Dr. Trace MacKay, DVM, MPH
Co-founder

Trace has the rare distinction of being both a clinical veterinarian and an evaluation practitioner. She holds BSc, DVM and MPH degrees from the University of Guelph and Ontario Veterinary College. Trace is a member of the Canadian Evaluation Society, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and Canadian Public Health Association and is pursuing the designation of Credentialed Evaluator (CE). Her approach to research and evaluation is comparative by nature, thanks to her veterinary and public health training, concerned with multiple species and complex systems.

Trace is an expert at designing and implementing qualitative & mixed method evaluations, experienced in program development and carrying out community interviews and focus groups. Trace applies a public health lens to her work with a focus on social and structural determinants of health.

Stephen Woeller, MBA
Co-founder

Stephen Woeller has spent 20+ years contributing to the financial sustainability of social purpose organizations. This has involved raising philanthropic support and private sector investment and reporting on the impact of these investments to individuals, communities, corporations, foundations and governments. He is an experienced project manager having spent much of his career contributing to large-scale development projects across a range of sectors. In 2010 Woeller began advising corporate clients on social responsibility activities. His experience in CSR inevitably led to a primary focus on program evaluation and evidence-based decision-making.

Stephen holds a BA in International Development Studies and MBA in Agribusiness from the University of Guelph. He is a member of the Canadian Evaluation Society and is pursuing the designation of Credentialed Evaluator (CE).

Meredith Davis, MSc
Collaborator,
Good Roots Consulting

Meredith is a strategic planning, evaluation and research specialist with 15 years of experience dedicated to promoting community well-being in Canada and abroad. Meredith’s academic and professional work has focused on areas including poverty reduction, food security, rural planning, community economic development, sports and recreation, engagement through storytelling and the performing arts. She has a Master of Science degree in planning and community development and formal graduate level education in program evaluation and quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Meredith is a Credentialed Evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society. She has also completed training in facilitation, strategic planning, adult education and Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis.

Sara Hsiao, MSc, HBSc Collaborator
Sara Hsiao Consulting

Sara has over 12 years of experience working with non-profits, Indigenous organizations and governments, philanthropic organizations, government, and academia. She is dedicated to practical and culturally relevant evaluations, thoughtful program design and implementation, effective information dissemination, and efficient project management.

Sara holds a Masters of Research from Roehampton University and an Honours BSc from the University of Toronto. She has also completed internationally recognized courses in monitoring and evaluation, results-based management, and education.

Sara has built meaningful relationships with partners in remote and diverse communities across Canada and abroad, and applies interdisciplinary perspectives to the complexities of environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Megan Myles, BASc
Collaborator

Megan has been a community organizer and convener for over 12 years, with a focus on sustainable economic development. Megan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from Quest University Canada where she specialized in partner collaboration, and earned an honourable mention for her thesis on collaboration among small-scale farmers in rural Ontario. Since graduating, Megan has worked across the private, public and nonprofit sectors. While Chair of the Bruce Peninsula Environment Group, she convened five levels of government to develop the Northern Bruce Peninsula Sustainable Tourism Plan. She also led internal and external stakeholder engagement as a member of the Fathom Five Strategy Team at Parks Canada.

Currently, Megan owns The Fitz Hostel in Lion’s Head, and serves as a municipal councillor for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula.

Beth Coates CPA, CA
Senior Advisor, Finance

Beth has twenty-five years’ experience as the Financial Manager of CAIC (Canadian Alternative Investment Cooperative), a charity financed investment fund that has been providing financing to the cooperative, non-profit and charitable sectors across Canada for over 30 years. The work of the cooperative is winding up and being transferred to a newly established charity, CAIF (Canadian Alternative Investment Foundation). Beth is a Chartered Professional Accountant who also has extensive experience as a financial analyst, corporate risk manager and controller. She has contributed to SocialFinance.ca and written policy papers for the Ontario Nonprofit Network and the Canadian CED network.

J.J. McMurtry, PhD
Senior Advisor, Social Economy

J.J. McMurtry is Associate Dean Programs, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University. He specializes in social enterprises and entrepreneurship; co-operative history, theory and practice; Community Economic Development; alternative energy; alternative economic theory; social and political theory; and Social Economy. J.J. has lectured in North and South America, India and Europe and is active in research, consultation, and facilitation with community, co-operative, and non-profit groups.

He’s recently contributed book chapters and articles on topics such as: procurement and public policy; Fair Trade; local food organizations; alternative energy and the Social Economy; social accounting; credit unions; and micro-social entrepreneurship.