Teniesha (Nenookaasi/Neno) Ochrym (She/They/Them) is an Afro-Indigenous, disabled (late diagnosed AuDHD), Queer/2Spirit, women, mental health advocate, and surthriver of the Millenial Scoop & child welfare activist. Neno is a Downtown Toronto born Multi-Media artist. As a singer/songwriter/composer, dancer, live performance artist she exposes the benefits of healing through plant medicines, vulnerability, self-love & self-empowerment.

Nikki Shaffeeullah (she/her) is a theatre & film artist, facilitator, researcher, writer, producer, and equity worker. She is Director of Programming at Generator Performance, and she leads artistic and sector-change projects through her organization Undercurrent Creations. Past roles include serving as Artistic Director of The AMY Project and Editor-in-Chief of alt.theatre magazine. With the National Arts Centre - English Theatre, she conceived, curated and produced Stages of Transformation, a multi-year creative research project exploring what the theatre sector can learn from abolition movements.

Based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh first nations, Kenji’s experiences are diverse and grounded in his passion for the arts, education, and building community, and influenced by his Uchinanchu heritage. He brings with him over 20 years of experience within the cultural sector working within local to national contexts, and across sector disciplines. Kenji has held positions working on, with, and alongside boards and governance structures, in addition to coaching and guiding others who are navigating the joys and complexities of the evolving dynamics that come with working with humans. He is currently the Executive Director of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, co-lead of Pathways, an equity and access (un)learning program, and a faculty member with Banff Centre’s Cultural Leadership Program. He loves spreadsheets, chewy chocolate chip cookies, and his husband Alan.

Hungarian-born mezzo, actor, creator and collaborator, Bó (Margaret) Bárdos, is based in Southern Ontario and loves touring. At home with classical as well as new, experimental music, appearances make use of her varied training: from Butoh dance and physical theatre to extended vocal technique and improvisation. She is a grateful member of the studio of Tom Schilling, is a peer assessor for funders across Canada, sat on the board for NUMUS and IAM, and continues as Company Manager at MT Space in Kitchener, where her focus is on deepening wrap around support and welcome for artists and collaborators. When not on stage, in the studio, or working with arts organizations, she can be found on the back of a horse, or meditating under her favourite clump of trees.

Laura Margita began her artistic career in Ottawa receiving a BFA from the University of Ottawa in 1991. She began her studio practice at the EBA in visual and new media projects. Now as Gallery 101's Director/Curator, Laura Margita leads with 30+ years' experience serving arts organizations from Saskatoon to Ottawa. She served on these wonderful boards on over the years: the Asinabka Film & Media Festival, Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO), Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference (ARCA), Plains Association of Artist-Run Centres (PARCA), Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA), AKA Gallery and the Hintonburg Cultural Association.

Erin Jones (she/her) is co-director of Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) as well as a multi hyphenate in acting, play writing, and directing.

Susie Burpee is the Executive Director of Balancing Act Canada, a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing equity for artist and arts worker parents and caregivers across Canada. A former professional dance artist, a mother and a caregiver, Susie brings both lived experience and deep sector knowledge to her leadership in transforming arts workplaces to support the needs of caregivers.

Heidi Mehta (she/her) is a trained trauma therapist and registered social worker (MSW, RSW) in private practice, consultant, artist, and activist in Tkaronto. Heidi is passionate about building communities of care and supporting folks who care about how they show up in the world. Heidi works from a liberation framework and has extensive experience supporting IBPOC communities, ILGBTQ2SIA+ folks; people with disabilities; survivors; and people living at the intersections of identities. Heidi uses a liberation framework rooted in anti-oppression, equity, and social justice. Heidi has worked extensively in community, education, and health care settings. Her website is www.heidimehtatherapist.ca and she can also be found on Psychology Today.

Dr. Loree Erickson’s (she/her) activist, research, and teaching interests include disability justice, abolition, porn studies, cultures of un/desirability, queercrip porn, and media.  She currently teaches at U of T and OCAD.  She’s an award-winning porn performer/maker.  Along with other community organizing, she is a forerunner in theorizing and thriving through care collectives. She’s a white settler queer femmegimp, cat lady, lover of sun, social justice and sparkly things. IG: femmegimp  IG: Loree_carecollective Website: cultivatingcollectivecare.com

Dave DeGrow is a theatre maker, teacher and union organizer in Toronto who has been part of some 400 productions across Canada. He is a member organizer for CUPE 3902, and a founding member of the Means of Production Collective, an advocacy group working to improve conditions for independent Production Managers and Technical Directors.

I help Black women, femmes & survivors of sexual assault move from survival to sovereignty. My work is rooted in creating radical safety, belonging to oneself, somatically releasing unprocessed material or states of terror from the body, and dismantling the historical narratives that live in our DNA and tries to diminish our worth.   Together, we do the deep, sacred work of somatic de-armoring and authentic reclamation so you fully inhabit your body, own your desire, and step into your value.

Liz Idowu is a Yoga Alliance-certified instructor whose practice is as deep as it is diverse. With formal training across multiple yoga traditions — from the dynamic flow of Ashtanga to the meditative stillness of Yin and the healing surrender of Restorative yoga — Liz brings a truly holistic understanding of the practice to every class she leads.

Her path to the mat is anything but ordinary. As a classically trained contemporary dancer with a BFA from Concordia University and studies at Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Liz has spent years exploring how the body moves, breathes, and heals — across studios, stages, and continents. That rich background in movement science and performance informs every cue, every adjustment, and every sequence she offers.

Whether you're seeking strength and discipline, deep release, or a gentle return to yourself, Liz holds space for every body and every level. Her classes are known for their warmth, their intelligence, and their invitation to slow down and truly arrive.

Jothi(she/her pronouns) is a South Asian mama creative who had been on a personal healing journey since the birth of her first child 19 years ago. Her mission to reunite her mind, body, and spirit led her to somatic work and embodied leadership. Jothi leads community from a culturally responsive, trauma informed space that is rooted in ancestral wisdom. Jothi is an intuitive leader and holds space from a gentle and loving heart supporting folks to tap into the body and spirit through touch, movement, breath, and sound.

Hi, I’m Jungle Flower (she/her)! I’m a trauma-informed facilitator who takes a holistic approach to supporting people on their wellness journeys, with a specialty in working with people who’ve experienced abuse and S.A. I use sound baths, somatic approaches, writing, pranayama and the arts to help people process their trauma and live whole and integrated lives.

Kejo Kameke Buchanan is an Afro-Canadian with disabilities sharing space as a storyteller, facilitator, arts public librarian and oral history executive producer. As a community radio host, Kejo (kee-jo) curates an award winning folk acoustic trail Jali Journey. Kameke Speak Easy is another creative initiative of poetry, prose and sound through live engagement to exchange collective knowledge, healing and growth.