Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara

Brock Dickinson is a Partner at Stonebridge Solutions, LP. His expertise spans financing for large-scale development projects in real estate, construction, and scale-ups, as well as economic development, international trade, and cleantech technologies.

Chris Janzen is Director of Client Services at Innovate Niagara and an economic development professional with over 13 years of experience in municipal and non-profit agencies. His background includes work in logistics sector management and support for small and medium-sized business expansion. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Brock University, a certificate in economic development from the University of Waterloo, and certification as an international trade professional through the Forum for International Trade Training.

Emily Branton is an executive advisor and coach who has founded a company through exit and served as CEO of a private-equity-backed business. She works with executives and entrepreneurs in growth-phase companies on leadership development, organizational operating systems, and team alignment through coaching, consulting, and facilitation services.

Gail Martin is an Expert Advisor at Innovation Factory with a background in science and management. Her experience includes policy development, contracts, grants, and intellectual property work for both startups and established companies. Martin has built and led teams across strategic planning initiatives and stakeholder engagement.

Greg Hanna is Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Copper Inc. He has experience in the cleantech, mining, and metals industries, with expertise in negotiation, asset management, strategic planning, due diligence, and business strategy. He also serves as a real estate trustee.

Hugh Scholaert is an Industrial Technology Advisor at the National Research Council Canada and serves as Executive in Residence at Innovate Niagara. He has experience in revenue and profitability growth, business development, and consultative selling approaches to develop customer solutions.

Janice Cattle is Director of Business Development at Grocery Business Magazine, where she leads business development and strategic sales initiatives. With experience in the consumer products industry, she develops market-based strategies and business planning approaches. Her work spans brand growth, market analysis, and cross-functional team leadership.

Josephine Di Trapani is an Executive-in-Residence at Innovate Niagara and Lead Mentor & Subject Matter Expert at Brock University. She works as a business consultant and entrepreneur with corporations and startups across multiple industries in both public and private sectors. Di Trapani also serves as a volunteer mentor with the Forum and Futurpreneur Canada, supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and women-led ventures.

Joydeep Chakraborty is an Operational Risk Manager at a Canadian financial services company with over 20 years of experience in enterprise strategy, governance, and compliance across financial services, consulting, and technology sectors. His background includes leading transformation programs, AML/KYC remediation initiatives, and GRC modernization efforts across Canada, the U.S., India, and multi-region operations. Chakraborty holds patents for RegTech innovations in digital identity and integrated risk assessment, and serves as a mentor at Brock LINC, an Executive-in-Residence at Innovate Niagara, and a Board Director with the South Niagara Chambers of Commerce.

Katie Poissant-Paul is a marketing and operations executive with 15 years of experience spanning startups, Fortune 500 companies, and the consumer packaged goods industry, including leadership roles at The Estée Lauder Companies. She currently serves as a Client Advisor at Innovate Niagara, where she provides strategic guidance to early-stage companies in the region. Poissant-Paul also mentors entrepreneurs through Brock University's Navigate program and facilitates peer mentoring with the Women in Niagara Peer Mentoring Group.

N'ora Kalb is Chief Executive Officer of Innovate Niagara, a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs in commercializing innovations. She serves as Board Secretary for the Rodman Art Institute of Niagara and is a past chair of the Women in Niagara Council at the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. Kalb also participates on the Engineering Dean's Advisory Committee at Brock University.

Ola Ahmed serves as Office Administrator at Innovate Niagara and has over eight years of experience in human resources operations across diverse organizational settings. Ahmed has assigned more than 250 employees to technical training programs and focuses on administrative support for learning and development initiatives.

Rob Belchior is Small Business Consultant and Manager at the City of St. Catharines Enterprise Centre, where he oversees programs and initiatives supporting local businesses through consultations, training, and community partnerships. With 14 years of economic development experience, he holds designations from both the Economic Developers Association Canada and the International Economic Development Council, and serves on the board of Small Business Centres Ontario. Belchior has background in business ownership and has taught entrepreneurship at Mohawk College.

Shawna Chen is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Brock University's Goodman School of Business, where she teaches business model innovation, design thinking, and lean startup methodologies. Her research examines founder communication, decision-making, and venture adaptation, with particular attention to how investor bias affects funding outcomes. Chen is an angel investor with the Niagara Angel Network and serves on the boards of the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Innovate Niagara, bringing prior experience as a serial technology entrepreneur and investment banker.

Stanley Acholonu holds the position of Community Outreach Lead at Innovate Niagara and has professional experience in e-commerce and digital marketing. His skill set includes digital marketing, UI/UX design, Google Analytics, and social media strategy, with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion advocacy.

Stephanie Thompson is a Technical Manager in Manufacturing Engineering at General Motors and a Professional Engineer of Ontario with expertise in project management. She serves as a STEM advisor and mentor, and has received recognition including the 2024 Women Make Honouree award and four selections to Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.