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Stephanie Johnson, MA Interdisciplinary Studies: Reconciling and Decolonizing Public Institutions Stephanie Johnson is a co-founder of Toro Marketing Inc., a management consulting firm located on Vancouver Island, BC since 2003. She brings 25 years of experience working with organizations across Canada spanning leadership, employee culture, community engagement, stakeholder communications, market research and innovative strategy. She recently completed a MA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University with a focus on reconciliation and the decolonizing of public institutions. Stephanie led the development of a Truth and Reconciliation policy for a B.C. school district that resulted in the creation of a first of its kind, co-governed school on reserve with the First Nation and Board of Education. She is an executive member of the Métis Nation of Canada and she a board member of the Eco-forestry Institute Society. Her strategic mind and strong creative flair infuses innovation and insight into clients’ projects. Her empathy and sensitivity with community engagement activities meets the diverse needs of all communities. Stephanie lives on the unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw mustimuxw (Nanaimo People). She is an active language champion and learner of hul’q’umi’num’ – the language born from the land she lives upon. She is grateful to her Elders and Knowledge Keepers who’ve been so generous with sharing their stories and teachings.

Karen is a co-founder and principal owner of Toro who brings more than 25 years of business and consulting experience to her clients. As both a marketing strategist and a supply chain management professional, Karen has developed a unique perspective from both sides of the negotiating table. She has worked as a strategic planning consultant for organizations in public, corporate and non-profit sectors conducting market research, working with client’s teams to extract key information, writing business plans, and developing project plans for successful implementation. Karen moved to the purchasing side of the negotiating table working with a petrochemical company on a $2.5 billion expansion and employed her strategic planning expertise to facilitate consolidated purchases amongst Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) firms. During this time Karen gained SCMP (Supply Chain Management Professional) designation from the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada. Most importantly, Karen’s skills include market and capability assessments, industry expert interviews and trend identification, community consultation and engagement, strategy and partnership model development, business plan writing, and project management.