Executive Leadership Program

Peter Ferreria has 20 plus years of education, sales and executive leadership experience spanning across diverse organizations including: Canadian & Global companies in IT, SaaS, Finance, Wholesale, Retail, eCommerce, Learning and Development industries for brands such as Synnex, CIT, Dell Technologies, Turning Technologies, AtmanCo., Halifax Sales Executive Consulting, and Luxury brands such as Cavalinho. Peter is a corporate facilitator for Continuing Education and Corporate Training at Georgian College where he delivers customized industry-driven, quality training that supports sectors including: healthcare, manufacturing, business, education and corporate organizations.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Leadership and a Business Management Diploma from Georgian College along with the following certificates: Effective Manager, American Management Association, Signature Selling, Welch & Pridmore and Leadership/Coaching and Team building.

Irena is a collaborative leader guiding community research, collective impact, data management, community development, social innovation, and knowledge mobilization. Bringing over 18 years of expertise leading social and community services research projects within municipal government, Irena is systems thinker and has worked alongside executive leadership teams to help make the complex more tangible when it comes to creating new types of innovation

Irena is the Director for the Child Youth and Family Services Coalition of Simcoe County, Irena guides the operational functions and strategic planning to support the Coalition’s mission of maximizing the capacity, effectiveness, and cultural uniqueness of the child, youth, and family services system through collective efforts.

As part of Georgian Irena is a part-time faculty and a Social Innovation Fellow as part of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Social Innovation Department. She is currently supporting the NSERC funded ‘Future of Belonging Project’ alongside the YMCA Simcoe-Muskoka as part of the vision to establish the Community Innovation Network and Community Innovation Council.

A life-longer learner, Irena has an Environmental Engineering Technology diploma, a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Research Analyst post-graduate diploma, a post-graduate certificate in Community Economic Development, and will be starting a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation this fall.

Dr. Dave Shorey is the Executive Director of Government Relations and Community Engagement at Georgian College, where he advances workforce development and economic growth through partnerships with community, government, and industry. He earned his Doctor of Education degree from Western University, where his research focused on building innovation systems and strategic capabilities that sustain and strengthen rural-serving campuses. His scholarly interests include regional development, community-connected education models, and cross-sector innovation, with a focus on how post-secondary education can support rural and mid-sized communities.

Dave’s current work centers on building and mobilizing strategic partnerships that strengthen relationships with community, government, and industry partners. He supports institution-wide advocacy, collaboration, and storytelling that connect education and training to labour market needs, workforce localization, and regional competitiveness. This is Dave’s fourth time facilitating in Georgian’s Executive Leadership Program.

Prior to his current role, Dave served as Executive Director of Georgian College’s Owen Sound Campus, where he led initiatives focused on regional development, cross-sector collaboration, workforce localization, and skills training. Before joining Georgian, he served as Innovation Officer for Bruce County’s Municipal Innovation Council (MIC), where he built a collaborative innovation ecosystem to support municipal modernization and service delivery. He also founded Capacity Lab Inc., a consultancy specializing in organizational development and innovation systems. Earlier in his career, Dave held leadership positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he co-created innovative programs to support student transition and success.

A scholar, practitioner and community changemaker, Dr. Claudine Cousins is the Chief Executive Officer of Empower Simcoe with over twenty-five years of leadership experience with various Ministries within the Ontario Public Service and the not-for-profit and profit sectors, including banking and financial services. As a sessional instructor at Georgian College since 2012, Dr. Cousins considers learning and development to be critical to organizational success. She has held leadership roles at Christian Horizons, including Executive Director Central District and Director, Ontario Operations where she left a legacy of valuing and engaging employees. Dr. Cousins brings outstanding knowledge and expertise from an operations and human resources leadership lens within unionized and non-unionized organizations with a drive and passion for the achievement of business outcomes.

As a strategic and big-picture thinker, Dr. Cousins’ extensive academic training, acquired through a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management – Human Resources from Ryerson University, a Masters of Arts Degree in Leadership from Central Michigan University, Post Graduate Certificate in Public Relations, a PhD. in Health Care Administration and a broad array of executive leadership certifications, has propelled her to continue to advocate for those who are marginalized and struggle to be included.

Claudine is also a member of Lakehead University’s Board of Governors, a Rotarian, champion for the Sandbox’s HR CNNX Peer Group, and volunteers on the Human Resource Professionals Association’s Regulatory Committee.  In her role of advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, Claudine participates on a number of committees, councils and task groups, and is a very sought after speaker and panelist.   Dr. Cousins was the recipient of the 2020 Woman of the Year Visionary Award at the Barrie Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards.  In 2022, she was the recipient of the RBC Women of Influence Social Change Award: Regional Impact.  In 2023, Dr. Cousins was also honoured to be named the recipient of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.

Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo is Full Professor and Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. Her areas of research include developmentally appropriate practice, self-regulation, stress and post-secondary students, critical disability studies, inclusive education, autism spectrum disorders, and cognitive-developmental systems theory. She is editor of the Journal of Applied Self-Regulation (https://jasr.lakeheadu.ca/) and Director of Research at the Applied Self-Regulation Knowledge Network (https://self-reg.ca/applied-self-reg-knowledge-research-network/). 

She holds multiple federally-funded research grants and has been engaged in provincial, national, and international research collaborations with UNESCO, the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral and Communication Difficulties,  the Universidad do Sul de Santa Catarina in Brazil, Universidad Casa Grande in Ecuador, Kwayaciwwin Education Resource Centre, Metis Nation of Ontario, the Kenora Catholic District School Board, Mishkeegogamang First Nation, and Kasabonika First Nation to name a few. Further information about Dr. Mastrangelo’s research and publications can be accessed here: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/users/M/smastran

Kunle Akingbola is a Professor of Human Resource Management & Organizational Behaviour in the Faculty of Business Administration at Lakehead University. He is a Certified Human Resources Leader(CHRL). Professor Akingbola’s intellectual interests focus on the complex interactions in the environment that influence strategic change and human resource management in nonprofit and healthcare organizations. His research also explores the organizational dynamics of social purpose enterprises.

He has published books, book chapters and articles in leading international journals such as Nonprofit Management & Leadership, International Journal of Human Resource Management, and Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations.

Prior to his academic career, Professor Akingbola served in management roles and as a consultant in the nonprofit and healthcare sectors. In addition to his research and teaching, Professor Akingbola is actively involved in professional and community activities. He was previously an Associate Editor of the journal Nonprofit Management & Leadership. Professor Akingbola is also on the board of directors of Association for Nonprofit & Social Economy Research (ANSER) and two community organizations. He established and facilitated the HR Nonprofit Network.

Jacquelyn Morton is the Founder and Advisor at Striv3 Group. She partners with leaders across many industries including financial services, healthcare, and engineering to build practical AI and people strategies for the modern workplace.
Her speaking engagements span across HR leadership audiences, women in technology communities, and major industry stages such as the annual Collision Conference.

With 15 years in global organizations, she brings deep experience from HR leadership at a global bank and three years as Chief of Staff in Data & AI. Her education in Psychology, Human Resources, and Generative AI in business allows her to cut through hype and focus on what AI really changes: leadership, work, and decision-making.

Jacquelyn is a mom of three, loves to cook, and is the Co-Chair of her children’s school council.

Her mission is simple, empower leaders and businesses to see the full value of their people and technology.