Meet Our Team!

April Assenza (She/Her)

April smiles widely at the camera. She has brown hair that falls in cascades past her shoulders. She is wearing a dark grey turtleneck sweater. The background is blurred.

Hey, I’m April — a strategic development leader, consultant, and advocate passionate about helping organizations build inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed environments where people and communities can truly thrive.

My work sits at the intersection of inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility (IDEA), mental well-being, and systems change. Drawing from both my lived experience and more than 20 years of professional experience, I help organizations move beyond good intentions to create meaningful, lasting change.

As Director of Strategic Development at IDEA-STEM, I lead business development, partnership strategy, and innovative service design that advances accessibility across STEM education, healthcare, workplaces, and nonprofit organizations.

What I love most is bringing people together. Whether I’m facilitating conversations, designing programs, developing partnerships, or speaking to audiences, I’m driven by one question: How do we build systems where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive?

I believe the best solutions are created with the people they’re meant to serve, and I strive to blend empathy with strategy, lived experience with evidence, and bold ideas with practical action.

Akriti Pandey (She/Her)

Akriti is a woman of colour with brown hair past her shoulders. She is wearing a gold necklace with a gem in the middle. She is wearing a pair of earrings and has a big smile on her face.

Hey, I’m Akriti — a public health researcher and passionate advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and equity in systems that shape our lives.

My journey is rooted in curiosity and care. With a background in Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Public Health from Queen’s University, I’ve spent the past few years leading research that pushes the boundaries of how we think about disability, data, and justice.

From shaping strategic plans to exploring the future of Accessible and Explainable AI, I’ve led projects that bridge research and real-world impact. I bring both research and project management experience to the table — but what drives me most is the belief that evidence-informed decisions can (and should) center lived experience.

I’m here to help create systems that don’t just include people — but value and reflect them. If you care about building a world where equity is more than a buzzword, I’m with you.

Let’s imagine and build better, together.

Nancy Smith (She/Her)

Nancy has white and grey curly hair, and a white complexion. Her eyes are blueish-grey and she is smiling widely. She is wearing a light green top.]

Hey, I’m Nancy — a business coach, educator, and lifelong learner who’s passionate about supporting meaningful, intentional change.

For me, coaching is about more than goals — it’s about building trust, creating space for growth, and walking alongside people as they move through challenge toward transformation. I believe change becomes possible when we’re grounded in authentic relationships, honest communication, and a shared commitment to doing the hard work together.

Most of my work has been in the post-secondary world, where I’ve designed engaging and accessible learning experiences to create curricula that sparks leadership and real connection. I have examined and drawn attention to the significance of the interface of technology. All of this is work for which I have been recognized, but what I value most is seeing others step into their strengths.

As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, I know how hard it can be to face change — or even know where to begin. That’s why I bring a strengths-based lens to everything I do. Coaching has helped me navigate my own journey, and I’m honoured to support others on theirs.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, starting something new, or seeking clarity — welcome. Let’s explore what’s possible, together.

A black woman with brown curled hair, some of which goes past her shoulders and half pulled up into a ponytail with curtain bangs smiles softly at the camera. She is wearing a dark grey shirt. There is a wooden panel behind her.

Claudia Sendanyoye (She/Her)

Hey, I’m Claudia — an accessibility researcher, advocate, and passionate believer in co-creating anti-ableist and anti-sanist systems of care.

Grounded in disability justice and anti-oppressive practice, my work lives at the intersections of research, policy, education, and community. At IDEA-STEM, I help advance inclusive science initiatives that center the creativity, knowledge, and priorities of MMIND communities (Mad, perceived as/labeled as mentally ill, Neurodivergent, Disabled).

Before this, I worked for over three years as an analyst and advisor at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), where I had the opportunity to co-develop the organization’s first-ever anti-ableism action plan — work that deepened my commitment to systems change.

Beyond research, I serve as an advisor on the Provincial Table for Psychosis and Schizophrenia at Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence and collaborate with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) on projects making early psychosis care and educational programming more accessible.

Community care is at the heart of what I do: I also facilitate peer support groups through the Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa and the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network, nurturing interdependence and collective resilience.

I hold a Bachelor of Health Sciences from Carleton University, with a concentration in chronic illness and disability, and stay connected to national and global conversations on accessibility and systems change as part of the National Black Disability Coalition, the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing’s IDEA Global Research Innovation Advisory Group, and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

At my core, I believe meaningful change is collective — and that real inclusion centers the voices of those most impacted.