Founders
Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande
Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande is the President and Chairman of Sparta Group LLC, a family investment office and is also the Chairman of Tejas Networks.
Gururaj Desh Deshpande
Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande is the President and Chairman of Sparta Group LLC, a family investment office and is also the Chairman of Tejas Networks. Dr. Deshpande has pursued an entrepreneurial career for the last three decades. He is involved either as the founder, a founding investor or chairman of several companies including Cascade Communications, Sycamore Networks, Coral Networks, Tejas Networks, Cimaron, Webdialogs, Airvana, Sandstone Capital, A123 Systems and Curata. Dr. Deshpande lives in Boston and serves as a life member of the MIT Corporation, and his support has made possible MIT’s Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation. Leveraging the experience gained at the MIT Center, the Deshpande Foundation has facilitated the set up of three other centers; Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship in India, Merrimack Valley Sandbox in Lowell/Lawrence Massachusetts and Pond-Deshpande Center at the University of New Brunswick in Canada.
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.
Dr. Deshpande’s videos about entrepreneurship and social enterprise. Connecting thinkers to do-ers
Jaishree Deshpande
Jaishree Deshpande is the Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC, and a founder of the Deshpande Foundation.
Jaishree Deshpande
Gerry Pond
Gerry Pond has over 45 years of in-depth experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.
Gerry Pond
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.
Executive Advisory Board
Raj Melville
Raj Melville
Paul Mazerolle
Paul Mazzerolle
Dr. Paul Mazerolle is the 19th president and vice-chancellor of the University of New Brunswick.
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.
Meet the Team
Vanessa Paesani
Director of Entrepreneurship & Advisory Services
(Acting Executive Director)
Vanessa Paesani
Vanessa Paesani is focused on creating systems change for an equitable economy. She is leading the Pond-Deshpande Centre’s work in convening the social enterprise ecosystem in New Brunswick, and their work as a regional delivery partner of WIN-VC, a national collective focused on changing the system of less than 3% of venture capital going to women.
She is deeply passionate about organizational development; particularly, how good governance practices, engagement and clarity can lead to better outcomes. Vanessa is a certified teacher and certified executive coach. She is currently completing a Masters of Arts in Executive and Organizational Coaching at Royal Roads University, and business coaching certification through Hello Seven, a coaching framework targeted at assisting entrepreneurs who have experienced systemic barriers to wealth in growing their business to over $1M in revenue.
Her community work is focused on nature conversation and entrepreneurship. Vanessa recently led the transition committee of the Fundy Trail Parkway as the non-profit became a park within Parks NB. She has served on the board of Venture for Canada – a national charity dedicated to building entrepreneurial skills in young Canadians – for the last 7 years.
Reach Vanessa by email: vanessa.paesani@unb.ca
Katie Davey
Executive Director
(on short leave)
Katie Davey
Katie Davey is a dynamic public policy expert and social innovator, currently serving as the Pond-Deshpande Centre’s (PDC) Executive Director at the University of New Brunswick. Katie brings a mix of experience in applied research and real-world implementation to tackle New Brunswick’s socio-economic challenges through social innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy.
Previously, Katie was the Director of Policy & PPF Media at the Public Policy Forum. There, she led significant policy projects on child care, the future of journalism, immigration, and digital connectivity; in addition to boosting the organization’s profile in Atlantic Canada by building the Atlantic Initiative. She made waves as a 2019/20 Action Canada Fellow, diving into employment integration for refugee newcomers and Canada’s ever-evolving world of work. Katie has been responsible for the creation of four podcasts and is currently the host of the UNB Alumni podcast, Unbeknownst.
Katie is passionate about public service and was a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Premier in New Brunswick. She drove legislative development and built bridges with stakeholders, focusing on women’s equality, labour, and innovation. Selected as a top innovator by Atlantic Business Magazine in 2023, Katie is a go-to voice in political commentary, appearing in publications such as the Toronto Star, Policy Options, and as a regular on CBC New Brunswick and Atlantic. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Human Development Council and Action Canada.
Reach Katie by email: katie.davey@unb.ca
Sarah Cormier
Operations & Finance Officer
Sarah Cormier
Sarah (Zara) has been a pivotal team member at the Pond-Deshpande Centre since 2016, overseeing the organization’s operational functions. Sarah is the primary liaison for UNB-related responsibilities and plays a central role in maintaining the organization’s financial health. Her multifaceted role includes managing contracts and payments, maintaining financial databases, contributing to various projects, coordinating meetings and workshops, and providing invaluable administrative support.
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
Rebecca McSheffery
Director of Innovation & NouLAB
Rebecca McSheffery
Rebecca is a problem solver, an idea generator, and an unyielding optimist committed to understanding the underlying ‘why’ behind complex problems. Leveraging her multifaceted background in marketing, entrepreneurship, strategic human resources, and innovation, Rebecca approaches today’s most pressing and complex social issues with a unique perspective. Through a human-centered approach, she collaborates to craft sustainable and empathetic solutions with, not for, those most impacted by the work.
In her role as Innovation and Talent Consultant at the Government of New Brunswick, Rebecca spearheaded large scale transformation initiatives that fundamentally reshaped talent acquisition across the organization. At the heart of these transformations was a steadfast commitment to honoring individual experiences, breaking down barriers, and creating opportunities that genuinely opened doors for people, recognizing and celebrating the diverse paths that brought them there.
Rebecca brings not just her rich experience but also her innovative spirit and creative energy into every venture. Her knack for unraveling complex problems and strategizing from a fresh, human-centric viewpoint, along with her proven track record of not just setting strategies but also steering them to successful implementation while adapting as necessary, makes her a dynamic force in any team. Ready to build, learn, and pivot along the way, Rebecca is eager to continue crafting solutions that resonate on a deep, humane level, and can’t wait to embark on this new journey, carrying the drive to create meaningful, lasting change.
Reach Rebecca by email: rebecca.mcsheffery@unb.ca
Esther Ibang
Communications & Events Officer
Esther Ibang
Born and raised up in Cameroon, Esther is an enthusiastic encourager, a servant-leader, and a passionate community builder full of optimism. Esther believes that the path to success is to help others succeed. This is why she has chosen to live a life that makes a positive difference for the betterment of the people around her and for the generations to come. She is the co-creator and co-host of the podcast Qu’est-ce qu’On Mange à Midi? – which aims to inspire and empower immigrants to make the best choices for their lives and leave a sustainable legacy.
Recognized as a rising innovative individual by Innovate NB in 2023, Esther brings her joy and creativity to support the work of the Pond Deshpande Center. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration, concentration in international management and Her background includes roles in research, communications, marketing, and the planning of events. She currently serves with the Board of Directors of The Canadian Black Standard and the climate action working group of the city of Moncton.
Reach Esther by email: esther.ibang@unb.ca
Associates
Vincent-Luc Brouillard
Vincent-Luc Brouillard Consulting
Vincent-Luc Brouillard
A proud Acadian, Vincent-Luc Brouillard is an entrepreneur and social innovator who is known for his problem-solving skills, engagement and his resourcefulness.
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.
Nick Scott
Principal Consultant, Shift & Flow
Nick Scott
Nick Scott has been practicing social innovation since the early 2000’s and has been leading transformational change in the public sector since 2012.
Most recently, he worked for the Government of Canada as the Director of Innovation Services at the Canada School for Public Service’s Digital Academy. In this role, Nick led the Digital Accelerator Programme, Experimentation, Digital Products, and Events and Engagement.
Formerly, Nick worked at the Government of New Brunswick as Executive Director of Open Government and Innovation. In this role, he led Innovation and Design Services, established an Innovation Team, a collaborative workspace and a public innovation framework, facilitating initiatives addressing mobility, literacy, second language acquisition, natural resource development, municipal reform, and child protection.
Previously in his role as Executive Director of the NB Social Policy Research Network, Nick launched the GovMaker Conference to explore the theory and practice of public innovation and co-founded NouLAB; a public and social innovation lab facilitating collaborative problem-solving across sectors.
Nick is part-time lecturer at the University of New Brunswick where he teaches Technology and Social Change, and Leadership for Social Innovation.
In the Middle East Nick has served as jury member in Dubai for the Dubai Model Centre and Hamdan Hub service innovation awards programme since 2017 and most recently as a Government CX assessor for the Abu Dhabi Executive Office.