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.
Paul Mazerolle
Prior to his appointment in July 2019, Dr. Mazerolle was previously the pro vice chancellor (arts, education and law, 2009-2019), campus provost for Mount Gravatt campus (2009-2019), director of the Violence Research and Prevention program (2006-2019), and director of the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance (2007-2009) at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. He was also director of Research and Prevention at the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission (2002-2005) and head of the criminology program at the University of Queensland (2000-2006).
Dr. Mazerolle received his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from the University of New Brunswick (1989), his master of science in criminal justice from Northeastern University (1990), and his PhD in criminology from the University of Maryland at College Park (1995).
Dr. Mazerolle has led and participated in several major initiatives. While at Griffith, he chaired the university-wide Safe Campus Taskforce and chaired the sub-committee on Changing Attitudes and Behaviour regarding Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault. Since 2014, Dr. Mazerolle led and chaired the Griffith Integrity 20 program.
Dr. Mazerolle was a member of the Premier’s Youth Violence Taskforce and the Seniors Taskforce in Queensland, Australia. He was also Board Chair and Director at Open Minds, a leading non-government organization addressing mental illness and disability.
Dr. Mazerolle is a past editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology and is the founding co-editor (with Tara McGee) of the Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology.
An active scholar in criminology, Dr. Mazerolle has led several funded research projects. His research examines processes that shape offending behaviour across the life-course. His primary focus is in building knowledge on violence to inform theories, advance understanding, and improve policy and practices to reduce or prevent violence.
Paul is a proud native of New Brunswick, having grown up in Fredericton. He returns with his wife Amanda, and their two border collies, Maya and Gaby, to enjoy the four seasons.
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
Hossein Dehghani
Hossein is a project coordinator at the Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC), where he supports the delivery of community-driven initiatives and strategic projects. His responsibilities include coordinating logistics, facilitating stakeholder communication, and contributing to the planning and execution of PDC’s events and programs.
Hossein recently earned a BA in Communication Studies from the University of New Brunswick, graduating on the Dean’s List. Throughout his academic journey, he held multiple student leadership roles in recreation, coordination, and data management. During his time with Career Development Employment Services (CDES) at UNB, Hossein gained hands-on experience in public engagement, providing services and digital outreach.
Having lived, studied, and worked across Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada, Hossein brings a diverse and global perspective to his role. He is passionate about equity, inclusion, and the role of innovation in supporting underrepresented communities. At PDC, he contributes strong organizational skills, a collaborative mindset, and a deep appreciation for culturally grounded systems change.
Reach Hossein by email: hossein.dehghani@unb.ca
Associates
Consultants we partnered with to deliver transformative programs.
Bethany Deshpande
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.
Jason Doiron
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.
Josée Rioux-Walker
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Vincent-Luc Brouillard
In 2020, he started his company, VLB Consultation where his mission is to Create and Disrupt. He offers a variety of professional and bilingual services such as facilitation, workshops, and various business advice.
Through his work, Vincent-Luc hopes to help various organizations to find meaningful solutions in a holistic way. Businesses, governments, nonprofits, and various community organizations have worked and benefited from the help and support of Vincent-Luc’s expertise and approach.
Associate Organizations
Organizations we partnered with to deliver transformative programs.
