About Kwela

Russel Horwitz, Principal

Nic Tsangarakis, Principal

Nic’s extensive human resources expertise includes strategic planning, design and delivery of leadership and management development programs, design and implementation of performance management systems, implementing self-directed teams, and facilitating team building sessions. Nic also has experience in operations management and has implemented total quality management systems and business process re-engineering . Nic has an honours degree in Industrial Psychology, and a Masters degree in Operations Management from the University of Cape Town, South Africa - contact Nic

Joanne Spalton, Senior Consultant

Joanne’s wide range of expertise includes facilitating, working with teams, assessing employee engagement, developing leaders, and delivering training programs on a variety of topics. Her people development skills have been honed through senior level positions across a broad range of sectors including post-secondary education, manufacturing, engineering, and most recently software development, as the HR Director for the R&D division of Fortinet Technologies. Joanne holds a CHRP designation and has completed a post-degree diploma in Human Resources Management from BCIT. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science, English) degree from the University of Victoria - contact Joanne

Glen Sollors, Senior Consultant

Glen specializes in aligning strategic goals with accountability- based principles and practices that enable employee and organizational objectives. He has over 15 years experience in driving results by working with leaders in developing strategic business opportunities, managing associated change and supporting implementation through training, coaching and problem solving. His big picture and authentic approach helps leaders uncover possibilities, identify solutions and take action through a framework of accountability.  Glen has a range of expertise in change management, business development, strategy design, accountability based leadership and skills training. He is passionate about effective and courageous communication and helping leaders get the most from their people. 

Glen holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a minor in International Business from Ryerson University and is a certified adult educator - contact Glen

Dene Rossouw, Associate

Dene Rossouw specializes in improving leadership and employee engagement through effective communication and sensemaking. As an innovative communicator, Dene coaches leaders on how to have more relevant conversations in the workplace and how to use personal power to inspire action and develop strategic partnerships. Dene has 18 years of facilitation and consulting experience in the field of communications. He is the VP for the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, a certified executive Coach through Royal Roads University, and a certified emotional intelligence facilitator using the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Quotient Inventory - EQ-i™. He has the Associate Certificate in Workplace Conflict from the Justice Institute of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Theology from the University of South Africa.

Jim Brosseau, Associate

Jim has worked in the high-technology sector since 1980, in a variety of roles and responsibilities. He has held successively more responsible positions in military and defence contracting, commercial software development, and training and consulting. He has worked in the QA role, and has acted as team lead, project manager, and director. Jim has been involved with the BCIT Bachelor of Technology program, mentored students at SFU Surrey and the Vancouver Board of Trade's Leaders of Tomorrow program, acts as a mentor in the New Ventures BC competition, and has been on the Business Advisory Board of the Advanced Systems Institute of BC.

Keith Farndale, Associate

With degrees in engineering and business, Keith had a long practical career in the PM area in consulting engineering firms. Keith has since delivered a wide array of custom Project Management programs in a variety of industries including universities, trade and professional associations, and corporate customers such as IBM Canada, Ontario Power Generation, Bank of Montreal, and Vale Inco.

Keith is a member of the Ontario Society for Training and Development, and of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering, and is designated as a Project Management Professional, Earned Value Professional and as a Professional Engineer.

Darya Duma, Associate

A practising Project Manager for over 10 years, Darya Duma has been designing and leading training courses in Project Management theory and application for 10 years.  She has extensive international experience and has been a member of PMI’s Registered Education Provider Advisory Group, and is on the Canadian Advisory Council for the upcoming ISO PM standard.

Janice Petley, Associate

Janice possesses over 20 years of project management experience, managing events ranging from stadium and arena opera productions in Tokyo, Munich, and Brussels, to large sporting events, to managing site requirements while touring Europe with the Rolling Stones, Janice has worked on high risk, innovative and challenging projects.

Janice draws upon her unique experiences to provide scenarios in her training which are interesting and accessible to a wide variety of people and organizations.  She has created and organized events for many high profile corporate clients including CIBC, Chrysler Canada, Telus, and BMW. Janice holds both a BA from University of Western Ontario, a BEd from Queen’s University, and has her Project Management Professional designation, as well as an MBA

Liz ‘Zed’, Administration & Client Services

Liz comes to Kwela with an extensive background in business administration, having worked at a management level in sales operations and business analysis for many years in Vancouver’s high tech industry.  More recently before joining Kwela, she gained valuable experience in the not-for-profit world in a visual arts organization. At Kwela, Liz is responsible for all operational and administrative aspects of the business, and is committed to providing excellence in customer service - contact Liz

Carole Ruttle, Analyst

Carole’s diverse background includes business development, product marketing, communications and research for a variety of high technology companies. More recently she developed and successfully ran a retail business before returning to business consulting. At Kwela, Carole is responsible for measurement and assessment programs as well as marketing initiatives. Carole has an honours degree from the University of London, England and a Masters degree in urban development from the University of British Columbia - contact Carole

Stacey Lyle, Program Management

Stacey joins Kwela with a wide skill set, including an extensive background in project management and business communications. Much of Stacey’s career has been spent in the private sector, most recently in the consumer goods industry. At Kwela, Stacey manages a variety of client programs and initiatives - contact Stacey