meet
our team
Tamarack Institute is a remote organization, which is great for quality of life and for the environment. Our teams live and work within and around the communities we proudly serve. Please reach out directly to start a conversation.
Contact
Linkedin
About Liz
Liz, Tamarack's Co-CEO, drives community change through collective impact and collaborative leadership. A recognized thought leader, Liz has authored numerous papers on complex community change issues.
Danya Pastuszek
Co-CEO
Contact
Linkedin
About Danya
Danya, Co-CEO, and Director of our Networks for Change, champions collective impact and data strategy. She's dedicated to fostering inclusive, thriving communities.
Aaliyah Lahai
Community Animator, Research and Outreach
Contact
Linkedin
About
Aaliyah, Community Animator Research and Outreach, applies her expertise in Microbiology and Sustainability to the Dev Lab project, fostering skills development for young adults across Canada.
Alison Homer
Director, Learning, Evaluation, and Systems Change
Contact
LinkedIn
About Alison
Alison builds a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement within Tamarack’s networks for change. She supports her teammates to surface and share success stories that amplify and accelerate community change. Alison enjoys mountain biking and snowboarding in Revelstoke, BC.
Angelina Pelletier
Associate Director, Building Youth Futures
Contact
Linkedin
About
Angelina, with a background in legal administration and human rights, is devoted to empowering Indigenous Youth with Tamarack's CBYF.
Astrid Arumae
Manager of Communities, Building Belonging & Climate Transitions
Contact
Linkedin
About
Astrid, Manager of Cities, fosters belonging and climate transitions. With a background in project management and operations, she holds a strong foundation in community-building and entrepreneurship.
Christiana Iheanacho
Senior Community Animator, People and Culture
Chúk Odenigbo
Consulting Director, Evaluating Impact
Contact
Linkedin
About
Dr. Chúk Odenigbo (PhD) is the Consulting Director of Evaluating Impact with over a decade of experience in environmental activism, adult education, project management, community engagement and co-designing towards the future. Chúk’s work is not only informed by his academic background but also by his lived experiences as a Black Francophone in what is currently Canada.
Claire Lewis
Director, Resource Development
Contact
Linkedin
About
Claire, a certified fundraising executive, leverages 15 yrs of experience to foster partnerships at Tamarack. She enjoys family time, cycling, and neighbourhood exploration.
Duncan Field
Associate Director, Skills for Change
Contact
Linkedin
About
Duncan Field, Associate Director part of Tamarack's Skills for Change team, spearheads e-learning course development and consulting contracts, leveraging his background in Psychology, Philosophy, and Law.
Heather Keam
Consulting Director, Asset-Based Community Development
Contact
Linkedin
About
Heather leads ABCD strategies at Tamarack with 22 years of community dev exp. She's a lifelong learner, volunteer, and advocate for community belonging.
Isaac Hewitt-Harris
Senior Community Animator, Skills for Change
Contact
Linkedin
About
Isaac supports community development, enjoys wildlife photography, and hiking, and brings his passion for the outdoors to Tamarack's initiatives.
Jaime Stief
Community Animator, Digital Experience
Contact
Linkedin
About
Jaime, a Community Animator in Digital Experience, holds a Bachelor's in Communications and Sociology and a Master's in Communication Studies. Passionate about social justice, she enjoys outdoor activities and travelling.
Jana Harris
Director, Finance and Operations
Contact
Linkedin
About
Jana manages Finance & Operations at Tamarack, blending her international experience with her love for community building and adventure.
Jessica Gilligan
Community Animator, Brand Experience
Contact
Linkedin
About
Jessica holds degrees in French and Marketing, specializes in brand content, and is devoted to sharing Tamarack's impact in an accessible and inclusive way.
Jorge Garza
Associate Director, Communities Building Belonging
Contact
Linkedin
About
Jorge holds a Master's in Urban Planning and specializes in equitable futures, and is devoted to empowering communities at Tamarack.
Jill Zacharias
Growth and Impact, Communities Ending Poverty
Contact
Linkedin
About
Jill, experienced in social planning, advocates for poverty reduction and is dedicated to supporting Tamarack's impactful initiatives.
Justin Williams
Associate Director, Public Policy & Government Relations
Contact
Linkedin
About
Justin leads Public Policy and Government Relations, leveraging his expertise in research and advocacy to drive positive change and community engagement.
Kate Berezina
Community Animator, Accounts Receivable
Contact
Linkedin
About
Kate, Community Animator in Accounts Payable, ensures smooth expense workflows and fosters vendor relationships with her accounting expertise.
Kieran Maingot
Manager of Communities, Climate Transitions
Contact
Linkedin
About Kieran, a sociology graduate, advocates for climate action, and is passionate about contributing to Tamarack's sustainable climate transitions.
Laura Schnurr
Director, Community Climate Transitions
Contact
Linkedin
About
Laura holds a B.Comm & M.A. in Global Studies. She champions climate action and social innovation, balancing advocacy with family life across continents.
Lisa Attygalle
Consulting Director, Community Engagement
Contact
Linkedin
About
Lisa, Consulting Director, pioneers authentic community engagement strategies. She's an advocate for simplicity and creativity in community change. Off-duty, she co-owns a community café.
Mairead Stewart
Community Animator, Research and Writing
Contact
Linkedin
About
Mairead is a part of the Youth Futures team. Their work covers themes of community building and collective practice. Mairead holds a BA in Multimedia Studies from McMaster University and an MDes (Master of Design) in Digital Futures from OCAD University.
Maureen Owens
Manager of Communities, Ending Poverty
Contact
Linkedin
About
Maureen holds two Bachelor’s degrees, focusing on Health Promotion and Education. She advocates for equity and community involvement in poverty reduction. Outside work, Maureen enjoys skiing and hiking.
Mike Des Jardins
Senior Community Animator, Communities Building Youth Futures
Contact
Linkedin
About
Mike, a certified Ontario teacher, provides leadership and support for Communities Building Youth Futures staff and member communities. He champions youth leadership and fosters community innovation. Outside work, he enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors.
Natasha Pei
Associate Director, Communities Ending Poverty
Contact
Linkedin
About
Natasha Pei serves as the Associate Director of Communities Ending Poverty, leveraging her 13 years of experience in community development to promote justice and equity through place-based, community-led systems change.