Is the Founder and Managing Director & Principal Researcher at Prudentia Institute. She is also the Director of the FC Manning School of Business at Acadia University and an Associate Professor in Management. Kristin has 25 years in senior leadership roles in the non-profit and for-profit sector and has extensive experience in fundraising, R & D, marketing and communications, human resources, governance, risk management, and large-scale program design and evaluation. Kristin is broadly published in organizational history, entrepreneurship, organizational behaviour, organizational theory, and qualitative methods. She has extensive teaching and editorial experience, in addition to serving in numerous volunteer leadership roles in and out of the academy.

Is the Chief Legal Officer with the Bragg Group of Companies. Based in Oxford, Nova Scotia – the blueberry capital of Canada – David provides daily support to the Group’s head office and portfolio companies on a diverse range of legal issues. With over 20 years in private practice with Cox & Palmer’s Business Law Group, David assisted a diverse roster of local, national and international clients with a wide variety of corporate law matters. David has also enjoyed volunteering with several charitable and non-for-profits organizations, including most recently serving as chair of the Prudentia Institute, a Nova Scotia-based not-for-profit whose mission is to support the inclusive development and empowerment of youth, through research and knowledge mobilization. David holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Acadia University and a bachelor’s degree in law from Dalhousie University.

Has held senior positions in both industry and government and has an extensive background in international business development, economic policy and strategy development and currently manages a national team charged with developing Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy. Prior to joining the federal service, Jennifer held senior positions with the Nova Scotia Community College, the Province of Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia Business Inc. She has led and contributed to several key federal, provincial, and municipal strategies including The Atlantic Growth Strategy, Nova Scotia’s International Trade Strategy and Productivity and Innovation Strategy, and Halifax’s Economic Strategy. Jennifer also played a key role in advancing Nova Scotia’s Oceans value proposition and was instrumental in the development of the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE). An active community builder, she was a participant in the 2015 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) and went on to Chair the Nova Scotia study tour in 2017 and 2022.

Is an assistant professor in management with Dalhousie University who focuses on leadership development, systemic discrimination, and resiliency. Heidi teaches in the MBA program at Dalhousie with an emphasis on leading change and building collaborative capacity. Prior to joining academia, Heidi held senior leadership roles in the high-tech industries with Xerox Corporation and IBM Canada Ltd for over 20 years. She has extensive experience working with First Nation leaders and Communities with a passion for cultivating self-governing practices and sustainable communities. Heidi is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has served on a variety of boards and is often invited to speak on the topics of leadership, burnout and developing a contagious innovative mindset in others.

Victoria Martinez is a student at Acadia University and a Student Research Lab Alumna. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society. Victoria is interested in teaching law to the public, the implications of social media on youth, and supporting women and girls to become a powerful force in the society. Victoria is bilingual and has experience as an assistant Spanish event coordinator in Toronto. She also contributes to the community in events like the Kentville Multicultural Festival. Victoria also has a close relationship with the arts. She has been a folk dancer since 3 (years old) and a passionate singer who recorded her first song in 2016. Victoria would love to encourage others like her to invest their time in productive activities that contributes to their mental and physical well- being.

Is an assistant professor in the Department of Business and Tourism with a specialization in strategic human resource management and organizational ethics at Mount Saint Vincent University. Nick is an award-winning educator, having taught numerous business and communication studies subjects at several universities throughout Atlantic Canada. Most of his experience outside the classroom has been in administrative roles in the non-profit sector and in independent consulting work with small business startups and faith-based organizations throughout Nova Scotia. He brings with him a wealth of practical experience in areas such as training and development, financial administration, and board governance. Nick’s research is primarily focused on the blending of ethical consciousness, historical organization studies, and management education. His volunteerism both in the academy and community has been recognized for having sustained impact.

Is a member of the Technology-Driven Organizational Transformation team with Deloitte Canada. She works on large-scale, complex problems ranging from digital, operation model, future of work, sustainability and other transformation work facing clients in varying industries. She focuses on delivering strategic change advice to leaders as it relates to business development and growth and employee engagement. Prior to Deloitte, Wafa spent some time working in the venture capital and FinTech start-up space and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Management from the Sobey School of Business. She enjoys the arts and volunteering with youth-driven programs.