 for the constituency of Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage. He was re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2006. During his time as an MP, he was the Deputy Speaker for the House from 1999-2003 and the Official Opposition House Leader from 2003-2007.
In March, 2007, Kevin resigned his seat in the House of Assembly to work full time as a Senior Parliamentary Technical Adviser with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Hanoi, Vietnam. In August, 2008, he was appointed to the post of global Parliamentary Development Policy Adviser in New York with UNDP’s Democratic Governance Group, where he was in charge of the Global Programme for Parliamentary Support (GPPS) and provided guidance to more than 60 UNDP Country Offices working with national parliaments and political parties.
In August 2012 he completed his work with UNDP and returned to Canada to practice law and to provide consulting services to parliaments. He has worked with the World Bank, the EU, DFID, FCO, UN Women, International IDEA and UNDP in the past years.

Kevin O'Shea is the Executive Director of the Public Legal Information Association of NL (PLIAN). Currently living in St. John's, NL, Kevin was called to the bar as a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011.

Keyshawn came to Canada from the Bahamas in 2015 to study Economics and Political Science at the
University of Prince Edward Island. Graduating in 2020, she became the Executive Director of the Voluntary
Resource Center, building upon years of volunteer work with Rotary International, WUSC, and other groups on the island.

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Madison is currently a Career Resource Centre Coordinator, providing pre-employment services to high school students and community members. Madison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Criminology and minors in Communications & Public Policy, Sociology, and Human Rights from St. Thomas University

Mohammad is an experienced business organization consultant with a law degree who Managed a team of 30+ people in Europe to expand the company into 12 new locations—achieved a 20% annual growth in sales in a startup which was a noteworthy milestone in his career. Additionally, Mohammad has developed a fully satisfied customer concept for repetitive business. During his career, Mohammad has worked in various organizations, gaining skills such as time and team management, inventory management, budgeting, underwriting, analytical ability, critical thinking, problem-solving, etc.

Peter graduated from Dalhousie in 2013 with a degree in international development and has carried out his own development mandate in Jamaica through Global Affairs Canada's International Youth Internship Program. He currently serves as a executive assistant in the office of Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook

Rose Gyesi is a graduate student studying political science at Memorial University. She is currently a student writer and blog content creator of the Political Science Graduate student association of Memorial University.
She aspires to become an international Policy analyst and an active global citizen.

Sean Kelly is an award-winning professional with over 30 years of experience in program development and management, strategic planning, inclusive leadership, communications, and adult education on environment and global development issues. He has worked for organizations including Clean Nova Scotia Foundation (first as Manager of Communications and then as Director of Clean Energy Programs), Cuso International, the Lester Pearson Institute for International Development, and Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia. He won a Global Citizen Award from the UN 50th Anniversary Committee of Canada. Sean is a past Head of Communications for Cuso International, a leading North American global development agency. He led the charity through a major re-branding, and was the editor of The Sustainable Times, a magazine on environment and international development issues sold at 350 newsstands across Canada. Sean has produced radio documentaries that have been heard on the CBC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and National Public Radio in the U.S. He has been published in many magazines and has won a National Magazine Award in Canada and a Gabriel Award for Documentary in the U.S.

Seiku is a social work student at St. Thomas University with a keen interest in International Development. Seiku aims to address systemic barriers affecting vulnerable populations in society, create awareness on how International social work can promote social justice and advocate for structural changes in society.

Currently a lecturer with the International Development Studies department at Dalhousie University, Shelagh Savage teaches a course on Development in Practice. Prior to that she was Associate Director of Partnerships at the Coady Institute (2009 - 20019) where she focused on how important collaboration is in ensuring social change. Working for many years in international cooperation, she has been privileged to learn with – and from – amazing mentors in communities, institutions and organizations around the world. Shelagh currently serves on a number of boards and advisory committees (including ACIC and Royal Roads University) and worked for many years n the CIDA/DFATD/GAC environment – including co-chairing the first year of the GAC CSO Policy Advisory Group (CPAG).

Along her path to PhD candidacy focusing on complexity, integration and implementation
through a disposition of interdisciplinarity, Stephany earned her BA Honours with
Distinction and MA Valedictorian. Her methodology fosters expressions of culture and
identity as the vehicles for paradigmatic transformation in ever-changing and emergent
environments. By disrupting space, place, and time, she holds those for the historically
excluded to become part of our complex global society of meaning making for an emerging
future. In this approach, underlying narratives become visible, and we recognize diversity
as the strength of complex systems. Furthermore, the necessary reaction that is the
process of knowledge implementation becomes the focus through relevant expertise
common to any complex problem. Stephany stewards collaborations and has travelled to
50 countries on four continents for collaborating with relevant experts to tackle the most
intractable problems we face as a global society: beyond symptoms and systems to a more
comprehensive whole. She has modelled Tetrahedron for a relational model of knowledge
from theory to policy to practice through the not for profit she founded for the purpose.

Teresa considers herself a global citizen and has been fortunate enough to have traveled the world. She believes that we are all interconnected and that support for one another, no matter the geography, is imperative for us to move forward as a species. She is involved, and would like to be more involved, in furthering international development. She has volunteered in Guatemala for over seven years on her own. This has primarily been with Casa Guatemala, a jungle based orphanage and school on the Rio Dulce. She has also become involved with Ahicam, a home for adolescents and babies in Poptun and more recently, a startup school in Punta Brava, Guatemala.

Valeri Pilgrim is the Manager, Aboriginal Resource Offive at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) in St. John’s. She has been associated with the Aboriginal Resource Office of MUN since January 2011. She was first hired by Memorial University as the Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Aboriginal Resource Office for three and a half years. In June, 2014 she took the position of International Student Advisor with the Internationalization Office (IO) where she remained until November, 2018. When the opportunity came up Valeri returned to the Aboriginal Resource Office as Manager in November, 2018. She considers her experiences working with Indigenous and international students extremely valuable, and has always felt enlightened and humbled by students from a variety of cultural backgrounds. In the 1990’s Valeri studied her undergraduate degree in anthropology & sociology at UNB, Fredericton and later completed a Master of Philosophy degree at the University of Oslo in Norway where she lived for two and a half years with her then 7 year old daughter, Kirsten. She self identifies as a Kablunângajuk which is essentially a mix between Inuk (singular for Inuit) and European settler in Labrador. She feels blessed to have grown up in the Inuit community of Nain in Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador) and is a beneficiary of the Nunatsiavut Government. Last but not least, Valeri is the proud mother of 2 children, Dominic 12 & Kirsten, 24.