Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors brings together leaders from across the skilled trades sector, each committed to advancing reconciliation and strengthening opportunities for future generations. With diverse expertise and shared dedication, they guide our vision with integrity, collaboration, and respect. Their leadership ensures our organization remains focused on empowering communities, promoting equity, and building a strong, inclusive future in the skilled trades.
Valerie Vanderwyk
Ian Harper
John Wabb
Shawna McKenzie
Kris Croteau
Mack Long
Mark Watson
Owen Johnston
Patricia Graham
Ryan Wilbee
Raven Mitchell
Biindigegizhig (Danny) Deleary
Manager of Special Projects
ISEAD Special Projects, Social worker background with a focus on traditional healing. Traditional drummer, singer and educator. Indigenous subject matter expert on cultural competency and community engagement. Daniel Deleary is Anishinaabe from the Loon Clan, currently residing in Walpole Island First Nation. Having been engaged since birth in Anishinaabe spiritual and cultural practices, Daniel has made it his lifework assisting the lives of Indigenous people and communities.
Aside from his professional career, Daniel is requested throughout the Great Lakes region as a recognized cultural and spiritual practitioner. In his professional career, Daniel has worked within the employment and training field for the past 12 years, supporting Indigenous people into successful careers within the skilled trades. Having developed and partnered on the creation of innovative and successful training programs for Indigenous people, Daniel understands the complexities of engaging the Indigenous workforce. Over the past eight years, Daniel has been the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO). Daniel will focus on Cultural Competence, Indigenous Social Enterprise & Entrepreneurship and Industry Inclusivity & Retention Pilot program development and delivery.
Email: ddeleary@isead.ca
Phone: 519-872-1546
Valerie Vanderwyk
Executive Director
Valerie is a proud Mi’kmaq woman whose family originated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
In 2014, Valerie was nominated for a Woman of Distinction Award with the YWCA in Hamilton, ON for her work creating Ontario’s first pre-apprenticeship training program in Welding and Plumbing for Women.
Working with the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board, Valerie was brought on to the team as a Community Engagement Coordinator to assist with the organization’s national expansion to the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick in 2019. Engaged in ensuring that Indigenous youth and their communities received equitable consideration for education and employment opportunities in apprenticeship, Valerie coordinates with stakeholders for the inclusion of Indigenous people with partners and was recently appointed as Executive Director. Valerie is leading the transition of the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario to the Indigenous Skills, Employment, Apprenticeship and Development as a federally registered national not-for-profit, expanding the organization’s reach and presence.
With a deep passion for Occupational Health and Safety, Valerie partners with the province of Ontario’s designated training centre – Workers Health and Safety Centre. Making occupational health and safety a primary focus of their work at ISEAD, their efforts are fundamental in ensuring safety for workers through meaningful training and compliance with legislation and regulations across all sectors for Indigenous workers.
Valerie is a Director with the Aboriginal Skilled Workers Association (ASWA), and the Treasurer of the Grand Valley Education Society (GVES).
Recently, Valerie received the Award of Merit from CSA for her leadership role as Chair of the technical committee that developed the CSA Z301 Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Apprenticeship Programs national standard.
Valerie is a qualified Occupational Health & Safety instructor with Workers Health and Safety Centre.
Email: vvanderwyk@isead.ca
Phone: 905-746-9642
Marlene Conway-Diels
Manager of Partnerships & Skills Development
Marlene is an enterprising, accomplished leader and executive with solid experience in diverse industries, academic and non-profit sectors. She is an inventor with several patents held, and has founded and developed several companies, most notably in the environmental sector. Ms. Conway Diels is educated in Marketing and Business Administration and has associate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
In January 2022, Marlene was named a finalist in the global Women and Drones Women to Watch Award for Leadership. Marlene founded Envision Technologies in 2003 providing strategic technical, supply chain, human resources, skills development, management & implementation services to global aerospace, advanced manufacturing and environmental industries, governments and organizations.
In 2016, Marlene was appointed Regional Director Ontario for CARIC (Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada) to actively facilitate collaboration among industry and academia in the Aerospace, Defence and Space sectors. Marlene has served as both National and Provincial Governor for the Air Cadet League of Canada, Southern Ontario Defence Association Director, Women in Aerospace Canada Director and on the Canadian Marine Industry Shipbuilders Association of Canda (CMISA) Board of Directors. In 2020, Marlene founded the Diversity Development Network of Canada Corp. (DDNC) and is also Chair of the Board for the Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association (CMISA). Marlene was appointed ISEAD Partnership & Skills Development in April 2024 and is honoured to be the first Non-Indigenous member of the AABO and ISEAD Team.
Email: mconwaydiels@isead.ca
Phone: 905-536-1371
Brandi Jonathan
Manager of Community Engagement
Member of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, ISEAD Community Engagement, Experience in Indigenous engagement in the skilled trades through the Canada Building Trades, various ISET holders and community engagement. Brandi is also currently working as the Diversity Liaison for Ontario with CBTU’s In the Trades program. She’s a Kaikawaka (Mohawk) Woman and the proud mother of two beautiful children. Brandi has spent the last 20 years working in employment and training with both on-reserve and urban Indigenous youth. She has specialized in apprenticeship for the last 15 years, successfully developing and coordinating many Indigenous youth training programs in southern Ontario.
More recently, she was the Regional Advisor with Tomorrow's Trades, helping prepare participants to start their careers in the skilled trades. Brandi has a passion for seeing people succeed and has been a strong advocate for Indigenous people entering the labour market to pursue skilled trades and apprenticeship for many years.
Brandi is a qualified Occupational Health & Safety instructor with Workers Health and Safety Centre.
Email: bjonathan@isead.ca
Phone: 519-732-0389
Jennifer Baker
Finance
With over 20 years of business experience, Jennifer brings a strong administrative and financial background to her role with ISEAD. She’s spent more than a decade working in association management, and her experience across sectors like retail, healthcare, and administration has shaped her into a thoughtful problem-solver who understands how to meet the unique needs of an organization. Her expertise in bookkeeping, financial reporting, board coordination, and event logistics allows her to deliver consistent, high-quality results. She’s excited to be supporting ISEAD and contributing to the organization’s ongoing success.
In her downtime, Jennifer enjoys reading and spending time at the family cottage near Gananoque, ON, with her husband and fur babies.
Email: jbaker@isead.ca
Phone: 613-878-4648
MaKayla Assiniwai
Initiatives Coordinator
MaKayla is the Initiatives Coordinator at ISEAD, where she supports a diverse range of projects including media development, administrative coordination, and community engagement. She plays a key role in bringing ideas to life through thoughtful communication, a strong sense of purpose, and a dedication to community-driven impact.
Originally from Virginia, USA, MaKayla now lives in Bawating (Sault Ste Marie), Ontario with her family. Since 2022, she has worked in education and skilled trades outreach, supporting programming designed to connect youth, particularly those from underrepresented communities, with meaningful opportunities. Her work has included close collaboration with Indigenous communities, where she has contributed to culturally grounded initiatives with care, humility, and a commitment to relationship-building.
MaKayla is deeply passionate about the role of community in shaping systems, and she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Community Development to further expand her knowledge and ability to support grassroots leadership, equity, and long-term systemic change. Her approach is rooted in listening, learning, and working alongside others to create spaces where all voices are valued.
Above all, MaKayla is proud to be part of the ISEAD team, a group of inspiring and values-driven individuals who share a vision for a more inclusive, connected, and empowered future. She is continually inspired by the work being done across the organization and feels grateful to contribute to ISEAD’s mission.
MaKayla is a qualified Occupational Health & Safety instructor with Workers Health and Safety Centre.
Email: massiniwai@isead.ca
Phone: 705-989-4192