Heather has over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, focused on inspiring an entrepreneurial spirit in the face of changing organizational operations.  Her career has included leadership positions in community-based research, environmental education, and community development.  Heather is passionate about supporting social enterprises and entrepreneurs, who operate within a business structure that has a strong social mandate, particularly those who help us stay connected to the natural world. She brings skills in strategic planning, community development, team building, leadership coaching, community-based research, project management, and organizational development to all of her work, including with Arising Collective.  Heather also consults part-time with the Haliburton County Development Corporation, supporting the non-profit sector in Haliburton County, where she has lived for the past 20 years.

Andy Mitchell understands government, from the inside out. Most recently serving as the Mayor of Selwyn Township and Deputy Warden of Peterborough County Council from 2018 to 2022, he was also Deputy Mayor of Selwyn Township and member of Peterborough County Council from 2010 to 2014. Andy was elected as a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 2006 and served eight years in the Federal cabinet where he held several portfolios including Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In 2006, he served as Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition. Outside of elected office, Andy has worked as a senior policy advisor and served in executive leadership roles including President of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, President of the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation, President of the Peterborough Innovation Cluster, and President of three Chambers of Commerce.

Andy holds a Bachelor of Political Science earned at Carleton University and is an active volunteer in the community. He is currently the President of Swim Ontario and the Chair of the Selwyn Library board and participates in the Peterborough swim club and regularly officiates at swim meets across the Province.

Karen brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit, government, and philanthropic sectors. Her work spans project delivery, non-profit leadership, strategic communications, and community engagement. She has guided national funding programs, led capital campaigns, and built lasting partnerships across sectors. Recognized for her thoughtful facilitation and ability to turn complex challenges into actionable strategies, Karen contributes her expertise in planning, evaluation, engagement, and fund development, helping organizations align vision with action to create meaningful and lasting impact.

Known for her sense of humour and inclusive approach, Karen creates safe spaces where teams can navigate complexity, engage in honest conversations, and align around shared values. She is valued for her ability to “connect the dots” – distilling complexity into clear insights and supporting organizations to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Meagan brings over 10 years of experience in non-profit leadership, holding Executive positions in housing, homelessness and the addictions sector. She is a strategic thinker who pairs big picture thinking with operational realities, and is very familiar with working in constrained environments. Meagan has extensive experience in strategic planning, community development, organizational development, research, evaluation, and facilitation. She holds a Masters degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University, and received distinction for her thesis that focused on organizational transformation to better serve marginalized clients. Meagan is a 2022 alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership conference, where she Co-Chaired the Nunavut team. Meagan enjoys bringing people together to tackle big challenges with creative solutions.

With over 30 years of professional experience and a lifetime of lived experience, Liz is a results-driven Indigenous Engagement Consultant. With a deep commitment to creating authentic relationships and cultural understanding, Liz specializes in facilitating dialogue, advocating for Indigenous inclusion, and developing effective, respectful engagement strategies. Her expertise includes but is not limited to Health, Justice, Education, Violence Against Indigenous Women & Girls and Reconciliation. Liz's work honours Indigenous perspectives and protocols. She has worked collaboratively with Indigenous leaders, government agencies, and organizations to advance reconciliation efforts and support culturally responsive solutions, locally, provincially and nationally in the field of Indigenous People and Communities. Liz is passionate about creating spaces that emphasize authentic partnership, transparency, and empowerment, ensuring that Indigenous voices are prioritized in decision-making processes. 

Suzanne is a creative and pragmatic leader with extensive experience in community-based research, project management, community engagement, evaluation, and strategic planning. She has over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector focused on working with marginalized populations in the areas of primary health care, homelessness, public health, youth employment, and social enterprise. Suzanne’s career has included senior leadership positions at a primary healthcare clinic and a homeless shelter.  She holds a Masters in Community Psychology, an undergraduate degree in environmental studies, and Lean Green Belt certification. She is also a Certified Executive Coach accredited by the International Coaching Federation. Suzanne is an active volunteer with the YES Shelter for Youth and Families and Up With Women.  

Contact Suzanne (LinkedIn)

Peter has over forty years experience in both the not-for-profit and public sectors. He has worked at the local, provincial and national level in the HIV/AIDS sector focusing on health promotion, trauma informed client centered care, harm reduction, meaningful engagement of people with lived experience, community based research and sector sustainability. Peter is a lifelong learner building on his expertise in process and content facilitation, community development, community engagement and mobilization, collaboration, and leadership.

Peter is a community convenor whose various roles have provided years of experience in multi-disciplinary, cross sectoral collaborations to enhance cooperation for effective collective impact. As part of the early HIV/AIDS movement in Toronto he was a leader in aligning and bridging community-based care teams with medical institutions and hospital care. This included supporting the growth and standardization of community-based hospice care in Toronto.

Fueled by his passion for equity, inclusion, accessibility and diversity he is skilled at supporting difficult conversations to bridge differences and build consensus.

Kemi’s drive comes from a strong belief in the importance of collaborative community development work to build communities where everyone feels they belong. Her background includes serving on YWCA Canada and YWCA Peterborough Haliburton Boards of Directors, through which she was a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Kemi served a 4-year term as a City Councillor for the City of Peterborough, holding several portfolios, including Chair of Transportation and Youth Commission and sitting on the Peterborough Public Library board. Coupled with her other volunteer work, Kemi has over a decade of experience working in the immigration, refugee, and settlement sector, where she has overseen Settlement Services and helped develop both a Refugee Resettlement and Case Management program from the start. Kemi holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and English Literature and a certificate in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies.

Susan has a rare gift of being able to think strategically and implement practically. She has held senior positions in municipal and provincial governments and the healthcare sector. Over the past six years, Susan has worked exclusively in hospital and healthcare settings, including PRHC, Northumberland Hills, and Ross Memorial Hospitals. In various roles, Susan led community engagement, service planning, and consultative program development initiatives. Prior to consulting, Susan managed and directed housing and homelessness programs and services in Toronto and Peterborough. She holds an M.A. in Adult Education from the University of Toronto, a B.Sc. from Trent University, and is a graduate of several invitation-only, employer-sponsored leadership courses. Susan is an active volunteer, currently serving on the Board as Secretary for the ReFrame Film Festival.