Staff
President & CEO
Pari Rajagopalan
Pari Rajagopalan (She/Her) is the President and CEO of Thrive Youth Development Canada, where she leads initiatives that empower young people through mentorship, education, and community support. With a strong background in leadership and social impact, she is committed to fostering inclusive opportunities and helping youth reach their full potential across Canada.
Director, Programs and Impact
Lisa Norton
Lisa Norton (She/Her) serves as Director, Programs and Impact at Thrive Youth Development Canada, where she oversees the design and delivery of initiatives that support youth development nationwide. She brings a results-driven approach to measuring outcomes, strengthening programs, and ensuring meaningful, lasting impact for young people and communities.
Manager, GTA & National Program
Mackenzy Willis
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Interim Manager, GTA Programs
Lish Francoeur
Lish Francoeur (They/Them) serves as Interim Manager, GTA Programs at Thrive Youth Development Canada, where they lead the development and delivery of inclusive, arts-based programming for children and youth across the Greater Toronto Area. With 15 years in community care and education, Lish brings a strong commitment to representation, accessibility, and meaningful impact for young people and families.
Regional Program Engagement Manager, BC
Wafa Bilal
Wafa Bilal (She/Her) supports Thrive Youth Development Canada with over 20 years of nonprofit program management experience. Based in Surrey, BC, she brings a background in cultural adaptation and early childhood education, leading programs that empower young people. Wafa is passionate about helping youth define and achieve their own vision of success.
Operations Officer
Max Cox
Max Cox (He/They) supports all operations and events functions at Thrive Youth Development Canada, where he provides back-end administrative and project management support for all business operations. His background in full-service advertising agencies and creative studio management helps increase the reach and functionality of Thrive's day-to-day operations.
Facilitator
Hannah Grossmith
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Facilitator
Nicole Caspillo
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Facilitator
Ryan Field
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Facilitator
Tanya Brekelmans
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Guest Artist Educators
Founder & CEO
Don Francis
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Tech Lead
Ashley Jones
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Office Manager
Tess Brown
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Product Manager
Lisa Rose
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HR Lead
Kevin Nye
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Customer Support Lead
Alex Young
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QA Specialist
Andrew Cole
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Content Strategist
Debbie Green
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Product Manager
Alissa Rose
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Founder & CEO
Don Francis
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Tech Lead
Ashley Jones
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Office Manager
Tess Brown
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Product Manager
Lisa Rose
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HR Lead
Kevin Nye
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Customer Support Lead
Alex Young
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QA Specialist
Andrew Cole
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Content Strategist
Debbie Green
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Product Manager
Alissa Rose
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Board of Directors
Board Chair
Tina Osen
Tina Osen (She/Her) is Board Chair of Thrive Youth Development Canada and President of HUB International Canada. With over 30 years of leadership in the insurance sector, she is a recognized industry and community leader, committed to advancing youth potential, championing inclusion, and supporting initiatives that create meaningful impact across Canada.
Board Treasurer
Stephen Co
Stephen Co serves as Board Treasurer at Thrive Youth Development Canada and is Chief Financial Officer at CAPREIT. With over a decade of fiscal experience, he brings deep financial expertise and a strong commitment to supporting youth-focused community impact.
Chair, Risk Committee
Nancy Smith-Laidman
Nancy Smith-Laidman serves as Chair of the Risk Committee at Thrive Youth Development Canada, bringing extensive leadership experience across financial services and professional consulting. With a career spanning senior roles at EY and CIBC, she is recognized for her expertise in client strategy, governance, and risk oversight, supporting strong organizational stewardship and impact.
Director
Shari Dodsworth
Shari Dodsworth serves on the Board of Directors at Thrive Youth Development Canada and is a senior executive at Northbridge Insurance. With more than 20 years of leadership in the insurance industry, she brings deep expertise in strategy, operations, and growth, alongside a strong commitment to community impact and youth development.
Director
Farhaan Ladhani
Farhaan Ladhani serves on the Board of Directors at Thrive Youth Development Canada and is the CEO and co-founder of Goodbit, a platform focused on meaningful public engagement through digital innovation. With a background in government advisory and global communications, he brings expertise in inclusive dialogue, systems thinking, and building trust between institutions and communities.
Director
Janice Koshida
Janice Koshida serves on the Board of Directors at Thrive Youth Development Canada, bringing extensive experience in capital markets leadership and institutional strategy. s. She brings over 30 years of experience across capital markets, client coverage, and trading infrastructure. She is recognized for her expertise in market structure, regulatory insight, and institutional client strategy.
QA Specialist
Andrew Cole
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Content Strategist
Debbie Green
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Product Manager
Alissa Rose
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Founder & CEO
Don Francis
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Tech Lead
Ashley Jones
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Office Manager
Tess Brown
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Product Manager
Lisa Rose
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HR Lead
Kevin Nye
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Customer Support Lead
Alex Young
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QA Specialist
Andrew Cole
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Content Strategist
Debbie Green
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Product Manager
Alissa Rose
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