Our Team

Meet Charlene

Presenter for Shine a Light (Grade 4), Every Body Moves (Grade 5), Finding Solutions (Grade 7) and Genetic Diversity and You (Grades 6-8)

Fast Facts!

Education and Background:

B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Ottawa
Completed an Honours project at Health Canada in food microbiology and a Masters thesis on cell biology investigating mechanisms involved in the development of neurons.

Became a Scientists in School presenter in:
2014

Get to know Charlene!

What sparked your interest in STEM?
When I was a little girl, I was fascinated with the natural world and I especially enjoyed observing our local wildlife like birds, insects, and frogs. My high school Biology teacher was instrumental in my choosing science as a career. His infectious enthusiasm and encouragement helped me to believe that I could be a scientist!

What inspired you to become a presenter?
When my youngest child was in grade one I had the privilege of participating in a Scientists in School workshop as a parent volunteer. I was hooked! Today as a workshop presenter, I have the best of both worlds, sharing my passion for science and sparking an interest in STEM in young children!

What do you find most rewarding about being a Scientists in School presenter?
There are so many but the biggest reward is witnessing the excitement on a student’s face when they share their ideas with me. I also love seeing girls getting engaged in the workshops! Girls pursuing STEM is something I am really passionate about.

What would readers find surprising about you?
I’m an avid birder! I’ve always loved birds and the silver lining of the pandemic was the extra time I had to go out and observe and identify birds. It has become a little bit of an obsession for me!

What is the coolest STEM job out there right now in your opinion?
There are so many cool STEM careers but personally I am fascinated with wildlife conservation and cutting-edge research on genetic diseases.

Describe your perfect Sunday afternoon!
Birding! Spending time in my backyard watching resident birds eating at my feeders and foraging in our gardens is wonderful. Then there is always the joy of reading a book on a Sunday afternoon!

What are you reading right now?
It may not surprise you to discover that I am currently reading a book about birds and bird intelligence titled, “Bird Brain, An Exploration of Avian Intelligence” by Nathan Emery. I also just recently finished reading “Talking to Canadians”, a memoir by Rick Mercer.

Who is your favourite scientist and why?
Jennifer Doudna is my favourite scientist! Her biography “The Code Breaker” was fascinating and I was surprised to learn that we share a lot of common interests. I am most impressed by her tenacity and how she never let anyone tell her that science wasn’t for girls. She followed her passion and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with her colleague Emmanuelle Charpentier, in 2020 for their work in gene editing (CRISPR). Jennifer Doudna is truly an inspiration for young girls aspiring to follow a career in STEM!

Meet Craig

Presenter for Fending off Forces (Grade 4) and Electricity: Close the Circuit (Grade 6)

Meet Craig, a Scientists in School presenter!

Our highly-trained passionate presenters each deliver approximately 65 workshops each year. The majority have academic or professional backgrounds in STEM, and are diverse role models to the hundreds of thousands of young scientists they inspire annually. By sparking curiosity, confidence and imagination in the next generation, our presenters provide memorable opportunities for all children to see themselves as scientists.

Since 1989, our presenters have sparked curiosity and critical thinking in over 10 million young scientists. Craig Fay is one of them!

Fast Facts:

Education and career background:

Eng. in Mechanical Engineering - McMaster University

Comedy Writing and Performance Diploma - Humber College

Worked in the utility industry for many years before working with Scientists in School and pursued a career in the performing arts

Became a Scientists in School presenter in:

2018

Topics Craig presents:

Virtual: Fending off Forces and Strong Structures

In-person: Electricity (Grade 6) and Pulleys and Gears (Grade 4)

Get to know Craig!

What did you want to be when you were a child?

An inventor/scientist (really just someone with a lab filled with bubbling beakers) or an author.

What sparked your interest in STEM?

Science fiction like Star Trek and SeaQuest(Star Trek in a submarine). Science and technology let them go on incredible adventures and solve the problems they encountered.

What do you love about being a Scientists in School presenter?

Finding new ways to explain and present concepts to students that get them engaged and interested.

Describe a memorable moment or story from a workshop you presented:

I had a student who was very reluctant, didn’t like school and didn’t like science. She sat with arms crossed and didn’t want to participate. After some encouragement she started working with the materials, saw what problems we were trying to solve and how fun the results were. She just lit up. When I left she had a huge smile on her face and was asking to do more investigations.

Why is it important to foster an interest in and understanding of the importance of science at an early age?

Science is everywhere and affects so much of our life. Even if you never become a scientist, knowing how they think and work through problems is so important to understanding the problems facing the world.

What song do you know all the lyrics to?

The Nations of the World by the Animaniacs. Spent one summer memorizing it JUST for fun and I’ve never forgotten it.

Meet Mary Anne

Presenter for On the Move! (Kindergarten)

Meet Mary Anne, a Scientists in School presenter!

Our highly-trained passionate presenters each deliver approximately 65 workshops each year. The majority have academic or professional backgrounds in STEM, and are diverse role models to the hundreds of thousands of young scientists they inspire annually. By sparking curiosity, confidence and imagination in the next generation, our presenters provide memorable opportunities for all children to see themselves as scientists.

Since 1989, our presenters have sparked curiosity and critical thinking in over 10 million young scientists. Mary Anne Mills is one of them!

Fast Facts:

Education and career background:

Eng. Sc. (Chemical and Biochemical Engineering), M Eng., University of Western Ontario

Became a Scientists in School presenter in:

2015

Topics Mary Anne presents:

Virtual: On the Move! (Kindergarten)

In-person: Looking at Liquids (Grade 2), Simply Marvelous Machines (Kindergarten), Magnet Magic for Little Explorers (Kindergarten)

Get to know Mary Anne!

What did you want to be when you were a child?

A teacher

What sparked your interest in STEM?

I grew up on a farm and spent most of my youth in fields and barns. I was always fascinated by it all and wanted to learn more. By high school, while biology was still a favourite subject, I really enjoyed chemistry.

What do you love about being a Scientists in School presenter?

Watching young scientists get excited and start to bridge what they know to what they are learning.

In as much detail as possible, describe a memorable moment or story from a workshop you presented:

It was a Grade 2 Looking at Liquids workshop in a very rural school and we were still doing the opening. I told them that there were three states of matter. A hand immediately shot up. One boy excitedly informed me that there were 4 states of matter: Solids, Liquids, Gases, and Plasma. I was impressed that he knew about Plasma but had to inform him that we would not be working with it that day. His teacher had no idea what he was talking about and thought he was referring to blood plasma. He enjoyed explaining it all to her. I love this story because you really never know what the students know!

Why is it important to foster an interest in and understanding of the importance of science at an early age?

My daughters were all members of Girl Guides from Sparks through to Rangers. In the old program, the Guide level (Grades 3-6) had an Engineering Badge which I volunteered to lead for the entire unit. I was shocked at how many of the girls already hated math and science. I did my best that night to change their opinion but knew more needed to be done! I immediately started adding even more STEM to my Sparks (Kindergarten/Grade 1) programming and eventually became a presenter with Scientists in School focusing on primary level.

What do you love to do in your spare time?

In the summer, we have a fairly large vegetable garden, considering we live in the city. I spend my free time all summer and into the fall, canning and freezing produce. I love to make jam, stewed tomatoes, preserved pears, relish, and picked beets from the produce we grow.

Cindy Adams

Executive Director

Cindy’s unwavering commitment to science and education – and to Scientists in School – has been behind the organization’s evolution from a local grassroots initiative of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) to the mid‐size science enrichment outreach charity it is today. First joining Scientists in School as a classroom workshop presenter in early 1993, Cindy quickly assumed responsibility (initially on a volunteer basis) for managing all aspects of Scientists in School’s business, ranging from presenter recruitment and training to program development and from book‐keeping and administration to fundraising and public awareness. Her role as Executive Director was formalized when Scientists in School incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1999, though she continued to present workshops until about 2006. Today, with the support of her strong staff team, Cindy has overall accountability to ensure that the goals and programs of Scientists in School are effectively planned, resourced, implemented and measured in accordance with Board Policy and in alignment with Scientists in School’s mission, vision, core values and strategic plan.

Prior to joining Scientists in School, Cindy spent 12 years as a research scientist at the University of Toronto, where she had also earned her M.Sc. (Applied Ecology) and B.Sc. (Biology). While at U of T, Cindy worked on a wide variety of pollution ecology research projects, many related to forest decline, air pollution, and the evolution of heavy metal tolerance in select plant species.

Cindy currently sits on the board of The Science Teacher’s Association of Ontario. Cindy is a past president of the CFUW Ajax‐Pickering and served many years as an active member of its executive. She is also a recipient of a YWCA Durham “Women of Distinction Award” in recognition of her leadership in science promotion and community involvement. An avid nature enthusiast, Cindy can’t remember a time growing up when she didn’t have insects, tadpoles and other ‘creepy crawlies’ somewhere in her house. Her passion for nature continues today as Cindy seizes every opportunity she can to grab her binoculars and head out birding to nearby ravines or her favourite birding hotspot, Point Pelee.

Lynn Boyd

Director, Programs and Operational Effectiveness

Lynn first joined Scientists in School as a classroom presenter in 1998 and assumed a Team Leader role two years later with responsibility for ensuring the effective delivery of a variety of Scientists in School workshops. In 2002, Lynn became Scientists in School’s Director of Programs. In this capacity, Lynn is accountable for overseeing workshop development and improvement, program quality assurance and presenter training, and classroom safety.

Lynn brings solid background in research science to Scientists in School. She holds a Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry) and an Honours B.Sc. (Physical Sciences), both from U of T. A self‐proclaimed “science geek”, Lynn is also an avid dog trainer and puts physics to the test through agility competitions. She also enjoys reading and gardening.

 

George Chau

Director, Finance and Administration

George assumed the position of Scientists in School’s Director of Finance and Administration in mid‐2008. In this role, he oversees all aspects of Scientists in School’s financial accounting (including budgeting, reporting, and audit), inventory and purchasing, information technology and general administration.

George has diverse background in financial management and accounting gained over his 30+ year career. From 1985‐1992, he gained experience in internal auditing and accounting in both the retail and mining industries. He then shifted his focus to the non‐profit sector, working with aboriginal service agencies and educational organizations, as well as the Anglican Church. George has a B.A. (Economics) from York University and a MBA from the University of Western Ontario. When he’s not crunching numbers for Scientists in School, George connects science to his world through his passion for cooking and carpentry. Scientists in School’s Kitchen Chemistry and Structures: Stable and Strong workshops have been particularly helpful!

Amy Schindler

Director, Fund Development & Communications

Amy joined Scientists in School in 2013 as the Director of Fund Development & Communications. In her role, she develops and stewards key relationships, manages a portfolio of existing and prospective donors, collaboratively plans and implements strategic opportunities for engagement and fund development, and oversees all Scientists in School communication initiatives and materials.

Amy brings a rich background in fundraising and marketing, working as a Senior Development Officer for University of Toronto Schools, Manager of Special Events and Marketing for Frontier College, and Program Coordinator for The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Jump Rope & Hoops for Heart program. She received a B.A. Hons from University of Guelph and a diploma in Corporate Communications from Centennial College. With two young children at home, Amy spends much of her spare time making snacks, answering questions, reading bedtime stories and exploring the ‘world’ around their home.

Erin Westman

Senior Manager, National Outreach and Central Ontario Region

Erin Westman was born with a love of bugs and biology, which lead to studying molecular biology and genetics at the University of Guelph. Since earning her PhD in Microbiology, Erin designed and instructed numerous University-level biology courses in Ontario, drawing on her enthusiasm for science and belief in the importance of communicating academic work accessibly. When beginning at Scientists in School, Erin presented four different workshop topics before taking on the role of Regional Manager in West Central Ontario. She seeks to promote inclusivity in science, starting by increasing children’s interest and confidence in STEM disciplines.

Today, you’ll find Erin facilitating virtual workshops, and supporting workshops in the classroom and the community. At home, Erin enjoys board games, reading the latest epic in fantasy fiction, and the company of her cats, children, and partner.

Michelle Butler

Regional Manager, South Western Ontario, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island

Michelle began her career with Scientists in School as one of the original presenters in the South Central Ontario region in 2007. In 2009, she began to move out of the classroom as she took on a larger role in Scientists in School as a Regional Coordinator. Michelle began her current position as Regional Manager in 2014, exactly seven years after she began as a Scientists in School presenter.

Michelle holds a B.A. from Trent University. In her current role, Michelle encourages and provides leadership to a team of highly skilled Scientists in School presenters, while continuing to build and foster relationships with educators, principals, science consultants at the board level, and ensuring continued quality customer service. Outside of Scientists in School, Michelle loves to read, participate in various outdoor activities, manage three children and spend time with her extended family.

Paula Cudmore

Regional Manager, Eastern Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

Paula joined Scientists in School as a Classroom Presenter in the Ottawa region in 2014.

Her classroom experience highlighted the importance of providing hands-on opportunities to children and youth to spark a life-long interest in learning and discovering the world around them.

In her current role, Paula supports our amazing team of presenters in our Nation’s Capital!  Paula further promotes and champions our virtual programming in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. She fosters growth in our French language programming and advocates for equitable access to STEM education.

When she’s not working, Paula can be found playing volleyball, either on the court or in the sand. She enjoys reading, no genre is denied, and will often bake tasty treats “just because”.

Diane Smit

Regional Manager, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories

Diane’s journey with Scientists in School began in 2015 as the first presenter in Calgary. As programming quickly grew in Alberta, Diane’s roles evolved and grew, too. In a short time, Diane went from Classroom Presenter and Program Coordinator to Co-Regional Manager (Alberta).

Diane majored in Biology and Chemistry and holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge. As a former science teacher, Diane understands that implementing inquiry-based science in classrooms is an essential tool for science discovery that comes wrapped in excitement and wonder. Her passion is to bring experiential science into the hands of all children.

Diane’s strengths include collaborating with schools, school boards, stakeholders, and communities across Alberta.

On days off Diane enjoys exploring Alberta’s natural beauty, whether its hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing or skiing with her family. Time at home includes exploring the garden, playing the piano, and knitting.

Jim S.C. Tom (Chair)

Strategic Technology Consultant

Jim Tom is an independent consultant in information and technology strategy, helping organizations understand and seek advantage in a constantly shifting technology landscape. He was the founding Chief Information Officer for Public Health Ontario and Associate Vice-Chancellor for IT at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He has held executive and senior management roles in the public and private sectors. Jim has also served on the Boards of several non-profit organizations. He holds a PhD from Stanford in Engineering-Economic Systems and recently received the ICD.D from Rotman/Institute for Corporate Directors. Jim is passionate about the need to develop excitement, curiosity and critical thinking about science early in every child’s education. He believes that raising the overall level of scientific knowledge is key to improving the public discourse about science and fostering interest in scientific careers.

Sharon Baker (Vice-Chair)

Executive Lead, Enterprise Projects, OTN.ca

A creative and innovative executive skilled in advancing change in not-for-profit and stakeholder-driven environments, Sharon Baker is a CPA, CMA and holds the ICD.D designation in governance from Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors. She has over 25 years of varied experience in healthcare in the hospital and home and community care sectors as well as with private technology companies. Recently she has specialized in virtual care at Ontario Telemedicine Network and Ontario Health.

Sharon is currently the CEO of wellSpring consulting, a private consulting practice she founded in 2002. She has provided strategic and governance advisory services to public and private health care organizations in the hospital, government, home care and long-term care sectors.

She has extensive volunteer governance experience in healthcare and education, currently serving in the board of Kinark Child and Family Services. And previously served as Chair of the Board of the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health, Founding Chair of Scientists in School, the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Smart Systems for Health, and the Ladies Links Tour Golf Association.

Stephanie Mazzei (Vice-Chair)

Founder and President, OncoLogic Inc.

Stephanie Mazzei is a senior pharmaceutical and biotech entrepreneur and consultant with decades of experience advising Global C-Suite Executives about optimal commercialization strategies for game-changing improvements in cancer care. She’s the founder and currently the President of OncoLogic Inc., a boutique strategy, forecasting and due diligence consulting firm. Stephanie also co-founded a company to commercialize a software program to estimate the future prevalence of cancer patients until the company was acquired in 2016. Prior to her start-up and consulting roles she held senior marketing and strategic planning roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly and Company and is currently also serving on the Board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada and as an Advisor to the Life Sciences Health Innovation Hub of Springboard Enterprises.

Stephanie holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Life Sciences and a M.Sc. (Pathology) from Queen’s University and strongly supports fostering interest and hands-on access to STEM-based learning for all students regardless of background or gender.

Alison Simpson (Vice-Chair)

Vice President, Digital Innovation, Business Excellence & IT, AstraZeneca Canada

Alison Simpson is the Vice President of Digital Innovation, Business Excellence and IT at AstraZeneca Canada, a leading global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines in several core areas: cardiovascular, diabetes, oncology and respiratory diseases. She brings over 25 years of experience in management and executive roles encompassing the pharmaceutical, food and packaged goods sectors. Her current accountabilities span digital transformation, strategic go to market planning, insights, analytics, data management, sales force effectiveness and commercial operations. Alison holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University. During her Queen’s years, she worked with the university’s Science Quest program, and saw first-hand the impact that hands-on STEM workshops and role models can have to spark science and engineering excitement in youth.  She is also currently serving on the Rotman Health & Life Sciences MBA Advisory Board.

Dan Adirim

CEO & Founder, Groundswell Energy

Dan Adirim is CEO and Founder, Groundswell Energy. His previous positions include: Senior Vice President, Customer Management at Cirba (now Densify), Associate Vice President, Enterprise IT Operations at TD Bank Group and Vice President of IT Strategy and Architecture at Loblaw Companies Limited. He also spent 10 years as a Management Consultant at Accenture.

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science, Engineering Chemistry from Queen’s University and is a Professional Engineer. He loves volunteering when Scientists in School comes into his children’s classes and being part of the inspiration and amazement that Scientists in School workshops create.

Marguerite Campbell

Retired Superintendent of Schools, TDSB

With over 30 years of experience in education with the Toronto District School Board, Marguerite Campbell has held diverse roles from JK through Grade 5 classroom teacher, to principal of several schools, and most recently ahead of her retirement from Toronto District School Board in senior administration as Superintendent of Schools. During her tenure with the school board she was always committed to Scientists in School, from being one of the first teachers in her school board to invite scientists into her classroom, to supporting the program during her principal roles, and eventually in her role as the Centrally Assigned Principal for Science and Technology.

Since ‘retiring’, Marguerite is pursuing a variety of interests, mostly with an educational component, including serving on the Board of Directors of several non-profits, and working with faculty of education students both at Wilfrid Laurier and OISE, where she supports practicum supervision and mentoring. A constant thread through all of her roles has been passion and commitment to equity of outcomes and opportunities for children and youth – a strong fit with Scientists in School’s vision and initiatives. Marguerite is enjoying her move to Guelph and an active involvement in her new community.

Greg Chownyk

Vice President, Canada Sales & Origination, Shell Energy North America

Greg Chownyk is Vice President, Canada Sales & Origination for Shell Energy North America–a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell group and leading marketer of natural gas, power and

environmental products. He has worked in the energy industry across Canada for over 20 years and has held leadership positions in sales, marketing and strategy development. Greg holds an honours degree in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Greg is keen to help Scientists in School achieve its mission in fostering excitement for science and technology in children of all ages. He believes the future leaders of our country will need to possess curiosity and innovation in these areas to ensure Canada remains a leader on the world stage.

Cara Clairman

President and CEO, Plug'n Drive

Cara Clairman is President and CEO of Plug’n Drive, a non-profit that is accelerating the deployment of Electric Vehicles to maximize their environmental and economic benefits. In just over six years, Cara has taken Plug’n Drive from an idea to a thriving non-profit, recognized as a leader in the EV space.

Cara has more than 20 years of experience working in the environmental and sustainability fields, including 12 years working at Ontario Power Generation, initially as OPG’s environmental lawyer and later in the role of Vice President of Sustainable Development. Prior to joining OPG, Cara spent five years practicing environmental law with Torys LLP.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall and a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University. Cara is currently driving the 100% electric Chevy Bolt as her personal car.

Shelley Cornforth

Associate Partner, Ernst and Young

Shelley Cornforth is an Associate Partner in Ernst and Young’s (EY’s) technology transformation consulting practice. Within EY, Shelley is also an active leader with their Ripples Program, where she applies her passion for tackling social challenges. The global corporate responsibility program focuses on creating social impacts in collaboration with organizations that support the next generation, accelerate environmental sustainability, work with impact entrepreneurs, and support racial equity. With over 25 years of experience advising for-profit and non-profit organizations on the alignment and investment in digital solutions to advance business transformation, Shelley brings a breadth of experience across diverse sectors, including education and digital learning, engineering, energy, financial services, retail, and manufacturing and distribution.

Shelley holds a BComm (Honours) from Queen’s University and an MBA from UBC Sauder School of Business, and is an active mentor and leader in EY’s Women in technology initiative, focused on building and developing our next generation of women technology leaders through coaching, support and individualized growth opportunities. Shelley is an active mom of two teenage daughters and was always excited to volunteer during Scientists in School visits at their school.

Lisa Frizzell

Vice President, Communications, NWMO

Lisa Frizzell is the Vice-President of Communications at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), the organization responsible for implementing Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel. Before joining the organization in 2012, Lisa worked in communications for a number of corporate, academic and government organizations in Canada and the United States. Her focus is in strategic communications and she brings more than 20 years of experience as a communications leader, primarily in the energy sector. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.

Lisa previously served as a member of Scientists in School’s fundraising committee. Having spent most of her career in public-facing roles as part of organizations that rely heavily on science and technology, she has seen first-hand both the importance and impact of nurturing a love for STEM through education.

Manjula Selvarajah

Journalist, Technology Columnist and Guest Host, CBC Radio

Manjula Selvarajah is a Toronto-based journalist, a national technology and education columnist with the CBC and a guest host on CBC's Ontario shows. She is a frequent emcee and moderator, with repeat speaking appearances at Elevate, #MovetheDial and Collision. In her former role, she was Vice President of Marketing at Eloqua, and holds an Engineering degree from Queen’s University. She is co-founder of the non-profit Tamil Women Rising, sits on the board of Jumpstart Refugee Talent and is an avid community volunteer. Manjula lives in Pickering with her husband and young daughter. She is excited to give back and is looking forward to helping youth build critical pathways to a bright future.

Salvatore (Sal) Vella (Treasurer)

Retired Vice President of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer, IBM

Sal Vella is an avid volunteer and community board member. He recently retired from a very fruitful career at IBM where he led global teams as Vice President of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer. In his roles, he helped to develop and drive strategy and implementation of IBM’s mobile, data/analytics, Internet of Things and DevOps products. Sal continues to be a mentor and advisor through several blogs on leadership and DevOps practices, as well as a board member on several non-profit boards and a member of Rotary International. Education is key to everyone’s future and he is excited about the great opportunity Scientists in School provides to improve the lives of many children and future citizens.

Sal holds a B.Eng. degree and an MBA degree, both from McMaster University.

Shaheen Yazdani

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Intercept

Shaheen Yazdani is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Intercept, a B2B marketing agency specializing in the global technology sector. With the agency's origins in education, Shaheen brings 15 years experience in marketing to K-12 and HED audiences for her clients including Microsoft, Intuit and Elections Ontario. She holds an honours degree in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and is a Certified Change Practitioner through the Prosci program. Shaheen is an active volunteer, serving on the GTA’s regional board for Women in Communications and Technology and as an advisor with Springboard Enterprises.

Shaheen is deeply passionate about the early integration of STEM education. Having participated in Science Olympiad and mathlete programs in her youth, she believes in the pivotal role specialized programming plays in shaping adolescent interests. Today, she is a strong advocate among the parent community in driving awareness of extra-curricular STEM programs. Her children participate in a variety of enrichment programs including Spirit of Math, Spirit of Technology and FIRST Robotics. Shaheen is an active parent volunteer with her elementary school-aged children, and has experience in the public and private school settings.

Adriana Zubiri

Adriana is the VP of Data Centers and Operational Resiliency at RBC

Adriana Zubiri is a very passionate executive that loves technology. While her role at RBC began in 2021, Adriana spent the previous 20+ years in various senior roles in the technology space, specifically in data warehousing, big data and analytics. In her current role Adriana is the VP of Data Centers and Operational Resiliency at RBC, where she is responsible for the daily operations and strategic direction of RBC’s critical sites across the globe, and for strengthening the resiliency of our technology infrastructure.

Adriana holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Alberta and an Honours Bachelors in Computer Science from CAECE University in Argentina. Adriana is an active member in the technical community frequently speaking at conferences and events. She is also a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion and plays an active mentorship role for a number of women in technology and the latinX community. She is very excited about joining Scientists in School to encourage STEM learning for all children early in their lives.