Team

Director (and unofficial godfather of social innovation) 

Alex is a social entrepreneur who founded and leads Mendicant Group, a social issues consulting firm. He has also moderated the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance since its inception in 2010 and regularly speaks aroung the world on entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. Alex was one of 50 nonprofit leaders to be invited to attend Stanford University's Business School in 2013 and was named one of Canada's "Social Justice All-Stars" by This Magazine in 2015. He is known for his ability to make tasty puns and even tastier cookies for #CaffeinatedInnovators.

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Jake is a graduate of the School of Professional Communication at Toronto Metropolitan University. He joined the Office of Zone Learning's communications efforts in 2021, before moving to the Social Ventures Zone in 2023. Jake is passionate about utiliziling communication to further human and social rights, focusing his culminative undergraduate research on reproductive rights and the mass media. Jake cannot bake, because he sees it as science, but will be there to compliment the baking at #CaffeinatedInnovators.

Coordinator (and resident DJ)

Sarah graduated from the Environment and Urban Sustainability program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2016. During her time as a student she founded Microbe Hub, a startup that diverts organic waste from landfills using worms and uses this as a tool to engage classrooms in environmental stewardship and science. Sarah has been working to increase sustainability on campus and is a passionate advocate for social justice. She will try and match Alex on his puns, and if the moment takes her, will attempt to bake something for #CaffeinatedInnovators.