Waterloo Accelerator Centre

Meghan Gervais is Director of Founder Experience at Accelerator Centre, where she develops founder experience strategy, mentor networks, and support programs for entrepreneurs. With over 15 years of experience in strategic leadership, operations, partnerships, and program development across Canada's innovation ecosystem, she focuses on connecting founders with resources and building scalable systems. Gervais has developed expertise in dual-use and defence technologies, with particular interest in supporting founders building technologies with both commercial and public-sector applications.

Shann McGrail is co-founder of Devreve Inc. and former CEO of Haltech Regional Innovation Centre, where she worked with startups, government officials, and educational institutions to support ecosystem development. She currently serves as a board member at May Court Club of Oakville and has experience in strategic planning, business development, and community building, with a focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and leaders.

Susy Martins is founder and CEO of Advise2Rise, an executive coaching and advisory firm. She previously served as Chief People Officer at two unicorn-stage companies and held operations roles in Fortune 100 organizations, where she oversaw billion-dollar portfolios and led global expansion and organizational transformation initiatives. Her clients include executives at Google, Anthropic, Whatnot, RBC, and other technology and corporate organizations.

Vyshnavi Kommuri is a Founder Experience Specialist at Accelerator Centre, where she supports founders through program delivery and onboarding processes. She holds postgraduate degrees in Big Data Solution Architecture and Project Management, along with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Engineering.

Adrien Cote is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Existent, which develops industrial separation and carbon capture technologies using next-generation sorbent materials. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Velocity, the University of Waterloo's entrepreneurship center, where he expanded programming and oversaw development of the Innovation Arena startup facility and Velocity Fund; companies from that ecosystem have achieved over $40 billion in combined enterprise value. His background includes materials science research and commercialization experience at Xerox, where he co-invented and scaled a materials platform and contributed to over 50 patents, as well as academic work in inorganic chemistry and porous materials with publications in Science and Nature.

Serial entrepreneur, angel investor and ecosystem builder who has been Communitech's Executive-in-Residence and NACO's Angel-in-Residence, and co-founded MapleSoft.

Brenda Halloran served as Mayor of Waterloo, Ontario from 2006 to 2014 and currently holds the position of District Governor at Rotary International. She has held leadership roles with several organizations including the Accelerator Centre, Startup Canada, and various community boards, and works as a consultant providing guidance on municipal government relations and executive coaching for municipal leaders and administrators.

Dr. Charmaine Dean is Vice-President of Research and International at the University of Waterloo, where her research focuses on biostatistical methodology including disease mapping, clinical trial design, and spatio-temporal analysis, with applications to coronary artery bypass surgery outcomes, forest ecology, fire management, and flood prediction. She has served on numerous research councils and grant review panels, including eleven years with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and as Chair of the NIH Biostatistics Grant Review Panel, and holds editorial positions at multiple peer-reviewed journals. Her honors include the CRM-SSC Prize, Fellowship in the American Statistical Association and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the University of Waterloo Alumni Achievement Medal.

Claudia Krywiak is President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation, where she leads collaborative initiatives connecting startups, established companies, academic researchers, and government partners across sectors including AI, quantum computing, electric vehicles, medtech, and clean technology. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto and more than a decade at OCI plus prior experience at Mitacs and Bruker Corporation, she brings technical expertise and strategic experience in technology commercialization and public-private partnerships. Her governance roles include board positions at the Conference Board of Canada, the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine, the Accelerator Centre, and IBI Group.

Danielle Joworski is a Program Manager at Accelerator Centre, where she directs the AC:Incubate Investment Readiness Pathway. With over 20 years of experience supporting enterprise, nonprofit, and startup organizations, she has developed expertise across enablement, operations, customer experience, and finance to guide founders and entrepreneurs through early-stage growth. Joworski will host the television program "Built In: Waterloo" beginning Fall 2026.

Karim S. Karim is founder and CTO of KA Imaging, which develops spectral and phase contrast X-ray imaging technology. The company's three-layered X-ray detector enables dual energy imaging for mobile and fixed applications, offering improved visualization of pulmonary nodules, pneumonia, and medical devices at significantly reduced radiation doses compared to CT scans.

Kyle Murray is Dean of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. His research focuses on innovation and behavior change, employing experimental psychology and behavioral economics methodologies. Murray has consulted for government agencies and Fortune 50 companies, and has experience as a founder, advisor, and investor in multiple startups.

Lucinda Wallace is Senior Vice President at Waterloo EDC, overseeing Marketing, Strategy, Corporate Development, Funding, Finance, IT, and HR. She brings over 30 years of experience across private industry and economic development, including 25 years at Dare Foods in progressive leadership roles spanning procurement, brand management, sales, and general management. She has reported to private and nonprofit boards for 15+ years and serves as a board member with the Accelerator Centre and The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth.

Manisha Mawji is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Project Management Professional with certifications as a Certified Microsoft Solution Expert and Certified Microsoft Trainer. She has experience implementing Microsoft Dynamics platforms including NAV, CRM, Business Central, and Power Platform. Mawji serves as a board and audit committee member at Accelerator Centre.

Michelle Chretien serves as Associate Vice President of Research Partnerships and Commercialization at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she works on applied research and innovation commercialization initiatives.

Patricia Nielsen is Head of Enterprise at AWS Canada, where she leads industry teams focused on helping companies adopt cloud and AI technologies. She has worked with Canadian startups on the AWS platform and advocates for the development of AI companies with global competitiveness. Nielsen founded the Mentoring Circles program through Women in Communications and Technology, serves on the Board of Directors for The Accelerator Centre, and sits on the Advisory Council for Women Funding Women.

Rod Regier is Commissioner of Planning, Development and Legislative Services at the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, overseeing planning, economic development, the region's airport, cultural services, legal services, and legislative functions. He holds an Honours Bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Winnipeg and a Master's degree in Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo. His career includes planning policy work with the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth, 16 years with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in municipal planning and economic development roles, and 11 years leading Kitchener's economic development strategy.

Sarah Brush is a Digital Media Specialist at Accelerator Centre with experience in startup ecosystems and arts festivals. She has worked on digital audience growth, video production, and integrated marketing campaigns that combine community engagement with cultural storytelling.

Saskia Bec is a Financial Operations Specialist at Accelerator Centre with experience building and scaling SOC2 and ISO27001 compliance programs in tech startups. She has managed accounts payable and receivable, payroll, commissions, and audit processes while developing automated tools for operational efficiency. Her background spans risk assessment, policy development, financial reporting, and process optimization across compliance and finance functions.

Shelly Xie is a Program Data Manager at Accelerator Centre with over 7 years of experience in project management, operations, and global program delivery, holding a PMP certification. She designs scalable workflows and automation systems using HubSpot, Power BI, and AI tools, and has led international innovation programs including Startup Visa. Her focus is on building internal systems and data-informed program design to improve organizational clarity and team efficiency.

Shriaa Sheth is an Events & Community Engagement Specialist at the Accelerator Centre, where she oversees programs and events supporting Canada's innovation ecosystem, including founder-focused experiences, ecosystem activations, and sponsorship initiatives. She is also founder of Sheth Productions, a content creation and event experience company serving organizations and brands. Her work focuses on convening founders, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to facilitate connections and growth opportunities.

Tabatha Laverty is Chief Operating Officer at the Accelerator Centre, where she shapes strategic direction and builds programs supporting high-growth companies. With over 15 years of experience across nonprofit, public, and innovation sectors, she has secured more than $29 million in funding and launched national and international initiatives. Her work focuses on innovation, economic development, and community impact, with particular emphasis on connecting entrepreneurs, government, and industry stakeholders.

Tessa Uez is a Marketing Manager at Accelerator Centre with a background in media communications. Her work focuses on writing, storytelling, and communications strategy development.