Founders & Advisors
The leaders, visionaries, and supporters guiding the Pond-Deshpande Centre journey
Gerry Pond
Gerry Pond has over 45 years of in-depth experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. As the CEO of NBTel and the President of its successor, Aliant Telecom, he was at the helm during a period of significant deregulation in the Canadian industry. Under his innovative leadership, NBTel emerged as an international ICT leader. Born in Quebec and raised in New Brunswick, Gerry Pond’s educational achievements include a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Brunswick; Organizational Effectiveness Program, Harvard University; Executive Program, McGill University; and Senior Executive’s Program, University of Western Ontario.
Pond is the Chairman and Co-Founder of Mariner Partners Inc., and has co-founded a number of successful ICT start-ups in Atlantic Canada, including iMagicTV, Q1 Labs, Brovada Technologies, Radian6, Shift Energy and Cirrus9. He is also the Co-Founder of Propel ICT, a start-up accelerator, the Co-Founder of the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and the Co-Founder and Chairman of East Valley Ventures, an incubator for Atlantic Canadian start-up companies with a mission of helping passionate entrepreneurs launch meaningful and enduring technology companies.
Gerry Pond has received many honours, both regionally and nationally, including the prestigious1997 Canadian Information Productivity Association (CIPA) Innovator of the Year and Hall of Fame, the NB Knowledge Industry Recognition and Achievement (KIRA) Awards Person of the Year in 2002, the 2003 Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEO Award in Atlantic Canada in 2003 and 2005, an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of New Brunswick, and an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University. For his tireless contribution to regional economic development, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame in October 2007.
An inspiring innovator and social entrepreneur, Gerry Pond also earned recognition as 2011 Canadian Angel of the Year from Techvibes & KPMG. In 2012, he received the 2012 Red Cross Humanitarian Award for New Brunswick. He was twice honoured in 2013, first by The Learning Partnership as a Champion of Public Education, and then as the recipient of the Order of New Brunswick for his innovative spirit and critical contribution to many of New Brunswick’s IT and telecommunications success stories. At the 2014 Canadian Startup Awards, Gerry Pond’s passion for supporting innovation and entrepreneurship was recognized with the prestigious WolfBlass Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was awarded the first-ever Business Development Bank of Canada Entrepreneurship Champion – a national award that recognizes the achievement of a Canadian entrepreneur and community leader who has created and grown one or many successful small or medium-sized businesses while significantly contributing to the prosperity of the Canadian entrepreneurship ecosystem. Most recently, Gerry was appointed to the Order of Canada.
Gururaj Desh Deshpande
Dr. Deshpande holds a B. Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, an M.E. from the University of New Brunswick in Canada, and Ph.D. from Queens University in Canada.
Deshpande co-chaired a National Council to support President Obama’s innovation and entrepreneurship strategy.
Jaishree Deshpande
Jaishree Deshpande is the Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC, and a founder of the Deshpande Foundation. The Deshpande Foundation fosters social entrepreneurship by supporting a variety of non-profit organizations in India working in the areas of health, education, microcredit and agriculture.
Jaishree and her husband supported the founding of The Deshpande Center at the MIT School of Engineering in 2002 to increase the impact of MIT technologies in the marketplace. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Museum of Science and is involved with HESTIA Fund – a fund established to support quality after school programming for low-income children. Jaishree Deshpande worked for the Indian Space Research Organization in Bangalore, India until 1980 before moving to Canada. She worked for several Massachusetts companies and taught courses in computer science. She received a Master of Science in Physics in 1975 from the Indian Institute of Technologies (IIT), Madras, India. She also received a Master in Computer Science in 1989 from Boston University.
Dr. Kathy Wilson
Dr. Kathy Wilson is a dynamic and visionary leader. From her start with the Faculty of Nursing, her career at UNB spans three decades and reflects a deep commitment to the transformative power of teaching and learning. She is a “possibilities person,” dedicated to opening doors for students, faculty and staff and positioning UNB as a leader in innovative and inclusive education for all.
Currently serving as UNB’s Acting President and Vice Chancellor, Dr. Wilson brings extensive experience in student success initiatives, curriculum design, innovative program development, academic planning and the integration of educational technologies. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping policies and processes that prioritize people and students. Dr. Wilson has led numerous strategic projects and working groups and has collaborated with external partners to develop creative programming solutions.
A strong advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization, Dr. Wilson has worked closely with the Council of Elders and the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre (MWC) to establish respectful search processes and support initiatives such as the first Indigenous Research Scholar position in the Faculty of Science. She continues to work with Indigenous faculty and staff to champion projects like the Wabanaki Learning Centre, charting a course toward a School of Wabanaki Studies and expanding the MWC to provide support to Indigenous students on both campuses and the Moncton site.
Dr. Wilson has demonstrated exceptional leadership during times of change and crisis, notably leading UNB’s organizational response to COVID-19; stepping in as Acting Vice President Academic, a position she held for 2.5 years and playing a key role in the transition to a new senior leadership model with the introduction of a Provost. Her ability to inspire teams, build consensus and navigate complex challenges underscores her reputation as a collaborative and innovative leader, bringing diverse groups together toward a common goal.
In her previous role as UNB’s inaugural Vice Provost, Learning & Student Experience, Dr. Wilson led the bi-campus integration in Student Affairs and Services and supported the establishment of the Centre for Learning Futures, championing online and technologically mediated programming.
Dr. Wilson is a proud UNB alumna obtaining her bachelor of nursing from UNB in 1987, a master’s in nursing from Dalhousie University in 1996 and a PhD in educational studies from UNB in 2008.
As Acting President and Vice Chancellor, she remains committed to UNB’s Toward 2030 strategic vision and UNB’s continued growth in the areas of research, education, engagement, community and sustainability.
Operations Team
The brilliant team of innovators, creatives and changemakers driving PDC impact
Vanessa Paesani
Vanessa Paesani is the Executive Director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) at the University of New Brunswick, where she leads initiatives to drive social innovation and systems change. With over 15 years of experience driving outcomes in the social impact sector, Vanessa is dedicated to advancing inclusive workforce development, civic innovation, and just economic systems. As a certified executive coach and currently studying a Master of Arts in Executive and Organizational Coaching, Vanessa is passionate about empowering leaders and organizations to navigate complex challenges and create lasting impact. Under her leadership, PDC is fostering a more equitable economy through collaborative, cross-sector initiatives that address pressing socio-economic issues. Vanessa dedicates her volunteer efforts to advancing entrepreneurship and environmental stewardship, championing initiatives that drive positive, systemic change in these areas. She has served on the board of Venture for Canada for 9 years and previously contributed to the transition committee for the Fundy Trail Parkway, facilitating its shift from a non-profit to being stewarded by the province of New Brunswick.
Reach Vanessa by email: vanessa.paesani@unb.ca
Sarah Cormier
Prior to joining PDC, Sarah honed her interpersonal and customer service skills during her seven-year tenure at a dental clinic, where she served as a Patient Care Coordinator. Her innate empathy has allowed her to forge meaningful connections with individuals, enabling her to discern their needs swiftly and effectively.
Sarah is a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness and the empowerment of quiet introverts. She is committed to breaking free from centuries of societal conditioning and is actively engaged in this transformative journey.
In her spare time, Sarah finds solace in the pages of a good book or immerses herself in the adventures of explorers embarking on worldly, historical, or legendary myth expeditions.
Reach Sarah by email: pdcadmin@unb.ca
Jasmeet Singh Narula
Reach Jasmeet by email: jasmeet.narula@unb.ca
Simon Marmura Brown
Simon Marmura Brown is the Strategic Director of Research & Knowledge Mobilization at the Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) at the University of New Brunswick. In this role, he works to bring academic research, community insight, and policy development to support inclusive, tangible, and impactful change. His work focuses on mobilizing knowledge to inform action on complex issues such as economic equity, health access, and social infrastructure.
Simon received a Ph.D. in political science from Queen’s University in 2024 and brings over a decade of experience in university teaching, interdisciplinary research, and community collaboration. He has extensive experience in knowledge mobilization efforts, legislative analysis, and program development across academic, non-profit, and government spaces. His approach is grounded in equity, partnership, and a deep commitment to transforming systems through shared leadership and evidence-based action.
Reach Simon by email: simon.marmurabrown@unb.ca
Madison Tucker
Reach Madison by email: madison.tucker@unb.ca
Associates
Consultants we partnered with to deliver transformative programs.
Dr. Bethany Deshpande
Dr. Bethany Deshpande is a founder, scientist, and systems leader who helps people find creative solutions to complex challenges. She specializes in bringing clarity to uncertainty, guiding individuals and organizations to uncover their own insights and pathways forward.
As the Founder and former CEO of SomaDetect, Bethany led a high-growth tech company through major innovation milestones, scaling a team, securing $20M in funding, and achieving international patents and partnerships. She draws on deep expertise in entrepreneurship, design thinking, and systems change to support bold ideas and resilient leadership.
Bethany holds a PhD in Biology and serves on the Boards of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network and Springboard Atlantic.
Josée Rioux-Walker
Bilingual in both Official Languages
Josée Rioux-Walker is a dynamic professional recognized for her expertise in public relations and consulting. For over fifteen years, she has contributed to the economic development of her region and played a key role in the post-secondary education sector.
Josée holds a bachelor’s degree in information/communication and business from the Université de Moncton, as well as a certificate in economic development from the University of Waterloo. She has provided valuable support to numerous small businesses and non-profit organizations, helping them achieve their goals. Josée has also devoted much time to volunteering and community development initiatives.
Since entering municipal politics in 2019, Josée has served as a councilor for the Village of Drummond and was appointed Deputy Mayor in 2021. As of January 2023, she has taken on the role of Deputy Mayor of the new Regional Municipality of Grand Falls.
Josée is also the owner of her consulting business since May 2024, offering services in business development, communication, and event planning. She works with start-ups, non-profit organizations, governments, and para-governmental bodies to support them in reaching their objectives.
Outside of her professional activities, Josée is a mother of two adult children, lives in Drummond with her spouse, and is passionate about gardening, reading, and lifelong learning. As an engaged citizen, she actively participates in civic life, embodying the essence of a dedicated community leader.
Justin Sweeney
Justin Sweeney is a community finance strategist and fund administrator who has spent over a decade helping communities across Canada design and manage capital tools that unlock local potential. With deep expertise in private credit, community investment funds, and real estate financing, Justin specializes in helping purpose-driven organizations raise and deploy capital for impact—particularly in remote, rural, and underserved communities.
His consulting work spans fund administration, feasibility modeling, and structured financing for community assets like housing, hubs, and social enterprises. Justin’s approach is both technical and grounded, shaped by early life experiences near poverty and systemic barriers that fuel his commitment to financial tools that meet people where they are.
Justin has contributed to over 90 due diligence reviews of community-scale impact investments, helped fund, launch, and administer multiple community lending programs, and serves on multiple boards and impact investment committees.
Dr. Dawn Henwood
Dr. Dawn Henwood, author of Business Writing for Innovators and Change-Makers, helps social innovators express breakthrough ideas in ways that get buy-in.
As a communication coach, Dawn enables experts to stop overexplaining and start connecting deeply with their audience so they can build trust and inspire change.
Over the past 25+ years, she has taught more than 2,000 university students and professionals how to make complex ideas resonate with any audience. She has worked across an eclectic range of fields, including healthcare, housing, higher education, and more. Highlights of her career have included running a national technical communication program for a Big Four firm in the US, delivering workshops for the African Development Bank in Nigeria, and developing the Microcredential in Communication Skills for Knowledge Mobilization offered through Dalhousie University.
Jason Doiron
Jason has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit and community development world. He focused his academic studies on languages and communications at the Université de Moncton. He practices the art of animation and applied improvisation and has held positions in numerous non-profit organizations focused on youth, arts and culture, capacity building and social innovation. His strong and adaptable skills as a group facilitator help him guide groups to find clarity, common purpose and to work better together in meaningful ways, creating spaces for learning, innovation and co-creation.
For over 10 years, he has worked as an expert and consultant in social innovation and engagement. He has worked across Canada and abroad and has delivered several workshops and mandates for non-profit organizations, governments and businesses. He is based in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Ivan Okello
Ivan Okello is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Ocan Consultants, a social enterprise that designs and delivers premium research and training solutions to clients on Intercultural intelligence, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Antiracism (EDIB/A).
For the past 7 years, Ivan has devoted his life to anti-discrimination work with a focus on anti-racism, gender equity and social inclusion. He previously served as the Project Manager of Anti-racism Initiatives at the New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC) and as the Co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion at Mount Allison University.
Ivan immigrated to Canada to pursue his education where he completed a Master of Arts in International Development Studies (IDS) at Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies.
Ivan is passionate about building bridges across diverse communities, eliminating barriers to inclusion, tapping into the potential of people, and ensuring organizations are designed to serve and cultivate everyone’s potential.
Eric Savoie
Eric Savoie has over 20 years of experience leading large‑scale transformation across the public, private, and community sectors, with a career focused on systems change, innovation, and public purpose leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from the University of New Brunswick, along with professional certification as a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and training in Executive Consequence Management (ECM), complemented by executive education in innovation, digital transformation, and public policy.
Eric most recently served as a Director at EY, including as Canadian Leader for Human Services within the Government and Public Sector practice. In this role, he led complex, multi‑jurisdictional transformation initiatives in Canada and internationally, working with governments, non‑profits, and industry partners on strategy, policy, service design, and the modernization of large‑scale systems and institutions.
Building on this experience, Eric is the founder of Aurora Futures Inc., a mission‑driven community advisory platform focused on rebuilding the foundations of community so children, youth, families, and people experiencing systemic barriers can thrive. Through Aurora, he applies systems thinking, cross‑sector collaboration, and data‑informed approaches to strengthen trust, coordination, and long‑term community wellbeing, with a focus on intergenerational impact.
Eric currently serves as Co‑Chair of the Saint John Fundy Pride Society and Co‑Chair of the UNB Alumni Pride Network, and is based in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Katrina Crossman
Katrina Crossman is an impact and implementation strategist working across research, policy, and service systems. Her work focuses on how complex initiatives are structured in practice, particularly how implementation, data, and system dynamics come together to shape real-world outcomes.
She brings a cross-sector perspective grounded in experience working with academic institutions, government, and community-based initiatives, with a particular focus on child and family systems. Her work often begins at the point where strong ideas or policy direction are already in place, but where greater clarity is needed around how initiatives will function, align across partners, and deliver meaningful impact over time.
Katrina is particularly interested in bridging the gap between evidence, policy, and implementation – ensuring that data and insights are not only generated, but are usable in practice. She works with organizations to design and deliver for impact from the outset, rather than treating it solely as something to be measured at the end.
She holds a Master of Science in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Mandy Burke-Evans
Mandy Burke Evans is the Founder of BE Coaching & Consulting, where she helps groups and individuals unlock their potential and achieve significant growth.
With over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, intrapreneur, and community leader, she fosters people-centered environments that blend accountability, empathy, and support.
An Internationally Accredited Coach and Career Development Practitioner, Mandy holds certifications in Neuroscience Transformational Coaching and Coach Approach to Facilitation, and is a Certified Neurodivergent Coach. She empowers clients, from managers to c-suite executives, to navigate challenges and reach their full potential.
In addition to BE Coaching & Consulting, Mandy works with the Saint John Learning Exchange as the Director of Social Enterprises, where she oversees all business operations, spearheads strategic growth initiatives, and provides personalized coaching to employees to help them realize their full potential.
Mandy’s approach includes cultivating supportive environments, strategic coaching for goal achievement, and utilizing neuroscience techniques. She also facilitates customized workshops for impactful learning experiences.
Marc Henrie
Bilingual in both Official Languages
Marc is a Université de Moncton graduate, he has also completed a master’s degree in Community and Cooperative Development at the Université de Sherbrooke, Québec. He has been involved in Community Economic Development work as a consultant, facilitator and co-op expert for now 20 years. Marc has held many leadership roles in various projects and professional experiences. He was involved in municipal politics from 2006-2018 and Marc has played a leading role on many boards and organizations. Most notably, Marc became General Manager of the Coopérative de développement regional Acadie, a role he held for more than 5 years, and he sits on the board of the first Credit Union of Canada that became a Federal charted credit union. He is currently the CEO and lead consultant for IMPACT Co-op, a small worker co-op and he also chairs Co-op zone, the Canadian co-op developers network.
Lewis Muirhead
Since then, He’s dedicated himself to helping people and organizations find solutions to complex, systemic issues. His work spans coaching, facilitation, and evaluation, empowering people to initiate lasting change.
Associate Organizations
Organizations we partnered with to deliver transformative programs.
