Building Skills for Life

Dr. Bonnie Schmidt is the founder and president of Let’s Talk Science, a national education charity that she started in 1991 while completing a PhD in Physiology. Let’s Talk Science helps children and youth fulfill their potential and prepare for their future careers and citizenship role by supporting their learning through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement. The organization offers a robust suite of programming for youth, educators and volunteers, engaging over 9 million people since its inception.

Bonnie is very interested in education systems change, and during 2016-18, she spearheaded Canada 2067, an ambitious initiative to shape the future of STEM education.

An active contributor to the scientific and education communities, Bonnie currently serves on the Genome Canada Board of Directors and is a member of the Federal Government’s AI Public Awareness Working Group. In 2020 she was a member of the PISA Expert Strategic Visioning Group to the OECD, which set about developing a new vision for the international science test.

Prior volunteer contributions include Chairing the National Leadership Taskforce on Education & Skills for the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC); MItacs Science Policy Fellowship Committee; Ontario Tech University Board of Governors; Ontario Genomics Board of Directors; Founding Co-Chair of the Science and Technology Awareness Network (STAN) and more. Committed to good governance, she completed the ICD Directors Education Program in 2019.

For her efforts in education and youth development, Dr. Schmidt has received more than a dozen awards, including an Honorary Degree from Ryerson University. She was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015 and a Special Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2018.

As Vice President of Programs for Let’s Talk Science, since 2016, David Lapides leads the team responsible for design, development and delivery of programming for youth, volunteers and educators.

A former educator, David held various senior management roles with Calgary-based SMART Technologies, a leader in collaborative learning technology. In his 11 years with SMART, David's responsibilities for the global education sector included strategy, product management and policy advocacy. In these roles, he worked with educators across Canada and around the world to transform teaching practice and improve learning outcomes, especially in STEM subject areas. Prior to SMART, David was Vice President of Operations for ExploreLearning, makers of the award-winning digital math and science simulations known as Gizmos. He was a co-founder and Director of Product Development for the ActiveInk Corporation, a pioneer in online, inquiry-based, cross-subject environmental studies. David was a teacher and researcher in the prestigious Digital Writing and Research Lab (DWRL) at the University of Texas at Austin. He has also worked as an active speaker and advisor for organizations that provide technology-enabled resources for teaching and learning.

As the Vice President of External Relations, since 2016, Vanessa Nelson oversees the strategic management of communications, marketing, fund development and stakeholder relations for Let’s Talk Science. With a Bachelor of Social Sciences, Sociology and Political Thought from the University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa, and being fully bilingual, she offers insight and guidance for all Let’s Talk Science and Parlons sciences marketing and communications needs while advancing the organization’s profile among industry funders and government officials.

Vanessa’s past experience includes eight years as the President and owner of Word4Word Communications, a firm providing senior-level strategic communications planning, and advice. As a consultant, she has worked as a senior advisor to a number of federal departments and national museums providing strategic guidance on communications planning, stakeholder engagement, internal communications, marketing and event management. Vanessa has also held senior communications roles with Industry Canada (now Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) and Natural Resources Canada.

In her spare time, she enjoys being outside on her bike in the summer and on the slopes with her girls in the winter.

As the Vice President of Operations at Let’s Talk Science, Cailin Clarke oversees financial, legal and risk management, planning, research and evaluation, and information systems across the organization.

Cailin has been with Let’s Talk Science since 1999 and has successfully managed national projects and implemented strategic plans to support the success of the organization. In her prior roles, she has overseen national program development, educational research, and program evaluation, implementation of pilot projects and stakeholder relations and advocacy. Cailin is also the strategic lead and champion for Indigenous initiatives at Let’s Talk Science. As the lead for organizational planning, she has oversight of research and evaluation related to volunteer and staff programs and resources, as well as long-term studies relating to impact and outcomes. Cailin has a great deal of experience in not-for-profit management and a background in the education sector.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Education from Queens University, and a Masters focusing on environmental education from Trent University.

In her spare time, Cailin enjoys spending time with her husband, their children, and pets on a small farm north of London.