Meet Our Team

Kristen has worked with GlobalLK since 2012. As a project manager and analyst she is intimately familiar with the current research and analysis of a range of diversity topics in the global workplace and market. Kristen has a deep understanding of unconscious bias, gender balance and diversity and inclusion challenges and opportunities.

Kristen has a Masters of Public Administration and a background in communications and public relations. Her experience as a policy intern in Ghana piqued her interest in intercultural competence. Working with private and public sector clients nationally and globally, Kristen has extensive experience developing and designing educational awareness programs.

Kristen is an Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator. As a project coordinator for GlobalLK, she focuses on creating strong client relationships for project success.

Peter is a seasoned business professional with a proven track record of delivering outstanding business support. After spending over 20 years in the technology sector in a variety of leadership roles, he transitioned to finance and administration where he has helped numerous organizations achieve their varied business goals. Peter is passionate about building rapport with others and has built a strong reputation as a professional of high integrity.

During his career, Peter has worked extensively with staff and clients in many countries including, Japan, Malaysia, India, France, Sweden, Austria, Canada, and the United States. Through these experiences, he has become adept at collaborating with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Catherine Chambers is an entrepreneur, learning and development practitioner and teacher-researcher. She has more than 25 years of organizational development and adult education experience in First Nations Communities, Canada, the United States, South Africa and the Caribbean. Catherine has worked in more than 20 municipalities and First Nation communities in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Catherine’s diverse industry knowledge is an outgrowth of her work in telecommunications, strategic performance measurement, information technology, financial services, chemical goods and services, education, child protection and other sectors. She is the owner of two GTA makerspaces which are also sites for her research on social change at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability and economic development.

Catherine is a Ph.D. student in the department of Social Justice Education (SJE) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto (OISE/UT). She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Western Ontario, and two graduate degrees in education (Master of Adult Education and Master of Teaching) from OISE. Catherine is also an Ontario Certified Teacher.

Debra Freathy served as the Program Director for Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), LLC from 2009-2014. Currently, she is an IDI Consultant with GlobalLK. She has conducted intercultural training using the IDI with executives, students, and instructors and has also conducted research using the IDI across business institutions in Europe. She brings her experience as a psychotherapist of 25 years to her work. Debra has lived, studied, and worked in Europe and Asia for 17 years and has taught graduate level Organizational Behaviour and Leadership in Executive MBA and MBA programs and Psychology courses. Debra was the recipient of the 2018 IDI Intercultural Competence Award.

Ms. Shinomiya is a consultant, corporate trainer, coach, webinar leader and author, specializing in leading effectively in a global environment, including intercultural communication competency, inclusive leadership and global virtual teaming for corporations, teams and individuals. Her current work includes leading cross-cultural coaching, training and interactive webinars related to North America, Asia and Europe, as well as business seminars on project management, leadership skills for high-tech managers, and coaching skills for managers. She has spent over ten years working and living in Asia, mostly in Japan, speaks Japanese and has studied Mandarin Chinese. She is co-author of the book Business Passport to Japan: Maximizing Your Success in the 21st Century, Revised and Updated, 2008, an essential guide for anyone who does business with Japan.

Upon receiving her MBA in International Business, Ms. Shinomiya joined a prominent California consulting firm as an Intercultural Business Specialist and Project Manager. Her first project was with a US-Japan steel-manufacturing joint venture. Next she was responsible for International Management Development programs for both Proctor and Gamble and Intel Corp., helping global employees succeed in a competitive US work environment. She managed the on-site program at Intel Japan KK in Tsukuba for six years. Working closely with Intel HR, she designed, conducted and managed a variety of global business and cultural competency development programs including working in the US for high-potentials, business communication, negotiation and globalization for high level executives. Other clients in Japan included P&G, Hitachi, Dell Computers, NEC and Motorola.

Ms. Shinomiya currently resides in the U.S. Northwest, and runs her own consulting company, Business Passport, which provides a range of services to growing companies and organizations seeking to be successful worldwide. Her clients have included Mitsubishi Bank, Intel Corp., KPMG, The Gap, Daimler, Micron, Siemens, Pfizer, Boeing, Fujitsu, Toyota, Nike and Starbucks. She has recently been invited to Portland State University’s Master of International Management program as an Adjunct Faculty Member, teaching Intercultural Competency and Communication. Her management consulting, coaching and training have taken her to all parts of the US, as well as Japan, Canada, England, Germany, India and South America. She is a Board Member for the Society of Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR-USA). She helped to develop a certification program for Global Diversity Practitioners, and has certification in Global Virtual Team facilitation, webinar delivery and e-learning. She is IDI, GCI, IRC and COI certified, and attends the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication in Portland nearly every year, recently completing courses in Global Leadership, Leading Virtual Teams and Emotional Intelligence and Diversity. Other professional associations include the Japan-America Society of Oregon, the Asia Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, the Technology Association of Oregon, and the World Affairs Council of Oregon.

Profondément passionné par les relations humaines, Maher a su mettre l’Humain au cœur de son parcours de carrière en étant un professionnel en Ressources humaines ainsi qu’un humanitaire engagé.

Au cours des 10 dernières années, Maher a acquis une expertise approfondie en gestion de la diversité grâce à des expériences professionnelles diversifiées tant comme consultant dans le secteur privé que dans l’humanitaire au sein de Médecin sans frontière. Animé par un profond souci de l’équité, de justice et d’inclusion, Maher cherche constamment à bâtir des ponts afin que les différences se rencontrent et que la diversité soit synonyme de succès et de prospérité.

Maher est un agent de changement préconisant un accompagnement de proximité, l’introspection et le développement personnel. Il prône une approche authentique centrée sur l’humain, l’écoute active, les dynamiques interpersonnelles et la mise en place de stratégies et objectifs réalistes et mesurables.

Maher est titulaire d’une Maîtrise en Sciences de la gestion et co-fondateur de la firme Nada Conseils offrant des services-conseils en Environnement et Changements climatiques ainsi qu’en Diversité et Inclusion.

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Deeply passionate about human relations, Maher has placed Humans at the centre of his career path by being a professional in Human Resources as well as a committed humanitarian.

Over the past 10 years, Maher has acquired in-depth expertise in the management of diversity through diverse professional experiences both as a consultant in the private sector and in humanitarian work with Médecin sans Frontières. Driven by a deep interest for equity, justice and inclusion, Maher constantly seeks to build bridges between differences so that diversity becomes synonymous with success and prosperity.

Maher is a change agent advocating for proximity support, introspection and personal development. He promotes an authentic human-centred approach, active listening, interpersonal dynamics and the implementation of realistic and measurable strategies and objectives.

Maher holds a Master in Management Sciences and co-founder of the firm Nada Conseils offering consulting services in Environment and Climate Change as well as in Diversity and Inclusion.

Eva has held a variety of specialist and management positions, from Director,Foreign Credential Recognition with the Tourism HR Council where she led initiatives for non-regulated professions, to Research & Development Specialistat Graybridge Malkam, where she developed diversity, equity and inclusion programming for corporations like The Ottawa Hospital, General Electric or 3M Canada.

As a senior consultant she has developed numerous competency profiles and frameworks, researched foreign credential and qualification recognition solutions, conducted secondary and primary research and analysis, and facilitated subject matter expert workshops. Her consulting experience spans law, health, mining, non-profit, fish harvesting and real estate sectors.

Every year, she coaches Canadian diplomats posted in central Europe and mentors newcomers to Canada, assisting them in finding skills-commensurate jobs.

Eva has studied in Austria and Denmark and holds Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Business Education (WES equivalent). She has continued her life-long learning on this side of the Atlantic in third party neutral processes, interviewing for intercultural effectiveness and personal development analysis and assessment. She is bilingual in English and German and reads French.

Eva is privileged to be living in rural Ottawa, the beautiful traditional lands of the Algonquin nations. Together with her partner they raise their anti-racist school age children.

Dr Niru Kumar is a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, Medical Doctor, Executive Coach, NLP Master Practitioner trained from Dr. Richard Bandler founder of NLP and a CHI Certified Teacher and Practitioner of Hypnosis.

Dr. Niru’s consulting and training sessions are one of a kind as she skillfully uses Diversity & Inclusion, Coaching skills, NLP and Hypnotherapy techniques to bring profound and authentic transformation in personal and professional lives of the participants.

A pioneer in the field of Diversity & Inclusion, Dr. Niru is the founder of a D&I Consulting firm Ask Insights. It is a woman-owned firm which has partnered with the world’s best thought leaders in the field.

Dr. Niru offers her expertise in Diversity Strategy, Policies, Talent Management, Assessments and Analytics covering areas of Gender Generation, LGBTQ, Disability and Unconscious Bias and Inclusion. She has provided consulting to more than 50 leading organizations and trained more than 30.000 people from Global Leaders to frontline workers in plants in the most remote areas.

She also coaches top Global Leaders in the field of Inclusive Leadership in one-to-one sessions. Through workshops and these sessions, the leaders are able to drive change within the organization to not only be inclusive but to leverage Diversity of Thought in Innovation and be Market Leaders.

Neil Sainani is currently a DEI Consultant and has spent the last 15 years working with a wide variety of clients on topics of diversity & inclusion, unconscious bias, anti-racism, and allyship, to name a few. Neil thrives in the classroom (Virtual or in-person), where he has the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Neil has had the opportunity to work with incredible initiatives and programs that tremendously impacted people and communities nationally including Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, racialized communities and 2SLGBTQI+ members, women, military veterans and many others.

In Neil’s spare time he spends time with his wife, his son, and their golden retriever (Piper Pickles). He also teaches a meditative breathing technique called Sky Breath Meditation.

Sandra is a strategic and collaborative leader and inclusion advocate who is always focused on creating positive, action- and measurement-driven outcomes and systemic changes, with a passion for sharing her knowledge and expertise across audiences and platforms.

As a consultant, Sandra has worked with a variety of clients from the private, public, and NGO sectors on strategic planning, organizational and business development, and tactical initiatives to ensure that equity and inclusion are always at a forefront in strategic and operational discussions and in policy and programming decisions. She’s worked collaboratively with Boards and executives to design, reframe, and/or implement innovative and systemic change-driven approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in governance frameworks and structures, including bylaws and corporate documents, as well as with leaders across business units/departments to ensure DEI is integrated in all their strategic and program planning and implementation.

Prior to her transition into consulting, Sandra spent 20 years developing and implementing DEI-focused and industry-driven workforce development and talent acquisition solutions that broadened opportunities for underrepresented, unemployed, and underemployed persons to connect to jobs in the digital economy. She has worked avidly, for example, to accelerate the integration of women, career re-starters, persons-at-risk, newcomers and refugees, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities and youth into the digital economy.

Liliana Cantú is a native Mexican and has a BS degree in Marketing and a Masters Degree in International Communication. She also holds the Intercultural Foundations Certificate awarded by the Intercultural Communication Institute, and is an Expert Panelist for the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks publication, sponsored by the Diversity Collegium.

She has professional experience in the fields of human resources, public relations and relocation destination services, as well as in the design, customization and delivery of intercultural, global leadership, communication skills, team building, creativity and innovation, problem resolution, ethics and diversity and inclusion training, in English and Spanish. Liliana has personal intercultural experience in several countries including the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Portugal.

Liliana has participated as a speaker and planning committee member at international symposia, and has served in different global councils. She is a freelance facilitator for several global training companies. She has delivered training programs, in English and Spanish, in over a dozen different countries, in organizations such as Novartis, Daimler, KPMG, Caterpillar, HP, Chrysler, DELL, PepsiCo, Toyota, Delphi, Starwood, Honeywell, Nielsen, LEGO, P&G, Bayer, Ford, Whirlpool, John Deere, Unilever, Coca Cola, Nissan, Under Armour, British American Tobacco, Medtronic, and the United Nations.

Liliana has also performed as a part time university professor at one of the most prestigious institutions in Latin America: the ITESM (commonly known as Monterrey Tech), where she has taught intercultural communication courses to national and international students. Liliana is the founding president for SIETAR Mexico (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research). She has delivered keynote speeches on Women's Empowerment and Diversity and Inclusion.

Karen has over twenty years of experience as a change management and training design and delivery consultant. A dynamic educator and facilitator, her expertise lies in supporting organizations with their change initiatives.

Karen has designed and delivered over 500 training sessions on managing change, team building, strategic planning, global leadership, effective coaching, conflict resolution, and training of trainers.

Karen's international experience has given her insight and appreciation of the challenges individuals and teams face in organizations, and around the globe.

She has worked in both the public and private sectors across Canada, as well as internationally in Central America, the Caribbean, India, Romania and the Russian Federation.

Karen holds a Master’s in Education from McGill University concentration Adult education. She is a part-time faculty member at McGill's Career and Management Department, where she teaches two courses: Diversity and Global Leadership in the workplace; and Developing Human - Resources Training & Development.

She is certified in both MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), SDI (Strength Deployment Inventory), DiSC and Insights Discovery.

Latoya Ming is a thought leader, facilitator and speaker who specializes in Sustainable Transformational Change, Cultural Competence, Talent Management and Personal Development. Described as inspirational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Latoya Ming’s approach provides practical strategies, grounded in global research and case studies, proven to foster high performance.

As the principal consultant at LMCC, Latoya Ming draws from over 10 years of experience as an HR Leader where she has successfully created and implement human capital strategies that have lasting impact in both the private and public sector.

Latoya holds a Master’s Certificate in Organizational Development and Change from Schulich. She is also certified as a Qualified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator, Prosci Change Management Practitioner (CMP), Global Clifton Strengths Coach, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Latoya Ming’s work is inspired by an interest in human potential and the simple idea that each person has the power within themselves to curate the life they desire.

Josy is an experienced Human Capital and Talent Development leader with more than 30 years of experience supporting organizations, nurturing and advancing leaders. She is a global certified ICC executive coach, facilitator/trainer and intercultural specialist, Josy enjoys partnering with organizations to develop a culture of inclusiveness and respect. She focuses on driving cultural change, whole systems thinking, strategic planning, building multicultural alliances, and inclusion/cultural competencies.

Josy’s easy-going personality, global experience, and multilingual skills make her a valuable partner in the global diversity/inclusion field. Her clients appreciate Josy’s use-of-self (personal storytelling), humor, and authenticity as she works to create a shift in behavior.

Josy has proven capability in coaching leaders, leading culturally diverse teams and operating in global organizations, as well as designing and delivering programs that focus on respect in the workplace, diversity, inclusion, unconscious bias, gender dynamics, sexual harassment, cultural competency, personal empowerment, and team effectiveness

Josy has a Master’s in French and Spanish Literature from City University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts, New York Teacher Certification from Marymount Manhattan College

Taruna is a Learning and Development professional with over 23 years of experience in adult education, workplace training, competency development, and performance improvement. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Science specializing in Community Resource Management and Education, MBA in Marketing and Human Resources, and a Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education from University of Victoria, Canada.
She has filled various learning and development positions in instructional design, learning consulting, and training management. She has designed over 300 learning projects (classroom/e-learning/blended) for Fortune 500 companies, Government organizations, and Industry associations in Canada and abroad. She has worked on a variety of projects including Competency Frameworks and Profiles, Job role/Career profiles, Training Needs Analysis, Curriculum Design and Development, Elearning Design and Development, Blended Learning, Competency-based Training and Assessment, and Competency-based assessment tools including exams, portfolio reviews, technical interviews and practical assessments.

Taruna strives to design workplace learning experiences that align with business needs and impact real-life work performance. She is a trusted partner to her clients and aims to provide innovative solutions for some of the most challenging problems.

Taruna is an instructor with University of Victoria and teaches courses in Instructional Design as a part of the Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education (CACE) program. She is passionate about volunteering and has written articles for United Nations Volunteers, served as a volunteer judge for multiple peer-reviewed benchmarking programs, and has been a Mentor with immigrant and refugee serving organizations. She currently serves as a Board Director at Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) and volunteers with the IEEE Standards Association on the “Defining Competencies Working Group.”

Taruna is a life-long learner, an active participant in industry events, and a speaker at local events. She is a reflective blogger and enjoys exploring the outdoors and nature photography.

Wendy Hirschberg has worked in the field of diversity inclusion for over 35 years. Her career in the field began at Catalyst, the international nonprofit whose mission is the advancement of women in business and professional services. From Catalyst, Wendy moved to Ernst & Young and became the chief strategist for the team overseeing Diversity and Inclusion for the US, was promoted to Director and expanded into a role on the Global Diversity Team. For her last six years as the Northeast Diversity and Inclusion Leader she was dedicated to strategic change, enhancing employee networks and coaching with a focus on people of color at the firm. Wendy is an innovative inclusion strategist and excels at practical and creative solutions to key career development processes with a focus on access and selection procedures. Wendy acted as an advisor to many corporate executive clients of Ernst & Young advising on diversity and inclusion strategies. She is an excellent executive coach and leverages global tools and certifications in her coaching.

Since Wendy left EY, she has launched Wendy Hirschberg Crossroads Inc. and has been actively working as a DEI consultant, working with large health care organizations, a global construction company, and smaller start-ups. Wendy authored a chapter on diversity and inclusion for the American Management Association book on Leadership. She excels at communicating the core concepts of how to be an inclusive leader within the specific context of the businesses in which she consults. Her passions include exposing unwritten rules in company culture and highlighting, in workshops, the role of the middle managers in creating inclusive culture.

Robert Adams, Jr., Ph.D. (he, him, his) is a cultural anthropologist. He has worked extensively in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America. As an architect of hope, Robert specializes in diversity and inclusion, mindful leadership, organizational change, and strategic planning. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President of Programs at the NEA Foundation in Washington, DC, where he oversaw the Foundation’s grant-making programs. Robert has also worked as an Executive-on-Loan/Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta and as an Individual and Community Transformation Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute Kalamazoo, Michigan. Robert identifies as an African-American male and lives in the Boston area.

Audrey worked for BMO Bank of Montreal for over a dozen years in a variety of increasingly senior roles including diversity and workplace equity, HR and communications. She led the Canadian Board Diversity Council as its Vice President.

Audrey completed an MA in Communications and Culture from Ryerson and York Universities. Her thesis focused on the Employment Equity Act. She also holds an MBA in Financial Services from Dalhousie University. She earned her BA (Hons) from McGill University and has also completed a number of professional programs including a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB), a Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from St. Mike’s College, a corporate leadership program from the Aspen Institute and a program in adult learning from Humber College.

Audrey has served on the board of Humber College and is a trustee of the CAAT pension plan. Audrey previously sat on the board of Toronto Community Housing Corporation, as well as Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter. She has completed board education with the Institute of Corporate Directors as well as the Get on Board governance education program.