Each issue Foundation Magazine provides a mini-profile of five people whose work and commitment make Canada a more liveable country. We thank them for their service.
Five Lives
Alexis Kane Speer is the Founder and Executive Director of STEP Public Art, a Canadian charity that supports and elevates artists. The organization is marking its 10th anniversary. The organization aims to animate spaces with vibrant public art, while bringing the community together. Alexis (she/they) is responsible for STEPS’ strategic planning, partnership development, and fundraising. Inspired by the city and the people who bring it to life, she has 20+ years experience leading public art, cultural planning, and community building initiatives, for which she has received numerous awards. STEP inspired by art, people, and community. We began as a passion project collecting personal stories across North America about how art affects where people live, work, and play. Speer saw through 100+ conversations the direct impacts of art on social well-being. That’s why their team of artists, urban, and cultural planners are here to animate spaces with vibrant, community-engaged public art. STEP brings art to unexpected corners with artists who are as deeply passionate about art as they are.
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Kate Karn, Director, Public Policy; A/Coordinator, Mastercard Changeworks. Karn supports the development and management of the company’s public affairs and government relations programs, including advocacy and stakeholder management. In addition, she serves as Acting Coordinator for Mastercard Changeworks™, Mastercard Canada’s social impact program, managing partnerships to help Canada’s not-for-profits harness the power of technology and data to create positive change for Indigenous and new Canadian entrepreneurs. Kate has a Bachelor of Public Affairs & Policy Management from Carleton University and a Master’s in International Public Policy from the Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a member of Startup Canada’s Private Sector Leadership Advisory Council and the Toronto chapter of Mastercard’s Women’s Leadership Network Executive Committee. Most recently, she served as Study Group Chair for the Northwest Territories as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference.
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Jenny Marsh is the Executive Director of the Vancouver Public Library Foundation. Jenny has been a fundraising professional since 2008, working as a major gifts fundraiser in the Faculties of Medicine and Science at UBC prior to joining the VPL Foundation in 2013. She is passionate about connecting people to causes they care about and contributing to a thriving social-impact sector. In the role of Executive Director, Jenny leads a team of six to raise funds for VPL collections, programs, services and spaces through major and community giving programs. Outside of her role at VPLF, Jenny currently serves as Chair of the board of the Vancouver Farmers Market Society. She loves collaborating and brainstorming with fundraising colleagues across many sectors and particularly at public libraries, which support, sustain and enrich arts & culture, social service, and education in the communities they serve.
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Simone Hicken is the Vice President, Philanthropy and Donor Engagement, WWW-Canada. With thirty years in the non-profit sector, Simone is driven to succeed at fundraising by the passionate dedication of the volunteers in the organizations that she has served. Prior to joining World Wildlife Fund of Canada, Simone held senior fundraising positions at Trans Canada Trail, David Suzuki Foundation, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, McMaster University, the University of British Columbia and the BC Wildlife Federation. Simone has a BA from the University of Toronto in International Relations, Public Policy and Administration. She has served on a number of boards and been engaged in many volunteer activities throughout her life, ranging from coaching U12 girls soccer and managing Pee Wee rep hockey teams to assisting in the preservation of the Haida language.
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Andrew Reddin is Chief Executive Officer at Child Development Institute, where he oversees development, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based, outcome-focused programs and services for children, youth and families, including mental health, family violence, early years and child care services, and partners with Board of Directors in multi-year strategic planning, risk assessment and mitigation planning, policy development, and making key decisions on topics like capital allocation, organization design and sector accreditation, among other strategic priorities. He was previously Chief Operating Officer at NPower Canada, a charitable organization that launches underserved youth across Canada into digital careers. In his past role, he cultivated and secured transformative multi-year contributions from public and private sector partners, building a sustainable foundation for rapid organizational growth. He has also served as Treasurer on the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity (CCYP) Board of Directors and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
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