Our Volunteer Team

Andrea L. K. Johnston spent 4 years as the assistant of Elder of the Plains Cree Red-tail Hawk clan, Pauline Shirt baa, helping her in ceremonies including healing ceremonies, sunrise ceremonies, feasts, fasting, sweats, tree blessings and more (1988-1991). Over three years spent time with Haudenosaunee Geraldine Standup, Mohawk and belongs to the Bear Clan from Kahanwake, Quebec, in the development of the Waawiyeyaa Evaluation Tool, along with other leaders and Knowledge Keepers, but Geraldine Standup was instrumental in steering the development of the Tool (2004 – 2008). After 10-years of building expertise, Andrea L. K. Johnston, CEO of Johnston Research Inc. began to develop tools, training curricula, workbooks, resources and exercises which Andrea solely developed under Johnston Research Inc. Johnston Research Inc. has been in operation for over 20 years and began to offer training in 2017. We have developed training tools as well as evaluation data collection and practice tools. In 2010, Johnston Research Inc. launched the Waawiyeyaa Evaluation Tool, which translates to coming full circle in a healing journey; as a specific tool designed to encourage healing through oral tradition and storytelling. In 2016, the online training program was launched with accompanying workshop books, exercises and tools. We continue to develop and launch Tools for Change, to meet our goal of Indigenous-led evaluation. We are the only firm that offers a comprehensive course on bringing reconciliation into evaluation. The Honouring Reconciliation in Evaluation training program has certificate recipients from Inuit communities, universities, non-for-profit organizations, federal government, Métis communities, provincial government and First Nations. Graduates of all Three Workshops receive two certificates: 1) Cultural Competency in Evaluation Practices, and 2) Aptitude for Indigenous Evaluation Frameworks.

Marina Santilli has worked in monitoring, reporting and evaluation internationally with the United Nations and has served Indigenous communities and nations fulltime in different research and evaluation capacities with the Government of Canada since 2017. She has experience in Indigenous policy and program evaluation at Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAC), Canadian Heritage, and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and is motivated to continue to advance truth and reconciliation calls to action across the federal public service. Marina co-led the 2018 summer internship at the former INAC that engaged communities across the country to explore pathways for co-development with First Nations, Inuit and Metis partners using Indigenous evaluation methodologies and consultation protocols.

In his role as Manager, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, James supports initiatives that strengthen program performance, measure impact and inform evidence-based decision-making. He collaborates with partners across sectors to build meaningful insights that guide trail development and community well-being.

James holds an MSc in Health Sciences Research and has extensive experience in health research and evaluation through previous roles in Ghana and Canada. Personally, he is passionate about creating programs that foster resilience, mental health and compassion, particularly for marginalized communities. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, biking along trails and shooting hoops.

Sabrina holds a B.A. in International Relations and International Law, as well as a Master’s in International Law from the University of Quebec in Montreal. With over 15 years of experience in program coordination and management within the NGO sector, she brings a background in international development and a deep passion for geopolitics, governance, and history, particularly in the Middle East.

An advocate for gender equality, social justice, and peace, Sabrina thrives on launching transformative initiatives, mobilizing communities, and fostering collaboration to drive meaningful, inclusive progress. Her journey has taken her across continents, including 11 years in Cambodia and Iraq, where she led impactful programs and cultivated cross-cultural partnerships.

Sabrina is dedicated to applying her expertise in program management to organizations that share her values of social impact, inclusion, and innovation. She is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation at Carleton University, where she is deepening her knowledge and honing her evaluation skills. A believer in the value of volunteer work, Sabrina serves on two committees within the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) and is actively involved in building a community of practice in evaluation with her peers at Carleton University.

Her evaluation philosophy is rooted in decolonization, co-creation, inclusion, participatory processes, and empowerment. Passionate about expanding her understanding of diverse evaluation approaches—including Indigenous Evaluation—Sabrina is honoured to support the 2026 Indigenous Evaluation Network Summit. 

Karen Young  (she | elle ; they | ielle) joined the evaluation field in the public service as a Junior Analyst in March 2025.

She is passionate about bridging her interests in health equity, accessibility rights, and self-determination for all Peoples in Canada.

Karen holds a Master of Arts in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), where she explored the complex migratory pathways of Chinese women with support from a Canada Graduate Scholarship. She also earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology and Health Policy from the University of Toronto Scarborough. In 2015, she was named one of ten 3M National Student Fellows for founding a TEDx conference and a student-led magazine in collaboration with all levels of the campus community.

Born and raised in Tkaronto (Toronto), Karen relocated to Odawa (Ottawa) for work, to enjoy nature, and to pursue her driver’s license in a city with less traffic.

Jennifer L Smith brings to her work over 20 years of consulting experience and has a unique combination of skills that range from strategic planning, organizational renewal, transformation and change management, and evaluation. She has an expertise in mixed engagement methodologies to help plan and inform strategy and framework development and the planning and evaluation of results achievement.

Jennifer is dedicated to supporting Canada’s commitments to reconciliation. She has conducted numerous projects and engagements within an Indigenous context that have included evaluation and review projects involving: government officials at the federal, provincial, territorial and regional/municipal levels; Indigenous organizations, leaders, elders, community representatives, as well as other stakeholders such as non-profit organizations and business leaders.

Her work focuses on building understanding and bridges between Indigenous governments, communities and peoples and developing plans that support Indigenous self-determination and shared outcomes leading to new and revitalized relationships with local Indigenous leaders and organizations. She has been engaged by government and Indigenous organizations and communities to support meaningful consultations and the co-development of plans that support commitments to reconciliation

She is a Fellow Certified Management Consultant, a Credentialed Evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society and Prosci Change Management Certified. Jennifer is also OCAP certified (e.g., First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) by FNIGC.