Meet the Team
Bridge Building Group is a community of engagement specialists, facilitators, graphic recorders and planners who help people have meaningful conversations and gatherings. Want to join the community? Keep scrolling and get in touch!
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CO-FOUNDER, PROFESSIONAL FACILITATOR
Jane Porter is a Certified Professional Facilitator (Integral® and IAF Certified™) with over 15 years of experience (national and international) as a convener and consultant bringing a depth of process skills and content knowledge. She has worked at the forefront of key sustainability issues of our time and has led strategy development, program design and national stakeholder initiatives on topics related to climate change, sustainable natural resource management and startups for sustainability. She is a co-founder of Impact Hub Ottawa, and a Board Member of the Parkdale Food Centre. jane@bridgebuilding.ca.
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CO-FOUNDER, PROFESSIONAL FACILITATOR
Melissa Hammell is a Certified Integral Facilitator® and community connector who is passionate about addressing intricate global challenges one cup of tea at a time. Being from a mixed family with strong Anishinabe roots, Melissa carries the responsibility of bringing different worldviews together through deep listening and relationship building. In her role as a consultant she has led reconciliation initiatives and community conversations across Canada. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Waterloo and an Integral Facilitator® certificate from Ten Directions. She is on the Board of Directors for both the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, and the Ottawa Riverkeeper. melissa@bridgebuilding.ca
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DIRECTOR OF INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT & VISUAL STORYTELLING
Holding experience in a multitude of disciplines, Jessica’s expertise is naturally drawn to that of graphic facilitation, facilitation, reporting and project organization with a passion for inclusive community engagement for socially & ecologically conscientious design. Her approach to all project solutions is that of careful listening - rooted in the belief that the path forward is found in open, balanced conversation. Born and raised in Ottawa, with a mix of settler and Anishinabe heritage, Jessica fully believes in the importance of open, truthful storytelling and story-sharing for intercultural collaboration and bridge-building. jessica@bridgebuilding.ca | View Portfolio.
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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Vanessa is a dynamic leader with over two decades of global experience across healthcare, tech, and nonprofit sectors. Known for driving collaboration, leading teams through complex challenges, and executing strategic initiatives, she brings a unique blend of clarity, adaptability, and operational expertise to the Bridge Building Group team. Passionate about turning ambiguity into action, Vanessa is a trusted force of change, connecting people, ideas, and purpose to deliver meaningful impact. In her extended leadership efforts, Vanessa serves as Network President of Lean In Ottawa and as an Executive Member of PushPULL Ottawa Dance Company. vanessa@bridgebuilding.ca
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ADVISOR, STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT
Katie is a strategist and facilitator with over 12 years of experience working across sectors building entrepreneurial and equitable approaches to social impact. She is passionate in the belief that business can be a force for good and that a more just, equitable and sustainable future is possible. She has led and supported clients in a variety of projects from conducting internal equity assessments, delivering tailored training, and supporting co-creative processes to design more equitable products, programs and teams. Of mixed settler and Anishinabe heritage, Katie has worked across Canada and the globe. She serves as member of the Social Innovation Advisory Council to the Government of Canada and is the Treasurer at Water Rangers, a social enterprise empowering communities in protecting waterways. katie@bridgebuilding.ca
Are you a bridge builder?
We are always looking for other talented facilitators, convenors and bridge builders to join this community.
If what you are reading here resonates deeply, let’s connect.