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Meet the Team

Governance

Stuart Bruce

Board Chair

Stuart is a Canadian serial entrepreneur founding eight companies over the past two decades. As someone with Dyslexia himself, Stuart understands the challenges that those with Dyslexia face early on in their education and throughout their lives. Stuart is currently Chief Executive Officer of FIRST Insurance Funding of Canada and an active member of the insurance industry in Canada. In 1995 Stuart obtained an Honors Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. In 2001 Stuart obtained a Chartered Accountant designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Stuart has been a member of the Canadian National Sailing Team competing at the national and international level and was a member of the Canadian Olympic Sailing Team for the 1992 games.

Keith Gray

Founder & Director Emeritus

Keith is a retired executive of the TD Bank and is dyslexic himself. He is also retired from a number of corporate and volunteer boards. He is past chair of the Ontario Judge’s Pension Board and an Honorary Life Governor of the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

Kyle Soutar

Finance Chair

Kyle is a distinguished Chartered Professional Accountant and accomplished entrepreneur with expertise in finance and strategic business growth. With over a decade of experience in financial analysis, tax planning, and strategic consulting, Kyle’s innovative problem-solving capabilities set a high standard in the industry. Kyle’s professional journey includes establishing and leading several successful startup companies. His visionary leadership earned him Ottawa’s prestigious Forty Under 40 award in 2023 and recognition for leading one of Ottawa’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2024. Dedicated to lifelong learning, Kyle stays at the forefront of industry trends, ensuring the delivery of strategic advice and solutions that drive sustainable growth and financial success. His work has driven success across a range of sectors. As someone who has struggled with severe dyslexia, Kyle understands the challenges faced by individuals with dyslexia. As a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Finance Committee for Dyslexia Canada, he leverages his professional skills and personal experience to positively impact the lives of those affected by dyslexia.

Kirsten Downey

Executive Memeber

Kirsten Downey has earned a Master of Business Administration as well as a B. Admin. She is currently the program head for the Business Management and Supply Chain Management Post-Grad Programs at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. She has taught for over 5 years a variety of business courses, including strategic management, project management and public relations. Prior to moving into post-secondary, she primarily worked in strategic planning. Her youngest son has dyslexia, which drives her passion to advocate for systemic change and evidence-based supports within school systems.

Brian Medeiros

Fundraising Chair

Brian is an executive at Kyndryl with over 20 years of technology, sales and business transformation experience.  He has held leadership positions across Canada, Ireland and South America and has built a reputation for consistently achieving his business objectives, building winning teams, and ultimately bringing value to his clients, partners and teammates every day.  In 2001, Brian obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from The DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University.  In 2007, he became a certified Sales Executive from Harvard Business School, and in 2018, was recognized as a Master Deal Maker, Leading Major Client Partnerships, from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Brian was also a mentor in the Calgary Junior Achievement program from 2006 to 2015, where he helped grade school students who struggled in school.

Pina Lamb

Board Member

Pina Lamb is a career educator who has spent over 35 years in both instructional and consulting capacities within the education sector. Having worked directly with young children and teenagers, she is acutely aware of the challenges they face. These experiences strengthened her commitment to facilitating equitable access to education by removing barriers and increasing awareness. After 10+ years as a teacher, she transitioned into an advisory role with Castle Rock Research Corporation, working to strengthen the school infrastructure in Calgary through education resource development and advocacy. Most recently, she has been involved in program management and fundraising with a range of charitable/not-for-profit organizations, including the Owen Hart Foundation, The Educational Partnership Foundation and Notre Dame High School. Pina holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary and completed the Foundations of Orton-Gillingham Multisensory- Structured Language course of the Teacher Training Program by Liisa Freure.

Corey Zylstra

Board Member

Corey has been in the field of education for over 25 years. She has taught in colleges, elementary schools, private clinics and community facilities. Corey is a regular conference and workshop presenter worldwide. Since specializing in the field of learning difficulties and multi-sensory language remediation using the Orton-Gillingham approach, Corey has served on several non-profit boards in executive, board and advisory positions. She holds a Masters of Education degree from SFU, a Provincial Instructor’s Diploma, and has been recognized and accredited as an Orton-Gillingham Master Trainer for the Canadian Orton-Gillingham Academy (MT/ CATT, OG), an Honorary Fellow of the American OG Academy (HF/ AOGPE) and a Certified Dyslexia Therapist through the International Dyslexia Association (CDT/IDA). Corey lives in North Vancouver, Canada and is the daughter to a person with dyslexia, as well as a parent to a son with dyslexia.

Raffaela Profiti

Board Member

Raffaela is an Ontario physician and mother of 2 children with dyslexia. In her personal experience advocating for her own children and seeking evidence-based interventions, Raffaela has come to realize that more needs to be done across Canada in this regard. She is passionate that every child with dyslexia be given equal opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential.

David Eliot

Board Member

David is an AI researcher, author, and entrepreneur. A PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, he studies the societal impacts of artificial intelligence. His research has earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship. His research and authorship are guided by a commitment to ensuring that technological change benefits all members of society. David is dyslexic and benefited from an early diagnosis and a robust support network. He became involved in dyslexia advocacy to ensure that every dyslexic child receives the same supports he did so that they may achieve their fullest potential, and to help end the stigma associated with learning disabilities.

Staff

Alicia Smith

Executive Director

Dr. Una Malcolm

Chief Academic Officer

Sandra Magill

Operations Manager

Tianna Voort

Community Outreach Coordinator

Jackie Lincoln

Program Support Coordinator

Marie-Judith (MJ) Jean-Louis

Social Media Coordinator

Leah DeJong

Director of Fundraising