GROW Symposium Program

Professor and Program Coordinator, School of Architectural Studies

Viz Saraby is a multidisciplinary artist, community builder, and Program Coordinator of Interior Design at George Brown Polytechnic. Bringing a design-driven approach to teaching and leadership, Viz focuses on innovation and advancing new approaches. Beyond academia, Viz is deeply engaged in cultural projects, most notably the Tidbits Meaford History Project, made possible by an Ignite grant from George Brown Polytechnic and expanded with the support of a SSHRC Partnership Engage program.

Professor, School of English and Communication

Desi Di Nardo is a poet, author, and communications professor who approaches language as the site where meaning gathers—where attention becomes understanding, and understanding becomes connection. The author of two poetry collections, her work has been translated internationally, adapted into opera, and performed for International Women’s Day with the Governor General attending. Her work moves through cultural spaces—from the TTC to Starbucks cups to a national Desjardins commercial, where she was commissioned as poet talent. She has facilitated hundreds of workshops for institutions including SickKids, CAMH, and Women’s Habitat, extending her poetry‑based practice into community and clinical contexts. Her research advances a poetry‑infused pedagogy that fosters engagement, strengthens social connection, and enriches student learning.

Milan Shahani holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Bombay University. She also holds a master’s in fine arts degree specializing in Costume Design for Theatre, from the University of North Carolina’s School of the Arts. Milan has worked as a Costume Designer for various theatre and film productions in Toronto, India, and New York City On- Broadway and Off-Broadway Productions as an assistant costume designer. She has taught designers, mentored students through industry commissioned projects and provided apprenticeships for graduates and is a recipient of three federally funded Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants. 

Dr. Eva Aboagye is currently retired after more than 25 years in the Ontario College System mostly in research related roles at Centennial College and George Brown Polytechnic. She spent 10 years at the Research and Innovation Office at George Brown Polytechnic and retired as Director of Research. At George Brown, she started with the Social Innovation portfolio which she grew from 5 projects to more than 30 projects supported by over $7 million in grant funds involving dozens of researchers, hundreds of students and more than 40 community and industry partners. As Director of Research Eva provided leadership and direction for a wide range of research areas including advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, social and textile innovation. 

Laura is a member of the Research Ethics Board in the department of Research & Innovation. She has worked as both a professor and administrator at GBP and at other academic institutions across Canada. Beyond academia, she worked in the Latin American NGO sector and in corporate project management, where she led the development of Canadian industry standards and legislation. Laura completed her MA in International Studies with a specific focus on Global Environmental Policy. As a SSHRC recipient, she traveled to the global South to conduct primary research for her thesis investigation. Continually learning, Laura brings PD certifications in teaching excellence, modalities, and design.

Jennifer Mitsche is a researcher and professor in the Honours Bachelor of Food Studies program at George Brown Polytechnic and is the current Chair of the GB Research Ethics Board. She is also the founder and research project director of the twice NSERC-funded Communal Lunch Project (2020-2023; 2023-2025), which examines the potential of communal food programming to support students’ physical, social, and mental well-being as well as contribute to sustainable food systems learning and action. As an application of her research, she has also launched an innovative Communal Lunch Program at GB that integrates access to nourishing local food and opportunities to develop food literacy into the post-secondary learning environment. She is also co-developing a regional campus food system network and a national campus food system dialogue series to facilitate resource sharing that advances equitable, sustainable, and community-building campus food systems.

Heather Evans is a Research Facilitator at GBP’s Office of Research and Innovation and a PhD Candidate in Gender, Feminist, and Women’s Studies at York University. They have over a decade of experience in academic research, teaching, publishing, and grants administration, as well as 20+ years in UN and NGO research administration and policy advocacy and 12 years in educational publishing in South Korea.

Michelle brings a value-chain approach to FIRSt, where she has supported hundreds of food entrepreneurs throughout the product development process. Her academic and professional careers have focused on primary agriculture, agri-food, and agri-technology, and she even occasionally assists on her parents’ cash crop farm. With a BA in Social Development (University of Waterloo) and a MA in Political Science and International Development (University of Guelph), Michelle uses her interdisciplinary background to bring creative and holistic solutions to clients and partnerships. Michelle enjoys eating food as much as she enjoys working in the industry and is deeply committed to growing the food value chain in Ontario and Canada and increasing opportunities for Canadian food and agri-food companies.

Arbab Khan is the Business Development Manager at George Brown Polytechnic's Office of Research & Innovation, where he has spent nearly a decade supporting faculty and industry partners turn research ideas into funded, real-world projects. Since joining GBP in 2016, he has led over 100 applied research projects across construction, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and technology — securing federal and provincial funding through programs including Mitacs, NSERC, and OCI. Arbab brings a practical, partnership-first approach to research development, one built on translating complex problems into fundable proposals, connecting industry partners with researchers, and navigating the complex funding ecosystem. He holds an MBA from Carleton University and a B.Tech in Civil Engineering, and is an active NSERC grant reviewer.

Daniel brings over eight years of scope development and project management experience to George Brown, where he assists industry partners in smart building and fashion technology with all phases of scoping and project development in preparation for implementation. He is passionate about applying his business and project-related expertise to foster collaborative partnerships and support effective project planning and delivery. Daniel holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business (York University), a Graduate Diploma in Business and Environment (York University), and a BCOMM (Concordia University). He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Dr. Morris Anthony Beckford is an author and researcher with over 20 years experience in the community and non-profit sector in Canada. As a Freirean practitioner, Morris works in opposition to the banking model of learning by working with all people/s to ensure that their experiences are centred in the work to transform systems that maintain oppression. Dr Beckford is currently the Associate Dean for the School of Social and Community Services and the School of Deaf and Deafblind Studies.

As Knowledge & Communications Specialist, Jillian oversees all ongoing outreach for the ORI, including divisional messaging, media production, press releases, funding proposals and marketing materials. Her career to date has explored a diverse range of media, spanning traditional outlets like print, advertising and publishing as well as emerging sectors like film, design, digital and social media. Jillian received an M.A. in Media Studies from York University in 2012, a B.A. (Hons) in English Literature from Memorial University, and a certificate in Graphic Design at George Brown Polytechnic.

Caitlin is a Professor and Coordinator of the Honours Bachelor of Food Studies program at George Brown Polytechnic. She completed her PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability at the University of Waterloo in 2019 and joined George Brown that same year. Prior to her PhD, Caitlin worked as a policy analyst for the federal government. Her teaching focuses on helping students think critically about politics in the food system, uncovering how policies are made, how influence is wielded, sources of agency and resistance, as well as the power of communication. 

Dr. Ziad Alostaz is a nursing professor and researcher with over a decade of experience in nursing education. He holds a PhD in Nursing from the University of Toronto, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Jordan University of Science and Technology. He has led and contributed to multiple research and scholarship of teaching and learning initiatives, securing funding from internal and external sources. He has published in peer-reviewed journals, served as a reviewer, and presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Alostaz is committed to advancing evidence-informed practice and supporting the development of emerging scholars.