How I Got Here: Where a Career Can Take You

A first generation Canadian, Justin has been involved in the nonprofit sector for over a decade. Justin is an experienced public speaker and consultant who advises corporations and nonprofits on strategic planning, leadership and DEI. Justin is the Executive Director of Peacebuilders Canada, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve access to justice for young people in conflict with the law and advocate for change in our justice, child welfare and education systems. In addition to the former Chief Operating Officer role at Indus (2023), Director level roles at MLSE (2016–2022), Justin was the Head Coach for Women’s Basketball at Centennial College (2015–2020) and a leader in the Residents’ Services Division at Toronto Community Housing (2007–2014). Justin has an extensive background in community and sport development, as well as the social housing sector, all while using sport as a tool of engagement to support youth facing barriers. Justin is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) with a B.A. in Sociology.

Jacob Circo is a 2021 graduate of the Urban & Regional Planning Undergraduate program at Toronto Metropolitan University, and he also holds a Certificate in Disaster & Emergency Management from TMU (June 2020). He holds a Master of Arts in Disaster & Emergency Management degree from Royal Roads University (June 2024). In his role as a Development Planner with the Municipality of Clarington, he brings together his passion for urban planning and emergency preparedness to help shape resilient and thriving communities. At TMU, Jacob is an elected Alumni Senator to TMU’s Senate and is Co-Chair of the School of Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Association. You can learn more about Jacob's TMU journey, by view this TMU blog article.

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn (external link, opens in new window) 

Maria Kestane is a Toronto-based podcast host and producer who is passionate about sparking meaningful dialogue and asking uncomfortable questions. She helps Canadians make sense of the world and people around them, through long-form interviews hosted on The Big Story podcast. Maria is also the lead producer for other shows, including Clock In with Emily Durham and In This Economy?!. Before getting into the podcast world, she was in the broadcast world as a news anchor and reporter with 680 NewsRadio Toronto.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn (external link, opens in new window) 

Hanen Nanaa is a multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, public policy advisor and war survivor from Syria. She founded the Books Art Music (BAM) Collective — recognized with a Mayor’s Community Safety Award and as a finalist for the Toronto Arts for Youth Award. Hanen is a senior advisor at the Toronto Transit Commission and a master’s student in public policy, administration and law at York University. A politics and governance graduate of TMU, she has also studied at the University of Oxford. Her advocacy and leadership have earned her the 2023 Pam McConnell Award, the 2023 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award and a nomination for DMZ’s 2024 Woman of the Year.

Connect with Hanen on LinkedIn (external link, opens in new window) 

Pursued to combine her interests in learner psychology, and program design with the operational facets of business, Brigette has nearly a decade of progressive experience across project management, operations, learning and development and change management in both private and public sectors. As a Learning Operations and Learning Compliance leader for Deloitte Global, Brigette is known for translating complex challenges into practical, scalable solutions for learners and professionals worldwide. Outside of Deloitte, she is an Adjunct Faculty member at Durham College where she teaches a wide range of project management courses for the last 4 years.  

Connect with Brigette on LinkedIn (external link, opens in new window)