David Barnes
David is the founder of Barnes Management Group, with 30+ years of experience providing leadership, strategic thinking and management counselling in the non-profit and public sectors. He has worked with government ministries in Ontario and the Yukon including MCSS and Children’s Services Ministry, CASs in Ontario and remote First Nation communities, and child welfare and mental health agencies. David has extensive experience as a facilitator, leading small and large-scale community engagement, bringing together diverse groups and driving social justice, recently for the Urban Planning Committee of the City of Toronto.
Lauren Bates
Lauren is an expert in law reform and public policy change, and has held senior positions at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Law Commission of Ontario, and Wellesley Institute. She has led projects on human rights and family caregiving, disability accessibility, legal capacity and guardianship, and the abolition of mandatory retirement, among others. Trained as a lawyer, Lauren also has extensive experience in research, policy analysis and community engagement. Her work is rooted to a commitment to substantive equality and grounding change in lived experience. Lauren sits on the boards of Elder Abuse Ontario and Ontario Caregiver Coalition.
William (Bill) Crosson
Bill is a career health and social services analyst. He is the founding partner of active research for community health | HealthStats Inc., through which he has conducted planning, research, evaluation and analytical studies for 200+ clients across the sector and across Canada. Bill has worked independently and in partnership with leading firms and individuals to provide high level consulting services, tackling complex, multi-dimensional problems that require multi-disciplinary solutions. His approach is grounded in an understanding that the circumstances in which we live impact how well we live. Bill’s mission is to help people live well, stay healthier longer, and experience periods of “unwellness” in a gentler way.
Jill Palmer
Jill is a fundraising and communications professional who has dedicated her career to the charitable sector. She has held senior director and consultant roles across a range of health, education, arts and social service causes: Toronto Dance Theatre, Ontario Lung Association, Sheena’s Place, YWCA Elm Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, and Schizophrenia Society of Ontario/IAM, among others. She has led and participated in community consultation, feasibility studies, and fundraising campaigns for grassroots projects and multi-million dollar capital expansions. Jill also provides life skills training with high school students.
David Buwalda
David Buwalda, Specialist in Community Engagement with Barnes Management Group, is a facilitator and learning designer with experience in various areas of social service planning including public health and literacy. He has collaborated with communities and organizations across four continents to introduce strategic change programs including projects with UBS, Yahoo!, Singapore Ministry of Manpower, Youth Leaders – Nepal, UNESCO, and the Korean National Tourism Organization. David has recently been facilitating community engagement projects with the Leslieville BIA in Toronto, the City of Toronto and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests in Ontario. These projects all use a multi-stakeholder approach for long term planning and organizational change. Through careful design that brings many participants together, David works towards consensus-based solutions.