Our Challenge Team

David Donovan

Senior Lead, Policy and Innovative Finance

David is Senior Lead, Policy and Innovative Finance at the Impact and Innovation Unit. Before joining the Privy Council Office, David was responsible for advancing private sector partnership and international development finance efforts at Global Affairs Canada. He has held roles in public, private, and academic sectors. David is the former research director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen's University. He has published a number of articles relating to the international promotion of democracy, and on democratic and Parliamentary reform in Canada. He has also presented his views on democratic governance before a number of Parliamentary Committees and international conferences. David graduated with a BA (Honours with Distinction) in Political Studies and Master's in Public Administration from Queen's. He is also a Sauvé Fellow of the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation based in Montréal.

Julie Greene

Senior Lead, Capacity and Partnerships

Julie is responsible for developing partnerships and building capacity for the Federal government to use outcomes-based funding approaches, including Challenge Prizes and pay-for-success projects. Her team’s current portfolio of projects span social determinants of health, environment and inclusion.

Before joining the Privy Council Office, Julie was a key designer of an innovative chronic disease program, which was an early adopter in using matched funding with the private sector and pay-for-results methods. She co-led a program of research to explore these types of partnerships, and has jointly published several papers in this field. Previously, Julie worked to advance tobacco control and mental health initiatives, and has always been passionate about understanding how to motivate and measure behaviour change.

Julie was educated at the University of Ottawa, holds a Master's Degree in Education (Counselling), a Bachelor of Social Science, and spent early years in her career working in clinical and community settings. Raised in the federal Health Portfolio, with feet firmly planted in policy, program and research positions, she is looking to further contribute to the systemization of public sector innovation.

Dr. Michael Haber

Senior Lead, Public Engagement

Dr. Michael Haber is Lead, Public Engagement, at the Impact and Innovation Unit. In this role, he is responsible for collaborating with federal departments and external partners to advance Impact Canada Challenge Prizes and Initiatives, and for supporting the IIU’s digital delivery model.

Before joining the Privy Council Office, Michael spent 10 years with Health Canada as a Human Therapeutic Product Assessment Officer, a project manager, and most recently, as the department’s Government of Canada Entrepreneur to the Deputy Minister Task Force on Public Sector Innovation.

Michael was educated at McGill University and holds a Doctorate and Master of Science in Neuroscience, a Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology, and a Bachelor of Science in Physiology.

Laura Portal Avelar

Senior Advisor

In her role as Senior Advisor, Laura is responsible for supporting and collaborating with federal departments and external partners on initiatives under Impact Canada, and for advancing the Impact and Innovation Unit's digital presence.

Over her federal government career, Laura has worked to advance regulatory, legislative and corporate initiatives in Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Laura was educated at the University of Ottawa and holds a Master in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Political Science and Public Administration.

Nolan D'Souza

Challenge Prize Fellow, Public Health Agency of Canada

Nolan is working alongside the Public Health Agency of Canada to support the design and implementation of their Diabetes Prevention Challenge.

Prior to joining the Privy Council Office, he worked with community agencies, hospitals, and government to support health and social service delivery strategy for marginalized communities in Ontario’s COVID-19 hotpots. He is also a genetic counsellor, and has provided frontline clinical care and worked on provincial genetics strategies. He continues to work on genetics policy and best practices in Canada.

He is a Certified Health Executive and Certified Canadian Genetic Counsellor. He has a Master’s in Health Administration and a Master’s in Medical Genetics from the University of Toronto.

Nolan is excited to create the space to surface solutions that improve the health and wellbeing for as many people as possible.

Vivian Harbers

Challenge Prize Fellow, Canadian Space Agency

In her role as Challenge Prize Fellow, Vivian is working with Natural Resources Canada to oversee the design and implementation of a Challenge Prize to address oil spills in Canada.

Prior to joining the Privy Council Office, Vivian was Project Manager of a COVID-19 research project, investigating social dimensions of the pandemic, vaccine perspectives, and trust amongst Canadians.

Vivian holds a Master’s in Applied Social Psychology from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and North American Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Meghan MacDonald

Challenge Prize Fellow, Canadian Space Agency

Meghan is a Challenge Prize fellow working with the Canadian Space Agency.

Prior to joining the Privy Council Office, Meghan was a National Consultant with Veterans Affairs Canada supporting the implementation of a more balanced service delivery model for Case Management Services for Veterans. This included rolling out a national method for determining client complexity, developing new tailored service standards and other tools and processes that support improved outcomes for Veterans across Canada.

Meghan holds a Masters in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics from Mount Allison University and is a Registered Social Worker and part-time clinical therapist.

Deena Newaz

Challenge Prize Fellow, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Deena Newaz is joining Impact Canada as a Challenge Prize Fellow with seven years of experience working in education policy, research, and impact evaluation across three continents.

Prior to joining Impact Canada, Deena worked as an Impact Partnerships Manager at ImpactEd, a non-profit based in London, UK. She managed a team and led mixed method impact evaluations for schools, charities, and the Department for Education to promote evidence-based decision making. She also brings program design and policy experience from her role at the World Innovation Summit for Education where she managed several youth fellowships programs and curated global policy events to advocate for equitable education interventions.

Deena holds an MPhil in Education and International Development from the University of Cambridge and a B.Sc. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. She is passionate about leading a life committed to social justice and community-led change.