Marissa is the Knowledge Management and Translation (KMT) Associate for the Indigenous Innovation Initiative hosted at Grand Challenges Canada. She leads KMT functions within the Initiative, including those related to knowledge governance, evaluation and monitoring and knowledge products.

Marissa was born and raised in Georgian Bay, and is a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario. Since moving to Toronto over 10 years ago, Marissa has worked exclusively within the public sector, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. This includes roles in political research, Indigenous mental health policy, and, most recently, health care program and project management.

Since completing her Honours Specialization in Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario, Marissa has received certification in lean six sigma and quality improvement from the University of Toronto and her Project Management Professional designation from the Project Management Institute. While completing the MSc in Global Health, Development and Environmental Challenges program at the University of Edinburgh, Marissa’s key research interests included health inequities faced by Indigenous women and children in Canada, evaluating development interventions designed for Indigenous peoples in Canada and assessing the role of Indigenous knowledge in ecological governance

Outside of work, Marissa is an active community leader, including organizing community run fundraisers in the Toronto area for a number of years. Marissa is also on the Board of Directors for an Indigenous education initiative and is a passionate environmental steward with the City of Toronto. Otherwise, she and her family can always be found at a Raptors, TFC, Blue Jays or Bills game.