Our staff

It is an honour to lead such an important and dynamic organization as SRDC and a privilege to work alongside such a talented and motivated group of professionals. I have a deep appreciation for SRDC’s dual mission and our unique position in contributing to Canada’s policy and research ecosystem. I am excited by the opportunity to build upon these strengths and expand our impact. We will continue to work closely with governments, practitioners, and other stakeholders to provide rigorous high-quality evidence on innovative programming to support Canadians.”

David Gyarmati brings over 25 years of experience in Canadian policy research and evaluation to the position, including nearly two decades of pioneering work with SRDC in the design, implementation, and evaluation of demonstration projects involving innovative programming to support Canadians. He has been deeply involved in all aspects of SRDC’s research from conception to dissemination and in operations and corporate management, providing a depth of experience in the full scope and lifecycle of SRDC’s work.

Mr. Gyarmati has already contributed substantially to the development of SRDC over the past 15 years in senior management including the growth of several new portfolios of research and a wide range of innovative projects and partnerships with leading labour market stakeholders. He has helped to diversify SRDC’s business, building a rich network of partners and clients across the country.

David completed a Master of Arts Degree in Economics at the University of British Columbia specializing in Labour Economics and Applied Econometrics. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Psychology at York University.

“Great workplaces are built through day-to-day relationships that employees develop and experience. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with such a dynamic, passionate, and committed team in a truly great workplace.”

Elizabeth Rodgers provides strategic guidance and leadership with oversight responsibility for all aspects of human resources (HR), security priorities, information technology, corporate services, and administrative functions. Elizabeth has over 30 years of progressively responsible experience in HR and operations management. Prior to joining SRDC in 1996, she spent more than a decade in HR and other corporate roles within the non-profit, staffing, accounting, and high-tech sectors. She serves as Corporate Secretary for SRDC’s Board of Directors. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Windsor and a Certified Human Resources Leader designation (CHRL) from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPAO).

Lucie Chrétien is responsible for overseeing all SRDC financial operations including accounting, budgeting, internal financial reporting, and analysis to the management team. She also liaises regularly with auditors, bankers, and statutory authorities. Lucie has over 20 years of extensive financial management experience gained in diverse industries and sectors including not-for-profit and health care sectors. Before joining SRDC in December 2017, Lucie worked for the Council of Canadians, the Eastern Ottawa Community Family Health Team, and the Ottawa Hospital.

“Working at SRDC provides the opportunity to conduct research that is multi-disciplinary and rigorous in the academic sense, but also directly applicable to policy development. I strongly believe that public policy can be informed and improved by rigorous evaluative research, and I relish both the intellectual challenges and collaborative opportunities that this kind of work brings.”

Since joining SRDC in 2007, Boris Palameta has analyzed a variety of labour and social datasets, contributed to the design of laboratory experiments and demonstration projects, conducted comprehensive literature reviews, authored a policy position paper on future challenges to Canada’s student financial assistance system, and co-authored three major reports on one of SRDC’s large-scale demonstration projects. As a former senior analyst with Statistics Canada, he is well versed in quantitative methods and has considerable knowledge of labour and social data sources. His areas of interest and expertise include behavioural economics, human and social capital development, labour market transitions, and immigration issues. Boris holds a PhD in Behavioural Sciences from University of Cambridge.

“SRDC offers Canada a unique, critical opportunity to let evidence displace instinct and self-interest in its attempts to bridge research knowledge and policy practice.”

Reuben Ford has extensive experience in the design and analysis of Canadian and UK social policy research initiatives. He has lead policy-relevant research spanning education, employment, social assistance, family well-being, and residential mobility. Since 2003, he has directed SRDC’s team investigating approaches to increase access to post-secondary education across Canada (including Life After High School, Future to Discover, and BC AVID) as well as analyses of student financial aid. He directed the Self-Sufficiency Project and Motivational Interviewing Pilot Project, initiatives seeking to help long-term assistance recipients take up employment, and helped to design the Disability Supports Feasibility Study and Community Employment Innovation Project evaluation. Before joining SRDC in 1998, Reuben spent five years as a Research Fellow and Senior Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute, a UK non-profit research institute.

Reuben holds a Ph.D. in Geography and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Human Sciences from University College London. Reuben is a Credentialed Evaluator, as recognized by the Canadian Evaluation Society, and a member of the Canadian Economics Association and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

Shawn de Raaf has been a senior researcher at SRDC for over a decade, covering a wide range of topics related to employment, training, income security, and community economic development. He most recently helped lead the design and evaluation of CareerMotion, a research study that examined the effectiveness of providing online career information to post-secondary graduates in BC.

“What impresses me about SRDC is the tirelessness of its researchers in promoting and applying the most suitable and reliable scientific methods in policy study. It is a unique organization with the capacity to identify issues, design sound policies, conduct large-scale demonstration projects through social experiments, collect data and rigorously evaluate programs and policies. It’s satisfying to work with my many expert colleagues at SRDC and contribute to the knowledge of public policy.”

Taylor Shek-Wai Hui joined SRDC as a researcher in quantitative evaluation of social programs. His areas of interest and expertise include experimental and non-experimental methods of evaluation, human capital formation and utilization, social policies, cost-benefit analysis, as well as applied survey and statistical methodologies. Prior to SRDC, Taylor was Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Winnipeg. He holds a Ph. D in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Olufunmilola (Kemi) Odegbile joined SRDC in 2014 as a senior research associate in the Vancouver office. Kemi has over twelve years of experience working in the fields of research, population & public health, and primary care. Her past experience includes conducting research focusing on integrating social and behavioural sciences into the medical school curriculum, optimizing health for vulnerable populations, and health systems evaluation.

She has also held management roles in primary care and public health at two BC health authorities, where she was accountable for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health services designed to improve population health. She holds an MPH from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Sciences and an MD from the College of Medical and Biological Sciences from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Brazil.

Audrey joined SRDC in May 2019. She brings strong research, analytical, and data management skills that support multiple projects. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Ghana, a Master of Arts in Economics from Carleton University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa in health economics; specifically, her dissertation was on the effect of health policy on disadvantaged groups and measuring socioeconomic inequality in health.

She has prior experience working as a research/teaching assistant at Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and Baptist University.

Amélie Bernard joined SRDC in 2022. She brings expertise in experimental design and insights into cognitive, behavioural, and linguistic research. Prior to joining SRDC, she was a FRQSC-funded Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the University of Ottawa’s School of Psychology and Department of Linguistics. She also worked as a Research Coordinator at the University of Ottawa Living Lab at the Canada Science and Technology Museum and held various positions within the psychology departments at McGill University and the University of Illinois.

Amélie holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from McGill University, an MA in Developmental Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a BSc in Psychology from McGill University. Her research programs focused on language production and processing, and learning in different domains (language learning, physical and social reasoning). Her research combines methods and approaches from the fields of social sciences and natural sciences.

Andrea joined SRDC in 2019. Her research background is in health, migration, gender, and care work. Her previous research has focused on the intersections of Canadian immigration and health policy and its effects on migrant health. She brings experience working with various migrant groups, including temporary foreign workers, new permanent residents, and refugees. Most recently, Andrea was a Research Coordinator at the University of Toronto for a community-based research project with the Building Migrant Resilience in Cities partnership.

Andrea is currently completing a PhD in Health Promotion, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. Her thesis is a transnational study on the health and well-being of migrant women care workers during their time in the Caregiver Program through to settlement. She also holds a Master of Science in Health Promotion from the University of Western Ontario.

Lauren Brooks-Cleator joined SRDC in 2021 as a Researcher in our Ottawa office. Prior to joining the organization, she was a SSHRC-funded Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University in the School of Social Work. In addition to this, she was also a Part-time Professor at the University of Ottawa and a Course Developer at Carleton University. Much of her interdisciplinary and collaborative research has focused on the conditions and experiences of Indigenous and immigrant older adults, with the intent to contribute to policy and practices at multiple levels. Central to her research and evaluation work are the relationships she builds with partners and stakeholders. She obtained her CIHR-funded PhD and M.A. in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa.

Barbara Dobson is currently a Principal Research Associate at SRDC and has over 20 years of experience in research and evaluation and has worked on a range of program evaluations within the social policy and public health arenas.

A number of themes run through Barbara’s career. Much of her work has involved issues around employment, health, low income, and social inequalities. In exploring these issues, Barbara has worked with different groups of people, including people with disabilities, seniors, those who have been unemployed for long periods, and families living on low incomes.

Throughout her work, she has tried to actively involve those who participate in her studies so that the research process is seen to be useful and interesting to all who participate in it. Barbara has designed and implemented both local and national evaluation studies, and her interest in behavioural insights lies in how to move beyond empirical findings to support positive changes in policy and practice. Barbara holds a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Loughborough University, UK.

Deanne Donohue joined SRDC in 2021 as a Researcher. She brings over 20 years of experience in research, program management, and implementation. Most recently, she was a Program Evaluator at Vista Centre Brain Injury Services, where she worked with stakeholders to develop a number of logic models and evaluation designs as well as undertaking a range of data collection efforts including through surveys and interviews. Prior to this, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. Deanne hold a Graduate Diploma in Program Evaluation, Master of Arts in Human Kinetics and Bachelor of Education, all from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Kinesiology from University of Alberta.

“SRDC offers the chance to do quality, interesting, and challenging research in a fun atmosphere.”

At SRDC, Michael Dowie has performed a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative research activities. He was a key member of the learn$ave project, a large-scale national demonstration project of matched savings accounts to encourage learning activities and micro-enterprise development among low-income people. Since 2008, Michael has contributed to the design and implementation of a variety of projects related to labour market information. Michael holds a graduate degree in Public Administration from Carleton University.

Michael Dubois was the Assistant Director of the Education Policy Research Initiative (EPRI) at the University of Ottawa until he moved to SRDC in 2021. He brings considerable experience in complex administrative longitudinal data, experimental and analysis design, and predictive modelling. His graduate work focused on the state of post-secondary education in federal penitentiaries and its treatment effect on student offenders’ correctional outcomes.

Outside of academia, Michael has also conducted quantitative and qualitative research and policy analyses in both research institutes and advocacy groups, as well as in federal government. His research interests are policy design, economics of education, and correctional education. He holds a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Université de Montréal.

Marthe Foka joined SRDC in 2021. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Program Evaluation and Educational Policies at University of Ottawa and holds an MA in Information and Organisation Management from University of Douala and a BA in Administrative Techniques from the University of Douala. Marthe specializes in educational administration, and her doctoral research examines the influence of social capital on access to school leadership in francophone minority communities.

Marthe has a wide range of research experiences and skills, particularly qualitative research. She has worked on a variety of research projects, including assisting in the design of an educational leadership training project. Marthe has also contributed to community-based projects and networks on issues relating to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, immigration, and visible minority groups in French minority communities. Her research interests include equity, social capital, social networks, and social integration.

Naomi Fraser joined SRDC in 2021 as a Senior Research Associate with a background in public policy research, program evaluation, and human-centred design and service transformation. Over her career, she has worked in the provincial and federal government and public university settings, with a focus on skills development and training, innovative service design and delivery, education, student financial assistance, and child and youth development.

Naomi holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Cultural Studies from York University and has cultivated a lifelong interest in exploring the intersection of politics, technology, and social change.

Chloe Halpenny joined SRDC in 2019. With particular strengths in qualitative methods, she brings research experience and expertise in income security, social assistance programming, and gender-based analysis more broadly.

Most recently, she spent the past year completing her thesis comprising a feminist analysis of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, based on original interviews with pilot participants. Chloe holds a Master’s in Multi-disciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge, a Master’s in Social Policy & Development from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor’s in Public Affairs & Policy Management from Carleton University.

Naheed Hosan joined SRDC in 2022 as a Toronto-based Research Associate. Her background is in Developmental Science, with expertise in social-emotional development and school-based programming. Naheed is interested in understanding how context- and system-level factors interact with individual characteristics to contribute to development, particularly for persons from equity-deserving groups. Her previous experience conducting applied research using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches includes her dissertation, which examined gender differences in early adolescents’ mental health symptoms following the transition to middle school. Prior to joining SRDC, Naheed was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, where she was part of a research team examining the implementation and outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions in Edmonton-area schools. She holds a PhD and MSc in Psychology from the University of Alberta and a BA (Psychology/ Études françaises) and BEd (Primary-Junior) from York University.

Lily joined SRDC in 2021. She brings experience in social psychological and community-based participatory action research. She previously completed projects related to intercultural relations, newcomer settlement, gender equity, community resilience, and disability rights for academic and non-profit organizations in Canada and Mexico. She holds a Master of Human Rights from the University of Manitoba, where her thesis research focused on multicultural rights and youth integration. Lily’s research skills include proposal development, study design, research instrument development, program evaluation, and data analysis for mixed-methods, quantitative, and qualitative studies.

Paul Lalonde started his career with SRDC in 2008, working as a quantitative data analyst on to the Readiness to Learn in Minority Francophone Communities Pilot Project. Since then, Paul has proven to be an integral part of SRDC’s research team, contributing to over 50 SRDC projects of various sizes, scope, and policy areas as a skilled evaluator, data analyst, and author.

Much of Paul’s work has focused on improving access to services and the effectiveness of programs that contribute to the vitality of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC), facilitate the economic and social integration of newcomers to Canada, increase the essential skills of workers in various sectors of the Canadian economy, and reduce the incidence of individuals experiencing poverty in Canada.

Paul holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration, with a specialization in Policy Analysis from Carleton University, in addition to an undergraduate degree in mathematics and second undergraduate degree in International Studies and Modern Languages, both from the University of Ottawa.

Wendy joined SRDC in 2018. Her experiences span laboratory research, applied research within the community and knowledge mobilization in the mental health sector. Her previous research includes conducting experiments on early cognitive and socioemotional processes in young children, examining self-control, resilience, and school outcomes in a family homeless shelter, and analyzing the long-term educational outcomes of a preschool intervention for at-risk children.

Prior to joining SRDC, Wendy completed post-doctoral research on future thinking and taught undergraduate courses at the University of Ottawa. She also worked as a knowledge broker supporting the uptake and use of research, evidence-based practices, and evidence-based tools in mental health and addictions, focusing on implementation, evaluation, knowledge mobilization, and youth and family engagement.

Wendy holds a Ph.D. in child psychology with a minor in prevention science from the University of Minnesota and a BSc in psychology research, cognitive science, and linguistics from the University of Toronto.

Kim Lehrer joined SRDC in 2019. She is an economist with research interests in labour economics and the economics of education. Prior to joining SRDC, Kim was an associate professor of economics at the Université de Sherbrooke with a research focus on education and labour issues in Sub-Saharan Africa.

She has extensive experience in impact evaluation, data collection, data management, questionnaire design, quantitative analysis, and research dissemination. She is excited to be using this knowledge and experience to explore Canadian issues. Kim holds a Ph.D. and a Masters in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a BA, Economics, from Carleton University.

David Librado joined SRDC in 2021 as a Research Associate. He brings a decade of experience in research, monitoring, and evaluation with a background in international development. David has worked closely with NGOs, research institutions, government, and UN agencies, including UNDESA, UNDP, and UNICEF.

A key focus of David’s research work has been in working with disadvantaged and marginalized groups, carrying out studies on youth inclusion and development, education, and violence and homicide prevention. David has an MSc in Anthropology and Development Management from the London School of Economics, UK, and a BA in International Development from the University of Toronto.

Courtney joined SRDC in 2020 as a Researcher. Having worked in health research for nearly ten years, she has had the opportunity to work in a number of different areas, including a lot of work in mental health research, as well as research relating to cognition and memory. Courtney holds a Masters in Anthropology from Carleton University with a specific research focus on cultural and medical anthropology.

Xiaoyang Luo joined SRDC in 2019. She brings significant experience working with newcomers to BC and conducting and facilitating research to support their integration. Her research experience in the settlement sector supported service providers to develop and propose responsive and client-centred programs for immigrants and refugees in Metro Vancouver. She also delivered training to settlement staff to increase their research capacity and understanding of the impacts of immigration policies on their clients and their services.

Outside of the settlement sector, Xiaoyang has research experience in the K-12 and higher education sectors. Her research interests include immigration and integration, supportive family policies, and intersectionality. She is passionate about improving the economic and social outcomes of individuals and communities experiencing marginalization.

Xiaoyang holds a Master of Public Policy from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from McGill University.

Luxmhina Luxmykanthan joined SRDC in 2023 as a Researcher. Luxmhina is a professional analyst and researcher with a strong educational foundation in public service, analytics, and psychology. She applies her prior experience in policy development, research, and project management to create a meaningful impact, with a focus on supports for marginalized communities.

Luxmhina earned a Master of Public Service and a Graduate Diploma in Computational Analytics from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours) from York University. She is the founder of a non-profit organization, UNLEASH Medicine, dedicated to providing educational supports to low-income students pursuing careers in medicine.

Jessica McQuiggan joined SRDC in 2021 as a Research Associate in the Vancouver office. In addition to a strong research background, Jessica has experience with evaluation, knowledge translation, and science policy. She is passionate about science communication and loves to explore creative ways of disseminating and implementing research findings. Jessica also has extensive volunteer and committee experience; she enjoys pursuing upstream, permanent solutions and tends to take a systems-level approach to her work.

Jessica has a PhD in cognitive psychology from the University of Toronto. Her research focused on how healthy adult brains process various types of speech, and the implications for broader theories of learning and memory.

Prior to joining SRDC in 2021, Masashi Miyairi worked at the Education Policy Research Initiative at the University of Ottawa, where he carried out quantitative analyses for multiple research projects investigating the academic and early career post-graduation labour market outcomes of post-secondary students for PSE institutions, federal and provincial departments and agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.

Masashi is well versed in theories and practices in economics and econometrics, statistical and scientific computing. He earned a Ph.D. in economics at the University of Western Ontario, where he carried out empirical studies of the dynamic occupational mobility pattern of young workers and the economic assimilation of immigrants in Canada.

Geneviève Mák is a principal research associate at SRDC and has 14 years of experience in research, evaluation, and research project management. She joined SRDC in 2007 and holds a graduate degree in Economics.

In 2009, she started her doctoral program in Public Health at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, where she continued to evaluate several public health programs, mainly in West Africa. Her recent projects involve health promotion projects aiming to enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations.

Geneviève joined again SRDC in 2013. She has expertise in mixed methods research, program evaluation, and economic analysis.

Cam Nguyen joined SRDC in 2015. She brings to the team a well-rounded perspective in policy research, having used a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze public policies and social programs. Her areas of interest and expertise include labour market research, student financial aid and employment assistance program evaluation, experimental and non-experimental methods of analysis, public finance, as well as applied survey and statistical methodologies.

Prior to joining SRDC, Cam worked as a Public Policy and Entrepreneurship Intern with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She also accumulated ample experience in data management, having contributed to the work of an employment assistance centre in Massachusetts and a development consulting firm in Vermont.

Cam holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Carleton University, a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Political Economy and Psychology from Williams College, US.

Jillian joined SRDC in 2021 as a Regina-based Researcher. She brings experience in research and program evaluation including community-based and mixed methods designs as well as feasibility studies focused on employment and equity issues, working with newcomer and elderly community members. Most recently, Jillian was a Research Coordinator at the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Nursing engaged in health equity and Indigenous-engaged health research. Jillian holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Alberta, where her research focused on racialization, multiculturalism, and mixed race identity, drawing on qualitative approaches.

Anne-Marie Parent earned a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts (with distinction), Major in Psychology, Minor in Education and Behavioural Science, both from McGill University. In 2020, she completed a RADIUS Fellowship (Social Innovation) at Simon Fraser University. Previously, she worked as a Program Manager of the Restorative Justice in Education Initiative at the North Shore Restorative Justice Society, where she conducted and managed various aspects of program delivery including program needs assessment, course design, program development and evaluation, grant applications and stakeholder relations. She is currently a part-time professor at Algonquin College for the Diploma in Community & Justice Services. She is fluently bilingual (English and French) and based in Ottawa.

Sol joined SRDC in 2020. She is a recent Master’s graduate in the Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry from McGill University. Her thesis examined how migration influenced child supervision norms and practices for South Korean immigrant caregivers and youths living in the Greater Toronto Area based on interviews with participants.

Sol has a wide range of research experiences and skills, particularly qualitative research. She has worked on a variety of research projects, including assisting in an evaluation of the Families First Home Visiting Program, a parenting program to prevent physical and emotional abuse of children in Indonesia. Sol also acted as a Child Neglect Special Issue Coordinator for the Child Indicators Research Journal, as well as held an Executive Member position at McGill’s Peer Support Centre for two years. Her research interests include children’s rights and protection, wellbeing of immigrant families, and mental health.

Jacey joined SRDC in 2015 as a Calgary-based research associate. Working in the research and evaluation sector for nearly ten years, she has provided consulting services in areas including health, human services, education, and employment.

Jacey has extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and report writing, with much of her work culminating in the development of recommendations to inform policy and planning for government, non-profit, and other clients. Jacey holds a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Alberta, where her thesis research related to the experiences of the homeless working poor in Calgary.

Chloé joined SRDC in 2020. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Geography and Political Economy at Carleton University, and holds an MA in Geography from Memorial University and a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Ottawa. Chloé specializes in feminist economic geography, and her doctoral research examines the linkages between local economic development in food systems and the production of social good.

She has extensive experience with qualitative research methods, including interview research, textual and visual discourse analysis, participatory and community-engaged research methods, and participant observation. Chloé has also contributed to national research projects and networks on issues relating to food security and sovereignty, local food movements, food policy, and the social economies of food. In addition to food studies, her research interests include alternative economies, social enterprises, workplace diversity and inclusion, and regional and local economic development.

Ashley Pullman joined SRDC in 2021 and is working as a Senior Research Associate in the Vancouver office. She has over ten years of experience working on policy-relevant research and evaluation projects in topics related to education, training, and skill.

Prior to joining SRDC, she was a Senior Research Associate at the Education Policy Research Initiative at the University of Ottawa; and a Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellow with the Government of British Columbia, where she led an extensive multi-stakeholder evaluation of a province-wide integrated health and social service initiative for youth.

She specializes in quantitative research and evaluation using survey and population-level administrative data to conduct quasi-experimental, longitudinal, and latent modelling. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a sub-specialization in Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology from the University of British Columbia.

Hua Que joined SRDC in 2021. Hua obtained her Ph.D. in Education and her M.Ed. in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her research focuses on refugee children and young adults in Canada. She has experience working on multiple SSHRC/Mitacs-funded research projects that focused on refugee children and youth’s educational experiences, mental health and wellbeing, career development, and social integration into communities. Her SSHRC-funded doctoral dissertation investigated refugee youth’s aspirations for and access to post-secondary education.

Jennifer Rae joined SRDC in 2019 as a Research Associate. Her educational background is in the field of Community Psychology. Her areas of interest include community mental health, addiction, and homelessness. She has experience conducting applied research and evaluation using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Jennifer holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Her thesis research focused on access to education for youth from low-income family backgrounds.

Julie Rodier joined SRDC’s Ottawa office in 2011. She has over 10 years of experience on small- and large-scale research projects and program evaluations. Much of Julie’s work focuses on ensuring the long-term vitality of French-language minority communities, improving employment for newcomers to Canada, and seeking to improve access to postsecondary education.

She is francophone and has worked on English, French, and bilingual projects. Julie holds a Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation and is a Credentialed Evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society. She also holds a Master’s in Recreation and Leisure Studies.

Shayne Sanscartier joined SRDC in 2023. Shayne has ten years of research experience in experimental psychology spanning multiple topics and methods. This includes experimental research on visual attention in romantic attachments, correlational models of community connection and LGBTQ2S+ wellbeing, historical analyses of the peace research movement, and linguistic analyses of psychology journals’ research priorities. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy, a Master of Arts and an Honours Bachelor of Science in experimental social psychology, all obtained at the University of Toronto.

Lindsay Thackeray joined SRDC in 2022. She has an interdisciplinary background with over five years of experience in social science research. Her research experiences and interests include the areas of disability, employment, Indigenous, and environmental issues. Her work at SRDC has focused largely on labour market integration of persons with disabilities, employment supports and services, and youth development and inclusion. She holds a Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies and a Bachelor of Environmental Sciences/Studies, both from Trent University. Her CIHR-funded MA research focused on the association between public policy and Inuit food insecurity in Nunavik. She also has experience as a research assistant working on projects related to Indigenous environmental health, focusing on Inuit communities in the North. Additionally, she has a background in post-secondary education and has provided teaching support to a variety of courses at Trent University over the years.

Jasmine joined SRDC in 2022 as a Winnipeg-based Senior Research Associate. Jasmine brings experience directing complex quantitative and qualitative projects in the areas of immigration and employment, COVID-19’s impact on Indigenous, newcomer and racialized communities, and regulatory policy. In their previous role as a Senior Research Analyst with the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba, Jasmine managed stakeholder consultations and survey research that informed legislative development and public education campaigns.

Their work in government also provided a unique understanding of public sector unions, governmental relations, crown corporations, and strategic communications. Jasmine completed their PhD in Sociology from the University of Alberta with a focus on the labour market experiences of newcomer professionals and how newcomers and settlement services worked together to navigate the persistent barriers to meaningful employment.

Patrick Wray joined SRDC in 2019 as a Senior Research Associate. Patrick has over twelve years of experience working in social science research and evaluation in both the public and private sectors. His past experience includes working in the fields of international development (focusing on agriculture and disaster assistance), agriculture in Canada (business risk management, environment, basic and applied research), and public and primary health (such as Indigenous health, family violence, and food safety). He has conducted research in diverse settings including conducting survey research in the private sector, field research in Malawi and India, and most recently has been working for the last nine years in the federal government conducting evaluations and providing advice on performance measurement.

Patrick has a Master’s degree in International Development from Carleton University, a Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Victoria.

Catherine Yeh joined SRDC in 2023. Catherine is passionate about using data to understand and develop solutions to solve social inequality. She has experience applying quantitative and qualitative methods to examine a diverse range of social issues. This has involved analyzing a field experiment on subsidized childcare in the US, conducting qualitative interviews on immigration and parenting, and using interviews, focus groups, statistical, and computational methods to examine gender inequality in academic professions. She has taught courses, workshops, and tutorials to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Toronto, where she achieved her PhD in Sociology. She earned a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Toronto and Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from Colgate University.

Toyin Adewunmi joined SRDC in 2022. She brings to her Senior Accounting role over a decade of experience in the areas of Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, and Budget Management. Her prior work involved liaising and preparing year-end packages and financial information to various stakeholders, cutting across Investment Banking, Real Estate, and Tele-communication industries. Striving for excellence and motivated by change, Toyin is result-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. When she is not working, she enjoys singing, cooking, and dancing.

Toyin earned a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and a Master’s degree (Honours) in Oil and Gas Accounting from Glasgow Caledonian University, UK.

Ms. Chepita is a bilingual communications and public relations professional with 15 years of experience and a focus on strategic internal corporate communications and external corporate branding initiatives. Most recently, she was a Strategic Communications Manager for McMaster University, providing communications support to management teams around process and change management. She has also worked with the Hamilton Literacy Council, providing active governance and strategic support, leading much of their communications strategy and managing their social media presence. Ms. Chepita has also provided communications support to the Hamilton Covid-19 Response Table at St. Joseph’s Healthcare. She previously worked as a freelance editor and transcriptionist.

Ms. Chepita earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Guelph and a Public Relations Ontario Graduate Certificate from Humber College. She studied Political Science and French Studies for one year in France and she obtained various professional certificates (e.g., web publishing, media and crisis communications, business television).

Ms. Daramlly is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over 20 years of experience driving companies’ growth through creative and innovative online marketing strategies. She has applied her skills in a range of private, non-profit, and public settings. This included more than a decade with Microsoft Corporation managing marketing and communications efforts within the Canadian marketplace and with Microsoft’s partner program providing support to non-profit organizations. She was also a communications and marketing advisor for three years for the BC Public Service, contributing to the digital transformation within the social services sector. Ms. Daramlly is trilingual (speaking English, French, and Arabic) and based in Vancouver.

Ms. Daramlly earned an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School, Master of Digital Marketing, MBA and Bachelor of Business from the American University of Cairo and Certifications in Data & Marketing Analysis and Agile Leadership.

Haley du Fresne joined SRDC in 2018. From her prior work experience in New Zealand, Haley brought with her an understanding of working in both non-profit and private sectors, in a variety of industries including healthcare, finance, and IT. She provides support to both research and corporate projects, applying her highly-valued expertise in database management and administration and her capacity to transform information into easily consumed formats by diverse demographics of all levels. She earned a Diploma in Digital Media from the Media Design School in New Zealand.

Arij Habbab joined SRDC in 2020. Arij combines her prior experience in finance and human resources (HR) to provide administrative support and structure to SRDC’s corporate systems and internal processes. She assists with various HR functions including benefits administration, payroll processing, recruitment, and security screening. Before joining the organization, she worked for several years at Canada Post. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland, an Advanced diploma in Aquaculture from Fisheries and Marine Institute, and a Diploma in Natural Sciences from John Abbott College (CEGEGP). She is trilingual (English, French, and Arabic).

Daniel Lanteigne joined SRDC in 2021 as Information Technology (IT) Manager. Daniel is an IT professional with 15+ years of experience working in the non-profit high-tech sector. He is responsible for the organization’s corporate IT network environment and manages IT service providers, ensuring the effective operation and security of SRDC’s systems, resources, and information, which span across multiple offices and remote work locations. Previously, Daniel supported IT environments at Cuso International and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Emilie Lapointe joined SRDC in 2018, and is responsible for all SRDC financial operations including accounting, budgeting, internal reporting, and financial analysis. She also liaises regularly with auditors, bankers, and statutory authorities. Emilie has over nine years of accounting experience, particularly in the heavy equipment industry. She obtained a BSc from the University of Ottawa before deciding to continue her studies in accounting and finance. In addition, Emilie has a particular interest in information systems.

Zainab joined SRDC in 2023 as the Ottawa Office Manager. She is a management professional with almost 30 years work experience in government, private, and non-profit sectors. Zainab has industry experience in healthcare, IT, corporate real estate, property management, and construction, with focused attention on process streamlining and problem solving. She earned a BFA in Art History with minor in Commerce from Concordia University. Zainab is trilingual (English, French, and Urdu).

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
– Confucius

Stéphanie Navarro started her career with SRDC in 2001 and is currently the Executive Assistant to SRDC President and CEO. In addition to providing various administrative duties to the CEO’s office and SRDC researchers in general, Stéphanie is SRDC’s webmaster, assists in the preparation of contracts, liaises with translation firms, and reviews English and French proposals and deliverables, and all publications prior to posting on the website. Prior to joining SRDC, Stéphanie worked for nine years at the National Capital Commission in the Parks Service and Field Management Branch. Throughout her nine years with the branch, she worked as a Receptionist, Staffing Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Technical Writer, and Assistant to the Director of Gatineau Park. She left the public service in 2001 and joined SRDC as an Executive Assistant. Stéphanie held the position of SRDC Communications Coordinator from 2003 to 2006. She has been Executive Assistant to the CEO since 2006. Stéphanie is fluently bilingual in French and English.

John Sergeant joined SRDC in 2021 after seven years at the Education Policy Research Initiative at the University of Ottawa. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Political Science from the University of Waterloo, and has significant experience in research administration and information management.

“SRDC is a great place to pursue my dedication to promoting better outcomes for all Canadians through policies and programs that are high quality and proven effective.”

Sheila has over 25 years of experience in survey and policy research, and program operations. She first joined SRDC in 1992, working for many years as part of the team developing, implementing, and evaluating some of SRDC’s largest demonstration projects in the areas of income security and education. During a tenure as Director of Project Operations in 2003-06, she was responsible for the operations and implementation research components of SRDC projects. As Principal Research Associate she continued to work mainly in the areas of labour market participation and post-secondary education access. In 2010, she accepted an opportunity as Deputy Director of Program Delivery at the Canada Student Loans Program where she led an initiative to streamline and modernize the system. Following that, she worked on Essential Skills projects with various stakeholders before returning to SRDC in September 2013.

Sheila began her career at Statistics Canada in 1985, working in the Special Surveys Division and Census Operations until moving to Vancouver in 1988 where she was a Research Director with Angus Reid Group. She holds an MA (Geographic Information Systems) from the University of Ottawa and BA (Honours, Geography) from Queen’s University at Kingston.

“I love the work we do at SRDC. It is gratifying to know that our results and the lessons learned from our work are used in developing policies, programs, and practices to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities.”

Susanna Lui Gurr joined SRDC in 1992, initially specializing in developing, implementing, and evaluating large-scale social experiments. As SRDC expanded its work to include program evaluations, Susanna has focused more on program evaluations, especially with health promotion and population health initiatives. Susanna has directed or played leadership roles on many SRDC projects. She is also involved in writing proposals and developing research designs for innovative projects. Before joining SRDC, Susanna held senior research positions with the Province of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Throughout her career, Susanna has worked on social and health issues in areas such as income security, employment, early childhood development, poverty, higher education, school reform, health promotion and population health, disabilities and immigration and other issues of concern to vulnerable groups and communities. In addition, she has authored and coauthored numerous publications.

Susanna holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of British Columbia.

“SRDC provides a unique opportunity for researchers to conduct sound, rigorous research outside of a university setting. The organization is learning oriented, striving for excellence and innovation in the rapidly evolving environment of research.”

Dr. Louise Legault has been conducting applied social research with SRDC since 2006, where she has been responsible for both the research and operational elements of the design, implementation, and evaluation of small- and large-scale pilot projects. Louise has lead or collaborated in numerous policy-relevant evaluation and research projects in the areas of education (from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary), Francophone linguistic minorities, resilience, youth crime prevention, immigration, and other issues of concern to vulnerable groups and communities. She is skilled in experimental and quasi-experimental research methodologies as well as quantitative statistical methods of analysis. Over the course of her career, she has designed numerous measurement tools and designed various data collection methodologies for projects at SRDC and in her work prior to SRDC, where she was involved in evaluation and research projects. Louise has a total of 20 years of experience related to evaluation, research, and consultation services.

Dr. Louise Legault left her permanent position with SRDC in September 2015, but continues to collaborate with SRDC on various projects.

Louise holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Ottawa. She is a member of the Canadian Evaluation Society, the Canadian Psychology Association, and the Canadian Positive Psychology Association. Louise holds a Canadian Evaluation Society Credentialed Evaluator designation.

Danielle Patry joined SRDC in 2010 as a Research Associate, and was promoted Senior Research Associate in 2014. She left SRDC in 2015, but has continued to collaborate with SRDC on various projects since then.

Danielle holds a PhD in experimental psychology from the University of Ottawa. She has 18 years of experience in research and evaluation in various fields. Throughout her career, her work has mainly focused on Francophone linguistic minorities, student motivation and engagement, the pursuit of post-secondary studies, prevention of youth crime, and resilience.

Danielle is qualified in experimental and quasi-experimental research methodologies as well as in qualitative and quantitative statistical analysis methods. In addition to her research activities, Danielle has facilitated numerous statistical laboratories and taught social psychology at the university level. She is fluently bilingual in French and English.

“What attracted me to SRDC was its dual focus on methodological rigour and on social policy that helps disadvantaged Canadians, and I continue to be impressed by my colleagues’ high standards and commitment to the work we do. SRDC – and the social policy community – is lucky to have such a dedicated and creative group of professionals, who also happen to be a lot of fun to work with.”

Heather is not quite sure how an undergraduate degree in English literature led to doing research on helping young people access post-secondary education, but is quite sure that a passion for learning, collaboration, and social justice have been key elements along the way. Prior to joining SRDC, she did research in women’s health at the Institute for Population Health and in mental health at the Centre for Research on Community Services, both at the University of Ottawa. She has worked in health and social policy for over 20 years, in program planning and development, evaluation, and research roles.

Heather holds a Master’s degree in Social and Community Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and is enthusiastic about linking health and social policy through research and collaboration with stakeholder communities. Heather has been a member of Canadian Evaluation Society for several years.

Ted first joined SRDC in 2012 and has worked on a number of projects involving the empirical and policy aspects of employment, education, and social programs. Before joining SRDC, Ted managed analytical programs related to household surveys and edited the monthly journal Perspectives on Labour and Income at Statistics Canada.

He has 35 years of experience in labour market analysis, workforce analysis, econometrics, and forecasting.

Ted holds an Honours BA from Carleton University, where he also completed graduate-level training in econometrics.