Appointee Biographies

MICHAEL RAS

Michael Ras is a public affairs and strategic communication professional with broad experience advising a variety of industries, professional bodies and corporations across Canada. Michael is presently Senior Vice President at Counsel Public Affairs. Prior to this position, he was Director of Government & Stakeholder Relations at leading financial institution and prior to that was Executive Director of a professional legal association. In his community, Michael is a volunteer Board member with Radius Child & Youth Services, a leading provider of assessment and counselling services to children and families affected by abuse. He is also on the Board of Career Edge, a social enterprise that provides recent graduates and new Canadians employment opportunities through internship work placements. He is Chair of the Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee for the Province of Ontario. Michael is a proud graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University (Hons BA, Political Science, 1994).

SIMON CHAN

Simon is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Adapt with Intent Inc., a consulting firm specializing in reframing thinking and redesigning work across life stages. His focus is on the intersection of longevity and work, guiding leaders, educators, and organizations in adapting careers and work systems to the dynamics of the longevity economy. With over 25 years of experience, Simon, before founding his firm in 2022, served as Vice-President at Communitech, leading talent and learning initiatives for a diverse range of companies. Prior to that, he held a strategic role at Manulife, overseeing group retirement, benefits, retail wealth, and insurance. Simon's expertise in the future of work, innovation, and the longevity economy enables him to support senior leadership in developing strategies for 100-year lives. He holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and serves as Vice-Chair of the university board. Additionally, he has CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and CPRC (Certified Retirement Coach) designations. Beyond his professional pursuits, Simon engages in coaching basketball, reading in coffee shops, and cycling across Ontario. He resides in Kitchener, Ontario.

AVONWY PETERS

Avvey Peters is an innovation ecosystem strategist who excels at putting plans into action. She has led project teams in a diverse range of communities to raise funds, develop strategy, create partnerships, and build innovation infrastructure to support their economic development goals. Avvey has worked as the Chief Strategy Officer for Communitech - Canada's leading innovation hub. She has also coached the leadership teams of a dozen innovation organizations, helping them to leverage collaboration as a tool for growth. In addition to her leadership roles in strategy development, advocacy, communications and media relations, Avvey has worked as a television news writer for a national Canadian broadcaster, and as the primary speechwriter and communications lead for the President of the University of Waterloo. She is one of the co-founders of Canada’s Tech Network.

SHELLEY BOETTGER

Shelley Boettger serves as a member (part-time) for Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin Grant Review Team, Ontario Trillium Foundation, an Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations for Center for International Governance Innovation, and a Chief Financial Officer (active) for Innovation Asset Collective. Shelley’s community involvement includes serving as founding board member and Treasurer for Soroptimist International of Kitchener Waterloo.

JOSEPH MICALLEF

Joseph Micallef brings nearly 30 years of experience, 14 years of which at executive leadership level, leading in professional services firms across various specialized industries. He actively serves on several boards, associations, and charitable organizations, as well as engage in public service at the federal and provincial level, where he leverages his expertise in leadership, strategy, and governance to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential. Throughout his career, Joseph has had numerous opportunities to advance because he is passionate about public policy and regulatory advisement, community building and engagement, and fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.

GARY EDWARDS

Dr. Edwards is an executive and advisor whose career spans policy, research, and innovation. A two-time Laurier graduate (PhD, MA), he co-founded Golfdale Consulting, leading national and global projects on cybersecurity, privacy, AI governance, and financial inclusion. He has served as Country Manager of Gallup Canada and Chief Customer Officer at Empathica, contributing to its successful acquisition. He serves on the Board of the Cyber Security Global Alliance and was a senior advisor to IIBA. Gary is a mentor at the Lazaridis StartUp Lab and past judge of Laurier’s 3MT. Known for making complex data actionable, he frequently advises on regulation and technology risk. With a BA from Western, a Data Science certificate from MIT, and ICD training in AI oversight, he brings lifelong learning and purpose-driven governance to his roles. Dr. Edwards has a lifelong connection to Wilfrid Laurier University, a deep respect for its legacy, and a forward-looking vision aligned with its future.