Melanie is a social innovator with a knack for working across sectors to drive positive change for and with children and youth.  With her roots in working in classrooms and alternative learning environments supporting new Canadian, justice involved and students with differing abilities, she has not stopped since.   This foundational experience kick started a career in public health and social and recreational programming ensuring young people had voice and access to inclusive and meaningful opportunities that improve their quality of life.   

With degrees in both Social Development and Non-Profit Leadership and Public Policy, Melanie focuses on ensuring a 360-degree perspective and activation across broad sectoral levels to provide the structure and support all children and youth need.  As Executive Director of Physical and Health Education Canada, Melanie is a collaborator, an innovator and a champion for ensuring all children lead healthy, actives lives. 

Bonus notes about Melanie, she’s a hiker, a mountain biker, rusty sign language speaking, and a mother of two. 

Jodie joined PHE Canada in 2002, prior to which she taught Health and Physical Education, Mathematics and Science and was a Projects Leader with Ophea. Jodie obtained her Bachelor of Physical Education from McMaster University, and her Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, intermediate-senior level, with a Health & Physical Education and Mathematics focus.  Since joining PHE Canada as Program Manager, Jodie has led numerous start-up projects and enhanced existing programs. She continues to grow her repertoire of skills into association management and oversight as Chief Administrative Officer. Born in Jamaica, her family moved to Canada in the 1970s.  Jodie looks forward to physically active time spent with her husband, two children and pup Ziggy. 

Jordan has over 10 years of marketing and business development experience within the national sport and multi-sport sectors. Prior to joining PHE Canada in 2010, Jordan worked with Golf Canada, coordinating its corporate partner membership programs, Team Canada Club fundraising initiative, and re-brand from RCGA. Jordan holds two Bachelor of Commerce degrees with specializations in Accounting and Marketing from the University of Ottawa because he couldn’t make up his mind, wanting to know all things business – which continues today. Jordan spends his leisure time on the golf course, on the ice, cracking jokes with friends, and having a ball with his wife and two kids … Friday Night Family Dance Party. 

Fei is passionate about visual storytelling and communication in general. She holds a Master of Human Kinetics with a concentration in Sport Management from the University of Ottawa. Prior to working at PHE Canada, she has since worked with local, provincial, and national sport organizations in both program management and communication coordination roles. Fei believes that physical activity plays a crucial role in personal development and can enable everyone to make a difference in society. When she isn’t working, you’ll find Fei reading, beading, dancing, and playing tennis.

Tricia began her career teaching elementary school Physical Education and coaching a variety of teams and clubs. She then began working in the non-profit sector and now has over 12 years of experience developing and delivering education and recreation programs for children and youth. Prior to working at PHE Canada, Tricia coordinated the youth programs with the Department of Recreation and Athletics at Carleton University. She was also the Director of Programs with Clean Air Champions, a national charity delivering school programs inspiring youth to live health, sustainable lifestyles. Tricia is passionate about developing health and wellness programs for all children and youth that are both equitable and inclusive. Tricia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Carleton University, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa, and is currently completing a Master of Education at the University of New Brunswick. In her spare time, Tricia enjoys playing hockey, coaching hockey, and spending time with her husband chasing after their three young children. 

Ryan is a husband, educator and reflective thinker. He is passionate about wellness, physical education and healthy schools as well as the intersectionality between health, education and innovation. Originally from the land of the Mi’kma’ki, he started his career teaching, coaching, and running a mobile personal training business out of his hatchback. Ryan has worked provincially, nationally and internationally in various educational roles within non-profit and private education spaces.  While teaching and coaching abroad, he authored his first of three books on personal growth and wellbeing. In his spare time, you can find Ryan perusing local bookstores, running along the Ottawa river, or exploring a local coffee shop with his wife. 

Amanda has no shortage of enthusiasm for healthy-active living. Her diverse academic education includes a BSc. Hon. in Human Kinetics, certification in Exercise Physiology, and a diploma in Performance Coaching. This, alongside her background in coaching and sport policy, Amanda is inspired by her work with PHE Canada in the promotion of a values-based, holistic approach to health and physical education. Outside of the gymnasium, rink or off the field, you might find her cooking, quilting or listening to a good audiobook.

Ellen has been working in the non-profit sector to support and advocate for quality education for more than a decade. First in geography and now within her true passion, Physical and Health Education. Ellen is always learning and growing, and uses her Bachelors of Kinesiology (Western University) and Education as well as her Masters of Education (University of Ottawa) to connect leading research with real-life experiences to encourage others to do the same. When not in the office you will find her running around with her husband and two young children, trying out a new recipe, gardening, or doing something else active - rarely sitting still.

Kelsey is passionate about developing, implementing, and promoting inclusive health and physical activity programs and resources. She is an advocate for youth involvement in sport and physical activity, as she has experienced the positive effects they can have on overall physical, cognitive, and social development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Kinetics from St. Francis Xavier University and a Master’s degree in Human Kinetics with a concentration in Sport Management from the University of Ottawa. She has experience working for non-profit sport and recreation organizations at the community, provincial, and national levels. In her spare time, Kelsey enjoys practicing yoga, playing recreational sports with friends, adventuring outdoors, volunteering for youth sports programs, and spending time at the beach near her home in Nova Scotia. 

Lise Gillies is Cree & Métis (English River FN & Métis Nation in Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan.) After a decade of working in BC’s largest school district, Surrey, in both Special Education & Aboriginal Education, she now works with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres as the Indigenous Disability Programs Coordinator. Always quick to love, laugh and create, Lise identifies as neuro-diverse and is famous for having too many hobbies and unfinished art projects. She is mama-bear to a 7-year-old daughter Cammie, who is autistic with complex medical needs and is a fierce advocate for disability rights, inclusion, and doodling/drawing at work. Lise lives in beautiful Cowichan Tribes territory in Maple Bay (Vancouver Island). 

Mohsen is a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa studying educational technology, online learning, and serious games. Mohsen is also a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa teaching "Integrating Technology in Education" and "Emerging Technology in Learning" graduate courses. In his PhD, he is working on designing and developing a serious game (educational video game) for sexual health education. In his Master’s, he exploited a commercial video game for educational purposes. Mohsen loves video games and technology and has a knack for connecting technology to education and making learning and teaching more interactive and fun. In his leisure time, you can find Mohsen in his garage doing carpentry or in his backyard doing gardening; if not there, he’s certainly on a pitch playing soccer or in his game room playing video games.  

Josh is a recent Bachelor of Education graduate and is excited to bring unique and fresh perspectives to PHE Canada. Josh strives to use his social position to improve educational spaces for students that are traditionally underrepresented in Physical and Health Education. At university Josh played varsity soccer and has since hung up his cleats for the sidelines as a soccer coach. In his leisure time he can be found running the trails of Ottawa with his Australian cattle dog.