Executive Leadership Program

Peter Ferreria has 20 plus years of education, sales and executive leadership experience spanning across diverse organizations including: Canadian & Global companies in IT, SaaS, Finance, Wholesale, Retail, eCommerce, Learning and Development industries for brands such as Synnex, CIT, Dell Technologies, Turning Technologies, AtmanCo., Halifax Sales Executive Consulting, and Luxury brands such as Cavalinho. Peter is a corporate facilitator for Continuing Education and Corporate Training at Georgian College where he delivers customized industry-driven, quality training that supports sectors including: healthcare, manufacturing, business, education and corporate organizations.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Leadership and a Business Management Diploma from Georgian College along with the following certificates: Effective Manager, American Management Association, Signature Selling, Welch & Pridmore and Leadership/Coaching and Team building.

Irena is a collaborative leader guiding community research, collective impact, data management, community development, social innovation, and knowledge mobilization. Bringing over 18 years of expertise leading social and community services research projects within municipal government, Irena is systems thinker and has worked alongside executive leadership teams to help make the complex more tangible when it comes to creating new types of innovation

Irena is the Director for the Child Youth and Family Services Coalition of Simcoe County, Irena guides the operational functions and strategic planning to support the Coalition’s mission of maximizing the capacity, effectiveness, and cultural uniqueness of the child, youth, and family services system through collective efforts.

As part of Georgian Irena is a part-time faculty and a Social Innovation Fellow as part of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Social Innovation Department. She is currently supporting the NSERC funded ‘Future of Belonging Project’ alongside the YMCA Simcoe-Muskoka as part of the vision to establish the Community Innovation Network and Community Innovation Council.

A life-longer learner, Irena has an Environmental Engineering Technology diploma, a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Research Analyst post-graduate diploma, a post-graduate certificate in Community Economic Development, and will be starting a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation this fall.

Dr. Dave Shorey is the Executive Director of Georgian College’s Owen Sound Campus. He earned his Doctor of Education degree from Western University, where his research focused on building innovation systems to sustain and enhance rural-serving campuses. His scholarly interests include regional development, community-focused education models, and cross-sector innovation, with a strong emphasis on advancing post-secondary education in rural and mid-sized communities.

Dave’s current work centers on strategic partnerships that strengthen relationships with community, government, and industry stakeholders. He leads initiatives that ensure the delivery of high-quality programs and exceptional student experiences while driving the region’s workforce localization and economic development.

Prior to his role at Georgian College, Dave served as the Innovation Officer for the Municipal Innovation Council (MIC) in Bruce County, where he built a collaborative innovation ecosystem for over 1,500 municipal employees. He also founded Capacity Lab Inc., a consultancy specializing in organizational development and innovation systems to help organizations identify and seize opportunities while transforming their culture and services. Earlier in his career, Dave held various leadership positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he co-created innovative programs to support student transition and success.

Dave grew up in Southampton before pursuing higher education and settling in the Waterloo Region. In 2020, he returned to his roots, making Port Elgin his home. He lives there with his family and enjoys close access to natural environments.

Debora Opoku-Mulder is an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion champion with experience fostering inclusive environments across a range of sectors, including corporate, non-profit, educational, and governmental organizations. Debora specializes in developing strategies and programs that promote diversity, combat systemic bias, and create equitable workplaces where all individuals, regardless of race, gender, ability, or background, can thrive.

Debora holds a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology.  In addition to her consultancy work, Debora has been a therapist for 16 years and works to erase the stigma associated with mental health and give people the tools they need to share their story and recognize that they are not alone on this journey.  Debora is currently the manager of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Centre at Georgian College.

Driven by a passion for equity and inclusion, and is committed to making workplaces more inclusive and equitable for all, and to challenging the systems that perpetuate inequality. Debora is recognized for her ability to engage diverse audience in meaningful conversations about race, privilege, and allyship, while driving tangible change.

Dr. Gary Pluim is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University, Orillia. He received his PhD in Comparative and International Development Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto in 2014. His scholarly interests include critical global citizenship education, youth voice, and alternative & innovative pedagogies.

Gary’s current research investigates the intercultural benefits and challenges of sharing curriculum between nations, particularly among small countries of the Commonwealth. For five years Gary worked in various educational leadership positions around the world, in countries of the South Pacific and East Africa, in the Canadian Arctic, and throughout the Caribbean.

Gary lives in Huronia with his partner and three children and in his spare time enjoys running, biking, and cross-country skiing.