Team

Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) brings together a passionate team of individuals who are results-driven, move at the speed of business and are dedicated to helping the province of Ontario drive economic growth through intellectual property (IP) and commercialization. 

If you are interested in joining the IPON team, check out our open positions.

Denise Bagheri

Director, Programs & Operations

  • With a passion for strategy development and public policy, Denise has over 15 years of experience at local, federal, and provincial governments. She drives change by working collaboratively with colleagues to advance priorities and deliver results. Prior to joining IPON, she worked at the Ontario Public Service where she held various strategic positions across multiple ministries, leading and advising on projects for key government commitments – most recently working on the establishment of IPON. Denise holds a Master of Public Health from Lakehead University and an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from Western University.

  • Denise enjoys spending time with her young family, which includes dining at Toronto’s finest establishments, visiting the local playground and watching dance performances by her kids.

Priya Balakumar

Client Relations & Program Advisor

  • Priya brings several years of experience in account management, developing and analyzing customer insights, and delivering marketing campaigns. Most recently as Trade Commissioner at Global Affairs Canada, Priya was a first point of contact for client and prospective clients to support them in their international expansion and export journey, respond to referral opportunities, and provide guidance on program fit. She was the lead on Minority and Black-owned files and liaised with partner organizations to improve opportunities for this inclusive trade group with a focus on client success. Priya is also experienced in writing client success stories, conducting client recruitment and onboarding, and leading performance measurement for KPIs and client satisfaction. Priya holds a Bachelor of International Business with an Honours Specialization in Marketing and Trade, as well as a Master of Science in Management in International Business.

  • Priya loves to travel and has been to 27 countries so far. She has both studied and work in Mexico and India. In her free time Priya also enjoys painting, cooking, reading and spending time with her puppy!

Karen Blakey

Head of People & Culture

  • Karen is an experienced people & culture leader in the technology industry building and growing high performance teams. Previously at NexJ Systems and Questrade, Karen was responsible for leading the People & Culture team, attracting and retaining top talent, and developing and supporting an inclusive and high performing work culture. Karen is active in the HR tech community and maintains relationships with post-secondary institutions acting as a professor, guest speaker, and mentor for HR and business. Karen holds her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, a postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management from George Brown College, and is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL).

  • Karen likes to stay active and is always on the lookout for somewhere to practice her pull-ups.

  • From local governments to Australia’s diplomatic corridors, and now at the heart of Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, Laura’s career has been a journey of evolution and impact. Injecting positivity and humour wherever possible, she aims to transform complex information into language that’s both simple to understand and enjoyable to read. At IPON, Laura’s right at home turning the big ideas of IP into narratives that educate, encourage and excite. Equipped with an honours degree in English, a postgraduate certificate in public relations and corporate communications, and notable experience at the intersection of public service and innovation, Laura has carved out a unique niche in communications leadership. She looks forward to connecting with you!

  • An avid nature enthusiast, Laura’s longest camping trip to date was a 7.5-month adventure spanning three countries across both hemispheres.

Laura Bunn

Communications Lead

  • Eleanor brings both public and private sector experience in project and program management, governance, sponsor and stakeholder management, member support, and business development. She has an enthusiasm for working with data, stakeholders, and innovation. Eleanor holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with an Economics Minor and a Master of Business Administration and Management of Technology and Innovation.

  • Eleanor is always up for a puzzle challenge – jigsaw, wordsearch, and more.

Eleanor Bushell

Program Lead

Shannon Chakma

Program Analyst

  • Shannon is a new graduate from the University of Waterloo, where she completed a Bachelor in Science and Business with a focus in technology development and innovation. She has completed a number of diverse co-op experiences ranging from accounting and analysis to product marketing and design. In a recent co-op experience at Geotab, Shannon guided stakeholder interviews, created journey maps based on customer research, standardized data workflows, and drove continuous improvements.

  • Shannon’s daily routine involves yoga and doing the NY Times Mini crossword.

Michael Colucci

Manager, IP

  • Michael is a Canadian and US patent agent with over 20 years in IP, including both private practice and in-house experience. Previously at ABC Technologies, his role ranged from IP administration, analysis and landscaping, to IP management. As the sole IP professional, he was responsible for implementing a value driven IP management system to align IP procurement with core business strategies. Michael brings a passion for client education and engagement.

  • Carson is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management at the University of Guelph. He brings experience from a Digital Marketing and Sales Coordinator internship at United Craft where he led content creation efforts for over 15 brands while also running his own business, Nest Media, as a freelance videographer, photographer and graphic designer. He is actively engaged in various extracurricular activities including the Lang Student Association’s Marketing Division to deepen his understanding of marketing principles and digital design.

  • I am an outdoor enthusiast! From Skiing to biking, rock climbing to hiking, I thrive in nature. I spent over a year in Banff, Alberta, soaking in the Rockies. If it’s an outdoor adventure, count me in!

Carson Davis

Multimedia & Marketing Coordinator

  • Niyosha’s passion for creative thinking and digital strategizing has landed her various roles in social media management and content marketing. Prior to IPON, she worked at tech-first international organizations where she developed an understanding of—and an interest in—the innovation ecosystem. She holds a degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications Management from Sheridan College and has attended UofT Scarborough for Journalism.

  • Niyosha has to play Wordle every day before work.

Niyosha Freydooni

Digital Marketing Specialist

Dan Herman, PhD

CEO

  • Dan Herman, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer of Intellectual Property Ontario. Dan has previously held executive positions in both the public and private sector including being the executive director of innovation policy at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), co-founder of the Centre for Digital Entrepreneurship and Economic Performance, as well as co-founder of a failed artificial intelligence startup. Dan is also a part-time filmmaker and has produced a documentary series about innovation ecosystems around the world, as well as on the war in Ukraine, and is a lecturer at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Dan previously served as the Government of Ontario’s special advisor on the creation of a centralized intellectual property resource and was a member of the Province’s Expert Panel on Intellectual Property. He holds a PhD in political economy from the Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University.

  • Dan recently took a year-long sabbatical with his wife and two kids, travelling through over 30 countries on five continents.

Chelsea Hettigama

Co-op Analyst, Research & IP

  • Chelsea is an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo, pursuing a BA in the Honours Arts and Business program with a major in Legal Studies. Before this co-op placement, she had experience working in logistics and content/digital marketing. Chelsea has taken on various leadership roles in student clubs, such as Co-Editor in Chief for a student-run magazine. In addition, she recently worked as a research assistant alongside her professor, conducting research in a comparative study that examines how members of local communities in Canada and other countries generate self-made measurements of environmental changes, poverty, and social inequalities, often to challenge scientific findings generated by the state.

  • Outside of her bustling life as a university student, she is part of the Dragon Boat Team. In her spare time, she enjoys compiling a list of go-to restaurants she will probably never visit.

Jarrod Hicks

Director, IP

  • Jarrod enjoys working with startups and scale-ups. Each company has its own strengths and challenges, and he relishes the opportunity to help them succeed along their individual journeys. He has experience in numerous divergent technologies, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural computing. Prior to joining IPON, he thrived in IP procurement and prosecution representing several multinational companies in Silicon Valley. He holds bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and mathematics, and obtained his JD from Santa Clara University. He has been a registered U.S. patent lawyer for over 15 years.

  • Jarrod has an immense passion for sports and coaches his children’s hockey and baseball teams. He has played hockey for many years and has recently taken up curling.

Michael Huynh

General Counsel

  • Michael is an experienced executive leader and bilingual government lawyer. He served as a strategic legal advisor, appeared before tribunals, courts and parliamentary committees, advised on commercial agreements and legislation, built collaborative relationships with federal and provincial ministries, and led multi-disciplinary high-functioning teams. Previously, Michael served as an executive team member of a professional regulator, leading change management initiatives. Before studying law at McGill, he worked in genetics and holds a Bachelor of Science (McGill), Master of Science (UofT), and privacy professional certificate (CIPP/C). He’s served on a variety of boards of directors as well as on Ontario’s innovative, oncology-specialized research ethics board.

  • Michael is a certified tennis coach and loves to help people improve. He’s also an avid player – when indoor courts were shut down in Toronto during the pandemic, he and his pals would shovel snow off outdoor courts (there’s a special technique) and play at below freezing temperatures.

Naya Javni

Graphic Design & Marketing Coordinator

  • Naya is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management at the University of Guelph. Most recently as Marketing Communications Intern at Ivan Franko Long-Term Care Home, she developed a social media strategy, designed promotional content, coordinated email marketing initiatives and evaluated the effectiveness of their campaigns. During her previous co-op terms, Naya managed Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages, mastered Canva and Mailchimp, and played a key role in rebranding discussions. Through Naya’s studies and co-op experiences, she has developed strong research and competitive analysis skills by planning and executing multi-channel marketing campaigns with a customer-centric approach. This term, Naya is eager to build upon her current graphic design skills and create compelling content that is tailored to the interests of IPON’s target audience.

  • Naya has a passion for travel and is excited to continue exploring Europe this fall during her exchange in La Rochelle, France. Naya is also very passionate about the automotive industry. She supports the Gryphon Racing Formula team as Sponsorship Co-ordinator during academic terms at the University of Guelph.

Alicia Jiang

Education Content Creation and Delivery Specialist

  • Alicia is a passionate and resourceful instructional designer. Her dedication to creating innovative and learner-centered learning solutions is driven by a unique blend of creativity and analytical thinking. With a deep understanding of the power of learning technologies and tools, Alicia ensures the delivery of dynamic and interactive learning experiences that effectively cater to the diverse needs of learners.

    With a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Community Development, and with an understanding of how adults learn best, she is able to design engaging and effective learning content that resonates with trainees and drives positive outcomes.

  • Alicia is a part time instructor at the University of Toronto. She enjoys interacting with adult learners and delivering an enjoyable learning experience.

Prerak Jiwane

Data Analytics, Research & IP Co-op

  • Prerak is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Engineering at University of Waterloo. This will be his third co-op experience. Most recently as Data Engineer at Andorix Inc., Prerak successfully built a data analysis tool for secure processing and transfer of network data to the database. Prerak has a solid foundation in data engineering fundamentals and project work that enhanced his understanding of data gathering processes, large data models, and the importance of effective data transformations.

  • My current obsessions are going to the rock climbing gym on the weekdays and watching movies in the cinema on the weekends.

Amon Khakimov

Sr. Director, Corporate Affairs

  • Amon has over 15 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service. He has held numerous strategic positions in various ministries leading key initiatives, such as intellectual property, open government, benefits realization, as well as digital and service modernization programs and projects. Amon has a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research on the use of the internet to engage and educate citizens in developing nations.

  • Amon has two classically trained kids and spends a lot of his free time attending classical music events and concerts with his family.

Mariya Kravchuk

Team Lead, Client Success

  • Mariya makes it her priority to ensure that IPON celebrates its clients and remains a client-oriented organization as it scales. Prior to joining IPON, Mariya spent 20 years working on the client’s side in the private sector. Mariya loves the culture and the creativity that comes with working at a startup and brings an international outlook to IPON.

    Mariya holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Accounting with German from University of Bristol.

  • Mariya has a passion for learning new languages (currently learning French and Portuguese) and believes that 10,000 steps a day can make all your problems go away.

Dawn Landry

Sr. Director, Strategy & Partnerships

  • Dawn has over 20 years of experience in multiple senior management roles and was most recently the Director of the Intellectual Property Secretariat; a joint initiative between the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. There, Dawn led a team to establish and design Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON). She worked closely with the Special Advisor to the government, Dan Herman, on the policies, services and functions of IPON including conducting extensive consultations with internal and external stakeholders. Previously Dawn was also the Director of the Culture Policy Branch at the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport where she successfully delivered numerous government commitments and priorities including the development of the government’s first Culture Strategy. This included co-chairing high profile working groups in film, television and interactive digital media sectors, as well as working groups at the federal, provincial and territorial level working on key government initiatives such as copyright reform.

  • Dawn’s first language is French and was born and raised in small French community in Northern Ontario called Smooth Rock Falls. She loves kickboxing and spending time with her two kids, husband and dog.

Christopher Leclerc

Program Lead

  • Chris has several years of experience managing multiple projects, client intake resources, and program delivery in the startup space. Most recently, he was the Manager, Venture Studio Program and Client Experience at Accelerator Centre where he successfully designed and launched multiple programs, mapped out processes and delivery guides, and implemented program dashboards and tools to align stakeholders on project deliverables and timelines. Chris also holds a Bachelor of Medical Science in Physiology & Pharmacology and a Masters of Engineering Science in Biomedical Engineering.

  • Chris is an avid traveler who has spent a year living in Australia and has visited every continent except Antarctica. In addition to his love for travel, he enjoys scuba diving and playing golf during the warmer summer months.

Melvin Mathew

IP Analyst

  • Melvin excels at offering business solutions based on information regarding intellectual property because of his deep interest in mechanical engineering and technological research. Melvin has worked with engineers, business executives, and attorneys while primarily connected with the Honeywell Aerospace Intellectual Property Analytics team. Melvin has experience working on a variety of IP projects, such as prior art searches, patent landscape projects, searches for freedom to operate, whitespace analysis, and searches for patent validity, among others. Currently, he is a Business Management student at Fanshawe College as well. He also enjoys photography and badminton.

  • Melvin practices yoga and meditation every day.

Rose Marie Nelson

Senior Financial Analyst

  • Rose Marie has over 15 years of broad experience in accounting and finance in diverse industries. Her skill sets and experience includes full cycle accounting, internal and external audits, project accounting, financial planning and analysis, contract management, process design, lean continuous improvement, business analysis and payroll. Most recently at the City of Mississauga, she acted as the sole accounting professional within the Facilities and Property Management Division (F&PM) and was heavily involved in developing the capital budgets, internal & external reporting (PSAB, Stats Canada), asset management planning and long-term capital forecasting for the business. Rose Marie played a key role in the preparation of F&PM business plan and Corporate Asset Management - annual Infrastructure brochure by producing facilities data and key performance tables on city-owned facilities. She has both private and public sector experience and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified General Accountant (CGA). She holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Dean’s Honours list) from Laurentian University.

  • Rose Marie likes to learn about how people lived in historical times and one of her favourite past times is to watch movies and read books that are set in the 19th century.

    She also like gardening and going for walks on her local trails, especially in the fall when the weather is cooler and she can observe the leaves changing colours.

Cheryl Nicholson

Chief Operating Officer

  • Geoffrey is a recognized leader in the field of intellectual property, most recently holding the positions of VP, Intellectual Property and Legal Counsel with a leading-edge network company, as well as Founder of an IP law firm with clients around the world. His degrees in both computer science and biology/environmental science provide him with the knowledge necessary to assist clients in the computer software, computer technology, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical, health care, medical devices, telecommunications, and oil and gas industries, among others. Geoffrey has represented clients before the Federal Court in IP litigation, prosecuted IP applications, and drafted and negotiated agreements for the commercialization of IP. Geoffrey provides leadership and technical oversight of the intellectual property aspects of IPON’s services, leads client intake and supports the delivery of services.

Geoffrey North

Vice President, IP

  • Cheryl has 15+ years of executive experience in managing transformation and growth strategies in Canadian top non-profit, retail, technology, and tourism companies. Cheryl has experience working in startup environments as well as managing large-scale teams and operations. In her most recent role at MaxSold as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Cheryl helped the company achieve aggressive growth targets through the implementation of a reorganization plan that allowed the company to scale effectively.

    Her past experiences across different sectors and organization types allow Cheryl to understand all aspects of a business. She is highly experienced in reporting to Boards, in startup environments, and managing various operations across the technology sector. Cheryl is known professionally for being able to bridge gaps between teams and individuals and create alignment within an organization.

    Cheryl holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Psychology from York University.

  • Cheryl loves to travel! She has been to 50% of the world’s Disney parks.

  • Sonia is a bilingual Canadian and US Patent Agent and has strategic and hands-on experience in procuring, developing, protecting, and licensing IP. Her experience spans private practice, government agencies, and in-house. Most recently at the Department of National Defence, Sonia managed the IP licensing sub-program focused on promoting continued industry advancement and improving the program’s performance. Sonia also has in-house start-up experience from HEXO Operations, where she collaborated to build the organization’s global IP strategy, developed IP best practices, and led IP education for management and stakeholders. Sonia has her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry.

  • Sonia has an extensive collection of dad jokes.

Sonia Patenaude

Manager, IP

Nikki Romano

Corporate & Policy Lead

  • Nikki is a passionate changemaker with a strong commitment to helping businesses and industries grow through effective public policy. Nikki's expertise in government relations, combined with her policy development and program design experience, has been instrumental in driving projects for government and public sector agencies. Prior to joining IPON, Nikki worked at the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) where she contributed to the startup of the legal cannabis industry, leading policy and regulatory changes to position Ontario as a leader in the cannabis space. Nikki previously participated in the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme, holds a Master of Arts in Political Science, and an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Studies.

  • Nikki is a music enthusiast and a classically trained pianist who can make a piano sing, but when it comes to singing herself, she feels better suited playing.

Dilsher Singh

IP/Patent Analyst

  • Dilsher has more than 7 years of experience in IP research and analysis in the areas of life sciences, healthcare, and biotechnology. Most recently at Clarivate, he led an IP project team to perform patent searches, drafting, and claim chart preparation. He conducted patent analytics to identify trends, and provide insights and reports to clients and stakeholders. Previously at Evalueserve, he conducted landscape and whitespace analysis to help clients visualize current technology and innovation trends. He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology Engineering. Dilsher is experienced in developing excel VBA macros and brings a keen interest in further developing his automation and programming skills, along with his passion for IP and technology.

  • Dilsher mostly listens to French and Arabic music, even though he doesn’t understand a word of either.

Gilo Sivan

Executive Assistant to CEO

  • Gilo has managed and led administrative functions in various organizations for over 20 years. She has worked with companies in the private sector and public sector during startup.

  • She plays trivia with a group of friends every week and volunteers as a mentor.

Deborah Smith-Webber

Senior Policy Advisor

  • Deborah is a senior lawyer and government relations specialist with 20+ years of public, private and civic sector leadership experience in technology, media and telecommunications. She has a successful record of providing strategic government relations and public policy leadership, advice and advocacy on IP issues.

  • Deborah loves animals. She lives with two dogs, one cat, one parrot, one jumping spider and various different types of fish.

Kristy Smith

Policy Advisor

  • With a passion for technology, innovation and public policy, Kristy has held positions at several international organizations and non-profits advising on effective communications outputs and policy positions. Prior to joining IPON, she completed a research fellowship with Global Affairs Canada where she studied and advised on issues related to technology security including IP and research. Kristy holds a Master of International Public Policy from the Balsillie School of International Affairs, a Bachelor of Arts from Western University, and a post-graduate certificate in Communications and Public Relations from Fanshaw College.

  • Despite living in a landlocked city, Kristy has always been obsessed with oceans which has led her to free diving remote atolls, scuba diving underwater museums and running into a few wild sharks, sea turtles and dolphins along the way.

  • Kiran brings a diverse background in market strategy, digital product management, data science (AI/ML), consulting, strategic planning and team leadership. Kiran has worked with both startups and Fortune 500 companies in hands-on and strategic roles. Most recently at Sustainalytics, acquired by Morningstar, Kiran’s team developed and implemented a flagship product to significantly increase the volume of ESG Risk Ratings for global companies while also reducing operating costs using AI/ML architecture solution design. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering, an MBA, and a Certificate of Data Science.

  • I love spending time creating Art in my spare time, primarily landscapes and abstract paintings. Occasionally I dabble in digital medium as well.

Kiran Sohi

Digital Operations Manager

  • Tracy has a passion for organization which has served her well over an extensive career in administration and events. Her experience includes not-for-profit, financial and business services. Her previous roles include Right Management, Canadian Youth Business Foundation and N.A.B.S. At IPON, she gets to work with all facets of the organization including finance, HR and services. Tracy holds a diploma in Public Relations from Humber College.

  • Tracy is passionate about animals and in particular rhino conservation. This has resulted in two trips (so far) to Africa to photograph and learn more about these amazing, endangered creatures.

Tracy Statema

Admin Assistant / Scheduler

Meenu Sunny

Manager, IP Analyst

  • With a profound zeal for innovation and intellectual property, Meenu brings her wealth of experience as a Patent Analyst to the table. Her expertise revolves around extensive research and analysis of patents across diverse technologies, granting clients invaluable insights and empowering them to make well-informed decisions about their intellectual property strategies. Prior to joining IPON, Meenu played a pivotal role at Honeywell, where her responsibilities encompassed conducting comprehensive prior art searches, analyzing patent landscapes, assessing patent validity, performing freedom-to-operate analyses, and facilitating enforcement analysis. Her educational background includes a Master's degree in Power Electronics & Drives, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

  • Meenu holds a green belt in karate.

Alena Voloboeva

Controller

  • Alena has 15+ years of experience in financial reporting, full cycle accounting, financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, internal controls, and accounting policies and procedures. Most recently as Financial Controller at SkinGen International, she oversaw the accounting functions for the company and its international subsidiaries, preparing financial statements and shareholder notes, and developing business processes and accounting policies to strengthen accounting controllers. Alena is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). She also holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science, majoring in Accounting, and a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Linguistics.

  • Alena enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

  • Isabelle is currently a Master of Global Affairs student at University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University. As an Innovation Policy Researcher, Isabelle is expanding her research portfolio at U of T's Innovation Policy Lab. She was recently awarded the federal SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarship to develop a research project on Canadian innovation policy, where she will interview policymakers and employ both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and modelling. Isabelle has a passion and commitment to fostering the growth of Ontario’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through IP-led commercialization and research.

  • I love spending time outside. I recently ran a half marathon in Toronto, but I also love just walking and talking with my friends and family.

Isabelle Watkinson

Policy Analyst

  • 6+ years of experience being a good boy, and 1 year of being a reliable IPON team member alongside his mom Kristy.

  • Bentley experiences anxiety, but manages it well.

Bentley

Intellectual Pawperty Expert