Michelle Kearns, MA, PMP, CHSE
Michelle Kearns has worked in education and training for over 30 years in various roles, including instructional technologist, instructional designer, facilitator, project manager, grant writer, and simulation manager. Michelle has worked with academic institutes, government organizations and private companies across Canada, the US and internationally to develop and deliver engaging experiences for the end users. With a background in simulation and gaming and a passion for creating and delivering truly engaging experiences for adult learners, Michelle has had the great opportunity to work with many diverse teams in the development of award-winning, immersive applications. Michelle has a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology and holds certificates as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and Project Management Professional (PMP).
F. Alex Carre, PhD, MA
F. Alex Carre is a people-oriented, results-driven Professor and Sports Educator with long-term experience in secondary and post-secondary education. Particular emphasis has been on research and community development in curriculum design and implementation. Dr. Carre has worked with numerous educational institutions and has written extensively in undergraduate and graduate programs in Canada, the United States, Australia, China, Hong Kong and other international countries.
Over a 40 year career as a champion of diversity and human rights Dr. Carre has had a major impact on emphasizing Health and Wellness at the local, Olympic and International levels.
Lejla Pekarić, CPA, CA, MA
Lejla is an experienced senior leader and owner of a business consulting firm specializing in strategic, leadership and operational matters for privately held businesses. Lejla is a CPA, CA with a Master’s degree in Professional Accounting with over 15 years of advisory experience, including over 10 years in senior leadership roles in prominent professional services organizations where she led various initiatives including integrating over 20 M&A deals into existing operations, spearheading the creation of new departments, leading multiple national projects and working with various partnership groups in achieving their business growth objectives.
Lejla is a certified Professional Project Manager, Change Management Professional and Leadership Coach. She has contributed to academia by teaching advanced accounting theory at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. Alongside her professional expertise, Lejla’s lifelong passion for art fuels her innovative and creative approach in working with clients.
JoAnn Restoule ( Bedos Kadoo), BA
JoAnn wishes to acknowledge that she lives on the unceded traditional territory of the Pentłatch, E’ikʷsən, and K’omoks (Sathloot & Sasitla) peoples. She is a member of the Dokis (Okekindawt) First Nation, of the Anishnaabe people, and her family crests are the Eagle “Migisi” and the Muskrat, “Wajask”.
As a young woman, JoAnn became aware of how her family and extended family had been impacted by the history of assimilation and the Residential Schools. To help her in her journey, she pursued a deeper understanding of the impact of Canada’s policy of assimilation by obtaining a degree in Criminology and Corrections. Working at the national level with the Assembly of First Nations and the National Native Women’s Association, JoAnn had the opportunity to spend time with Knowledge Keepers and mentors from across North America and other parts of the world. Through her work in Addictions, Corrections, Health, Education, Economic Development, and Youth Programs, she developed an awareness and understanding of the importance of identity, a sense of place and belonging.
She is a mother and a “Kokum” grandmother, and her children and grandchildren have ancestry from her people, the Anishnaabe, as well as the E’ikʷsən and the Namgis. JoAnn works within the Indigenous Education Program of School District 71 in the Ni’Noxsola – Knowledge Keeper Program, and has worked within the School District of the Comox Valley since 1997.
Susan Haddon, BEd
Susan’s professional experience includes teaching communications, public relations and marketing-related subjects at colleges in Ontario (Fleming), Alberta (Mount Royal and SAIT) and BC (Camosun and UVic) and senior administrative positions responsible for the same areas in Alberta (SAIT) and BC (Camosun College). She also served as VP Marketing for a technology start-up. Most recently, she served as Director of College & Community Relations for Camosun College and Executive Director of its Foundation.
Since retiring in 2011, she has volunteered with CESO (now Catalyste+) on international projects with the University of Guyana, the government of Mongolia, and a foundation working to preserve the Chiquitano Dry Forest in Bolivia. Projects involved working with client governments or NGOs to develop strategic marketing, communications, community engagement and fundraising plans. Additionally, she has undertaken indigenous culture-related, tourism focused projects with the Tsuut’ina Nation in Alberta, the Pehdzeh Ki Nation in Wrigley and the Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson, NWT.
Susan has a B.Ed (Adult Education) with Distinction, Business minor, University of Alberta; Financial Management Certificate, UVic (1997) and a Communications Certificate, Banff School of Management (1989).
Tom Roemer, EdD, MSc
With a background in physics, Tom moved to Canada in 1993 and started a business on production control systems and database solutions for industry in Washington and BC. In 2000 he was tasked with designing and chairing an engineering technology program around the emerging Internet for Okanagan University College, and somehow got stuck in post-secondary education. Subsequent appointments included Dean of Trades & Technology and Vice-President Strategic Development at Victoria’s Camosun College, until he took the position of Vice-President Academic at BCIT in 2016.
Responsible for the educational, international, and applied research portfolios, he functioned as BCIT’s chief strategy officer, until he retired from public sector administration in 2023.
Since then, he has provided project management and consultancy and on practitioner training and workforce development, in particular in Africa and Latin America.
Tom holds a master’s degree in astrophysics (LMU), and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (SFU), and he has served on numerous governance Boards such as Innovate BC and Southern Labs (SA). He supports the Cascadia Innovation Corridor initiative as Chair for the Workforce Mobility group with a focus on the Blue Economy.
