Holding the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, Masters in Engineering and an MBA EM (Executive Program, Management), Nikhil Kumar has extensive finance, business, investment, operational and managerial experience in a broad range of industries with a reputation of building long-term shareholder value at top-tier Canadian corporations by significantly impacting growth and profits. He is involved in various philanthropic initiatives focused on educating children with disabilities from developing countries. Nikhil believes in the quote “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. And he can teach others to fish.”
Karen Andrews is the Director of Research at Alberta Education. She is responsible for setting the direction and leading research that informs policy and practice. She supports collaborative research across Alberta, provides leadership on Canadian and international studies and proudly serves the education system on boards and committees.
Michael Chechile was appointed Director General of the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) in 2015. Previously, he has served as this board’s Pedagogical Consultant, Vice-Principal, Principal, Director of Educational Services and as Senior Director of Educational Services and Technology. Michael was responsible for the creation of the LBPSB Digital Citizenship Program, which inspired the development of Quebec Ministry of Education’s resources related to learning in the digital age. He was also responsible for bringing the first-ever Google Applications for Education Summit to Quebec.
Duane Brothers has taught at the early, middle, and high school levels before serving as a school Principal and a District Principal of Planning, Research, and Technology with the Coquitlam School District in B.C. He returned to Winnipeg in 2001 and has served as an Assistant Superintendent with the Seven Oaks School Division, Superintendent with the Sunrise School and is currently serving as the Superintendent of the Louis Riel School Division. As a facilitator and speaker, Duane has worked in B.C., Manitoba, the U.S. and Mexico in the areas of race-relations education, organizational improvement and leadership. He has also served on the Board of the National Faculty of the National Principals Leadership Institute (NPLI) in New York City, the executive of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS) and completed his doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Manitoba.
Rob Wood has significant executive-level experience leading large complex organizations in both the public and private sectors. He has held several deputy minister and assistant deputy minister roles in B.C., Nova Scotia and the State of Victoria in Australia. Rob’s experience crosses a range of portfolios including education, social services and justice. He brings a genuine passion to education as well as significant cross-government experience. He has received Canada’s highest award for organizational excellence, a Canada Award of Excellence from the National Quality Institute as well as a British Columbia’s Premier’s Award for Service Excellence.
Jamie Wilson is Deputy Minister of Manitoba Education and Training, which includes Immigration and Economic Opportunities. He is also Chair of the Public Schools Finance Board and CEO of the Healthy Child Manitoba Office. Originally from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Jamie is an educator, a former Ranger in the U.S. military’s Special Operations and a recent graduate from the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in California. Jamie is passionate about bridging the gap between First Nations and business communities to help create greater educational opportunities. In 2010, the Government of Canada appointed Jamie as Treaty Commissioner of the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. In 2012, he was a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for Community Service.
Le secrétaire général assure la gestion des dossiers administratifs de l’ADIGECS. Il exerce ses responsabilités dans les secteurs d’activités suivants :
Vie corporative :
Relations de travail :
Communications :
In July 2015, Susan Willis was appointed deputy minister of the Department of Education, Early Learning, and Culture. A seasoned leader in education, Susan had served for 39 years at Charlottetown Rural High School, as a teacher, a vice-principal, and since 1995, as principal.
During her career, Susan has contributed her extensive knowledge of the Island’s education system to many committees and initiatives of the School Board, Department of Education and PEI Teachers Federation. During the 1990s, Susan chaired a review of PEI’s high school education system, on behalf of the Department of Education. In 2007, Canada’s Learning Partnership recognized her as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals.
Susan earned her B.Sc in Biology from Acadia in 1975, a B.Ed from Queens in 1976 and a M.Ed from St. Mary’s University. She lives in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Bruce Rodrigues was appointed Deputy Minister of Education, effective October 17, 2016. Bruce has more than 30 years of experience in the education sector, and was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). He joined EQAO in 2013 and led the establishment of a new strategic plan for the organization. Before joining EQAO, Bruce held several senior leadership portfolios in Ontario’s publicly funded education system, including Director of Education for the Toronto Catholic District School Board and Associate Director of Education for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. He began his career in education as a math teacher. Bruce holds a Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and prior to that earned a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. Bruce and his wife live in Waterloo. He has a daughter and two sons, and enjoys running in his spare time.
Kate Tilleczek is the Canada Research Chair in Young Lives in Global/Local Contexts and the Director of the Young Lives Research Lab at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Dr. Kate Tilleczek has been teaching and studying the sociology of children and youth for two decades. She is currently a Professor of Education and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Young Lives in Global & Local Contexts. She is the founder and Scientific Director of Young Lives Research Laboratory in Canada.
Kate continues to examine how modern societies marginalize and treat their youth, while witnessing and speaking about young lives in global and local contexts.
Bernard Roy possède plus de trente-cinq ans d’expérience dans le domaine de l’éducation. Il a œuvré à titre d’enseignant, conseiller pédagogique, direction d’école, surintendant de l’éducation, surintendant exécutif et directeur de l’éducation et secrétaire-trésorier du plus grand réseau canadien d’écoles de langue française à l’extérieur du Québec. Le conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) est reconnu pour ses innovations ainsi que pour les meilleurs résultats aux tests de l’Office de la qualité et de la responsabilité en éducation de l’Ontario (OQRE).
Au cours de ces années il a développé d’excellentes compétences en administration scolaire. Il est un gestionnaire chevronné des domaines de la gestion des organisations performantes, de la gouvernance, de la planification stratégique et du démarchage et positionnement stratégique.
Sa gestion est inspirée par une approche axée sur la collaboration professionnelle et le leadership des personnes en vue d’atteindre les résultats visés.
La mission de M. Roy en tant qu’éducateur a été la quête de la réussite et du bien-être de chaque élève. Il croit qu’il faut transformer l’expérience d’apprentissage des élèves pour les engager et développer les compétences nécessaires pour vivre et travailler dans le monde à l’ère numérique.
Depuis sa retraite en 2015, il œuvre encore dans le domaine de l’éducation à titre de consultant.
Cynthia Richards is passionate about education and working with leaders, educators and parents to provide the best education for each student. She has been employed within the New Brunswick Public Library system for the past 24 years. As a volunteer she has been a member of Home and School Associations for the past 33 years, sitting in many different positions on both the Provincial and the Federal level.
Darren McKee is originally from O-Chi-Cha-Ko-Sipi First Nation in the Interlake region of Manitoba, but completed his formal schooling in Saskatchewan. Darren has a B.Ed. (with Distinction) and M.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan and has been a classroom teacher, in-school administrator, Superintendent and Director of Education.
Darren served for a number of years with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education as a Superintendent, Director, Executive Director and Assistant Deputy Minister. In 2011, he became the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. Darren has presented at a number of national and international conferences on leadership and Aboriginal education and currently sits on a number of national boards including C-21 Canada; Canadian Education Association (Council Member); and, the National Selection Committee with INAC. He also sits on the board of the United Way Regina.
Darren’s knowledge and experience makes him a highly sought-after coach, consultant and speaker. Specifically, Darren provides these services in the area of education, government, First Nations or Indigenous peoples relating to change, leadership, relations and strategic directions.
Darren has completed the following: Leadership Training and Development through the University of Saskatchewan; Crucial Conversations; Expedition Coaching (Certification in Progress); and, Kouses & Posner Leadership Practices Inventory.
A dynamic and highly motivated professional, Marie-France Kenny is recognized for her expertise in the fields of official languages, communications and human resources management, as well as public, media and government relations.
An experienced manager and certified translator, Marie-France owns two businesses: a centre of excellence in bilingualism and a consulting firm. She also has a deep understanding of the realities faced by minority official language communities across the country, having presided over several organizations, including the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne.
Her core values include respect and equity, the capacity for Francophone and Acadian communities to manage their own development, and the exercise of collective and individual leadership by French-speaking citizens across the country.
Professionnelle hautement dynamique et motivée, Marie-France Kenny est reconnue pour son expertise dans les domaines des langues officielles, des communications, des relations publiques, médiatiques et gouvernementales et de la gestion des ressources humaines.
Gestionnaire chevronnée et traductrice agréée, Marie-France est propriétaire de deux entreprises dont un centre d’excellence en bilinguisme et une firme de consultation. Elle possède également une connaissance approfondie de la réalité des communautés de langues officielles en situation minoritaire à l’échelle du pays, puisqu’elle a été présidente de plusieurs organismes, notamment de l’Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise et de la Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne.
Ses valeurs incluent le respect et l’équité, la prise en charge par les communautés francophones et acadiennes de leur propre développement et l’exercice par les citoyens de langue française partout au pays de leur leadership collectif et individuel.