OUR TEAM

Nancy Wilson is the Founder, CEO and chief rabble-rouser here at CanWCC. In addition, Nancy is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) with more than a decade of accounting experience in various corporate roles. She also owned and operated an accounting and business advisory firm serving women business owners and entrepreneurs. Nancy launched CanWCC in January 2018 out of frustration regarding the barriers, lack of resources and difficulty finding connection she experienced as a business owner – and has been working ever since to create a powerful network of women through which to drive change and create equality in Canadian business. Nancy is a driven and accomplished feminist entrepreneur who loves learning new things, meeting new people, discussing the philosophical underpinnings of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and watching horror movies.

Catherine is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, consultant, and writer. A graduate of The University of Western Ontario Master of Arts program, she started her career in marketing in the entertainment industry before finding her home in management. Catherine has been a successful retail store manager, sales manager, hiring manager, and training manager.

On the entrepreneurship side, Catherine founded and built FitIn, a marketplace-enterprise software solution for the fitness and wellness industry. She has also supported small business owners in a consultant capacity for over 25 years, most recently as a fractional COO. This wide experience plus her talent for growing and organizing teams with “excellent bedside manner” is what makes Catherine such an effective leader.

Catherine is a long-time lover of running, has competed in kettlebell competitions as well marathons, and has her Grade 4 sash in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Most recently, she returned to her musical roots, learning to play the ukulele and now the guitar. No garage band auditions are planned as yet, but she’ll keep you in the loop.

Ashleigh Gilbert-Lonsdale, a resident of Peterborough, ON, originally from Kingston/Sydenham, brings a unique blend of academic prowess and practical experience to the world of finance. Armed with a BSc in Psychology from Trent University and a current pursuit of an Accounting Diploma from Sir Sanford Fleming, Ashleigh has over a decade of accounting expertise.

Founder of “AGL Bookkeeping and Virtual Assistance,” Ashleigh transitioned from a corporate Operations Manager role to entrepreneurship, driven by a commitment to creating a more inclusive environment, especially for women. This is why Ashleigh is especially excited to begin working with CanWCC.

Certified with various accounting and bookkeeping credentials, including QBO Pro Advisor, Ashleigh’s skills are matched by her passion for causes like human rights, climate activism, and animal welfare. In her downtime, she indulges in reading, art, games, and relaxation with her feline companions.

Beyond the professional realm, Ashleigh aspires to own a hobby farm filled with rescued animals. This dedication extends to her volunteer work with the Peterborough Humane Society, aligning her values with hands-on contributions to animal welfare.

Join Ashleigh on a journey where numbers meet empathy, and every balance sheet tells a story.

Carine Bado is a success strategist, and community builder dedicated to creating equitable pathways for Canadian entrepreneurs and founders. With more than eight years of hands-on experience in entrepreneurship education, funding readiness, and program delivery, she blends practical founder experience with strong business expertise. Passionate about supporting women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs, Carine is committed to empowering underrepresented founders and strengthening inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems across Canada.

Judy Rebick is one of Canada’s best-known feminists. While semi-retired, she continues to work for change as a speaker, advisor and writer. She is the author of 6 books, her latest a memoir, Heroes in My Head. Judy was the first CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy at Ryerson. She hosted two national TV shows on CBC in the 1990’s and is also the founding publisher of rabble.ca, Canada’s most active independent online news and discussion site. She is the former president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women and was a spokesperson for the pro-choice campaign that won legal abortion in Canada in the 1980’s.

Lise is dedicated to challenging the status quo and promoting equity. With a Master’s degree in Public Management and Policy, she has honed her expertise in advocating for marginalized communities, particularly Afro-descendants, striving to address racism and champion inclusive policies.

With experience in addressing issues of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, Lise brings a nuanced understanding of power dynamics and inequality to her role as the program coordinator of our Flip the Script and membership programs. Inspired by the belief that balance is key, she is passionate about health, wellness, and nurturing relationships. Dreaming of travelling the world, Lise embraces the richness of human diversity, soaking up different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Her goal? To truly understand and empathize while also tackling significant global issues.

Maricruz Vazquez is a marketing professional specializing in social media and public relations, currently serving as the Marketing Manager at CanWCC in Toronto. Her extensive background spans diverse industries, including fashion, technology, beauty, and charitable organizations. After graduating in Fashion Communications, Maricruz embarked on a career journey with national and international brands in Canada. Driven by her strong ethical values, she expanded her client portfolio to include companies that share her commitment to integrity.

Now a vital part of the CanWCC team, Maricruz is dedicated to elevating and nurturing this vibrant community through strategic communications initiatives. Beyond her professional endeavors, Maricruz is deeply passionate about animal welfare, travel, and culinary exploration.

Paula Fletcher coordinates, executes and manages social media channels. Blending an eclectic mix of startup, marketing, nonprofit, film, and television experience, Paula loves to tell stories, curate interesting content and foster online communities.

Paula has worked in a variety of production and marketing roles, primarily specializing in social media and events management. She’s worked for all sorts of organizations including National Geographic, CBC, CTV, MTV, P&G, TIFF, Fashion Designer Annie Thompson, brain sensing hardware startup InteraXon and many others. Paula is also passionate about gender equality and women’s entrepreneurship and is proud to be a founding team member for the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce. A member of the CanWCC leadership team from day one, she built CanWCC’s social media and community strategy from the ground up. Paula expertly uses a variety of strategies and platforms to propel engagement and community growth and is a critical member of CanWCC’s team because of it.

In her spare time, you can usually find Paula cross-stitching or taking quirky photos of toys for her Instagram account, @PCLFletcher.