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.

Senior Program Specialist

As Senior Program Specialist, Dr. Sophie Mathieu is responsible for leading the Vanier Institute’s projects and partnerships. A mother of three, Sophie holds a PhD in sociology from Carleton University. Her thesis, which was nominated for a Senate medal, showed that measures that fostered the equal division of child care responsibilities between partners contributed to curbing Quebec’s declining fertility rate.

Prior to joining the Vanier Institute, Sophie taught courses in the sociology of the family at the college and university levels while pursuing her research program. She was awarded several grants, including by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC), and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program, which enabled her to finance her research work, as well as two postdoctoral fellowships.

During her first fellowship at Brock University, she documented the existence of inequality structures in accessing parental benefits in Quebec and Canada. From 2020 to 2022, she completed a second fellowship at the Université TÉLUQ, studying the effects of the pandemic on the work–family balance of employed Quebec parents.

Sophie is currently a member of the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care, a role she was appointed in November 2022.

Passionate about knowledge mobilization, Sophie has authored numerous scientific articles on family policy and gender inequality in national and international journals, as well as dozens of commentaries, editorials, and research summaries in various French- and English-language Canadian media.

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.

Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator

Emily Kenny joined the Vanier Institute team in April 2023. As Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator, 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 (on parental leave)

Jordan Romans joined the Vanier Institute team in April 2023. 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.

Affiliates Network Coordinator

As the Affiliates Network Coordinator, Helena is responsible for identifying and sending invitations to potential affiliates. She also coordinates meetings among the different affiliate groups and supports affiliate participation and intra-group communication.

Helena has a Bachelor’s in Modern Languages and Cultural Management from the Anáhuac University in Mexico City and a Master’s in Gender Studies from El Colegio de México, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology with a focus on Gender and Women’s Studies at McGill University, where she also works as a teaching assistant. Before joining the Vanier Institute, she worked as a cultural manager in multiple cultural institutions and as an English teacher at a Mexican high school.

Helena is passionate about the intersection of academic work with community-based knowledge and how it can have a positive impact on various areas of the spectrum of gender inequality and social wellbeing. She is also interested in the cross-cultural analysis of North America to understand how the synergy of its three countries influences social phenomena beyond political borders.

Information Specialist

Serena Danssen joined the Vanier Institute in August 2024. 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

Dr. Norah Keating is a professor of Rural Ageing, Swansea University; Co-Director of Research on Aging, Policies and Practice at the University of Alberta; Extraordinary Professor, North-West University, South Africa; and Director of the International Association on Gerontology and Geriatrics Global Social Issues on Ageing. Her professional career has been spent understanding and supporting families across the life course, generational relations in families, families and aging and family care. Norah is often called on by governments and NGOs to provide evidence to inform family, social, and health policy.

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.

Finance, Audit, Investment and Risk Committee Chair

Founder and partner of Bassan (formerly Ergoweb Canada), Alain Robillard-Bastien has been working in the field of user experience (UX) for more than 25 years. His expertise includes user research, information architecture (IA), design, UX planning and usability testing. He has directed teams of experts in Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Vancouver.

Alain holds a Master of Science in Communication Studies from Université de Montréal, and currently serves as a mentor with Réseau Mentorat. Réseau Mentorat is dedicated to developing the full potential of entrepreneurs through mentoring.

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.

Steeven is a queer social designer. He has been working for 10 years at the non-profit Présâges with people and organizations around the province of Quebec curious to explore aging and the demographic transition in a social innovation perspective. He ran an innovation lab that looks at these challenges through a lens of system change intersecting with housing, food security, social participation, mental health, etc. As a designer, he applies creative practices to participative research processes and knowledge transfer. He currently digs deeper on wise aging and healthier eldership with the Gesturing Toward Decolonial Futures collective. He recently was on the board of the Montreal Seniors Network (TCAÎM) and the social innovation hub Humanov.is before joining the Vanier Institute.

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.

Jenny Longo is Senior Director of Private Brands, Culinary Innovation, and Central Kitchen at Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc., a position she has held since 1998. A keen board member at a variety of organizations such as the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO) and the OMNI East Advisory Board, Jenny also volunteers at the Georgetown Hospital and as a judge for the Retail Council of the Canadian Grand Prix and Rogers Product of the Year Awards. She is former Chair of the Longo’s Family Council and a member of the Longo’s Senior Management Leadership Team. Jenny was born and raised in the Toronto area, and has a Business Administration Diploma from Humber College, and has completed the Cornell University Food Executive Program. In 2012, she received the Canadian Grocer Star Woman Award.

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.