Prior to joining the ‘Indigenous Innovation Initiative’, Sara was the founding Partner and Managing Director of Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto and the Director of Clinical Services for the ‘Baby Bundle’ Research Project. In addition to her clinical midwifery work, Sara managed all business administrative functions and was a core community partner with an Indigenous academic research unit. Working more than two decades, primarily in sexual and reproductive health and Indigenous population health, Sara has extensive experience in program development, grant writing and fundraising, strategic planning, participatory action research and evaluation and all levels of engagement.

Additionally, Sara has extensive experience with not for profit and Indigenous governance. Her current board work includes Health Nexus (Best Start), Toronto Indigenous Health Advisory Circle (co-creating the first ever Urban Indigenous Health Strategy for Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Central LHIN) and an executive role with the Canadian Association of Midwives. In 2014 she lead the development and operationalization of the award winning Toronto Birth Centre, a first of its kind health facility to be open to the general population but using an Indigenous governance model and leadership framework. She has been called upon by Rotman, Women’s College Hospital, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, City of Toronto and numerous others to bring her unique perspective to solving problems and supporting solutions.

Anishnawbe-kwe from Brunswick House First Nation, Sara is a Registered Nurse, a Registered Midwife and holds a Master in Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management, receiving the Fellowship Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the Women Managers Award. She earned her nursing degree from the University of Ottawa and her midwifery degree with honours from the University Of West London, UK.

Sara maintains a passionate belief in the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples. Improving community and economic development through community driven solutions and local Indigenous leadership, and leveraging strengths-based approaches to deliver positive social impact, will help us to achieve a world where everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their fullest potential.