Our Team

Albert started at NCF in January 2023. Originally from Markham, Ontario, Albert moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton University. There, he completed a Bachelor of Computer Science in 2021 and in January of 2023 joined our HelpDesk team!

Albert is interested in front-end development but is also venturing into IT and internet security. In his free time he loves to cook food for friends, is an avid music listener and the occasional rock climber.

Albert's initial position at NCF was funded in part through ESDC's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program, offered through the Social Planning Council of Ottawa.

Andrew started on our HelpDesk in 2015, later serving as a Business Analyst for a while before coming into his role as the former Service Operations Manager. In this role he managed the HelpDesk and System Development functions of NCF. His days were filled with finding targeted and system-wide solutions to member concerns. His preference is to implement system-wide improvements when possible. Now he is focused on helping NCF extend our network and our mandate to serve more members by examining how we would establish and run a community mesh network.

He is a meat-lover pizza lover especially since he expects his 3-year old toddler to pick off any pepperoni or chicken pieces he can get his hands on. Outside of work and family, you’re likely to find him in an e-book or audiobook of varied genres. He gets through 50 to 70 a year which saves him from binge-watching TV shows.

Dylan Ferris is currently NCF's Operations Manager and has been with NCF since 2018, first working on the HelpDesk and later overseeing the integration of the new website with our existing back-end tools, including building new web tools for members.

A proponent of free and open-source software, Dylan only uses Linux and is a frequent contributor to FOSS projects. Playing guitar is his main outlet for creativity and he also enjoys painting and making generative art. Occasionally, he ventures outdoors and relaxes in nature by camping and hiking. He often experiments with cooking and fermentation, trying new recipes from around the world. When it comes to pizza: "Mediterranean" is his go-to, with huge chunks of feta!

Fabian joined our HelpDesk in February 2022. He has a Diploma in Computer Programming from Algonquin College. Before moving to Ottawa he worked in Bogota, Colombia as an Environmental Engineer, with a Certificate in GIS and a Bachelor in Environmental Engineering. In his free time, Fabian likes to read, learn coding tricks, bike off-road trails around the city, and share dinner with friends.

Lana is passionate about NCF's mission of removing barriers to high quality internet access. Before joining NCF she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Computer Programming. In her free time she enjoys learning about software and application development, watching sci-fi and fantasy movies and  playing role-playing games. Lana's favourite pizza is neapolitan.

Lana first joined NCF in October 2023 as a volunteer HelpDesk Analyst and became the Summer HelpDesk Analyst in June 2024. Her position was funded in part through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Luke started with NCF on the HelpDesk as a summer student starting in 2018, later transitioning to working on the HelpDesk full-time. He has also worked as HelpDesk and Service Excellence Manager. If you have called or sent an email NCF in the last few years, you've likely interacted with Luke!

In 2024, Luke transitioned to NCF's Volunteer and Training Coordinator, in a role supported by a Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. If you're interested in volunteering with NCF, contact Luke at volunteering@ncf.ca

Luke enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi novels and playing many different board games and can talk nearly endlessly about these things.

Shelley has spent most of her career working in community access to communications, from running a community newspaper on the peaceline in West Belfast to working with community radio stations in Canada, Afghanistan and Rwanda. Internet seemed like the next obvious step. She joined National Capital FreeNet in 2015 and continues to be amazed by NCF member engagement and the organization’s rich history. Shelley is working towards an MBA in Community Economic Development and is obsessed with Murder, She Wrote and thrift shopping.

Alex started volunteering with NCF in September 2024, and works as an IT Professional in Ottawa. He moved to Ottawa in 2012 from London, Ontario. Alex has studied Media Theory and Production at Western University (2012), Radio Broadcasting at Fanshawe College (2012), and Project Management at Algonquin College (2015).

Alex has been an active volunteer and supporter of the Scouting organization in Canada and around the world from a young age. He supports and volunteers his time with other community organizations such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the LORAN Scholarship, and as a condominium director. Alex is also a member of his local Canadian Army Reserve unit.

Alex enjoys continually learning about the ways technology can enhance our lives, and enjoys helping others benefit from it as well.

Ali is a highly passionate computer hobbyist and an IT professional, who has been with NCF since May 2024. He enjoys creating value for people and organizations by "hacking" as in using things outside of their intended purpose in creative and innovative ways, and as someone with an educational background both in Information Technology and Psychology, he likes to act as a bridge between technology and people.

Ali supports NCF's efforts because he believes there needs to be a strong, alternative option besides the major ISPs when it comes connecting to the internet and NCF is a community-driven organization with the goal of closing the digital divide, that has its roots in Ottawa's tech history.

Ali likes his pizza vegan, his favorite video game series is Fallout (1, 2 and New Vegas), one of his favorite artists is H.R. Giger, and lastly as a fun fact, he used to publish a zine in high school with his friends that showcased their amateur poetry and art.

Hi, my name is Hatab. I have a degree in Computer Systems Technician—Networking from Algonquin College. My goal is to gain as much as knowledge and experience in all aspects of the IT industry and use that newfound understanding to help everyone and anyone in all possible ways. I am a very hands-on person and like to be active, whether that is being challenged physically or mentally. I hope to help everybody in a meaningful and impactful way!!!

Jack is an aspiring IT professional and an avid PC building hobbyist from the Madawaska Valley. They joined National Capital FreeNet in July 2024. With an avid love of the outdoors mixed with years of technical tinkering, Jack brings the organic small town charm to the world of IT service. Jack moved to Ottawa in 2019 and after many struggles getting used to the life in the city is proud to call it his home. Jack hopes to polish his IT skills with NCF while giving back to his new home in Ottawa.

John Nash has been an NCF member for almost 2 decades, but has
been working and playing with computers since 1961, when he
built a crude analog machine to do calculations. In computing
and in other activities, he pushes for open source and
community development, be it with Linux-Ottawa, Ottawa English
Dance, the Stittsville Creative Writers Group or NCF. More widely,
he is suspected of contributing optimization and related solver
codes to the R project. His out-of-print scientific works are
on archive.org, while his fiction writing is found on obooko.com.

Fresh off the plane, a seven-year old Kai, not knowing a word of English, was dropped into a grade one class in Montreal. He finished high school in Mississauga and went on to get his B.Sc. in Physics and Applied Math. He finished his Ph.D. and spent almost a decade at an R&D company. Like many of his peers, tempted by the telecom boom, he joined Nortel and was spat out during the 2001 tech wreck that started the long, painful demise of Nortel. After another corporate downsizing in 2017, he decided it was time to be free of corporate dictates. An inveterate reader, he now enjoys a variety of pursuits from Tai Chi, cycling, learning Mandarin, home renovation to gardening and more. Kai strongly believes that access to low cost internet access is a fundamental right in today's world.

Mahad is a recent graduate from Algonquin College's Computer System Technician - Networking Program as well as current student studying cyber security also at Algonquin. Mahad joined National Capital FreeNet in June 2024. He has gained substantial knowledge of networking, computer hardware, coding, and OS systems such as Windows and Linux. Mahad is ready to apply this skills to help NCF and to make a positive impact on people's lives

Some of his hobbies include researching about geo-politics and biking/hiking across Ottawa.

Nader’s job at NCF is identifying trends and patterns in our HelpDesk tickets, as well as contributing to our HelpPages.

Some of his hobbies are going for walks down his street, working out at the gym, relaxing in the hot tub and watching the NHL playoffs. Taking walks down his street gives him good exercise and is relaxing. Working out at the gym keeps him physically fit and strong. During the NHL playoffs, he is full into TV time for the games.

Naftali spent his working career as an electrician and appliance repair tech. After earning an engineering degree he worked in the high-tech field. These high-tech jobs saw him working with a multitude of companies, collaborating with other companies around the globe, interacting with different cultures.
Naftali joined NCF in 2011, became a volunteer in late 2012, and was recruited in early 2014. Since then he was the “handy man” to fix, install and modify almost anything in the office. He transitioned from staff to a volunteer at the end of 2022.
Naftali enjoys reading biographies, history and good Sci-Fi books, having a serious discussion (on almost any subject), and tries to fix almost anything, thus doing his bit in the 3Rs.

My name is Oluwafemi Adewale, and I am a final-year Bachelor of Science student at Carleton University, set to graduate in Winter 2025. With a solid foundation in CompTIA A+ and Cisco Introduction to Cybersecurity, as well as certifications in WHMIS and First Aid & CPR/AED, I am an experienced IT professional eager to contribute meaningfully. Over the past six years, I have honed my skills in customer service roles within the hospitality and telemarketing industries, where I developed a reputation for reliability, adaptability, and strong ethical standards. I am particularly drawn to the Volunteer HelpDesk Analyst role at NCF, as it resonates with my commitment to IT support and my passion for helping others in the community.

Rui joined NCF in June 2024 and is currently pursuing a Computer Systems Technician diploma at Algonquin College. For her, the most enjoyable aspect of college life is working hands-on with network devices in the lab. She is driven by the idea of applying her networking skills to make a positive impact in people's lives, which fuels her passion for learning. Recently, Rui has developed an interest in Mahjong. Despite watching tutorials and playing online, her skills haven't improved much. Her goal is to win a real-life Mahjong game one day.

An executive and a natural leader with over 15 years of progressive management roles. Experienced in leading Operations, and global Customer Support organizations, leading transformational change in organizations of different functions and sizes. Focused on execution, and adept at tackling both strategic and tactical initiatives. Skilled at starting up, overhauling, and restructuring product and service delivery organizations with focus on Customer Intimacy and Customer Lifetime Value. Successful at launching value-add products and services, generating more revenue, and delivering more value to customers.

Anis has a Bachelor of Mathematics and Computer Science from Saint Mary's University, and holds a MBA from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa.

Chris Cope is an Economic Development Officer in the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department at the City of Ottawa. He is currently file lead on the City's Community Improvement Plan (CIP) initiative as well as leading several other Economic Development initiatives and special projects, including Locate Ottawa, a geo-spatial site-selection tool.

Cope began his career in the Commercial Real Estate business, working first in the Shopping Centre Management field for A.E. LePage Real Estate Services and later as a Commercial Sales Agent for Royal LePage Real Estate Services.

Before joining the City, Cope was Director of SmartCapital Special Projects at the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) where he held the additional titles of Executive Director of EduNET, a not-for-profit partnership of Carleton University, University of Ottawa, La Cité collégiale and OCRI and Executive Director of ORCnet, a grass-roots organization of rural champions, supported by the City to aggregate broadband demand in Ottawa's rural communities.

After joining the City in November of 2006, Cope lead a 5-year project to make high-speed Internet available to Ottawa’s rural residents and steered the plan to negotiate with Bell Canada, incumbent local exchange carrier, to make Ottawa a single long distance telephone calling area.

Chris was hired as Executive Director of National Capital FreeNet in 1997 continued in that role for three years. Chris has been on the Board of NCF since 2001 and currently holds the volunteer position Chairman of the Board. Cope also holds the position of Vice President and Treasurer, Telecommunities Canada, an organization that represents and promotes the Canadian community Networking movement. Cope is a past director of the Ottawa Humane Society and past Chair of the Nepean Environmental Committee, a citizen advisory committee of the former City of Nepean.

What skills will you contribute to the NCF Board?

Technology and Experience–I have an extensive experience working in software development projects as a business analysis and project manager in the banking and telecommunications sectors in different regions of the world. I came face to face with the challenges that face technological projects, and I am equipped with the knowledgeto provide insights on best polices and strategies to tackle them.

Governance and Strategic Knowledge-I had an MBA from Telfer School of Management in 2017, where I practiced organizational governance, strategic management, policies and organizational behaviour in the forms of team projects, simulations, and business events. Moreover, I dida management consulting project at Export Development Canada (EDC) on international policies of doing business in the BRICS countries. I was also part of the student exchange program in France, where I studied “doing business in Europe”.

Innovation and People Skills-I am currently doing my PhD in Digital Transformation and Innovation at the Faculty of Engineering at uOttawa, where I study Canadian Entrepreneurs at Canadian Universities. I’ve been developing a strong network of entrepreneurs and funding agencies in the Ottawa Region, which I think will be of a great use to NCF.

What are the most important functions of the NCF for its members?

At these rapidly changing times, Internet is no longer a luxury or a nice-to-have commodity, it’s a necessity that not only is keeping us up to date with what’s going on inthe world, but up to very recently it had been the only way through which we can communicate! This challenging time of COVID19, we came to realize more and more the importance of the internet in our lives for our mental wellbeing and for our social skills to stay somewhat vibrant!

People who cannot afford the commercial networks should still be able to access speedy internet with as little cost as possible, should have trainings on cyber security practices and best internet guidelines so that they know how to protect themselves from cyberthreats that are lurking around behind their screens, and should be able to connect with other members and exchange their skills and knowledge;features that are offered by NCF and of utmost importance to us all.

Why do you want to be an NCF director?

I have the analytical mind that always helps me find ways to improve the status quo, I also have the knowledge and the experience to provide guidelines on how to do that. Bringing my innovative ideas, using my network, and my vast knowledge to NCF will help the Ottawa community stay connected wherever they live and regardless of how much they earn. NCF is doing a great thing for our community, and currently when almost all our lives are on the internet, it’s becoming more crucial than ever, and I want to be part of this good.

As an immigrant to Canada 7 years ago, I know the challenges and I appreciate the help that can be offered to all those who need it. As the community helped me when I first came in, I want to help by giving back.

Peter MacKinnon is a management consultant and academic. His consultancy practice is global in scope and focusses on strategic management issues associated with government policies and programs, business formation, corporate development and change management. One of his current academic areas of interest is the interface between engineering and business; in particular the roles played by disruptive technologies and disruptive business models within organisations and political economy more generally.

He has a professional background built on a wide range of experiences derived from holding positions as a scientist, business manager, entrepreneur, bureaucrat, executive, diplomat, management advisor and academic. He seeks to make a positive difference in all of his undertakings.

His experience spans the globe and includes working for a wide range of public and private organisations in many countries (e.g., Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, ‘Hong Kong’, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, The Bahamas, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, South Africa and the United States, among others). He represented Canada at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris for five years, were he served on the Information, Computer, and Communications Policy (ICCP) Committee (www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ecic-ceac.nsf/eng/gv00484.html). He also has served in an advisory capacity on numerous occasions to a diverse range of organisations in various countries, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Aspen Institute, and Cray Laboratories in the United States; the Ministry of Finance and National Bank of Brazil; The National Formulary of China; a technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization, Geneva; and the Australian Department of Communications, for example.

He has written many technical papers, invited opinion pieces, business plans, product strategies, and business and academic proposals, the latter resulting in the raising of hundreds of millions of dollars. He works with diverse groups of stakeholders in a number of economic sectors (e.g., healthcare, supply chain management, natural resources, education, security and defence, and manufacturing and services) and across many cultural environments. In addition, he works with and serves on Boards, including currently serving on the Board of Directors of National Capital FreeNet, one of the oldest not-for-profit internet service providers in North America (www.ncf.ca).

Peter has been involved in creating and nurturing technology-based start-ups and in assisting a variety of small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) across several industry sectors in areas such as corporate development. This assistance covers many aspects of starting new companies and in addressing many business issues such as crafting and updating business plans, product plans, creating and managing strategic and tactical alliances, fund raising, executive mentoring and recruitment of key staff, among other activities.

Peter also has been involved in public policy development, delivery and evaluation for many years. For example, Peter has been seconded to the Government of Canada on two occasions through the Executive Interchange Program. The first secondment was to the Ministry of State for Science and Technology, a central agency, as the Special Advisor for Advanced Information Technologies and the second secondment was through Foreign Affairs and International Trade as Counsellor and Special Advisor Investment at the Canadian High Commission in London, United Kingdom. Both these two year appointments afforded a wide range of high-level government and government/industry experience. He also has been a long-time member of the Bacon and Eggheads Breakfast Club within the Parliament of Canada (www.pagse.org/en/breakfasts.htm) and the Foresight Synergy Network, a joint academic and public policy discussion group (see for example http://sites.telfer.uottawa.ca/foresight/jack-smith/ and associated tabs). Both these social networks deal with strategic issues facing society.

Peter is a confident speaker and a well-honed writer. He lectures widely and publishes in several fields in addition to carrying on scholarly reviews of academic papers for journal publication and proposal reviews for organisations such as Mitacs (www.mitacs.ca) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, for instance.

As an example of an academic project, Peter started a large University of Ottawa investigation, including raising private funding, to investigate the demise of Nortel. This led to a multi-faculty team that worked for six years seeking lessons learned from Nortel’s business failure. See (sites.telfer.uottawa.ca/nortelstudy/) for reports and media coverage of the study to date.

I am a brand, communications and marketing professional with more than 15 years experience in a variety of organizations from nonprofits to startups.

In my current role as director, brand & communications at CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority), I have helped build a brand that has evolved into one of the most trusted and dynamic in the Canadian technology ecosystem.

I am a lifelong advocate for the power of technology, and specifically the internet, to uplift people. Providing equitable access to the tools, platforms, skills and networks that power our society is the best way to ensure everyone in society has a chance to thrive and succeed.

My educational background is in journalism where I learned the importance of being able to tell great stories and the value of truth to empower change. I have a bachelor’s of communications (journalism) from the University of Ottawa and a journalism degree from Algonquin College.

I have been a startup mentor at Invest Ottawa; instructor at Camp Tech; and a professor of marketing at Algonquin College. I have an amazing wife, two beautiful daughters and a guinea pig named Winston.

Stephen Fanjoy is a certified management consultant who has helped hundreds of organizations navigate challenging environments to achieve their mission and strategic objectives, primarily in the fields of computer and life sciences. Stephen has been an active volunteer for CMC-Canada and CMC-Ontario for almost two decades including as former Chair of the Eastern Ontario Chapter, former Secretary and elected Member-at-Large of the CMC-Ontario Council.

Currently, in addition to being a director of NCF, he is a member of the organizing committee of the Foresight Synergy Network at the University of Ottawa, a director in the National Capital Region Chapter of Fair Vote Canada and a leader in seed collection and seedling nursery operations Forêt Capitale Forest. Stephen has previously been a founding director of the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO), chair of the Ottawa Life Sciences Cluster and chair of the Ottawa eBusiness Cluster. Stephen is an honours graduate of the Dalhousie University School of Business and a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario (FCMC).

Andrés came to IT after a career in high performance coaching at the Rideau Canoe Club. He has a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics with a minor in Physics from the University of Ottawa, and has earned his COMPTIA A+ certification as well as the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. He enjoys riding his bike, skiing, and going to the gym, and can talk endlessly about the different approaches to training. While at NCF he started on our HelpDesk thanks to support from the Social Planning Council of Ottawa and the ESDC Youth Employment Skills Strategy and took on volunteer coordination with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Official Language Support Program, later becoming the Operations and HelpDesk Manager in 2022.

Bev suspected that she was the oldest employee at NCF and, after Andre, she was here the longest. She can't remember when she started but it was when we were in that little, windowless room at Carleton. She started as a phone-answerer but moved into doing the banking, a job she loves. She appreciates that NCF helps our members define their needs in proper terminology and goes to bat with Bell for them. She likes cheese and mushroom pizza but, unfortunately, NCF doesn't have it at our monthly (pre-pandemic) Lunch and Learns so she settled for vegetarian – so sad.

Budry is a computer programming student at Algonquin College and was on the HelpDesk the summer of 2022 thanks to funding from ESDC's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program offered through the Social Planning Council of Ottawa. When he's not at work, Budry enjoys hanging out with friends, playing video games, and watching sports.

Chelsey joined the NCF HelpDesk in March 2022. She has a diploma in Cybersecurity from Willis College. Before that she was a Personal Support Worker for 11 years. When not spending time with her son, she likes to read and continue learning about networks, building virtual machines and networks.

Denis is from Gatineau, Quebec and has a background in IT, recently graduating from a Microsoft Network and Security Administration program. He likes to fix electronics and computers, and LOVES dogs.

Karine was the Bilingual Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator. She was with NCF since November 2019 and had a great time! Her role was to manage the recruitment and retention of volunteers, to work with the team to develop and implement a bilingual training, and to support the coordination of public events. This work from supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage's Official Language Support Program.

Karine comes from a social work background with experience working with children and youth, with the homeless population and in community and international development. Outside of work, she likes to bike, volunteer, travel, and geek over social justice and marine life.

Katie is from Vaughan, Ontario, and has a background in Marketing and Communications. She speaks English and French and is currently pursuing her BA in Communications at the University of Ottawa. She loves dancing and spending time with friends and family. Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs Program from Employment and Social Development Canada for funding this position.

Kelly was born and raised in Ottawa. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English at McGill University. In her free time, she enjoys watching films, listening to music, and reading books. She also really likes matcha!

Kelly's position was funded in part through a Resilient Communities Fund grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Lily is a graduate of Algonquin College's diploma in Computer Programming and has also previously worked for a mobile phone provider. In her spare time she likes to hang out with her dog, watch Chinese TV shows, and play video games . She started on the HelpDesk in the summer of 2021 with support from the Canada Summer Jobs program and continued with support from the ESDC Youth Employment and Skills Strategy funding through the Social Planning Council of Ottawa.

Naomi is a third-year English major at Carleton University. She has worked in content creation for both Indigo and Pirate Life Theatre, and she is thrilled to join NCF’s summer team promoting the Community WiFi project. In her spare time, she is the Co-Artistic Director of Sock ‘n’ Buskin Theatre Company, serving as both producer and co-chair of the board. A longtime lover of theatre, she is also an actor, stage manager, and director whenever the opportunity presents itself. Naomi loves to read, is often at the thrift store, and can occasionally be found giving herself time to relax.

Naomi's position was funded in part through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Rami was our Content Strategist here at NCF. Rami helps spread our messages to the world and he loves working in communications. That’s probably because he loves communicating! Whether it’s about a new coffee brewer he has his eye on, a new recipe to try out, or the score in last night’s game, he’s always up for a chat. When not at school or work, he’s probably watching sports or looking for new music to check out. He also loves Hawaiian pizza, but we try not to judge him for that. Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs Program from Employment and Social Development Canada for funding this position.

Samaia joined NCF for the Summer of 2022 through the Canada Summer Jobs program, working on NCF's 30th anniversary time capsule. She is currently finishing up her undergraduate degree in cognitive science at Carleton University and is looking to pursue a master's degree in human-computer interaction once she graduates. In her spare time, Samaia enjoys playing tennis, bullet journaling, horseback riding, and spending time with her slightly crazy dog.

Sophie worked at NCF in the Summer of 2020. She is studying Computer Science at the University of Ottawa. In her spare time that summer she was working on a fitness app and taking classes.

Tom worked at NCF during the summer of 2021 and 2022. He is a student at Carleton University studying software engineering. Outside of school and work, he enjoys working with computers as well as playing video games and both watching and playing basketball.

Will was the Service Development Manager at NCF from 2014 until June 2020. He started in 2014 as a volunteer on the HelpDesk. Previously he survived an extensive apprenticeship in many aspects of IT at BNR and Nortel. Working across a number of different projects and operational activities consumes most of his office time. He enjoys the unpredictable nature of the work and the occasional instances of making a real difference for someone.

He is a lapsed CFP and PMP, an inveterate movie hound, plays trivia games whenever possible, reads anything he gets his hands on and , weather permitting, he biked to the office.

Adam Hunt joined NCF in 2007 and has been a volunteer since 2008. He was an office front desk volunteer from 2008 to 2011 and was the help wiki page maintainer from 2011 to 2018. Adam runs the NCF free software program, which includes the recommended free software list http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/software.html and also an NCF discussion group for free software https://www.ncf.ca/ncf/dg/index.jsp?dg=109.

When not volunteering at NCF, Adam can usually be found sailing and biking in the summer and skating and cross-country skiing in the winter. His other volunteer work involves Nepean Sailing Club, as well as writing for Wikipedia and doing software reviews for Full Circle magazine.

A veteran user of the antediluvian Compuserve dial-up service while living in Toronto, National Capital Freenet became another dial-up service. Dave used after moving to Ottawa in 1992. So, upon reading an appeal for volunteers in a late 2013 issue of the Ottawa Citizen he responded, and has been assisting members since then. A fan of astronomy, Dave also believes that (dark) chocolate should be designated the fifth major food group.

Ian has used computers since 1969, and bought his first home computer in 1984 so that he could work online with a remote computer, and also use a word processor and a spreadsheet at home. He first used the Internet in 1991 and became an NCF member sometime aound 1994. In one way or another, Ian has been online since 1984.

In the past half century, Ian has been a kind of jack-of-all-trades (and master of a non-negative number?). At one point, he worked for an Ottawa software company, doing a combination of new product development, documentation, application development, product development, and customer support. Now that he is retired, NCF gave him the opportunity to do some similar work.

Oleh joined the HelpDesk in July 2023, armed with a diploma in Programming and inspired by Freenet’s goal to not only connect members to the internet but also teach and empower them how to use it. On his free time, you’ll find Oleh hiking or skiing in nature, trying out a new recipe, reading, or taking something apart in the hopes that he can put it back together. He’ll take a shawarma over pizza any day, though anything with vibrant spices and tangy sauces will do.

Andrea Holland’s career has been focused on improving client satisfaction, better client interactions and user adoption of technology. In 2022 she was the Client and Partner Success Lead at Field Effect, a cyber security company.  Prior to working at Field Effect, she had leadership roles in organizations including TELUS, MD Physician Services and Teradata. She has worked with clients in many industries including healthcare, financial services, retail and government.  This was Andrea's second time on the board of FreeNet, ending in June 2022.

Lauren served on the NCF Board from 2016 until 2022.

What skills will you contribute to the NCF Board?

I started my career working with small Internet Service Providers, including several here in Ontario, so I understand some of the challenges that the NCF is up against.

In later years, I worked in a number of different areas within software & telecommunications firms, and I believe this broad experience will help the NCF Board.

My most recent role is a Program Manager for a large software company, where I’ve been exposed to everything from basic project management to financial & strategic planning, the latter I know is of significant value to any board.

I also believe that my background in Customer Experience & Strategy will help the NCF to provide additional value and support to it’s members.

What are the most important functions of the NCF for its members?

I strongly believe that affordable internet for all Canadians is a necessity, as well as technology skills training. I worked in a local Community Access Program (CAP) in rural Nova Scotia, and saw first-hand what an important service this was; it made the internet available to everyone, regardless of skill or income level.

In the years since, technology has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, underscoring the need for accessible service and skills programs. When I first came to Ottawa in 2000, I was starting fresh, with little to no savings to speak of and no family in the area. I couldn’t afford long-distance phone calls home, but with a computer and my NCF connection (free dial-up at the time), I was able to stay connected with my loved ones. While technology has changed over that time, the need for affordable internet and connectivity is a constant.

Why do you want to be an NCF director?

I am passionate about supporting local non-profits and not-for-profits, as I know personally the value they bring to our community; not only through my own experience, but through various charitable initiatives with my employer. I want to continue supporting the NCF as a Director so that I can directly contribute to supporting this amazing, vital organization within the National Capital Area, and help to further expand its reach and impact.