Upskilling. Simplified.
For everyone.
Upskilling. Simplified.
For everyone.
At SkillsWave, we believe that building the best upskilling experiences creates rewarding careers and a stronger future—for people and the organizations they power.
We help employers unlock the full potential of their workforce through smarter learning.
Our AI-powered platform removes friction and delivers personalized learning pathways, nudges, and tools that drive real business impact. Whether you’re reskilling frontline workers, developing technical talent, or scaling leadership programs, we help you meet people where they are—and move them forward.
Leadership Team
John Baker
Founder and Executive Chair
John Baker
Founder and Executive Chair
John Baker is the visionary Founder and Executive Chair of SkillsWave, a company he founded on the belief that empowering people with the right skills can transform lives and reshape the future. With a deep passion for unlocking human potential, John has dedicated his career to creating pathways for individuals to accelerate their careers and helping companies thrive by building a skilled workforce prepared to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving world.
As the founder and CEO of D2L, John’s leadership has revolutionized learning by harnessing the power of technology to empower individuals, educators and organizations globally. John is not only a champion of upskilling but also a tireless advocate for entrepreneurship and community involvement. He actively mentors young innovators who are using technology to drive social change, believing that the next generation of leaders will be the key to solving the world’s toughest challenges.
His leadership has been widely recognized: John is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross, was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Ontario for Software and Technology), and has earned a place in the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame as the Intrepid Entrepreneur of the Year. His contributions have also been honored with the University of Waterloo’s Young Alumni Achievement Medal.
A proud alumnus of the University of Waterloo, John holds an Honours B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering, graduating with First Class Honours and an option in Management Sciences. His relentless drive for innovation and his unwavering belief in the power of education continue to inspire those around him to aim higher and create lasting impact.
Neil Fassina
Board Director
Neil Fassina
Board Director
Dr. Neil Fassina took on the role of President at Okanagan College in April 2021, inspired by the college’s reputation for transforming lives and communities.
Dr. Fassina earned his PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto and holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary. He is recognized as a Fellow Chartered Professional in Human Resources (FCPHR) and a Chartered Director (ICD.D) through the Institute of Chartered Directors. He has contributed to numerous refereed articles, co-authored a Canadian Human Resource Management textbook and enjoys speaking about the future of education and its role in economic and social development.
Before joining Okanagan College, Neil served as President of Athabasca University from 2016 to 2021. His previous roles include Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Throughout his academic career, he has taught at the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, the University of Manitoba, and in executive education programs.
Neil currently serves as a Board member on various not-for-profit and profit boards at the local, regional, national and international level.
Shauna Hemingway
Board Director
Shauna Hemingway
Board Director
Shauna Hemingway is an experienced diplomat, former ambassador, and strategic policy and business development consultant, as well as an executive leadership coach. She currently serves as Senior Special Advisor for the Business Council of Canada, Board Director of SkillsWave (an upskilling tech platform based in Kitchener-Waterloo) and VP of Programs (Mexico) for Pourquoi Pas Coaching International.
Before launching her private consultancy in September 2024, Shauna served for over two decades as a diplomat, most recently as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and as the Deputy Head of Mission in Mexico. Over the course of her career, she has led and supported international negotiations and business development on five continents. She has also played an active role in G7/G20 and B7/B20 Summits since 2010.
Prior to her public service career in Canada, Shauna was the Deputy Head of Communications for the Kent Police in the UK and a Staff Reporter at the Toronto Star. She cut her teeth in journalism at the Varsity Newspaper while majoring in economics and history at the University of Toronto.
Scott Penner
Board Director
Scott Penner
Board Director
Scott is a strategic finance executive with over 25 years of experience in capital markets and investment banking. He is currently the CFO of TouchBistro Inc., a leading vertical market SaaS / payments platform. Prior to TouchBistro he was a Managing Director working with a team of bankers covering the technology sector for TD Securities, working alongside boards and management teams to design, discuss and execute strategic initiatives including public and private capital raises and transformative M&A. Prior to 10 years in investment banking, Scott was a top-ranked research analyst covering the technology industry for 15 years. He is a CFA charterholder and has an MBA from McMaster University.
Ira Stuchberry
Board Observer
Ira Stuchberry
Board Observer
Ira Stuchberry currently serves as a Board Observer for SkillsWave and is a seasoned legal executive with deep expertise in governance, corporate law, securities and regulatory affairs, legal operations, and equity administration.
As SVP, Deputy General Counsel at D2L, Ira leads the corporate, governance, securities, regulatory compliance and equity administration functions, having held increasingly senior roles over the past years. Prior to joining D2L in 2018, she practiced corporate and commercial law at Minden Gross LLP in Toronto and spent nearly a decade in private wealth management at TD Bank.
Ira is passionate about mentoring and professional development, and she plays an active role in cultivating legal and compliance talent. She holds an International Bachelor of Business Administration (iBBA) from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Windsor. She is also a recognized legal expert on corporate governance and co-author of The Director’s Handbook (Lexis Nexis).
Nick Oddson
President
Nick Oddson
President
Nick Oddson is the President of SkillsWave, a workforce development company helping employers turn workforce upskilling into a strategic advantage. Previously Head of Product and Engineering at SkillsWave, Nick brings a rare blend of technical depth, customer-centric design thinking, and enterprise leadership to the role. Before joining SkillsWave, Nick was Chief Technology Officer at D2L, where he led platform innovation and drove the development of globally scaled SaaS learning solutions.
With over 25 years of experience in technology and learning, Nick has held senior leadership roles at OpenText, where he spent 15 years scaling enterprise software systems across diverse industries. His work has spanned cloud transformation, universal design for learning, responsible AI integration, and product innovation aligned to real-world outcomes.
At SkillsWave, Nick is focused on unlocking the full potential of upskilling as a business driver—connecting employers, education partners, and learners with smarter tools, scalable systems, and skill data that powers decisions. He champions a future where learning is more inclusive, more agile, and more aligned with the dynamic needs of the workforce.
When he’s not leading change at SkillsWave, you’ll find Nick at the helm of a Medieval Faire, which he founded in Kitchener, Ontario—often with a longsword in hand and a story to tell.
Charlotte Bencaz
Vice President,
Education Partnerships
Charlotte Bencaz
Vice President, Education Partnerships
Charlotte is the Vice President of Education Partnerships at SkillsWave, strategically focused on bridging the gap between education and work. With an MBA from Marylhurst University and a BA in Mass Communications/Public Relations from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers), she is a tenacious driver of results, known for her significant contributions to enrollment and revenue growth.
In her role at SkillsWave, Charlotte excels in creating collaborative, high-performance teams built on trust in leadership. Previously, she served as Vice President of Education Partnerships at D2L and held leadership roles at SkillStorm and LSU Online & Continuing Education, where she achieved remarkable growth, including increasing a $4 million revenue budget by 10% within six months and expanding enrollment from under 1,000 to over 12,000 students.
Charlotte has extensive experience in partnership development, product strategy and marketing, successfully managing multi-million dollar portfolios and fostering long-term collaborations with key organizations.
In her spare time, friends and family often consult her as an armchair meteorologist, especially during hurricane season. She also enjoys spending time with loved ones and dreams of traveling to New Zealand.
Lesley Dalzell
Head of People
and Culture
Lesley Dalzell
Head of People and Culture
Lesley is the Head of People and Culture at SkillsWave, where she draws on her deep expertise to scale, shape, and foster organizational growth and culture.
With over two decades of HR experience, Lesley has worked across diverse sectors—including post-production, retail, telecommunications, high tech, biotech, and clean-tech. She has supported cross-border organizations in both Canada and the U.S., helping to align culture, policies, and people practices across regions. Prior to joining SkillsWave, she served as a Senior HR Consultant, partnering with companies to build strong workplace cultures, talent acquisition strategies, and compensation frameworks.
Lesley is especially passionate about working in startup and entrepreneurial environments, where she helps grow talent at all levels—from individual contributors to executive leadership. She is a trusted advisor to leadership teams, known for designing HR programs tailored to the distinct needs and identities of each organization.
She holds an Honours B.A. in Law with a minor in Business Law and a focus in Restorative Justice, along with a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton University. Lesley is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner.
When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Lesley out on the ice or adventuring in the mountains with her family.
Rose Kocher
Head of Project Management
and Operations
Rose Kocher
Head of Project Management and Operations
Rose Kocher is the Head of Operations and Project Management at SkillsWave. As a seasoned operations leader, Rose has a strong track record of driving growth through operational excellence.
Rose graduated from the Computer Programmer/Analyst program at Conestoga College and spent time in technical roles at companies related to manufacturing, banking and insurance. Prior to joining SkillsWave, she spent 18 years at D2L where she played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a startup to a global leader in learning solutions, honing her expertise in managing large-scale initiatives across both government and private sectors. Rose continues to demonstrate her focus on continuous learning, achieving and maintaining her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation since 2005 and most recently obtaining her ITIL Foundation 4.0 certification.
Inspired by the mantra to “work hard, play hard,” when not working on a bleeding-edge initiatives for SkillsWave, her secondary passion is golf. She has traveled to courses around the world and hopes to one day test her skills in Ireland.
Kathleen Carr
Senior Director, Partnership Success and Product Strategy
Kathleen Carr
Senior Director, Partnership Success and Product Strategy
Kathleen is the Senior Director of Partnership Success and Product Strategy at SkillsWave, where she leverages her expertise in driving results and developing innovative learning products. With a strong focus on connecting targeted upskilling content with corporations, she leads our client success team and collaborates closely with corporate learning and development teams to create accessible learning experiences at scale.
A strategic partnership and product strategy executive, Kathleen thrives as a senior leadership strategist, propelling product-led growth and building agile teams in fast-paced environments. She possesses extensive expertise in partnership development, acquisition, product development, and communications, excelling in nurturing and growing corporate and educational partnerships. Her skills include leading teams, identifying learning pathways and implementing data-driven strategies.
Kathleen holds a BA in English from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Simmons School of Management. She believes in the transformative potential of cultivating internal talent to address skill gaps and drive organizational growth. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her partner in fun, Clayton, and her rescue hound, Olive. She is always up for a trip to Paris or to her hometown of RI.
Jacki Ross
Senior Director,
Marketing
Jacki Ross
Senior Director, Marketing
Jacki is the Senior Director of Marketing at SkillsWave, focused on driving growth through innovative marketing strategies and go-to-market (GTM) excellence. She specializes in launching and scaling technology start-ups, bringing a wealth of experience in product and revenue marketing to the team. Currently pursuing her MBA from Carleton University, Jacki also holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Business Administration and Marketing from Conestoga College.
In her role at SkillsWave, Jacki excels in building data-driven marketing strategies and fostering a high-performance marketing team. She actively supports L&D teams in utilizing modern marketing techniques to foster the adoption of learning programs, ensuring program success and engagement. Before joining SkillsWave, she served in various key marketing leadership roles, including Senior Director of Integrated Marketing at D2L, where she was instrumental in driving growth and enhancing brand visibility. She also held marketing leadership positions at Connect Tech, blueRover and Dejero, where her impact was marked by her results-driven approach to marketing and product launches.
Jacki has extensive experience in GTM strategy, product marketing, and integrated campaigns, successfully driving brand growth and market presence for multiple start-ups and established companies.
In her spare time, Jacki is an avid reader who dreams of traveling to Japan and enjoys exploring new ways to tell compelling stories through marketing.
Nick
Oddson
President
Nick Oddson
President
Nick Oddson is the President of SkillsWave, a workforce development company helping employers turn workforce upskilling into a strategic advantage. Previously Head of Product and Engineering at SkillsWave, Nick brings a rare blend of technical depth, customer-centric design thinking, and enterprise leadership to the role. Before joining SkillsWave, Nick was Chief Technology Officer at D2L, where he led platform innovation and drove the development of globally scaled SaaS learning solutions.
With over 25 years of experience in technology and learning, Nick has held senior leadership roles at OpenText, where he spent 15 years scaling enterprise software systems across diverse industries. His work has spanned cloud transformation, universal design for learning, responsible AI integration, and product innovation aligned to real-world outcomes.
At SkillsWave, Nick is focused on unlocking the full potential of upskilling as a business driver—connecting employers, education partners, and learners with smarter tools, scalable systems, and skill data that powers decisions. He champions a future where learning is more inclusive, more agile, and more aligned with the dynamic needs of the workforce.
When he’s not leading change at SkillsWave, you’ll find Nick at the helm of a Medieval Faire, which he founded in Kitchener, Ontario—often with a longsword in hand and a story to tell.
Charlotte Bencaz
Vice President,
Education Partnerships
Charlotte Bencaz
Vice President, Education Partnerships
Charlotte is the Vice President of Education Partnerships at SkillsWave, strategically focused on bridging the gap between education and work. With an MBA from Marylhurst University and a BA in Mass Communications/Public Relations from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers), she is a tenacious driver of results, known for her significant contributions to enrollment and revenue growth.
In her role at SkillsWave, Charlotte excels in creating collaborative, high-performance teams built on trust in leadership. Previously, she served as Vice President of Education Partnerships at D2L and held leadership roles at SkillStorm and LSU Online & Continuing Education, where she achieved remarkable growth, including increasing a $4 million revenue budget by 10% within six months and expanding enrollment from under 1,000 to over 12,000 students.
Charlotte has extensive experience in partnership development, product strategy and marketing, successfully managing multi-million dollar portfolios and fostering long-term collaborations with key organizations.
In her spare time, friends and family often consult her as an armchair meteorologist, especially during hurricane season. She also enjoys spending time with loved ones and dreams of traveling to New Zealand.
Lesley Dalzell
Head of
People and Culture
Lesley Dalzell
Head of People and Culture
Lesley is the Head of People and Culture at SkillsWave, where she draws on her deep expertise to scale, shape, and foster organizational growth and culture.
With over two decades of HR experience, Lesley has worked across diverse sectors—including post-production, retail, telecommunications, high tech, biotech, and clean-tech. She has supported cross-border organizations in both Canada and the U.S., helping to align culture, policies, and people practices across regions. Prior to joining SkillsWave, she served as a Senior HR Consultant, partnering with companies to build strong workplace cultures, talent acquisition strategies, and compensation frameworks.
Lesley is especially passionate about working in startup and entrepreneurial environments, where she helps grow talent at all levels—from individual contributors to executive leadership. She is a trusted advisor to leadership teams, known for designing HR programs tailored to the distinct needs and identities of each organization.
She holds an Honours B.A. in Law with a minor in Business Law and a focus in Restorative Justice, along with a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton University. Lesley is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner.
When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Lesley out on the ice or adventuring in the mountains with her family.
Rose Kocher
Head of Project Management
and Operations
Rose Kocher
Head of Project Management and Operations
Rose Kocher is the Head of Operations and Project Management at SkillsWave. As a seasoned operations leader, Rose has a strong track record of driving growth through operational excellence.
Rose graduated from the Computer Programmer/Analyst program at Conestoga College and spent time in technical roles at companies related to manufacturing, banking and insurance. Prior to joining SkillsWave, she spent 18 years at D2L where she played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a startup to a global leader in learning solutions, honing her expertise in managing large-scale initiatives across both government and private sectors. Rose continues to demonstrate her focus on continuous learning, achieving and maintaining her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation since 2005 and most recently obtaining her ITIL Foundation 4.0 certification.
Inspired by the mantra to “work hard, play hard,” when not working on a bleeding-edge initiatives for SkillsWave, her secondary passion is golf. She has traveled to courses around the world and hopes to one day test her skills in Ireland.
Kathleen Carr
Senior Director, Partnership Success and Product Strategy
Kathleen Carr
Senior Director, Partnership Success and Product Strategy
Kathleen is the Senior Director of Partnership Success and Product Strategy at SkillsWave, where she leverages her expertise in driving results and developing innovative learning products. With a strong focus on connecting targeted upskilling content with corporations, she leads our client success team and collaborates closely with corporate learning and development teams to create accessible learning experiences at scale.
A strategic partnership and product strategy executive, Kathleen thrives as a senior leadership strategist, propelling product-led growth and building agile teams in fast-paced environments. She possesses extensive expertise in partnership development, acquisition, product development, and communications, excelling in nurturing and growing corporate and educational partnerships. Her skills include leading teams, identifying learning pathways and implementing data-driven strategies.
Kathleen holds a BA in English from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Simmons School of Management. She believes in the transformative potential of cultivating internal talent to address skill gaps and drive organizational growth. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her partner in fun, Clayton, and her rescue hound, Olive. She is always up for a trip to Paris or to her hometown of RI.
Jacki Ross
Senior Director,
Marketing
Jacki Ross
Senior Director, Marketing
Jacki is the Senior Director of Marketing at SkillsWave, focused on driving growth through innovative marketing strategies and go-to-market (GTM) excellence. She specializes in launching and scaling technology start-ups, bringing a wealth of experience in product and revenue marketing to the team. Currently pursuing her MBA from Carleton University, Jacki also holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Business Administration and Marketing from Conestoga College.
In her role at SkillsWave, Jacki excels in building data-driven marketing strategies and fostering a high-performance marketing team. She actively supports L&D teams in utilizing modern marketing techniques to foster the adoption of learning programs, ensuring program success and engagement. Before joining SkillsWave, she served in various key marketing leadership roles, including Senior Director of Integrated Marketing at D2L, where she was instrumental in driving growth and enhancing brand visibility. She also held marketing leadership positions at Connect Tech, blueRover and Dejero, where her impact was marked by her results-driven approach to marketing and product launches.
Jacki has extensive experience in GTM strategy, product marketing, and integrated campaigns, successfully driving brand growth and market presence for multiple start-ups and established companies.
In her spare time, Jacki is an avid reader who dreams of traveling to Japan and enjoys exploring new ways to tell compelling stories through marketing.
John Baker
Founder and Executive Chair
John Baker
Founder and Executive Chair
John Baker is the visionary Founder and Executive Chair of SkillsWave, a company he founded on the belief that empowering people with the right skills can transform lives and reshape the future. With a deep passion for unlocking human potential, John has dedicated his career to creating pathways for individuals to accelerate their careers and helping companies thrive by building a skilled workforce prepared to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving world.
As the founder and CEO of D2L, John’s leadership has revolutionized learning by harnessing the power of technology to empower individuals, educators and organizations globally. John is not only a champion of upskilling but also a tireless advocate for entrepreneurship and community involvement. He actively mentors young innovators who are using technology to drive social change, believing that the next generation of leaders will be the key to solving the world’s toughest challenges.
His leadership has been widely recognized: John is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross, was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Ontario for Software and Technology), and has earned a place in the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame as the Intrepid Entrepreneur of the Year. His contributions have also been honored with the University of Waterloo’s Young Alumni Achievement Medal.
A proud alumnus of the University of Waterloo, John holds an Honours B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering, graduating with First Class Honours and an option in Management Sciences. His relentless drive for innovation and his unwavering belief in the power of education continue to inspire those around him to aim higher and create lasting impact.
Neil Fassina
Board Director
Neil Fassina
Board Director
Dr. Neil Fassina took on the role of President at Okanagan College in April 2021, inspired by the college’s reputation for transforming lives and communities.
Dr. Fassina earned his PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto and holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary. He is recognized as a Fellow Chartered Professional in Human Resources (FCPHR) and a Chartered Director (ICD.D) through the Institute of Chartered Directors. He has contributed to numerous refereed articles, co-authored a Canadian Human Resource Management textbook and enjoys speaking about the future of education and its role in economic and social development.
Before joining Okanagan College, Neil served as President of Athabasca University from 2016 to 2021. His previous roles include Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. Throughout his academic career, he has taught at the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, the University of Manitoba, and in executive education programs.
Neil currently serves as a Board member on various not-for-profit and profit boards at the local, regional, national and international level.
Shauna Hemingway
Board Director
Shauna Hemingway
Board Director
Shauna Hemingway is an experienced diplomat, former ambassador, and strategic policy and business development consultant, as well as an executive leadership coach. She currently serves as Senior Special Advisor for the Business Council of Canada, Board Director of SkillsWave (an upskilling tech platform based in Kitchener-Waterloo) and VP of Programs (Mexico) for Pourquoi Pas Coaching International.
Before launching her private consultancy in September 2024, Shauna served for over two decades as a diplomat, most recently as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and as the Deputy Head of Mission in Mexico. Over the course of her career, she has led and supported international negotiations and business development on five continents. She has also played an active role in G7/G20 and B7/B20 Summits since 2010.
Prior to her public service career in Canada, Shauna was the Deputy Head of Communications for the Kent Police in the UK and a Staff Reporter at the Toronto Star. She cut her teeth in journalism at the Varsity Newspaper while majoring in economics and history at the University of Toronto.
Scott Penner
Board Director
Scott Penner
Board Director
Scott is a strategic finance executive with over 25 years of experience in capital markets and investment banking. He is currently the CFO of TouchBistro Inc., a leading vertical market SaaS / payments platform. Prior to TouchBistro he was a Managing Director working with a team of bankers covering the technology sector for TD Securities, working alongside boards and management teams to design, discuss and execute strategic initiatives including public and private capital raises and transformative M&A. Prior to 10 years in investment banking, Scott was a top-ranked research analyst covering the technology industry for 15 years. He is a CFA charterholder and has an MBA from McMaster University.
Ira Stuchberry
Board Director
Ira Stuchberry
Board Director
Ira Stuchberry currently serves as a Board Observer for SkillsWave and is a seasoned legal executive with deep expertise in governance, corporate law, securities and regulatory affairs, legal operations, and equity administration.
As SVP, Deputy General Counsel at D2L, Ira leads the corporate, governance, securities, regulatory compliance and equity administration functions, having held increasingly senior roles over the past five years. Prior to joining D2L in 2018, she practiced corporate and commercial law at Minden Gross LLP in Toronto and spent nearly a decade in private wealth management at TD Bank.
Ira is passionate about mentoring and professional development, and she plays an active role in cultivating legal and compliance talent. She holds an International Bachelor of Business Administration (iBBA) from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Windsor. She is also a recognized legal expert on corporate governance and co-author of The Director’s Handbook (Lexis Nexis).
