Our Team
Danielle Rocheleau
CEO
As CEO, Danielle leads the Laridae team, driving the future growth of the company, ensuring we have a strong, values-based workplace culture, and that we continue to prioritize our clients' experiences. The foundation of Danielle’s professional experience, career, and passion has been rooted in community development. An entrepreneurial, strategic thinker, Danielle deploys collaborative approaches to problem-solving. She leads some of Laridae’s highest profile strategic planning, governance, communications, and branding projects.
Prior to consulting, she held executive roles with the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (GPIC) and Peterborough & Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED). Spending much of her career in and around board governance, Danielle also has a range of board experience through roles with the Learning Disabilities Board of Peterborough, Rockhaven Recovery Home for Men, Kawartha Gymnastics Club, and currently Inspire: A Women’s Portrait Project. Danielle has her Chartered Director (C.Dir) designation through McMaster University and has actively engaged in governance throughout her career as a volunteer Board member of non-profits. Bilingual, Danielle is originally from Timmins.
Alnis Dickson
Director of Operations
An insatiable problem-solver, Alnis has over ten years of experience rolling up his sleeves to craft and execute solutions for organizations in the healthcare, education, tourism, municipal, and social services sectors. Drawing on the skills he honed while earning his M.A. from McGill University, he provides guidance and support in the areas of process improvement, digital communication and business development. Always community-minded, Alnis has volunteered in a variety of leadership roles – sitting on the board of Peterborough's Community Opportunity and Innovation Network (COIN), participating in Loyalist College's working group to prepare students for work in the technology sector, and helping skiers as a certified member of the Canadian Ski Patrol at Kawartha Nordic.
Rachel Pott
Director of Consulting Services
Rachel Pott facilitates Boards and leadership teams, coaches middle-managers, engages community stakeholders, and leads non-profit organizations through the development of strategies and plans to bring about lasting, meaningful change. With expertise in strategic and operational planning and reviews, communications strategies, and re-branding, Rachel leads many of Laridae’s most complex projects with a calm intelligence that clients deeply admire. Throughout her career, she has been committed to working for and supporting non-profits—helping to strengthen the sector that gives so much to our communities. A first-rate communicator, she supports Laridae clients in designing, implementing, and sharing impactful shifts in how and why they approach their work.
With a degree in Politics and Global Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a commitment to ongoing professional development, Rachel has held leadership, fundraising, marketing and communications roles in local and international organizations in the education, health care, social services and human rights sectors. Dedicated to growing her own non-profit governance career, Rachel most recently was the Vice-President of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton Board of Directors.
Valentina Kibedi
Director of Learning Services
Community development and partnership building have been at the heart of Valentina’s career. For over ten years, Valentina has been building a range of experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors.
Valentina has a passion for supporting mission-driven organizations to develop customized, actionable strategies, and transform their cultures. At Laridae, Valentina leads a range of strategy, facilitation, and planning projects, and provides training and coaching to non-profit professionals across Canada.
Through strategic facilitation, stakeholder engagement, management and leadership training, and coaching, Valentina helps leaders implement change that lasts, and supports them to develop resilient teams and organizations.
Valentina holds a degree in Criminology from York University and has volunteered for a variety of non-profits across the Greater Toronto and Peterborough regions.
Book a time to chat: calendly.com/laridae/15min
Caitlin Patterson
Director of Consulting (Interim)
Caitlin Patterson is a Metis woman with roots from the High Waters Region and Kawartha Lakes in Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women’s studies with an emphasis on Indigenous women and a certificate in Non-profit Leadership for Impact from the University of Toronto. Caitlin has years of experience working with national organizations to create culturally relevant opportunities with Indigenous youth, leading program operations, brand development, and organizational growth.
As a consultant and inclusion specialist, Caitlin applies a culturally informed approach to strategic planning, facilitation and stakeholder engagement, organizational crisis/risk management, and strategic governance. Caitlin has completed projects that include cultural audits, diversity & inclusion consultations, equitable program development, diverse strategic visioning, with organizations such as Girl Guides of Canada, Association of Midwives Trust, York Catholic District School Board, Small Economy Works, and Ontario Camps Association.
Brittney Patton
Associate Consultant
Brittney Patton brings several years of facilitation experience leading and strengthening teams and individuals. By supporting productive group discussion and encouraging the genuine engagement of beneficiaries and stakeholders, Brittney helps organizations and Collectives identify their intended impact, and articulate a clear and realistic strategy to achieve it.
Brittney holds a Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies with a focus on Community Recreation and a Master of Arts in Applied Health Sciences. She is passionate about working with rural youth, and focused her Master thesis on understanding the ways in which they construct their young adult lives in
relation to social constructions of rural adulthood. Her recent completion of Youth Rex’s course Centering Black Youth Wellbeing: A Certificate in Combatting Anti-Racism, served as a reminder of the power of youth voice and importance of reflexive community engagement.
Over the past 3 years, Brittney was the primary coach for the Laidlaw Foundation’s Youth Collective Impact work at SIA. The Youth Collective Impact initiative brought together collectives of organizations in communities focused on co-developing strategy for change with and for youth 16-29 years. Brittney
has coached 8 collectives across Ontario, working on youth homelessness, employment, education, and food security. This work included an engagement with the Northern Lights Collaborative, led by youth in Northern rural communities aiming to connect isolated youth to meaningful employment and entrepreneurship.
Madison Sweet
Project Manager
Driven by a passion for social justice, Madison earned a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies with an Honours Specialization in Nonprofit Management from Western University. Her interdisciplinary degree combined a variety of her interests, including community development, management, and leadership.
With over four years of experience working with non-profits, Madison’s work has been diverse in both sector and geography — spanning across the areas of healthcare, education, gender equity, and capacity-building in London, Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area.
Jennifer Haddow
Project Manager
Guided by a belief in the power of collective action and a passion for building strong, resilient communities, Jen brings a wealth of experience in project management, administration, and qualitative research. As Project Manager, Jen pulls from over seven years of experience in office management and executive support, approaching projects in a detail-orientated, innovative, and resourceful manner. Having worked in house at both local non-profits and international NGOs—in communications, marketing, project management, and reporting roles—Jen is well equipped to offer flexible and meaningful support to clients.
Jen holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from the University of Ottawa. Most recently, she has worked with the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies. Currently, Jen provides communications and project management support as a volunteer with the Canadian Courage Project—supporting unhoused youth in Ontario—and STAND Canada, a youth-led human rights organization.
Alexandra Hammond
Project Manager
Motivated by a growing interest in sustainability, Alexandra Hammond supports non-profit organizations that want to keep helping people to the best of their ability. As a Project Manager, Alex provides organizational support, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving to the Laridae team and her clients. Her academic career emboldened her to seek opportunities that make a long-lasting positive impact. She values continuous learning, and actively seeks purposeful experiences that promote sustainable practices.
With a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from York University's Glendon College, Alex enjoys working on complex issues that require a multi-disciplinary approach and careful consideration. A Master's in Sustainability Studies from Trent University strengthens this passion towards solving wicked problems to support lasting impact in this world's ever-changing environments.
Rojin Hessami
Project Manager
With more than 5 years of progressive and diverse experiences across a broad range of functions, Rojin has established herself as a forward-thinking Project Manager who takes pride in serving as a trusted advisor to her clients and stakeholders. Recognizing that each nonprofit's motivations and goals are uniquely different, Rojin leverages her knowledge of business, community, and organizational needs to help navigate change and identify mitigation strategies.
Rojin’s passion for change-making, advocacy, and upholding human rights has earned her a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Western University with a specialization in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction.
Ifeoluwa Olorunnipa
Project Manager
Ifeoluwa Olorunnipa brings over four years of experience providing project management, strategic planning and organizational development support to non-profits and mission driven consulting organizations in several countries. Her work is driven by her passion for sustainable social development, supporting organizations and stakeholders to deliver value and drive impact. Having worked across multiple sectors, implementing projects in health, civic engagement, food systems, women, and youth empowerment, Ifeoluwa draws on her diverse expertise to provide strategic guidance to clients and ensure successful project delivery.
Ifeoluwa holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Covenant University, Nigeria and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington, with specializations in international development and policy analysis.
Lynsey Kowalski
Learning Services Coordinator
Grounded in her passion for health and wellness with a focus on gender-informed health and childbirth education, the first of Lynsey's three separate diplomas is in fitness and lifestyles management with the following two in business administration. With over 5 years of experience in delivering solutions for clients in the non-profit sector, Lynsey is driven to help others unlock their true potential and overcome barriers on their journey. She is a friendly and engaging team player, who is excited to inspire others. At Laridae, Lynsey continues to serve the non-profit sector through relationship-building and coordinating capacity-building learning and development opportunities.
Diane Pick
Learning Facilitator & Coach
Diane is a member of Laridae's Learning Services team. Her expertise includes strategic leadership and building high functioning organizations. With 30 years of experience as a leader of Children’s Treatment Centres in Ontario she has a deep practical understanding of the challenges that leaders in not-for-profit organizations experience. Her knowledge and expertise provide community leaders with support to maximize their impact and leadership potential. Her communication and facilitation skills enhance the interactive training program so all participants sharpen their leadership skills to leverage their capacity to demonstrate effective outcomes for their organizations.
Diane has engaged in ongoing leadership training including a certificate in Public Sector Leadership from the Rotman School of Business and has held the designation of Certified Health Executive from the Canadian College of Health Leadership for more than 25 years.
Margaret van Beers
Learning Facilitator & Coach
Margaret is an innovative and results-oriented leader with more than 30 years' experience of bringing people together to build strategic partnerships and create a shared vision for success. Margaret’s background is in the child development and rehabilitation sector, having spent her most recent 15 years in non-profit senior leadership, governance, and partnership with senior Ministry officials on key initiatives.
As a Learning Facilitator and Coach at Laridae, she brings to this role expertise in strategic planning, change management, communications, and stakeholder relations. She is a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian Council of Health Leaders, and has completed a certificate in Public Sector Leadership from the Rotman School of Business. She is passionate about coaching others to develop leadership skills rooted in clearly articulated purpose and meaning.