Meet Our Founders!

Ainsley Latour (She/Her), Co-Founder, IDEA-STEM

Headshot of Ainsley Latour, President, IDEA-STEM.

[Image description]: Headshot of Ainsley standing against a brick building. The image is cut at her shoulders. She is a white settler, with a black dress jacket, simple necklace, and a white blouse. She smiles at the camera.

Hey, I’m Ainsley — co-founder of IDEA-STEM and a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and math. As someone who is hard of hearing and neurodivergent, this work is both personal and purposeful for me.

I’ve spent years researching and presenting on the experiences of students with disabilities in STEM, with my work featured at conferences like SciAccess, ISLAND, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. I also had the honour of serving on Ontario’s Post-Secondary Education Standards Development Committee under the AODA.

In addition to my advocacy work, I’m a licensed medical laboratory technologist specializing in cytogenetics and molecular genetics. I hold degrees and diplomas across genetics and marine environmental science from Memorial University of Newfoundland — blending academic insight with lived experience to drive change in classrooms, labs, and beyond.

Let’s reimagine what inclusive science can look like — together.

Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai (He/Him), Co-Founder, IDEA-STEM

Headshot of Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, Secretary, IDEA-STEM.

[Image description]: Mahadeo stands on the centre of the image. The image is cut off at his waist. He is indoors and standing in-front of a colourful backdrop, and his hands rest on a white pedestal. He has dark skin, wears glasses, a grey suit, a green shirt, and a light grey tie. His hair is short and dark brown. He smiles softly.

Hey, I’m Mahadeo — a scientist, educator, and passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion in STEM and healthcare.

As the world’s first congenitally blind geneticist, this work is more than professional — it’s profoundly personal. I’ve spent over two decades navigating systems that weren’t built with people like me in mind, and I’ve made it my mission to change that. Through IDEA-STEM, I help create spaces where science, research, education, and work are truly inclusive — not just in theory, but in practice.

I’ve had the privilege of working across the country and beyond — co-creating national accessibility standards, supporting equity-focused research, advising governments, and helping organizations reimagine how they lead, hire, and include. I also serve on several boards and advisory committees that are helping shape the future of accessibility and data equity in Canada.

Whether I’m teaching in the classroom, coaching a team, or consulting on inclusive strategy, I lead with curiosity, care, and a deep belief in the power of systems that work for everyone.

If you're looking to build something more accessible, sustainable, and human-centered — I’m glad you're here. Let’s get to work.