C21 Canada and its members provide a collaborative vision and advocacy support for Canadian education organizations to deepen the development of 21st Century skills (creative problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, personal development, global citizenship and digital competency) and accelerate innovative learning practices.
Michael Furdyk
Michael Furdyk is the Co-founder of TakingITGlobal, which provides innovative global education programs that empower youth to understand and act on the world’s greatest challenges. TIG was awarded the 2013 Intercultural Innovation Award by BMW and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Michael has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, presented at TED, and was named one of Teen People’s “Twenty Teens that will Change the World.” Over the last decade, he has keynoted over 100 events across sectors, sharing his social media expertise and insights on youth engagement and educational reform to audiences in over 30 countries.
Tanya Lush
Director of workforce development, COVE Workforce Initiative at Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) Tanya Lush is a graduate of Acadia University Wolfville, NS (Psychology) and Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Tanya holds a Masters of Education (Human Relations- Psychology) with a specialization in occupational psychology & career development; where personality and ability intersect with vocational and professional interests. She has expertise in, and a passion for, coaching early to mid-career professionals.
Joe Simms
Senior Sales Director, West-Central Public Sector at Compugen. A creative sales leader with consistent, excellent results in meeting aggressive sales targets and delivering customer satisfaction while retaining, attracting and developing talented employees.
Steve Brown
Steve Brown, is CEO of Nelson, he has made his mark in Canada and Internationally by leading organizations through digital transformation. His career spans a diverse mix of industry and technology experience from multi-media entertainment, logistics services, automotive, and now to learning solutions. Since joining NELSON in September 2016, Steve has transformed the vision for this 104-year-old company by reimagining the role and purpose of a publisher in 2017 and beyond. Introducing a matrix driven view to the management culture, and unifying a K20 student-centric business division is at the core of this shift to a cohesive customer focused structure.
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt is the founder and president of Let’s Talk Science, an award-winning, national charitable organization that she started in 1991 while completing a PhD in Physiology. Let’s Talk Science helps children and youth fulfill their potential and prepare for their future careers and citizenship role by supporting their learning through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement. During its 20+ year history, well over 4 million youth and educators have been reached and an estimated 26,000 volunteers have been engaged with Let’s Talk Science. Supporting education transformation and developing creative, critical thinkers the organization has a bold plan to impact 5 million more youth by 2020.
Bill Roche
Co-Founder and Director of Power Play promoting the importance of young people developing an entrepreneurial mindset. Power Play Youth Entrepreneurs seeks to create positive social change through early entrepreneurship education.
Dr. Steve Joordens
Dr. Steve Joordens is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he has taught since 1995. He earned a doctorate in cognitive psychology from the University of Waterloo. Honored repeatedly as both teacher and researcher, Professor Joordens is on the cutting edge of the emerging field of cognitive prosthetics to assist both learning-disabled patients as well as patients with Alzheimer’s disease. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences, where he consistently earns best in session honors. In addition to publishing many articles on human memory, consciousness, and attention in empirical and theoretical psychology journals, Professor Joordens earned both the Premier’s Research Excellence Award and the National Technology Innovation Award-the latter for the creation of an Internet-based educational platform that supports the development of critical thinking and clear communication skills in any size classroom. His teaching skills have also earned him repeated honors, including the President’s Teaching Award, his university’s highest teaching honor; the Scarborough College Students’ Union Best Professor Award; a provincially sponsored Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award; and four nominations for Television Ontario’s Best Lecturer Competition, which include two Top 10 finishes.
Sean Slade
Sean Slade is a global education leader, speaker, author, and policymaker, with over 25 years experience spanning five countries and four continents. He is Head of Education, North America at BTS Spark, a global education non-profit focused on developing the next generation of educational leaders. He is also a co-founding member for the UNESCO Chair on Global Health and Education; a member of the OECD’s Future of Education 2030; a HundrED Global Ambassador; and an NBC Today Social and Emotional Learning Expert.
Katina Papulkas
Katina Papulkas is the senior education strategist at Dell Technologies. She is an experienced educator who supports digital transformations across Canada with K12 school districts and post secondary institutions. The focus is always on learning amplified through technology. Skilled in technology enabled learning, education leadership, assessment, and personalised learning.
Dr. Gina Cherkowski
Dr. Gina Cherkowski is an education thought-leader, research and activist. As the Director of Research and Development at Headwater Learning foundation, Dr. Cherkowski is leading research in the areas of equity and inclusion in education by leveraging data and AI with the goal to imbue system-level innovation in education. Current research projects include mental health, neurodiversity, belonging, and the neuroscience of teaching and learning. Dr. Cherkowski holds a double-cognate PhD in the areas of Mathematics and Culture Studies in Education. She has a long career as a strong social justice advocate that believes all students should have access to high quality educational opportunities so they can thrive in school and beyond. Dr Cherkowski has been an award-winning K-12 educator, a University Professor, and a nationally recognized social entrepreneur earning the title of Global Innovator for her work.
Alumni
Chris Besse, @Edsby
Dr. Guy G. Tétrault
Microsoft
Dell Technology
Chatter High
Edge Makers
Fresh Grade
IBM
STEM Learning Lab
Pearson
Smart Technologies
National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Learning Bird
Secretariat
Robert Martellacci, MA EdTech, President, MindShare Learning Technology & CEO& Co-Founder, C21 Canada.
He has over 25 years of expertise in the learning & technology space as an administrator at York University & Country Manager, TLC Canada School Division. His board appointments include: Past Chair, Canadian eLearning Enterprise Alliance and board member York U IRLT. Robert was also appointed to the ICTC CTIC Task Force on Driving Change Education and Skills DigitalTalent2020 in 2016. Under his leadership MindShare learning, with the support of C21 Canada, was also awarded the Chair’s Global Partnership Award for outstanding work nationally and internationally for taking a leadership role in connecting industry and education.
Karen Yamada Chief Learning Office & CFO, C21 Canada
She has enjoyed a 37-year career in leadership and collaboration with an ongoing focus on learning innovations in technology and assessment. Karen has been privileged to serve leader roles of influence in classrooms, schools, professional networks, district, government and post-secondary organizations, with continued service nationally and internationally.
David Roberts, President and Ambassador, C21 Canada
