Challenge Factory
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Our team

Challenge Factory is powered by a diverse, intergenerational team of core members, trusted advisors, and research professionals. We are also supported by an international advisory board.

Each of these team members contributes unique value to our Research-to-Practice model. All of us share a deep commitment to helping clients build more productive people, organizations, and economies.

Our team

Lisa Taylor

Lisa Taylor

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Lisa Taylor
Founder and CEO

I thrive when working with disruption. In 2003, I started researching how to provide people in their 50s and 60s with new experiences that would break them out of routine career patterns and challenge the “successful, but not satisfied” mindset that seemed pervasive in my corporate career. The spark of an idea for Challenge Factory was born and, in 2012, as the oldest baby boomers were turning 65, I launched my own business. Challenge Factory was the first company in Canada to offer career services specifically designed for older workers. Our purpose was to enhance work for employees of all ages by re-engaging those who had been left to languish. My unique background in older worker career development and workplace engagement led to my appointment as an Associate Fellow at the National Institute on Ageing (Toronto Metropolitan University). I am proud to have been recognized as a WXN 2022 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award winner.

I’m passionate about not wasting potential and believe that we need new models, tools, examples, and heroes to help us shed outdated career and work-related thinking. I love making sense of complex concepts and use my MBA in Strategic Management and Public Administration (York University) to bridge corporate and policy considerations when shaping the Future of Work. My ability to link real-world practice and public policy resulted in my selection as one of five members of Team Canada at the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy.

My work has been recognized in Canada, Singapore, and Scandinavia, and I am the co-host of two podcasts and the author of five books, including The Talent Revolution: Longevity and the Future of Work  (University of Toronto Press) which I wrote with Fern Lebo, and the Retain and Gain series of career management playbooks (CERIC). I’m often asked to provide media commentary and can be counted on to provide a different and informed view of daily events.

I sit on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR-A), and I’m a member of the Association of Professional Futurists. I’m also an active community leader within my synagogue. Being connected to different communities matters a great deal to me and I seek out opportunities for meaningful volunteerism that helps people and communities thrive.

For conference organizers and event planners, my full speaker bio is available here.

Barbara Wilson

Barbara Wilson

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Barbara Wilson
Consulting Director

With over 20 years of experience as a learning, talent management, and career development professional, I’ve held leadership and consulting positions with organizations ranging from large for-profit corporations to community-based non-profits. My approach combines my strengths as a coach, educator, and trusted advisor, enabling individuals and organizations to break through barriers and unlock their full potential.

During my extensive work in the financial services sector, I focused on improving individual development and career literacy across entire organizations. I also worked with internal business teams on strategies and tactics to enrich their integrated talent development plans. In resource-limited non-profit organizations, I built and nurtured strategic partnerships, leveraged data-driven insights, and efficiently managed programs and relationships to drive organizational success and impact.

In 2012, I discovered career development as a profession and knew I had found my calling. As a consultant, I’ve provided clients with labour market analysis, interest holder mapping, client surveys, model and framework development, and actionable recommendations. I am proud to be a Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP).

As Challenge Factory’s Consulting Director, I play a key role in delivering high-value, impactful consulting engagements. I work directly with our clients to help them develop and implement solutions in areas of career development, workforce development, leadership development, and human-centric workplaces.

Taryn Blanchard

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Taryn Blanchard
Director, Research & Innovation Strategy

I lead Challenge Factory’s work to transform insight into innovation and measurable impact. As Director, Research & Innovation Strategy, my role bridges research, consulting, and AI to create tools, frameworks, and thought leadership that help organizations redefine what workforce strategy can achieve. I’m driven by a simple question: how can evidence and storytelling create real-world change that benefits both people and systems?

My background is anything but linear. With a PhD in Anthropology and experience across academia, advocacy, and the private sector, I’ve spent my career translating complexity into clarity and exploring what makes work deeply human. Guided by the belief that meaningful innovation begins with curiosity and rigour, I strive to ensure our work fuels consulting excellence, inspires new research, and generates market-leading solutions.

As part of our research and innovation agenda, I also shape Challenge Factory’s voice across our reports, publications, and thought leadership. As a certified business ghostwriter and long-time editor, I’ve helped leaders across sectors tell their stories with substance and precision. My own writing has appeared in The Toronto Star, Policy Options, and Careering, and I’m co-author of The Canadian Guide to Hiring Veterans and editor of Workforce Architecture.

Justin Doran

Justin Doran

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Justin Doran
Program & Operations Manager

As Challenge Factory’s Program & Operations Manager, I lead our project management office and guide our team through complex, multi-layered initiatives that bring the Future of Work to life for our clients and partners. I focus on building strong systems and frameworks that allow us to work efficiently, communicate effectively, and stay aligned on shared goals to create lasting impact.

My approach blends strategic oversight with strong project management practices, ensuring our team and clients stay coordinated, communicative, and adaptive in the face of change. I’m passionate about empowering collaboration and consistency across workstreams, while maintaining the high quality and innovation that define Challenge Factory’s client experience.

I’m a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and come from a background in education. I have a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Guelph, a post-graduate Certificate from Georgian College’s Research Analyst program, and an HBA in History, Sociology, and Anthropology from the University of Toronto.

Keka DasGupta

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Keka DasGupta
Chief Marketing Advisor

For more than two decades, I’ve helped organizations translate purpose into performance. From global brands like Nike, Disney, IKEA, American Express, and Mercedes-Benz to mission-driven institutions, I’ve discovered one truth: when people lead with purpose and intrinsic motivation, extraordinary impact follows.

As Chief Marketing Advisor, I shape Challenge Factory’s integrated brand and marketing ecosystem, advancing thought leadership and articulating our future-forward expertise to support scalable growth. I ensure our ideas travel further, resonate more deeply, and translate into meaningful impact.

My career includes leading PR at IKEA, serving as Vice President of PR at DDB Canada, part of Omnicom’s global network, and founding Precision Marketing Group Inc., where I’ve supported clients across corporate, non-profit, and recruitment marketing sectors.

Since 2017, I’ve volunteered with CERIC, a charitable organization that advances career development for public good. I currently serve as Vice-Chair of the Board, advocating for national workforce strategies.

I’m a global keynote and TEDx speaker, have received more than 50 international and national marketing awards, and have been featured on TED.com, Harvard Business School, Fast Company, Breakfast Television, and The Globe and Mail.

Finally, in a role I treasure, I serve as Santa’s official speechwriter and co-PR director on Toronto’s Original Santa Claus Parade board (I boast to my kids that Santa’s my client!).

Emma James

Emma James

Emma James
Policy Advisor & Project Manager

I’m a Policy Advisor & Project Manager at Challenge Factory, where I bring curiosity, creativity, and systems thinking to the heart of every project I lead. My work connects policy, people, and purpose, helping organizations and governments tackle complex challenges and design innovative, actionable solutions that drive meaningful people-focused impact.

My work includes managing government projects and partnerships, leading proposals for large-scale bids, and co-chairing steering committees that shape national and international initiatives. Recently, I’ve had the privilege of project managing our first AI-augmented project, the Career Development Centres of Expertise, advancing our capabilities in workforce innovation. Whether managing an RFP process, developing a policy framework, or facilitating collaboration between partners, I ensure every outcome is useful, relevant, and built to make a difference. 

I hold a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, where I focused on innovation policy and strategic management in the public sector. I earned a BA in History and Political Science from the University of Alberta and I’m currently earning my Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) designation.

Mariel Ferreras

Mariel Ferreras

Mariel Ferreras
Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator

I’m the creative force behind Challenge Factory’s visual identity and online presence. I have an affinity for simple, minimalistic designs that tell a story. As the Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator at Challenge Factory, I play a central role in developing and executing marketing campaigns, designing compelling graphics, presentations, and other content, and promoting the company’s brand. I led an overhaul of Challenge Factory’s brand portfolio—including the logo, typography, slide decks, newsletter graphics, and other visual assets—and continue to elevate the company’s social media, websites, and publications. I’m especially proud of my work on Workforce Architecture magazine and Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent: Mapping Canada’s Career Development Sector, a 300-page research report that presents a data-rich evidence base using human-centric design.

I’m known for my ability to think creatively, tackle every challenge with grace, and deliver results. I always recognize the importance of collaboration and meeting deadlines. In addition to working with Challenge Factory, I’ve worked as a freelance designer with start-ups, small businesses, and social media influencers on projects including branding, illustration, and web design. I value continuous learning and growth, having earned a Diploma of Education, Graphic Design, from Algonquin College’s School of Media & Design, and I’m currently pursuing a second Diploma in Computer Programming from Algonquin’s School of Advanced Technology.

Carli Fink

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Carli Fink
Workforce & Learning Consultant

I am a Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP®) passionate about bringing a contemporary, evidence-based approach to career development. As a Workforce & Learning Consultant with Challenge Factory, I leverage my expertise in career and workforce development, higher education, and curriculum design to help clients create workplaces where people thrive.

With 10 years of experience working at the intersection of education and career development, I enable success by catalyzing change at the individual, group, and systems levels. I have advised 1,800+ people on their careers; designed, facilitated, and taught workshops and courses about careers; developed award-winning career tools; scaled programs that engaged hundreds of students; helped academic departments embed career learning into academic programs; and developed the strategy to deliver multi-million dollar workforce development programs for Ontario’s automotive sector. These varied experiences shape my nuanced understanding of how structures and systems impact people’s learning experiences and career outcomes.

I hold a Master of Science from Northeastern University in Boston, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology from Queen’s University. In addition to my work with Challenge Factory, I’m also a Sessional Instructor at the University of Toronto.

Emily Carew

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Emily Carew
Research Associate

As a Research Associate at Challenge Factory, I contribute to applied research that explores the changing nature of work, labour market dynamics, and career development systems. My work ranges from building research frameworks and recruitment protocols to analyzing onboarding practices and supporting national case study research on career development tools and strategies. I also lead our exploration of international expansion opportunities, drawing on global labour trends and policy landscapes to identify potential strategic partnerships.

I’m currently completing a Master’s in International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa, where my thesis examines how political generations and national identity evolve in post-authoritarian contexts, with a focus on Taiwan. As a Research Assistant on the Life in Covid Study Research Team, I contribute to a mixed-methods study examining the experiences of children, teens, and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. My academic and professional research blends qualitative methods, geographic frameworks, and community-engaged approaches—often situated at the intersection of generational identity, political transformation, and social change.

Beyond the workplace, I’m passionate about film, literature, and creating community through thoughtful conversations and shared experiences.

Jennifer St. Denis

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Jennifer St. Denis
Project Coordinator & Administrative Associate

As a Project Coordinator & Administrative Associate at Challenge Factory, I support business development, human resources, and client delivery by bringing structure, energy, and a people-first mindset to everything I do. 

Currently pursuing a degree in Human Resources at Georgian College, I have a strong background in operations and hospitality leadership. My hands-on experience includes staff onboarding, training, conflict resolution, and performance management. Recognized for being strategic, collaborative, and detail-oriented, I thrive in fast-paced environments where clear communication and proactive problem-solving are key. 

I’m passionate about creating inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures and I’m thrilled to apply my skills at Challenge Factory. With a solid foundation in HR best practices, including compliance, talent development, and communication strategy, I’m committed to advancing organizational goals and fostering employee engagement and growth. 

Elizabeth Shechtman

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Elizabeth Shechtman
Economics & Labour Market Associate

As Challenge Factory’s Economics & Labour Market Associate, I take a data-driven approach to understanding workforce trends and shaping effective policy and organizational strategy. My work combines economic modelling, labour market analysis, and qualitative insights to make sense of how work is evolving—and what that means for the people and systems at its core.

I lead research across a range of national and sectoral initiatives, including a study on interprovincial trade barriers and projects focused on inclusive employment. In these efforts, we examine systemic barriers and co-develop practical, interest holder-informed solutions to improve access and equity across the workforce.

My background spans economics, public policy, and organizational governance. Before joining Challenge Factory, I held senior elected leadership roles with the University of Toronto Students’ Union, where I managed multimillion-dollar budgets, advanced health and housing policy reforms, and led a landmark real estate project to support affordable student housing. I have a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in Economics and Bioethics.

Working at the intersection of research, advocacy, and systems change, I’m committed to making labour market data meaningful, accessible, and impactful.

Taylor Howard

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Taylor Howard
Research Associate

I’m a Winter 2026 Research Associate Intern at Challenge Factory, where I work on applied research and consulting projects focused on the Future of Work, workforce programming, and organizational change. My role supports the development of evidence-informed insights through qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the creation of clear, accessible research, marketing, and sales outputs.

I’m completing my undergraduate studies in Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the University of Guelph, where I continue to learn about Canadian history, the criminal justice system, government policy and procedures, and changing international political climates.

Previously, I supported the sales and delivery of career services for hiring within the agriculture industry. For the last three years, I’ve worked with first-year students on-campus to support their transition to university and provide academic guidance. These experiences, combined with my academic focus on equity and youth development, have shaped my interest in examining how age influences access, opportunity, and experience at work.

Candy Ho

Candy Ho

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Candy Ho
Researcher in Residence

Dr. Candy Ho is an international award-winning career development educator and scholar whose expertise is recognized globally through keynotes and engagements. She has been featured in BNN Bloomberg, The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Canadian Business, National Post, and CTV News.

Originally from Hong Kong, Candy currently serves as Chancellor’s Research Chair at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), while also teaching in KPU’s Educational Studies department. In this unique capacity, she teaches courses that help students consider their educational and life experiences, and how these experiences can enable them to achieve their short- and long-term goals, ultimately helping them design the life they want to live. Candy also relishes in developing current and future generations of career professionals as she teaches as a sessional instructor in Douglas College’s Career Development Practitioner Program.

Prior to becoming a faculty member, Candy worked extensively in university student affairs in areas such as first-year experience and student transition, campus and residence life, career and volunteer services, co-operative education, academic advising, and university advancement. Her collective professional experiences to date culminated in her doctoral dissertation investigating the conceptions of post-secondary career influencers in student career success, and she readily shares her expertise locally and globally. Finally, she is the past Chair of CERIC, a Canadian charitable organization that advances education and research in career counselling and career development, in order to increase the economic and social well-being of Canadians.

Sheila Rider

Sheila Rider

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Sheila Rider
Associate & Trusted Advisor

I believe companies are more successful when people within them know what their best work looks like and are enabled to do it. Understanding our potential and actively working toward leading ourselves and others from our strengths can build powerful teams, organizations, and communities.

My strengths include my ability to think strategically, analyze productively, manage projects against effective plans, lead change, get results, and, most importantly, understand and engage people.

I have over 30 years of experience leading local, national, and global HR teams, including leadership roles at Hudson’s Bay Company and Stantec. I have successfully led complex projects impacting thousands of people and enabling hundreds more to build and action their own plans successfully. I thrive doing both because they involve getting things done through people. Enabling career development through impact and achievement is my passion.

For me, being a Trusted Advisor means using my experience, insights, and skills to help individuals, leaders, and teams navigate the increasingly complex world and Future of Work.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Human Resources Management (CHRM) from Humber College. I’m an active volunteer in my community, including at a local hospice and food bank.

Bob Cavnar

Bob Cavnar

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Bob Cavnar
Trusted Advisor

Over my 40-plus-year career, I’ve matured from an enthusiastic young oilfield worker into a seasoned veteran with decades of C-suite experience. My time in business and non-profit leadership has given me a unique perspective and helped me hone a keen understanding of complex problems, building teams, and coaching individuals. As a lifelong learner, I’ve continued my journey through a longstanding mindfulness practice and by expanding my understanding of social justice, the environment, global energy policy, and workplace safety.

I’m keenly focused on rethinking the Future of Work through interdisciplinary and multigenerational teams. I’ve become a voice for energy industry reform and innovation, writing for the Huffington Post, Houston Chronicle, and several blogs. I authored Disaster on the Horizon, a book about the deepwater well blowout, and have appeared on national and international news networks.

A native Texan, I worked pipelines during the days while earning my Bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University at night. Navigating my way from the field into management, I completed my education at Harvard Business School and earned an MBA at Southern Methodist University. After a stint in energy banking, I ran public and private companies for over thirty years, holding the positions of Chairman, CEO, COO, and CFO while leading multinational operations, mergers, and turning around failing companies. In later years, I branched out from traditional energy into innovative renewables, cryptocurrency banking, and international trade.

Today, my focus is helping others maximize their highest potential for themselves and their companies while working to leave behind a better world for my children and grandchildren. I’m a member of the Board of Directors of Space Center Houston, retired chairman of the Board of Directors of the Houston Grand Opera, and co-founder of Recipe for Success Foundation, dedicated to improving childhood nutrition.

Elaine Cruise Smith

Elaine Cruise Smith

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Elaine Cruise Smith
Trusted Advisor

What matters to me is fostering authenticity in the workplace and cultivating a culture of safety and trust where people, ideas, and business can flourish harmoniously.

I am a solution-focused businessperson with a background and expertise in Human Resources leadership. I find joy in building strategy, pragmatic problem-solving, innovation, and growth. I have been told that I am a trusted, forward-thinking advisor and consummate relationship manager who takes a hands-on approach in developing emerging leaders and helping individuals and organizations succeed.

I have 25+ years of senior Human Resources leadership and a reputation for developing talent and creating engaged and energized teams. I am proud to say that I have twice been named to HRD Magazine’s Hot List, the who’s who of Canada’s HR Executives working to impact business outcomes and achieve overall excellence in all aspects of HR.

I have held senior HR positions with St. Joseph Communications, Worldlynx Wireless/Bell Mobility, and Hudson’s Bay Company. In addition to holding CHRP and CHRL designations, I have experience in numerous industries—including technology, financial, manufacturing, and consumer packaged goods.

I am passionate about guiding individuals toward their fullest potential and their own unique versions of success. In my personal time, I find fulfillment in coaching mid-life women to live their best lives through fitness, nutrition, and mindset coaching. It is my life’s purpose to facilitate transformative journeys where individuals and organizations embrace their strengths and overcome obstacles to reach their goals.

Our advisory board

Cathy Barr

 

Cathy Barr, PhD

Cathy Barr recently retired from a 35+ year career that spanned academia and the nonprofit sector. She has a PhD in political science from York University and spent several years as a faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier University. In 2002, she moved to the nonprofit sector, becoming Director of Research for the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (now Imagine Canada). She remained there for 22 years in various positions, including Vice President, Research. While at Imagine Canada, Cathy led dozens of data, research, and knowledge mobilization projects. She was also the founding Director of the Insurance & Liability Resource Centre for Nonprofits and led the creation of Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. In later years, she was involved in several national public policy and advocacy initiatives and chaired the Federal Nonprofit Data Coalition.

Cathy currently holds positions as Senior Advisor, Research & Data at Imagine Canada and Adjunct Research Professor with the School of Public Policy & Administration at Carleton University. She continues her involvement with the Federal Nonprofit Data Coalition and co-chairs the External Advisory Committee for Statistics Canada’s Nonprofits and their Diversity Project. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Nonprofit & Social Economy Research.

Trevor Buttrum

 

Trevor Buttrum

Trevor Buttrum is an award-winning leader with 20+ years of experience in recruitment strategy, career education, and fostering inclusive talent pipelines. In 2022, he became Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE), which provides national leadership, resources, and a network of expertise and professional development to help members excel in supporting students in their journey from post-secondary studies to career success.

Before joining CACEE, Trevor was Director of Operations at TalentEgg and led a national career education program at the Insurance Institute of Canada. A recognized advocate for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), Trevor lends his lived and professional experience through speaking engagements and initiatives focused on advancing IDEA in career development, recruitment, and post-secondary education.

Trevor’s leadership and work has earned multiple accolades, including Best Recruitment Branding Strategy for a Professional or Industry Association (TalentEgg Awards, 2021), Campus Recruiter of the Year (TalentEgg, 2018), and the Moe Ktytor Award of Merit (CACEE, 2017).

Trevor has also served on the National Advisory Council for the David C. Onley Initiative 2.0 (Accessibility Institute – Carleton University), the National Career Development Advocacy Strategy Working Group (CERIC), the Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent Initiative Steering Committee (Challenge Factory, CERIC, and the Canadian Career Development Foundation), and the National Stakeholder Committee (CCDF), contributing to the evolution of the Canadian Career Development Standards & Guidelines to a pan-Canadian Competency Framework and template for national certification.

His passion is supported by post-graduate studies in Adult Education and Career Development.

Christine Hall

 

Christine Hall

Christine Hall is a career development practitioner with a background that spans over 20 years in client development, sales, and marketing. Christine’s journey has taken her from corporate roles at Ticketmaster, where she built strong client relationships and led key accounts, to senior leadership positions like Vice President of Client Development at Box of Crayons, where she helped guide the company through growth and change. While her early career focused on sales and business development, her true passion has always been helping people find alignment with their goals and purpose in their work.

In 2021, Christine made the decision to pivot into the career development field. She now works as an Employment Specialist with the Halton Multicultural Council, supporting newcomers exploring new career paths and adapting to the Canadian labour market. She also collaborates with the Syrian Canadian Foundation as a facilitator for newcomer women entrepreneurs building strong business foundations through the N.E.W. Venture program. With eight years of governance experience on the Board of Directors at Forestwood Coop, she brings a thoughtful, people-focused approach to all her work. Knowing the power of our actions to shape the future, Christine is inspired by how small shifts in focus, strategic collaboration, and meaningful partnerships can create positive, lasting change in both personal and professional contexts.

Christine holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from Humber College and a Bachelor of Arts from Western University. She continues to build on her skills with certificates in career development, social impact strategy, and DEI.

Karine Lachapelle

 

Karine Lachapelle

Karine Lachapelle enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1996 after studying the Middle East and Russia at the Université de Montréal. After completing the Basic Intelligence Officer Course in 1998, she was attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment in Valcartier, Quebec, and deployed to the Former Yugoslavia, where she served as Battalion Intelligence Officer, supporting NATO stabilization efforts in the Balkans.

After working in Ottawa, Karine returned to CFB Valcartier in 2004, where she was Opposing Force Officer at the Valcartier Simulation Training Center. An innovative leader, she saw the value of experiential learning, introducing a first-person computer training platform to increase situational awareness for units preparing to deploy to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In 2006, Karine was invited to serve with the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) in Petawawa, Ontario, where she remained until 2011. She served as Fusion Officer, integrating Intelligence and Operational data in support of Special Operations missions in the Sahel, Caribbean, and Afghanistan, including a deployment to Kandahar with a Special Operations Task Force in 2009 as part of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom. Following three years at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium, Karine retired from the Department of National Defence in 2014.

Since 2016, Karine has worked at Barrick Gold Corporation, where she is Senior Manager, Group Risk Management & Business Assurance. Karine is responsible for the quarterly Group Risk report to the Board, the annual enterprise-wide risk assessment, and conducting operational audits in support of the audit plan for the North America region.

Karine has worked and traveled in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. She is married and has two adult children. She is fluently bilingual English/French.

Stephanie Robinson

 

Stephanie Robinson

Stephanie Robinson is General Counsel at Thomvest, where she oversees legal and compliance matters. Previously, she was Associate General Counsel & Managing Director at BMO Financial Group, where she and her team supported Global Corporate Banking for Capital Markets. Prior to joining BMO, Stephanie was an equity partner in the Financial Services Group of McMillan LLP.

She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), a Fellow of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers (ACCFL), and an instructor in the Osgoode Hall Law School Professional LLM program in Financial Law. Stephanie graduated from Queen’s University and the JD/MBA program at Osgoode Hall and Schulich School of Business. She served as the Director of Governance on the Board of Directors of Girl Guides of Canada from 2019-2022.

Ulrich Scharf

 

Ulrich Scharf

Ulrich Scharf is the co-founder and Managing Director of SkillLab. SkillLab empowers employment and career services with technology that creates equitable labour markets through the universal language of skills. The Amsterdam-based impact business captures people’s unique experience, using AI to create an accessible profile of their skills. This enables people to explore their fit in the labour market and reveal how education and training can unlock their future opportunities.

Prior to SkillLab, Ulrich headed product development at GRESB to build a platform that assesses environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance data, which is now used annually to assess over $6.5 trillion USD in investment portfolios. He also co-founded rootAbility, a social business that drives the sustainability transition of the European higher education sector, as well as the Maastricht University Green Office, an award-winning sustainability hub and project engine. A serial social entrepreneur at heart, Ulrich studied Economics at Maastricht University and completed an apprenticeship as a banker in Germany.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Emree Siaroff (1969-2025)

Emree Siaroff served as Challenge Factory’s Vice President from 2021 to 2025. After decades of leadership roles in global human resources, Emree joined us to find his Legacy Career®, where he could use his expertise and experience to pursue collaborative activities that gave him purpose. Emree brought wisdom, integrity, and heart to everything he did. His passion for helping people, commitment to human-based workplaces, and belief in the power of culture helped shape who we are as a company.

In his personal time, Emree was an early and dedicated supporter of the Pay It Forward Scholarship, which recognizes and supports high school students entering post-secondary education who demonstrate a meaningful commitment to giving back to their communities. His belief in paying it forward reflected the same principles he brought to his work and relationships.

Emree’s influence lives on in our team, our work, and the impact we continue to make. He is deeply missed and forever part of Challenge Factory’s story.

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