Vanier Institute team

Executive Director

As Executive Director at the Vanier Institute, Dr. Margo Hilbrecht is responsible for activating and disseminating knowledge of family diversities and wellbeing in Canada.

A family scholar, Margo completed her PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, where she studied time use of families in Canada. Her research on families and the wellbeing consequences of non-standard work types and schedules contributed to her being awarded the Governor General’s Gold Medal for Academic Excellence.

During her postdoctoral work with the Centre for Families, Work and Well-being at the University of Guelph, she further expanded our understanding of families and work, illustrating how experiences of self-employment may affect the quality of family time.

As Associate Director, Research and a Research Assistant Professor at the Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo, Margo conducted research with academic, local government and not-for-profit partners on wellbeing in diverse communities across Canada.

Before joining the Vanier Institute, Margo was the Director, Knowledge Management, then Academic Director of GREO, a knowledge translation and exchange organization. She worked with an extensive network of national and international researchers to share evidence about preventing and reducing harm from gambling, including its impact on older adults’ quality of life and on family wellbeing.

Director, Corporate Services

As Director, Corporate Services, Martin Settle is responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective management of day-to-day operations of the Institute. Martin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the UK. Before training as an accountant, he worked in youth ministry and in family and community support services.

Throughout his career, Martin has focused on building social justice and equity, supporting non-profit and charitable organizations. He has worked in diverse sectors, including community housing, food security, and international development, where he gained experience in strategic and executive leadership, finance, HR systems, and policies.

Prior to joining the Vanier Institute, Martin worked for SeedChange (formerly USC Canada), a not-for-profit that focuses on empowering farmers around the world to strengthen their ability to grow good food. There, he held several senior positions, including Board Director and Director of Finance and HR, as well as Co-Executive Director for nearly five years.

Knowledge Mobilization Specialist

As Knowledge Mobilization Specialist at the Vanier Institute, Nathan Battams supports key program priorities by planning and implementing strategies to strengthen the national understanding of families and family life in Canada.

Working with a growing network of contributors, researchers, and organizations that have an interest in families and family wellbeing, Nathan manages the production and dissemination of the Institute’s library of publications and resources. He also maintains and builds relationships with diverse stakeholders across the country, including researchers, media, government, and aligned organizations.

Since joining the team full-time in 2013, Nathan has authored and overseen the creation and distribution of the Institute’s extensive catalogue of articles, statistical resources, timelines, fact sheets and infographics. He has co-authored and collaborated on articles that have appeared in Canadian Studies in Population and the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, as well as chapters in Promoting the Health of Older Adults: The Canadian Experience and Deep Roots (a United Nations book on farm families).

Nathan is a graduate of Carleton University, where he earned a BA in political science, and he is a graduate of the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College.

Project Manager

As Project Manager, she helps to develop and implement strategies that facilitate the transfer of knowledge between researchers, practitioners, and community members.

A dedicated advocate for community and family development, Emily is committed to supporting organizations that prioritize social impact. She has served as a project manager for Canadian non‑profit organizations, where she gained a solid foundation in planning, organizing, and executing complex initiatives.

Emily has a passion for community-driven work and has been involved with several community-focused projects, including a women’s perinatal mental health needs assessment and an early childhood development webinar series. She has a Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development from Algonquin College, and has nearly a decade of experience as an Early Childhood Educator.

Executive Assistant

As Executive Assistant, she supports the Executive Director and Director, Corporate Services to ensure effective and efficient operations at the Institute.

She brings to the Institute a strong track record of performance in fast-paced, high-volume settings, earned in a variety of professional office administration roles since 2015. At the Institute, she ensures the smooth-running of the Directors’ time, acting as a point of contact and organizing meetings, correspondence, and reporting.

Jordan is a mother of one and proud graduate of the University of Ottawa, where she earned an Honours Bachelor of Social Science in International Development and Globalization.

Information Specialist

As Information Specialist, she leverages her background in librarianship to develop the knowledge management strategy and resource centre for the Institute, facilitating access to research on families and family life in Canada.

Committed to advancing Indigenization, diversity, equity, and inclusion, Serena served as a librarian for a First Nations reserve, where she collaborated with community leaders to enhance access to Indigenous educational resources. She also spent four years in British Columbia as a librarian for a university, partnering with Indigenous researchers and staff to develop research collections and decolonize curricula.

Previously, Serena worked for eight years as an early childhood educator with non-profits in Toronto and taught abroad in China and England.

Serena holds a Master of Library and Information Science from Western University, a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Chair

Steeven Pedneault (he/they) is a queer, polyglot, freelance social designer working with diverse organizations, institutions, researchers, and artists around Canada. They design and facilitate participative processes for research, strategy, and mediation purposes. Steevie brings a blend of creative and critical thinking to their work, along with a strong sense of humour. With a multidisciplinary design background (environmental, system, graphic, and media), they act as a translator across disciplines to create knowledge products, podcasts, workshops, and pedagogical processes, using creative mediums to challenge hierarchies of knowledge. Their personal practice currently aims at digging deeper into healthier aging, intergenerational relationships, and decolonization.

They have previously worked for over 10 years at the non-profit Présâges around the province of Quebec to explore aging and the demographic transition. In this context, they ran a social innovation lab intersecting many topics like housing, food security, social participation, and education, through a lens of equity and system change. Steeven participated in the creation of a social entrepreneurship program for “retirees”—a collaborative working space in Montreal dedicated to the social sector. They have served on the board the Table de concertation des aînés de l’île de Montréal (TCAÎM) and the social innovation hub Humanov·is before joining the Vanier Institute.

Corporate Secretary

Anna-Karina Tabuñar is a communications and change leader with over 20 years of experience in strategy, execution, and engagement in the public and private sectors, particularly in complex environments. A former journalist at CJOH TV Ottawa, Anna-Karina is a curious storyteller who honed her skills as a broadcast news reporter and anchor, filing stories for the CBC, CTV, and CNN networks, among others. She was host and contributing editor of the award-winning and internationally acclaimed current affairs program Canada in Perspective. She also produced and directed the acclaimed documentary Talent Untapped, which explored disability, accessibility, and workplace inclusion. She is the recipient of the 2018 Community Leader Award in Memory of Cathy Kerr, which recognizes a person with a disability who is an example of exceptional citizenship, as demonstrated by their record of wide-reaching leadership and involvement in the community. Anna-Karina resides in Ottawa, Ontario.

Treasurer

Daniel Thiruganaratnapathy is Vice-President of Commercial Financial Services (Ontario North & East) at RBC, where he leads a team of Business Account Managers and oversees the business markets portfolio consisting of over 2,000 clients. He is also the founder and partner of CAP Group and was formerly involved in a number of consulting engagements with international companies. Daniel holds an executive MBA from the University of Ottawa and a master’s degree in Experimental Medicine from McGill University. During his tenure at McGill, he also conducted clinical research at the MUHC Research Institute, for which he had the distinction of a number of research awards and a publication.

Program Committee Chair

Laurel Sakaluk is the Senior Social Policy and Innovation Advisor to the Family and Community Services Department of Strathcona County in Alberta, and also serves as an adjunct professor within the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta, where, alongside teaching, she conducts and publishes research about gender, socioeconomic status, diversity, and family wellbeing. She is passionate about finding evidence-informed solutions for complex social issues. For several years prior to her current engagements, she held posts as advisor to or analyst within a variety of Departments within the Government of Alberta, particularly focusing on Gender Based Analysis, knowledge management, and continuous improvement. After completing undergraduate and Master’s level studies in biology, Laurel received her PhD in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta in 2017.

Governance, Leadership and Development Committee Chair

Carl Cadogan brings almost 30 years of experience in the Not-for-Profit sector, working with youth in counselling, training, and employment in “underserved communities” in Ottawa, Edmonton, and Toronto. He has lent his expertise to being part of important community and government initiatives, such as the Premier’s Council on the Voluntary Sector (which redesigned the Ontario Trillium Foundation), the Provincial Work Group on Gaming, and the Canadian Bankers Association. He was a founding director of Pillar Nonprofit Network, Eva’s Place youth shelter, and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale.

In his professional life, Carl has been the Executive Director and CEO in small and medium-sized organizations and has worked with Indigenous communities in Ontario and British Columbia. Carl believes in the axiom “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” He is the volunteer Treasurer of the Aya Afrika Foundation, which provides support to children and youth in Ghana, and is the Chair of the London Black History Coordinating Committee.

In his spare time, Carl loves to travel and has been to every province and one territory and to 30 U.S. states. He is an avid biker and kite flyer.

Susan Scotti is a recently retired senior executive with extensive experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. From 2011 until January 2022, Susan served as the Executive Vice President of the Business Council of Canada. Prior to this, she was a senior executive with the Government of Canada for more than 30 years, last serving as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

She has also held senior positions in numerous Ministries, as well as the Privy Council Office, in which she was responsible for national policies and programs in diverse areas, including culture and broadcasting, the integration and participation of ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and seniors, Indigenous land claims, public pensions, and the government’s relationships with the not-for-profit sector.

Susan is a board member of the Ottawa Community Foundation, and formerly served on the board of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Volunteer Canada. She is former Vice-Chair of the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization and is the immediate past Chair of the Canadian Film Institute. She obtained the Chartered Director designation from The Directors College in 2014.

Pat Furman is the Executive Director of Inspired by Wonder Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A former Child Development Counsellor with a background in early childhood education, human ecology, psychology, and developmental studies, Pat is passionate about her belief in children reaching their highest potential and the capacity to maximize learning through understanding of children’s unique social, emotional, behavioural, and mental health patterns. In May 2022, she earned a master’s degree in Innovation of Early Childhood Education at the University of Colorado.

In recognition of her many years of service dedicated to the wellbeing of children and youth, Pat received the 2016 Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education and the 2016 Winnipeg Centre MP 150th Anniversary Medal for Volunteerism.

Beverly Anne Sabourin has had a distinguished professional, entrepreneurial, and volunteer career that has spanned more than 50 years and included time as a human rights advocate, professional counsellor, senior educational administrator, and more. Raised by her mother and grandparents in the Ojibwe community of Pic Mobert, Beverly later went on to acquire degrees in sociology (Lakehead University) and social work (McGill University), and a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (University of Windsor). She has made many outstanding contributions to the social, cultural, and educational advancement of her people and to the communities in which she has lived.

Some of her many Board and volunteer experiences include Friendships Centres of Canada,  Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, National Native Women’s Association, Ontario Native Women’s Association, and she served as Executive Director for the Quebec Native Women’s Association. She also served on many local Indigenous organizations in the many cities (Calgary, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Montreal, and Winnipeg) she has lived in throughout her career.

She is an advocate of education and has worked at universities across the country, including as Director of the Aboriginal Access Programme at Red River Community College, and as Vice-Provost of Aboriginal Initiatives at Lakehead University.

Beverly and her partner also established Beverly Anne Sabourin and Associates (BASA), a federally incorporated consulting company focused on Indigenous and environmental initiatives and issues. Over a 20-year period, BASA has channelled funding to non-profit organizations providing literacy and skills training to Indigenous adults.

Shelley Gilberg is the Markets Leader for Managed Accounts and a member of PwC Canada’s Leadership Team. She helps clients understand the present, envision the future, and develop and implement their complex and strategic initiatives to preserve and create value through a strategic disciplined approach. She works with organizations to determine the best levers and actions to manage risk and capture opportunities. Shelley provides expertise and strategic insights at every stage of the journey from strategy through to execution.

During her time at PwC Canada, Shelley has served as the Deputy Markets Leader, the National Platforms Leader, and the ESG Markets Leader.

She started her career in health and human services in the not-for-profit community sector. Over the past 25 years, she has been a leader in industry, a public servant, and an advisor working with clients in the real economy and investment communities. She has served as a CFO, COO, and a Transformation executive, and she has grown and scaled national and global businesses.

Shelley holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Queen’s University, is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA), and is ICD.D certified. Shelley has been a Board Director of several organizations. She is an active mentor in industry and a founding member of Vancouver Women in Technology (VanWIT).

Mary Morrison Clark serves as the General Manager of Parks, Recreation, and Culture for the City of Burnaby, where she leads the development of programs and spaces that enrich community life and promote wellbeing. With a strategic focus on inclusivity and accessibility, she is passionate about creating environments where individuals and families thrive.

In addition to her leadership role in Burnaby, Mary is a committed advocate for advancing public spaces, parks, recreation, and culture provincially. She has contributed her expertise as a board member of the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA), working to support recreation professionals and champion initiatives that enhance quality of life across the province.

With a strong focus on translating research into actionable policy, she is dedicated to implementing strategies that positively impact communities. Mary has presented nationally and internationally on a variety of public service and health initiatives, showcasing her ability to connect evidence-based practices with real-world applications.

Her approach integrates the seven dimensions of wellbeing, recognizing the vital connections between physical, social, emotional, and environmental health.

Catherine Aitken is a retired judge of the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario), where, for 25 years, she presided over a wide variety of cases involving family law, child protection, criminal matters, and civil disputes. As a judge, she took an active role in providing continuing education programs for judges and lawyers both locally and provincially. Prior to her appointment, Catherine practised law in Ottawa for 20 years, specializing in family law, mediation, and arbitration, but also serving clients in the areas of wills, estates, and residential real estate. She taught family law at Carleton University and was a frequent presenter at law conferences. She wrote and taught extensively about the division of pensions following marriage breakdown. She was a founding member and the first President of the Ottawa Branch of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation. Catherine has always had a passion for promoting equality and fairness in family law, and she advised both the federal and provincial governments on many policy initiatives relating to the Divorce Act, the Family Law Act, and the Child Support Guidelines. Over the years, Catherine was a Board or Steering Committee member with several organizations, including the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton, Carleton Preschool, the Ottawa Carleton Day Care Task Force, the Women’s Career Counselling Service, and the Rape Crisis Centre.

In her spare time, Catherine loves travelling, gardening, singing, hiking, golfing, and spending time with her grandchildren.