The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Progressive Dialogue and Policy for a Better Canada

Our Team

Board of Directors

Kevin Bosch (Chair)

Originally from Calgary, Kevin Bosch is a managing partner of Sandstone Group. In 2021, after more than four years as Vice President of Public Affairs at Hill and Knowlton, he co-founded Sandstone Group.

Kevin is a seasoned government relations and communications professional who has helped clients achieve success across a wide range of industries and the charitable sector. Prior to his work as a consultant, Kevin held senior roles in successive governments and opposition leaders’ offices, including for prime ministers Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin, and Justin Trudeau. He also previously worked in the offices of the federal Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Human Resources Development.

In 2019, Kevin was elected by his peers to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Government Relations Institute of Canada and served as Chair of its Legislative Affairs Committee. He also currently serves on the Boards of Prime Minister’s Row and the Aylmer Heritage Association and is bilingual in both official languages.

Dr. Karen Mock, CM, Toronto, ON (Past Chair)

Dr. Karen Mock, a founding member of the Pearson Centre, is a human rights consultant, educational psychologist and teacher educator. She is former Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and of the League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada. Among her many board and volunteer positions, Karen has served on the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Ontario Antiracism Multicultural Educators’ Network of Ontario and its Equity Summit Group, is Special Advisor to the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims and was co-chair of the Canadian Arab Jewish Leadership Dialogue. She is immediate past president of JSpaceCanada.

Prior to devoting herself full time to human rights, Karen taught at the University of Toronto, Ryerson Polytechnical University and York University. Considered a pioneer in the field, she developed and taught the first course in Canada on multicultural teacher education. She is published widely in the field and has written courses and manuals for intercultural and race relations training in the public and private sectors, as well as practical strategies for implementing multiculturalism, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and for taking action against hate.

Karen served as Chair of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group for the Ontario Attorney General, and was Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Education for the development and delivery of Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy. Dr. Mock has been recognized by the Canadian courts and human rights tribunals as an expert on human rights, discrimination, racism, antisemitism and hate crime, and she has received several awards and honours for her work. Most recently she received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal “for service to her peers, community and country”, and in 2017 was inducted into the Order of Canada.

Indira Naidoo-Harris, Toronto, ON (Vice-Chair)

Indira Naidoo-Harris was born in Durban, South Africa. Her family immigrated to Canada, to pursue the dreams they could not achieve under the oppression of apartheid. The Naidoos settled in central Alberta, where Indira grew up in a small, rural town. Indira has always been interested in current affairs and world events and that interest led her to the University of Lethbridge, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and later attended the University of Alberta where she studied International Relations at the graduate level.

Following graduation from the University of Lethbridge, Indira developed a very extensive broadcasting career starting with NBC and PBS in the United States, before returning to Canada and anchoring, reporting and producing news programming for CBC Ottawa, CITV in Edmonton, TVO, OMNI news, CBC National, CBC Newsworld and Newsworld International and later CTV Newsnet.

After her highly successful broadcast career, Indira dedicated herself to serving her friends, neighbours and businesses in Milton, as she was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 2014 provincial election. From that time until 2018 she served in many roles in the Government of Ontario, including as Associate Minister of Finance Responsible for the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, Minister of the Status of Women and Minister of Education. After her time in government, in August 2019, Indira was appointed as the University of Guelph’s Associate Vice-President of Diversity and Human Rights. Indira joined the Board of the Pearson Centre in 2023 after contributing to the organization for several years.

Prof. Jonathan Calof, PhD, Ottawa, ON (Vice-Chair)

Dr. Calof is recognized as one of the leaders in intelligence and foresight. A full professor of International Business and Strategy at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and the UNESCO Co-Chair of Anticipatory Systems for Innovation and Venture Creation, Dr. Calof combines research and consulting in competitive intelligence, technical foresight and business analytics to help organizations develop key insights on their competitive environment.

Jonathan has given over 1000 speeches, seminars and keynote addresses around the world on intelligence, foresight and analytics and has helped several companies and government agencies around the world enhance their capabilities on these areas. He is also a prolific author with over 200 publications to his credit. He has been a member of the Member of the Pearson Advisory Board since its founding in 2013.

Russell Gordon Gibson, Ottawa, ON

Originally from the Ottawa area, Russ is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and the University of Western Ontario. Russ worked as a journalist for the Financial Post Directory of Government and for several years as a reporter with the United Press International news wire service.

After graduating law school, Russ practiced with a local firm, and later in his own firm with an emphasis on not-for-profit and public sector entities, such as hospitals, universities, and schools from both a corporate law, and regulatory law perspective. Russ is especially proud of his work in pursuing private legislation for various not-for-profit entities such as Ronald McDonald Houses, Loretto Ladies Colleges and Schools, St. Paul University, Filles de la Sagesse du Canada, Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, and others.

Russ is also involved in serving not-for-profits with various volunteer activities, including for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa, the Carleton County Law Association Solicitors Conference Committee, the Catholic Centre for Immigrants, the Galilee Centre of Arnprior Centre, his local community association, and as a director on the board of The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy, a dynamic think-tank that engages Canadians in active dialogue about a progressive future for Canada.

Carl Nicholson, Ottawa ON (Secretary/Treasurer)

Carl Nicholson has been executive Director for the Catholic Centre for Immigrants in Ottawa, Ontario for 28 years and recently retired from that position. He is active in immigration policy nationally, including refugee policy, foreign credential recognition, employment of immigrants and racialized Canadians, and is well regarded for his leadership by government leaders and stakeholders alike.

He has provided advice to the Pearson Centre from on fundraising strategy before joining the board, including advice on the Pearson Foundation.

Kathryn Kotris

Kathryn Kotris has been a long-time supporter of the Pearson Centre, in addition to serving on our Advisory Board.

Kathy grew up in the Niagara region and developed a global curiosity that led to her pursuit of a  University of Toronto B.A. (Hons) degree in Political Science, History and Economics. She has extensive volunteer experience in global governance while engaged in a banking/mortgage professional career. 

As the Principal Broker and VP of Compliance for Mortgage Architects for 12 years, Kathryn has been at the forefront of domestic housing policies that helped inform a Toronto Liberal Party policy committee for which she served as Chair for 6 years.  As an analyst with the G7/G20 Research Group since 2006, she has benefited from the privilege of attending numerous Summits.

A member of the advisory committee of the Pearson Centre since its inception, Kathryn is honoured to continue working with the Centre in furthering public policy engagement.

Louis-Alexandre Lanthier

Louis-Alexandre Lanthier has been Principal Advisor and Sector Lead, Supply Chain & Transportation at PAA Advisory since May 2021. He brings a mix of expertise of corporate services, consultancy, and political strategy that he acquired over more than 30 years. He is working with a large group of clients representing different interests such as information technology, transport, infrastructure, and communication.

Alex is part of a small group of people who have more than 20 years’ experience on the political scene on Parliament Hill. He has worked with the public service, politicians, political parties, interest groups and stakeholders on a wide variety of political and policy issues.

From 2007 to 2014, Alex served in the office of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. During his seven years with Mr. Trudeau, he was responsible for the overall management of the Ottawa and Montreal offices, including managing the office budget and staff as well as acted as a media liaison and spokesperson (always in both official languages).

Before joining PAA, he served as Senior Manager Government Affairs at CN Railway where he acquired an appreciation and expertise for the supply chain logistics industry. He also managed to make his mark on the 100-year-old company by advocating for a vacation day for employees who need to take their oath of citizenship and by starting the first Employee Resource Group for LGBTQ2+ workers.

Alex is on the board of the Canadian Artist Network, helping senior artists continue their contribution to our society.