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Advisory Board

2025-2026

Mike Anderson (He/Him)

B.A., B.Ed.
Mike is an Elementary Principal at Mitchell Woods PS with the Upper Grand District School Board. Over his 25 year career, he has been an Elementary Teacher, Curriculum Leader, Math Coach, Key Note Speaker, and Vice-Principal. In 2020, he started the UGDSB’s Elementary Remote Program with over 4500 students and 275 staff. Mike is a member of the Guelph-Wellington Community Resilience Initiative and sits on the Board for the Guelph Children’s Wish Foundation. He is also a coach with the Centre Wellington Celtics Basketball Club.

Brad Bird

M.Ed.
Brad is a seasoned educator of three decades with extensive experience leading in international schools including his current role as Principal at St. Joseph’s Institution International in Singapore and other leadership roles at the Australian International School, Singapore, International and Whitefriars College in Australia. He has an M.Ed. focused on Performance Management and brings a strong focus on the integration of academic performance and well-being by leveraging a culture of care, diversity and inclusion, and innovation. His portfolio includes E-Learning, Literacy, Coaching, Secondary Education, and Classroom Management. Brad believes social connection is at the heart of student success and leads with the belief that "Together, we are better."

Melissa Brown (She/Her)

B.A., M.A.
Melissa is the Director of Professional Learning and Intercultural Programs at The Global Education Benchmark Group where she leads their global dialogues program. She has 30+ years of experience in public and independent schools as a leader in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Well-Being and is National Board Certified language teacher. Melissa is passionate about translating philosophy into practice using a competency-based approach to academic excellence, social-emotional growth, and intercultural proficiency. She has been a long-time Board Member of the GEBG, and is currently for the International Coalition of Girls Schools (ICGS). Melissa is the co-author of NAFSA’s manual on health and safety for secondary study abroad programs, and is a frequent presenter at professional conferences on topics related to experiential program design, faculty leadership, whole-school approaches to strategic change, and intercultural competence development for students and faculty.

Zahara Chowdhury (She/Her)

BA., PGCE
Zahara is founder and editor of the blog and podcast, School Should Be, a platform that explores a range of topics helping students, teachers and parents on how to ‘adult well’, together. Zahara was a Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing, leading on EDI across school for staff, students and the wider community. She has supported other schools with EDI workshops and consultancy and has written widely about diversity and wellbeing in education. featuring in Schools Week, SecEd, DiverseEd, the TES and Middle East Eye. She is also a Trustee for the charity, Solutions Not Sides and Lead Champion for The Global Equality Collective, the world's first DEIJ app for education. Zahara is a previous Head of English, Associate Senior Leader and Education and Wellbeing Consultant. She is now working in Higher Education as an EDI Business Partner.

Norah Marsh (She/Her)

B.Ed., M.Ed.
Norah has spent almost twenty years as a Director and Superintendent in public education and is a highly respected leader with a proven track record of creative change management, strategic planning, organizational cultural restoration, and student success. She was the CEO of a provincial crown agency where she launched the organization’s first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. From there, she went on to be the Director of Education/CEO for Durham District School Board (DDSB), one of the largest school districts in Ontario. Her mandate was to address a toxic culture and, at the end of her term, Forbes Canada awarded the Board as one of the top ten employers in Canada while student achievement surpassed the province. Norah was elected to chair the Ontario Institute of Educational Leadership and as President of the Ontario Public Supervisory Officials Association. She has also completed the Human Rights Certification program at York University in support of her continued commitment to Indigenous and human rights. Nationally and internationally, Norah has consulted and presented on a variety of topics including equitable education, student well-being, change management, ethical and compassionate leadership, governance, and sound assessment practices. Norah lives in Ottawa with her husband David and tries to keep tabs on their three children who are now in their twenties. She continues to volunteer for children and youth non-profit organizations.

Vinita Mongia (She/Her)

B.Sc., M.Ed.
Vinita has a B.Sc and a Masters of Education and is currently a school administrator. In her 26 year career in Pubic Education, she has been a classroom, resource and special education elementary teacher with a high focus on early literacy. Vinita's focus goes beyond her role as a Principal to supporting the well-being of children and families through school-based programs and resources. She believes in ensuring students, educators and parents develop their capacity to create the conditions for student well-being and academic achievement. Vinita thrives on finding creative and resourceful ways to support families and to leverage the school as the centre of community and a place of connection. She actively engages with the community, including outreach projects in the early years to bridge early education programs, creating exemplary models for wide-spread adoption. In her personal life, Vinita is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle focused on fitness and wellbeing and loves spending time outdoors with friends and family.

Helen Pereira-Raso (She/Her)

B.Ed., M.Ed., PhD
Helen is an exceptional educational leader with 25 years of experience, most recently as Head of School at Holy Trinity School in Canada. Known for her commitment to academic excellence and innovative approaches, she has consistently elevated the communities she serves. Her visionary leadership has transformed schools through bringing strategic alignment to learning programs, establishing strategic partnerships with leading postsecondary institutions, founding an online campus, and creating a professional learning hub for educators. Helen’s career has been defined by fostering vibrant, forward-thinking learning environments where students and educators thrive, and she has built a reputation for cultivating exceptional learning communities. Her leadership philosophy is centered on a community-focused approach, recognizing that student success is closely tied to well-being, meaningful learning programs, and robust support systems. She places a strong emphasis on nurturing spaces where students feel a deep sense of belonging, grounded in her belief that well-being is essential for every learner to reach their fullest potential.

Andy Rodford (He/Him)

B.Sc., B.Ed., MA, OCT
Andy Rodford is the Principal of Venture Gained Consulting and works with schools, camps, businesses and leaders across North America to elevate their impact. As an experienced educator of 30 years he has led leadership and experiential workshops in the fields of education and organized camps focusing on programming, leadership development and strategic planning. Andy was formally the Deputy Head and Head of School at St. Michaels University School in Victoria, BC and, prior to that, was Head of School at Kempenfelt Bay School in Barrie, and held other senior leadership roles at Brentwood College School, Albert College and as the Director of Onondaga Camp, a large outdoor education centre and summer camp in Minden, Ontario. Andy has degrees in Biology, Geography, Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management. Andy is passionate about arts and athletics, particularly rowing, having participated and coached at various levels, including the Varsity program at Trent University and University of Toronto. Andy’s interests include wood carving, boating, outdoor adventures, and increasingly gardening, as he and his wife Liz tend a yard of year-round runaway perennials in Victoria, British Columbia.

LEGACY ADVISORY TEAM

Michael Salvatori Advisory Board Member

Dr. Michael Salvatori (He/Him)

Bed., M.Ed., PhD.

Jeff Perera (He/Him)

Jennifer Laidlaw (She/Her)

B.A., M.Ed

Simon Storey (He/Him)

B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Rumeet Billan, Professional,Headshot

Dr. Rumeet Billan (She/Her)

Ph. D.

Candies Kotchapaw (She/Her)

CYW., B.S.W., M.S.W.

Stephanie Woolley (She/Her)

Honors BSc.

Jeff Hainbuch (He/Him)

B.Ed., M.Ed