John Beebe
Democratic Engagement Exchange
John founded the Democratic Engagement Exchange in 2017. John’s passion for democratic engagement started while biking across North America when strangers from all walks of life took pity on a sweaty teenage kid and opened up their homes, shared a cold drink, provided him a hot shower and shared a little of their lives. Since then, John has had the opportunity to work for the US Congress, exhibit photos at the United Nations, and lead national engagement efforts for organizations like the Samara Centre for Democracy and Pathways to Education. Through these professional and personal experiences, John continues to be reminded of the wisdom that resides in our communities when we take the opportunity to engage and listen.
Samantha ReUSCh
Sam is the Executive Director of Apathy is Boring. Since 2017, she has served on the leadership team at Apathy is Boring, contributing to the strategic development of programs, content, and activities through her work as the head of Impact and Development before transitioning to Executive Director in August 2020. A passionate advocate for democracy and civic engagement, Sam is a respected commentator and educator who believes that the energy, insight, and innovative spirit of young people are critical to building a stronger and more equitable society for us all. Sam has worked with countless partners across Canada to support the development of positive engagement practices and provide insight into new understandings that young people bring to change-making, inclusion, and movement-building. She is the co-author of Together We Rise, a report which advocates for the adoption of youth-led democratic innovation as a model for expanding our current conception of democratic engagement towards a more holistic understanding of how change happens.
OCTAVIE BELLAVANCE
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Octavie Bellavance is the Associate Director for Democratic Futures at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) in Toronto, where she leads a new interdisciplinary and international research initiative on democracy. Prior to joining CIFAR in spring 2026, she spent a decade in senior policy roles in the governments of Canada and of Ontario, most recently as a Deputy Director and trade negotiator at Global Affairs Canada. She also served as Co-Chair of the Recruitment of Policy Leaders (RPL) program during her time with the federal government, working to attract high potential mid-career talent to the public service. Octavie holds a BA in Russian Studies and History from McGill University and a PhD in History from Yale University, where she studied press freedom and the political role of the daily press in late imperial Russia and spent a year as a Visiting Fellow at Moscow State University. Octavie also worked in the non-profit sector in London, UK, and is fluent in French, English, Russian, German, and somewhat in Spanish.
ASHLEY DENNY
Democratic Engagement Exchange
Ashley joined the Democratic Engagement Exchange in 2020 and continues to work with the organization from Greece. She is passionate about fostering a culture of democracy both in Canada and internationally. With a foundational education in the Humanities, Ashley believes in the importance of big ideas, education and meaningful action. In her career so far, she has had the opportunity to work for Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada in Ottawa and for the Faculty of Laws, UCL in London, UK. Her experience in the Canadian co-operative movement has strengthened her belief in the importance of community engagement and participatory democracy in various aspects of our personal and political lives.
SHLOMIT BRODER
Shlomit is the CEO of Digital Public Square, a Canadian not-for-profit organization with a mission to rethink and redesign the way digital spaces support communities worldwide. Digital Public Square creates inclusive, trustworthy, and innovative digital spaces that foster dialogue, reduce polarization, and connect at-risk populations to resources. The organization’s work focuses on developing tools and campaigns that counter harmful online narratives, safeguard vulnerable communities, and promote civic participation and trust in democratic institutions. A seasoned leader, Shlomit has overseen complex, multi-year initiatives across diverse global contexts, including information-constrained and politically sensitive environments. Her experience spans efforts such as countering polarization in Canada, increasing awareness of human rights in Asia, and combating hate toward religious minorities in Myanmar. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Shlomit spent 15 years in the software and services industry, where she led large-scale technology implementation programs and developed deep expertise in managing complex systems and driving innovation. Shlomit is committed to continuous learning and values engaging with diverse perspectives to inform her work.
Tanya Coyle
Tanya leads communications, brand strategy and public affairs at the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, and is Co-Director of DemocracyXChange (DXC), Canada's largest democracy festival, where ambitious civic ideas meet people in action. With two decades of creative experience spanning government, tech and policy, Tanya has spent her career at the intersection of story and systems change — using narrative to build trust, spark participation, and make institutions feel more human. Tanya began in public service as a speechwriter for Ontario premiers and Cabinet ministers. She went on to establish the province's first online Newsroom and content design practice, then co-founded the Ontario Digital Service — a tech startup inside government. Throughout her career, Tanya has shaped narrative strategy for a wide range of consequential issues, from Canada’s pandemic response to responsible AI and phone-free schools, proof that the right story can turn policy into public will. Fiercely committed to community, Tanya also serves on the Board of Directors of a Canadian-Lithuanian Youth Camp, and previously served as Chair of the Queen’s Park Child Care Centre. She holds an Honours BA in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Toronto, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Relations.
AMIRA Elghawaby
Muslim Communities Research Observatory
Amira Elghawaby is a journalist and human rights advocate who served as Canada's first-ever Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, from 2023 to 2026. Over more than two decades, she has built a career rooted in advancing equity and inclusion through policy work and strategic communications, both in Canada and internationally. She is the founder and executive director of the Muslim Communities Research Observatory (MCRO), an organization dedicated to advancing democratic participation and civic engagement. In 2026, she was named to the global list of the 500 Most Influential Muslims. Her work has been recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Jack Layton Progress Prize.
Aileen giebrecht
Aileen Giesbrecht is a dedicated city-builder with over 20 years of experience helping Canada’s fastest-growing city thrive. She has recently joined ISP as a Senior Consultant after leaving the City of Edmonton where she was the City Clerk and Returning Officer since 2020, leading both the 2021 and 2025 General Elections and Referendum. Before moving into the leadership role in the Office of the City Clerk she held several executive positions in Edmonton, such as Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Downtown Arena Development. She also brings 10 years of international experience from Glasgow, where she worked for the Scottish Executive and various social economy agencies and the European Union Social Partnership Program. As a lifelong learner, she completed programs at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Judy Project at Rotman (University of Toronto), in addition to her Master’s from the University of Glasgow and undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta. She’s deeply involved in her community and passionate about mental health, serving as a board member for the Mental Health Foundation and supporting other local organizations.
Allison maclachlan
Allison MacLachlan is Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer for the Rideau Hall Foundation, where she leads strategic communications, public affairs and external relations. A passionate advocate for journalism and democratic engagement, she has played a leading role in shaping RHF's ongoing efforts to strengthen and sustain local journalism, recognizing its essential role in informing communities, encouraging civic participation, and supporting a healthy democracy. Committed to building public trust through clear communication, Allison brings people together, connecting organizations and communities to create lasting impact.
Trevor potts
Trevor Potts is the Director of Research and Policy at Evidence for Democracy, and Co-Founder of Student Affairs Group International. At Evidence for Democracy, Trevor leads the organization’s research and policy initiatives at the intersection of science, technology, and democratic governance – focusing on democratic institutions, digital governance, science policy, and mis/disinformation. In this role, he works with researchers, civil-society organizations, federal decision-makers, and industry experts to advance policies that support transparent, accountable, and evidence-informed governance – having recently served on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Expert Roundtable on Access to Information. Before joining Evidence for Democracy, Trevor led federal policy development at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), advancing policy priorities including research funding, student financial aid, digital-skills development, and effective federal programming for Canada’s +2 million post-secondary students. He has also worked in global operations at the UN Refugee Agency in Copenhagen, Denmark, and served as a Program Coordinator at Aga Khan University in Kampala, Uganda – bringing an international and cross-sector perspective to policy development. Trevor holds a Master’s degree in Global Health Systems from Western University, as well as Bachelor’s degrees in Biology, and Classical & Ancient Studies from the University of Waterloo.
David salvo
Institute for Strategic Dialogue
David Salvo is Managing Director for Transatlantic Policy and Programming at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue-US, based in Washington DC. He leads organization-wide initiatives on countering authoritarianism, foreign interference, and hybrid threats, including for ISD’s entity in Canada. David has provided testimony before committees in the House of Commons and has written commentary for Canadian media outlets. He previously directed the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) at the German Marshall Fund, prior to ASD’s merger with ISD. An expert in Russian affairs, David has been analyzing the Kremlin’s authoritarian toolkit to undermine democracy at home and abroad throughout his career. He is the principal author of the ASD Policy Blueprint for Countering Authoritarian Interference in Democracies, and makes regular media appearances to discuss Russian foreign policy and foreign interference operations to undermine democracies. David spent ten years at the US Department of State, where he advised senior-level department officials and negotiators and served overseas in Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He speaks Russian and Serbo-Croatian, and has working knowledge of French. David received his master’s degree from Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Government and Russian from Georgetown.
Erin tolley
Dr. Erin Tolley is the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race, and Inclusive Politics and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Carleton University. She is an expert on the relationship between socio-demographic diversity and Canadian politics, with a specific interest in race, gender and representation in political institutions. Dr. Tolley is currently engaged in projects on identity-based violence in local politics, racial identity and politics , and symbolic representation in parliamentary speech-making. She is the author of the award-winning book, Framed: Media and the Coverage of Race in Canadian Politics. Black on the Ballot, the podcast she developed in collaboration with Operation Black Vote Canada, won a 2025 Signal Award. Dr. Tolley was previously a researcher and policy analyst in the Canadian civil service and a faculty member at the University of Toronto. She is originally from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Marnie McGregor
As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Kali Polis Project, Marnie is bringing to life an urban studio semester internship program in the Athens region of Greece. The Kali Polis Project provides students with the opportunity to implement municipal urban climate resilience projects, while gaining critical work experience for green jobs of the future.
With over 25 years of experience as a Canadian global urban affairs leader, Marnie provides government, non-profit and private sector clients around the world with urban climate public affairs services including government relations, stakeholder engagement, strategic communications and advocacy.
Marnie is also the founding Greek Advisory Board Chair of Ecogenia — the first NGO in Greece that promotes sustainability through civic engagement, training and employment opportunities for young people.
Maiwand Rahyab
Maiwand Rahyab is the Founder and CEO of Resilient Societies, an emerging global initiative dedicated to protecting civic space and empowering democracy advocates and human rights defenders working under authoritarian regimes or in exile. Resilient Societies advances inclusive platforms such as the Resilience Network and the Ottawa Civic Space Summit, helping restore the voice, agency, and relevance of civil society actors confronting repression and transnational threats.
Before relocating to Canada, Maiwand held senior leadership positions with the National Democratic Institute and Counterpart International, and served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society. His perspectives on civil society, democratic resilience, and exile politics have appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, The Diplomat, and other leading outlets. Drawing on both lived experience and global expertise, he brings a compelling voice to urgent debates on civic space, democratic backsliding, and the future of exile activism.