Our EPD course facilitators are leaders in their fields with years of experience in industry and training. Our strong partnerships with the Schulich Executive Education Centre at York University provide the opportunity to meet instructors from other areas of Canada. Collectively, their experience, research and consulting expertise represent the most current business practices, skills, and strategies available. All of this knowledge is yours to apply once you’ve completed your training and returned to your workplace.
Brenda and her husband Rick founded Fairwinds Training and Development in 1995, and since then she has worked with many private, public, and not-for-profit organizations. The business was sold in 2023, and Brenda continues to work as a senior consultant for the organization. A graduate of Acadia University, Brenda received her Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation through the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations in 2001 and her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation in 2016.
Brenda has served as a director for both the Human Resources Association of Nova Scotia (now CPHRNS) and the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. She is a Past Commodore of the Cheema Aquatic Club, a globally recognized sprint canoe and kayak racing club and home to eight Olympians. Brenda is currently the Paddle All Coordinator supporting Special Olympic athletes.
She believes in an interactive, learner-centred approach in her classroom and strives to create an atmosphere that is enjoyable as well as informative.
Brenda facilitates: Developing Managerial Effectiveness | Managing the HR of Leadership | Human Resource Fundamentals | Leadership Skills for the New Manager
Michael is an independent contractor delivering education in leadership and management. A retired Lieutenant-Colonel, he served thirty-one years with the Canadian Armed Forces. His numerous leadership and staff positions included Commanding Officer (CO) of 404 Maritime Patrol & Training Squadron, CO of the CF Academy of Leadership & Languages, and Senior Staff Officer Directorate of Flight Safety. His last posting was as the Deputy CO of the Maritime Warfare Centre. Suffering a back injury, he took a medical release in 2004.
Michael managed business plans, budgets, operations, personal and several large scale change initiatives. He conducted numerous personal evaluations, as well as coaching and counselling members on performance. He conducted summary trials, Boards of Inquiry and grievance hearings. He investigated harassment allegations. He served as a panel member of a court-martial. He facilitated many courses on managing change for the Air Force. He has seen the good, the bad and the mediocre.
A passion for continuous learning led him to return to university earning a Certificate in Adult Education and a Master of Education. He also qualified as a practitioner in the MBTI and Personality Dimensions (temperament model). Since 2004, he has worked with companies and organizations both profit and non-profit including government agencies across Canada improving leadership, management, communication skills and change efforts. His sessions are informative, interactive and make you think deeply.
Michael facilitates: Everyday Leadership | Executing Change and Overcoming Resistance | Facing Common Leadership Challenges | Improving Interpersonal Communication
Sandra Martyn is President of The Martyn Group, a private consulting and training company specializing in project management. Managing her own successful project management business for 30 years has provided her with a unique perspective on the challenges experienced in almost all industries, including projects in manufacturing, construction, government, food, health, automotive, financial, transportation, pharmaceutical and biotech, among others. She has a reputation for planning and executing projects and building strong, cohesive teams.
Sandra consistently receives the highest ratings from her clients for the value she provides in her courses. She adheres to the framework set out by The Project Management Institute, but her own business experience enables her to make difficult project management concepts seem easy as she delivers her training in clear and understandable terms. She helps course participants avoid common project management mistakes. Sandra loves what she does and that is evident with her enthusiasm and humor in sharing her knowledge. Her teaching aids and exercises are popular, and the group work sessions are critically important in applying concepts to real life projects.
Sandra’s courses include Project Management Fundamentals, PMP® Exam Preparation, Implementing a Project Management Office, Juggling Multiple Projects, and Microsoft Project Software. Sandra has authored and delivers a project management course specifically dedicated to healthcare and clinical service professionals, with a focus on the unique challenges in the health environment. Sandra also facilitated for the Certificate in Business Skills for Managers Course, at York University. In 2017 Sandra launched a popular program, the 8 day Certificate in Comprehensive Project Management course which has been instrumental in providing a 360 perspective of project management concepts, and processes, to assist those in advancing their skills and knowledge, but also used by many to increase their understanding of project management, preparing them to write their PMP Certification exam. She has delivered courses to clients across Canada, and numerous management and project team members from other countries. Since 2021 she has delivered foundational and advanced project management courses for over 1000 Newcomers, to enhance skills that will integrate with the Canadian job market, and provided training for Canadian Women In Construction (CAWIC). Sandra has also been a faculty member for the Asian Business and Management Program, at York University, providing Foundational and Advanced Project Management courses with a focus on supply chain projects.
For several years Sandra has been on the Executive Development faculties of the Schulich School of Business. In addition, she has provided training for the Health Learning and Leadership Faculty; and the Asian Business Management Program, all at York University. In addition, she is a part of the faculty at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax. She has also facilitated at the Edward's School of Business, University of Saskatchewan; PACE, at the University of Winnipeg, and Saint John College, at the University of New Brunswick. For several years, Sandra participated as a program advisory committee member for the Durham College Graduate Certificate in Project Management program, and serves as a steering committee member for the Newcomers BuildHer Future program for advancing newcomer women in construction. Sandra is an active member of The Project Management Institute and has obtained her Project Management Professional certification.
Sandra facilitates: The Project Management Course | Certificate in Comprehensive Project Management
Kevin McGowan, PMP, A-CSM, is an executive program and transformation leader with a passion for helping people and organizations move from ideas to impact. Throughout his career, he has led complex, high-profile initiatives across diverse sectors, building a reputation for bringing clarity to ambiguity, aligning stakeholders, and delivering results in challenging environments.
A recognized leader in the project management community, Kevin is a speaker, mentor, writer, and advocate for practical leadership. His work focuses on the intersection of strategy, execution, and human dynamics, helping professionals navigate conflict, foster collaboration, and have the courageous conversations necessary to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Through his teaching, Kevin combines real-world experience with actionable tools that participants can immediately apply in their work and leadership practice.
Dr. Nick McKenzie is an experienced, people-centred, leader who has managed high-performing teams across post-secondary education and healthcare industries. Nick has built and led teams through change management via a dynamic, inclusive, human-centred approach that highlights the central importance of people within the pillars of any business environment. He has led program and educational design projects, facilitated courses and workshops in a variety of areas, and managed cross-functional portfolios that intersect operational, academic, and corporate needs. With a doctorate in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Manitoba, Nick draws on aspects of academia in an applicable, interactive, manner within the courses and workshops he facilitates.
Nick Facilitates: Real Conversations Series: Inclusive & Authentic Leadership (October 2, 2026)
Diana Parks is the Director of Executive and Professional Development at Saint Mary’s University, with more than 20 years of experience in education, workforce development, and organizational leadership. She holds a Master of Education in Distance Education from Athabasca University and brings deep expertise in leading learning and transformation initiatives across higher education, healthcare, and community sectors.
Diana has extensive experience leading teams and initiatives in hybrid and complex environments, with a focus on aligning people, processes, and technology to support effective and adaptable ways of working. She brings a practical, people‑centered approach to leadership, supporting participants in building the skills needed to lead confidently in hybrid and distributed workplaces.
Diana is passionate about supporting leaders in navigating the realities of modern work, with a focus on clarity, connection, and sustainable team practices.
Diana facilitates: Hybrid Team and Digital Tool/Skills, Women in Leadership/Management Course
Eileen is President of Dynamic Learning Inc., a company which helps people increase their productivity and enhance their working environment.
Eileen has been writing all her life. Currently she writes, updates, edits, and proofreads all Dynamic Learning Inc. manuals and handouts. She writes a monthly newsletter on topics related to the brain at work. A second edition of her book Get More Power from Your Brain was published in 2019. Eileen has 30 years of experience teaching communication and interpersonal skills in the workplace, with a particular understanding of the brain at work.
She keeps up-to-date on how insights from neuroscience are being applied to leadership development through her connection with the NeuroLeadership Institute in New York. Their case studies and additional research inform her monthly newsletters to clients and participants in her courses. Since 1991, Eileen has been certified in and uses the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis 360 tool developed by the Management Research Group in Portland, Maine. She has coached many people at different levels of leadership and management.
Eileen has a BA (Psychology), B.Ed., Dalhousie University and a Master in Education degree from Mount Saint Vincent University. In July 2015, Eileen was delighted to be awarded her Certified Speaking Professional medal at the US National Speakers Association conference in Washington, DC, USA. Less than 12% of the 5,000+ speakers who belong to the Global Speakers Federation hold this professional designation
Eileen facilitates: Write to Convince: Effective Persuasion and Proposal | Writing Effective Policies and Procedures
Michael is Founder of Clear Resolutions, Conflict Management Services. He was a Senior Conflict Management Practitioner for the Atlantic Conflict Resolution Centre with the Department of National Defense in Halifax before retiring in 2019. Previous positions included Senior Mediator and Acting Director of the Office of Early Conflict Resolution, Veterans Affairs Canada.
Michael also holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Saskatchewan, is bilingual, and taught French as a second language as well as French Immersion for 7 years prior to his 25 years’ experience as a Certified Mediator and Senior Conflict Management Practitioner. He also holds a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Prince Edward Island, and a Certificate in Teaching Negotiation in the Corporation from the Project on Negotiation, Harvard University.
His responsibilities included providing services in mediation, facilitation, coaching, group processes and training. As a member of the Inter-governmental Shared Mediator Program, he provided services to several government departments including assessing and mentoring new mediators to the program.
During his career, Michael has had extensive training and experience dealing with groups in conflict and performing group interventions. His training included processes such as: Transformative Justice Australia Conferencing, Group Conflict Intervention, Transformative Teambuilding, Circle Processes and Peacemaking.
Michael has designed and presented hundreds of customized workshops for both private and public sector organizations. Such offerings included Communication, Change Management, Negotiation, Leadership, and Instructional and Facilitation Techniques for Classroom Instructors. Along with two Director’s Awards of Appreciation from the Summerside Tax Center for Enhancing Workplace Effectiveness, in 2008 Michael was awarded the highest Civilian Award for an employee, the Deputy Minister’s Commendation, for Significant Contribution to Employee Well-being and a Respectful Workplace at Veterans Affairs Canada.
To his workshops, Michael brings enthusiasm, passion, and a sense of humor to create an interactive and experiential learning environment.
Michael facilitates: Foundations of Conflict Resolution
Debi Peverill is an experienced speaker. She has been facilitating workshops since 1986. Debi is as well known for her sense of humour as for the depth of her financial knowledge.
Debi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in Accounting) from Dalhousie University and the Chartered Accountant designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. She spent ten years working as a CA with national accounting firms before founding her own firm in 1988. Peverill & Associates continues in operation providing all the services of a public accounting practice.
In 1998, Debi founded SBR Communications to separate the growing volume of training business from the accounting practice. SBR provides training, facilitation, and consulting. In 2008 Painless Financial Training Group Inc. was created and is the provider for the Certificate in Financial Management offered online with Saint Mary's. This corporation also publishes the books Debi has written and uses in her courses. Titles include Ten Tax Traps to Avoid, Painless Financial Literacy, Basic Board Governance, Budgeting Essentials and Starting a Successful Business, among others.
Debi’s training covers a wide range of topics on financial literacy. Debi also provides taxation and financial literacy seminars for numerous community groups and the general public.
Feedback from Debi’s workshop participants indicates she is able to explain financial topics in a humorous manner, which non-accountants can understand. Participants even say Debi can make accounting interesting!
Debi is also a competitive athlete who has completed Iron Distance Triathlons and a number of other marathons. She has represented Canada at the Foster Grant 70.3 Ironman World Championships.
Debi facilitates: Certificate in Financial Management
With nearly two decades of experience in corporate and agency recruitment, Jen has led the hiring of more than 5,200 professionals across industries, from entry-level talent to C-suite executives. Drawing on experience from both sides of the hiring table, she specializes in hiring strategy, interview design, leadership training, recruitment process optimization, and candidate evaluation. She helps organizations move beyond instinct and gut feel to build hiring systems that consistently identify exceptional talent while strengthening employer reputation and protecting the candidate experience.
Since founding The Warrington Group in 2020, Jen has grown the company into a trusted hiring advisory partner serving organizations across North America. She is the creator of Interview with Impact™, a leadership certification designed to help hiring managers and business leaders conduct more effective interviews and make stronger hiring decisions with confidence. When executive search or professional recruitment is required, The Warrington Group applies the same disciplined hiring methodology, ensuring recruitment is an extension of strategy rather than a standalone service.
In 2026, The Warrington Group was recognized with the Consumer Choice Award for Best Employment Agency in Halifax, while Jen was named one of Atlantic Business Magazine's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business. The company was also nominated by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce for both Small Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year.
Known for her direct, practical, and high-energy approach, Jen challenges conventional hiring practices and helps organizations transform hiring from a reactive necessity into a strategic business advantage. Rather than operating as an external vendor, she becomes a trusted extension of each organization's leadership team, bringing strategic insight, practical expertise, and the judgment leaders need to make confident hiring decisions.
Vanessa Burns, the Grant Strategist who is officially making grants a little more fun. As one of only six Grant Professional Certified (GPC) accredited pros in Canada, Vanessa is essentially the CPA of the grant world. Vanessa is the Founder of Vanessa Burns Grant Consulting based in Halifax, NS. Since 2021, Vanessa has worked with over 140 clients to help them apply for first time grants, become more confident in their grants programs, and win much needed funding. She has taken the stage both nationally and internationally to deliver interactive workshops.
Vanessa Burns Grant Consulting is a certified Queer owned business with the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) and was awarded the 2025 Atlantic Canada Certified Queer Supplier of the Year. As a GPC, ethics and accountability are key in her business. There is more to grants than writing and Vanessa doesn't approach grants in the traditional sense. She helps to architect the futures of small businesses and not for profits through a strategic process. She’s built a reputation for moving past the grind of paperwork and turning grant funding into a powerful change agent.
One day she is leading her signature Grants Without the Grind cohort, the next, she is helping strategize a grant program to help bring an organization’s vision to life. Vanessa’s mission is simple. To help you navigate grants using PURPOSE and not PANIC.
Vanessa is a sought-after speaker for her ability to capture the room through interactive activities, simple to understand content and a sense of humour. She brings a high-energy, uplifting presence to every stage, proving that with the right strategy, anyone can learn to love the grant process.
Vanessa Facilitates: Grant Readiness & Writing Course
Mohamed Kadry Ibrahim is a public policy practitioner, researcher, and educator with more than 20 years of experience in policy development, governance, social innovation, and community development across the Middle East and North America. He is currently a PhD Candidate at Dalhousie University, where his research examines the role of social entrepreneurship in strengthening health systems and advancing public value.
Mohamed holds a Master of Public Policy from the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo (AUC), a Graduate Diploma in NGO Management from Cairo University, and a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Cairo University. His academic and professional work bridges public policy, health systems, civic engagement, and social innovation.
Since beginning his career in 2002, Mohamed has worked extensively at the intersection of policy and practice. He contributed to youth employment and workforce development initiatives with the Egyptian Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of Manpower, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), including the development of Egypt’s National Action Plan for Youth Employment. These experiences laid the foundation for a career focused on evidence-informed policymaking, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive development.
Mohamed has held leadership and advisory roles with a range of national and international organizations, including Ashoka Arab World, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the British Council, and government institutions in Egypt and Canada. Through these roles, he has contributed to policy research, program design, rural development initiatives, social accountability mechanisms, youth engagement strategies, and innovation ecosystems.
In 2017, Mohamed co-founded the Public Policy Hub at AUC’s School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and served as its Executive Manager. Under his leadership, the Hub became a leading platform for policy capacity building, training hundreds of young researchers and practitioners in policy analysis, policy writing, and evidence-based decision-making. The Hub established partnerships with multiple Egyptian ministries and public institutions and produced more than fifty policy research papers addressing national development priorities, including education, health, employment, digital transformation, governance, and sustainable development.
Since relocating to Nova Scotia in 2021, Mohamed has expanded his public policy experience within the Canadian context. As part of his doctoral training, he completed a policy internship with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, where he contributed to strategic planning, performance measurement, partnership development, and health system transformation initiatives. His work has strengthened his understanding of public sector governance, policy implementation, and health policy in Canada.
Mohamed’s scholarship focuses on public policy, social innovation, health systems, and governance. His publications include research on public affairs education, employability and workforce development policies, governmental communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, and social media advocacy for gender equality and sustainable development in the Middle East. His work has been published in leading academic journals and international policy forums.
His contributions to public policy and social innovation have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Youssef Jameel Public Leadership Fellowship, the Synergos Foundation’s “Pioneers of Egypt” Social Entrepreneurship Award, the American Society for Public Administration Best Paper Award, and the NASPAA Alumni Spotlight Award.
As an educator, Mohamed combines academic scholarship with extensive public sector and policy leadership experience. He has taught undergraduate courses in public policy, including Introduction to Public Policy at Dalhousie University, where he guided students in understanding policy processes, governance systems, policy analysis, and evidence-informed decision-making. His teaching emphasizes the practical application of policy theory to real-world challenges, encouraging students to critically analyze public problems, evaluate policy alternatives, and develop solutions that advance inclusive and sustainable development.
Facilitated Courses: Developing Policy That Performs in the Age of AI