SFU Public Square Team

Philip Steenkamp

Philip's long career in public service includes several posts as deputy minister in BC and Ontario. He now oversees community engagement, international education, government relations, media and public relations, and marketing at SFU.

Shauna Sylvester

For more than 25 years, Shauna has been engaging the world through groundbreaking social justice work at home and around the world. A fellow at the SFU Centre for Dialogue, she is also the founding executive director of Carbon Talks, a national initiative to accelerate Canada's shift to a low-carbon economy.

Janet Webber

A graduate of SFU's Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue, Janet brings years of experience working at the intersections of government, non-profit, public policy and education. Janet worked with Action Canada, a national fellowship program for emerging Canadian leaders, and has convened dialogues and events in multiple fields.

Jackie Pichette

A recent graduate of SFU's School of Public Policy and former policy analyst with the federal government, Jackie has researched a range of topics from youth voting practices to women's empowerment in developing nations. She welcomes the opportunity to encourage dialogue around related issues at SFU Public Square.

Brenda Tang

As SFU Public Square is housed at the SFU Centre for Dialogue, Brenda manages the SFU Public Square budget in addition to providing general administrative support and guidance. Brenda has worked within numerous departments at SFU and has been working in Dialogue for over 8 years. She has taught English in Guangzhou, China and has a background in marketing for real estate and the non-profit arts. She holds a BA in Communications from SFU.

Marissa Lawrence

Provincial Outreach Coordinator, SFU Public Square

Marissa is a recent graduate of SFU’s Communications and Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue, and former B.C. Program Coordinator of Democracy Talks, a Samara project delivered in partnership with SFU Public Square. She has engaged with citizens and facilitated conversations on democratic participation across the province. Marissa welcomes the opportunity to continue working with SFU Public Square convening dialogues that address issues of public concern.

Mark Friesen

Community Outreach Coordinator, SFU Public Square

Mark is a graduate student in the Urban Studies program at SFU, researching democratic practices and governance at the urban scale.  He's worked for over ten years in the not-for-profit sport sector, most recently as Executive Director of the Delta Gymnastics Society and a co-founder of the Delta Sport Council. Mark is most excited about the opportunity to include citizens in public decision making through dialogue.

Kate Affleck

Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, SFU Public Square

As a Dialogue alumna and experiential education enthusiast, Kate is
excited to be joining the SFU Public Square team for an 8 month internship. Kate's background in community engagement ranges from her involvement in extra-curricular programs at SFU to volunteer work in
the lower mainland. In addition to her new role with SFU Public Square,
she is currently a board member for a local charity that is designing online tools to enhance civic engagement.

Jasmine Lew

Design & Communications Coordinator, SFU Public Square

Jasmine is an undergraduate student in the Interactive Arts & Technology, and the Criminology program at SFU, with a focus on legal studies and policing. She has worked briefly for a non-profit in the mental health field, and is excited about the opportunity to work with SFU Public Square in convening public dialogues.