Executive Director
A purpose-driven leader, storyteller, and community organizer based in Edmonton, Alberta, with more than a decade of experience at the intersection of strategy, equity, and innovation. A proud trans woman and parent, Elli brings both lived experience and professional insight to her work advancing economic inclusion and community resilience.
She has held senior leadership roles at the Alberta Motor Association and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and currently teaches Intrapreneurship and Innovation at the JR Shaw School of Business. Her work spans strategic planning, program design, equity leadership, and systems change. She also brings a strong foundation in public speaking, storytelling, facilitation, and inclusive community building.
Elli is the writer and co-director of Coming Home, a TELUS Storyhive-funded documentary exploring queer and trans joy through her own transition. She has been published in The Globe and Mail and other platforms, and frequently speaks on topics like authenticity in leadership, inclusive innovation, and the power of story to drive change.
She is also a founding member of Queer Joy YEG, a grassroots collective that hosts events, workshops, and creative spaces to celebrate queer and trans lives. Elli holds a Master of Public Administration from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan. Her leadership is rooted in authenticity, empathy, and a belief in building an inclusive economy where Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex entrepreneurs and communities can thrive.
