The Board of Directors is elected by our voting membership at the Annual General Meeting. Active Team Members and Team Members on leave of absence are eligible to vote.
Catalina Roberts BA, FRSA
Chairperson – Board of Directors
Catalina is currently in the process of completing her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Development Studies at the University of Calgary. Her degree allows her to focus on her passion within the African region and the importance of security and strategy, specifically within conflict zones.
In 2018, she joined ICO after being a youth representative for the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation at the United Nations High-level Political Forum. She has held several positions within ICO, as intern with the Secretariat, as Lead of ICO Communities and as Lead – Communications Group.
In her spare time she embraces the cold weather of Calgary with snowboarding and hiking but also enjoys bouldering, hanging out with friends, and traveling the globe.
Tony Cardoso BA
Vice Chair – Board of Directors
Chair of the Council of ICO Communities
Tony brings more than 40 years operational and human resources experience to ICO. His career has spanned theme parks and world expositions, to international equipment manufacturing, to currently commercial and industrial cleaning services. Across all these industries, Tony has been able to leverage his expertise in creating strategies to improve productivity and efficiency; balancing budgets; managing quality assurance programs; and supervising, hiring, and training employees. Tony worked with John Mitchell building the human resources and organization for a large Pulp and Paper Complex, it was during that time in 1988 that Tony and John worked on the first conceptual document that led eventually to ICO.
Born in Braga, Portugal, Tony immigrated to Canada at age 13. Twenty years later he immigrated again, this time to the United States. Tony lives in Ohio with his wife of more than 20 years, Tammy and their daughters Ashten and Morgan. In addition to serving as congregational president for his church, Tony enjoys spending time with his family and being involved in his young daughter’s multiple activities.
Tony has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. He speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and French.
Harrison Jordan BA J.D.
Board Secretary
Harrison Jordan is a lawyer for Canadian companies in highly regulated sectors, including medical cannabis and anti-money laundering. As the founder of Substance Law, he focuses on helping small businesses in various sectors stay onside and resolve their legal difficulties.
Harrison co-founded Alan Aldous, the world’s first public relations firm for companies in the legal psychedelics space, where he used his experience in digital marketing and search engine optimization to enhance the visibility of clients.
Harrison comes from a family that instilled the importance of charitable work and he was attracted to ICO due to the novel “100% volunteer-driven” model of ICO. He looks forward to advancing the mission of the organization to the greatest extent possible, through a legal and advocacy lens.
Jill Hendrickson B.Ed., CPA, CA
Board Treasurer
Adam Beaton
Director
Adam Beaton brings a background in systems thinking and operational design to his work with InnovativeCommunities.org. He first became involved with ICO in 2010 and recently returned to lead a renewable energy initiative that helped a school in Nigeria transition from a costly diesel-powered water pump to a solar-powered solution.
Adam first got involved with information systems while volunteering overseas, where he began to recognize the role that well-designed systems can play in helping people collaborate effectively. He also saw the importance of simple and robust systems—especially when work needs to be carried out reliably by new and/or rotating volunteers.
Today, Adam works in the healthcare sector, focusing on the development of information systems used in the delivery of healthcare services. He is passionate about sustainable development, collaborative problem-solving, and applying technology to help bring about positive change. Adam and his wife, Cindy, make their home on the West Coast and value opportunities to contribute meaningfully—both globally and close to home.
Juanita Lopez BIR
Director
Juanita Lopez is currently completing her Master’s in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex. She is passionate about applying her education to promote sustainable, inclusive, and equitable practices in community development projects. Born in Colombia and raised in Canada, Juanita’s immigrant experience has deeply informed her passion for supporting marginalized communities both locally and globally.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Global Development Studies from the University of Calgary, where she actively volunteered with university programs such as Women’s Resource Centre and Food Justice Now to coordinate community-based initiatives, including a monthly free meal program for students.
Professionally, Juanita works as a Stewardship Coordinator at STARS, a non-profit helicopter air ambulance organization. Her role allows her to meaningfully engage with donors, volunteers, and community partners to further the organization’s life-saving mission. Outside of work, Juanita is an active member of Calgary’s soccer community and plays on a women’s team throughout the week. She also enjoys spending her free time at social events around the city, where she and her partner dance various Latin styles.
Juanita is excited to contribute to ICO’s mission and be a part of an incredible team driving meaningful, community-led impact.
Cara Simioni B.Sc. Human Ecology
Director
Cara Simioni brings over 14 years of experience in project coordination, client relations, and strategic sales leadership to the Board of InnovativeCommunities.Org. Throughout her career, Cara has consistently driven growth and cultivated impactful partnerships, most recently leading sales strategy and market expansion efforts at PFD Style and Kotn, a Certified B Corporation known for aligning purpose with business. Her track record includes generating multimillion-dollar sales growth and building high-performing, cross-functional teams.
Cara holds a B.Sc. in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta, where she developed a strong foundation in community-centered development. Her passion for education, grassroots initiatives, and empowering women continues to guide her work. A committed advocate for social impact, she has volunteered with organizations like Second Harvest and actively participates in women-led professional networks.
As a board member, Cara brings creative problem-solving, a collaborative approach, and a deep commitment to community-driven change. She is excited to support ICO’s mission of fostering sustainable, locally led solutions around the world.
Katya Guez B.Sc. Life Sciences and Technology
Director
Katya brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to community empowerment to her role on the ICO Board of Trustees. Born in the Philippines and raised across several European countries before moving to Canada, she draws on a multicultural background, diverse experiences, and a broad network to support grassroots development and local impact. Early volunteer work and community outreach further deepened her interest in inclusive, community-led initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences and Technology from Switzerland, where she was actively exposed to UN organizations and international development spaces.
With a technical background and a strong professional track record spanning financial services consulting and startup program management in Canada, she now focuses on ecosystem building and supporting entrepreneurs on their journey to scale. Her passion lies in bridging innovation, sustainability, and social impact to drive meaningful change. She is excited to begin her journey with ICO and contribute to its mission with strategic insight and collaborative spirit
