Emerging Leaders & Innovators Advisory Board

Rilla Banks

Lawyer, Municipal Group of Companies

Rilla Banks is a lawyer with the Municipal Group of Companies. Prior to joining Municipal, she worked in-house with a local university and before that she was an associate lawyer in private practice. She also has several years of experience serving on not-for-profit boards. Rilla is proud to live in Halifax and believes in the potential of both the city and the province of Nova Scotia.

Alyssa Hill

Senior Manager, Advisory Services, KPMG

Alyssa is a business valuation specialist who works with shareholders and entrepreneurs to answer the question: what is my business interest worth? She also works within the legal community to provide expert reports that help inform the court of financial implications relating to disputes, such as the quantum of business value, economic losses, or personal earnings.

Alyssa has over 8 years of experience working in public accounting, with foundations in performance measurement, assurance and risk management, and Canadian taxation practices for privately owned companies and individuals. She is a Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), and holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts (Honours), Minor in English for Teachers, and Certificate in Writing from the University of Western Ontario.

As a newcomer to Halifax, mother of two young children, and with a background firmly rooted in the arts community, Alyssa is motivated to provide sustainable opportunities for the next generation. She is a financial literacy volunteer with CPA Canada, sits as treasurer on the Board of Governors of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and is Secretary for the parents’ association at her children’s school.

Peter Gale

Chief Commercial Officer, ReelData Inc.

Born and raised in Halifax, Peter is the Chief Commercial Officer at ReelData Inc., an artificial intelligence and software company serving aquaculture companies globally. He is responsible for the company's commercial strategy, overseeing sales & business development, marketing & public relations, customer success, project management, and product commercialization initiatives. In his role, Peter has led the company into foreign markets, raised venture capital financing from prestigious funds, and seen the company grow from 3 to more than 30 employees.

Before working with ReelData, Peter gained experience as an international trade researcher at Mount Allison University and worked in multiple roles supporting education for people with learning disabilities. He graduated with distinction from Mount Allison with honours in economics and minors in mathematics, commerce and environmental studies.

Tianshu Huang

Director of Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI, SimpTek

Tianshu is the Director of Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI of SimpTek and she is responsible for research and development of data-driven energy efficiency solutions. Tianshu is a leader in data science in low-carbon building analysis. Her research is leading the way to make the transition to a low carbon economy more inclusive not only in Atlantic Canada, but throughout North America.

Tianshu has diverse experience in the field of energy efficiency, property assessment, and academia, as well as strong environmental and entrepreneurial interests.

Tianshu is actively involved in the Women in STEM community, and has been recognized Top 30 under 30 innovator by Atlantic Business Magazine in 2019. Tianshu is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Master of Science in Statistics.

Sharon Ishimwe

Executive Director, MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning

Sharon Ishimwe was born and raised in Kampala Uganda where she worked with a global development agency and owned businesses including a Public Relations and marketing consultancy, and a bridal store until she moved to Halifax five years ago.

She is currently the Executive Director at MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning and serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of YWCA, Halifax. Prior to joining MacPhee, she worked at the Organization for Nova Scotia Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship (ONSIDE) and the Government of Nova Scotia.

A proponent of radical trust, Sharon is passionate about connecting people and building meaningful relationships. She enjoys questions more than answers and her super power is spotting silver linings.

Sharon holds a master’s degree in Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University where she graduated Valedictorian and received the Senate Medal of Distinction. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

Jeff Kielbratowski

Co-Founder & COO, Harbr

Jeff Kielbratowski is Co-Founder & COO, of construction tech startup Harbr. Jeff has brought his entrepreneurial, real estate and construction knowledge into the tech sector to help his team create industry changing products in the FinTech space. He continues to provide consulting services to his family’s businesses at Kiel Group and holds a real estate license in the province of Nova Scotia, where he started the Realty Partners Consulting Group.

Additionally, Jeff has co-founded a local golf brand “Social Golf Co” which is a lifestyle brand focused on the social aspects of the game of golf, and is a partner at TMAS Ventures which makes investments into early stage companies.

Previously, Jeff spent time as a Director of UDI of Nova Scotia and competed as an entrepreneur in the Creative Destruction Labs. Jeff is a graduate of St.FX university, where he earned a Bachelor in Business Administration with a Major in Enterprise Development. Jeff was also an elite athlete, finishing his career at St.FX following an ACL replacement. He has a passion for giving back to his community, one way he does that is through coaching minor hockey in Cole Harbour.

Mitch MacLellan

Wealth Management Consultant, Owens MacFadyen Group Inc.

Mitch is a Wealth Management Consultant in Halifax with Owens MacFadyen Group Inc, specializing in bringing unique solutions that fit the complex needs of business owners and incorporated professionals. Prior to joining OMG, Mitch spent 8 years in the general insurance industry where he held positions as; Business Development Manager, Vice President, and eventually Partner. During his time in the general insurance space Mitch was named to the 2018 “Young Guns” by Insurance Business Magazine, and also named the Emerging Professional of the year as voted by his peers.

Additionally, Mitch has experience in the start-up space where he co-founded a local golf brand “Social Golf Co”, a lifestyle brand focused on the social aspects of the game of golf. Holding a Masters of Business Administration degree from Queens University, Mitch has a passion for business development and supporting real growth within our business community.

Mitch has been involved in the local minor hockey community as a coach for over 7 years, and has a passion for the game and development of local athletes. He also is a member at Grandview Golf and Country Club where you can find him participating in weekly men’s nights, and other local tournaments.

Nicole MacNeil

Project Manager, Strategic Planning, Irving Shipbuilding

Nicole MacNeil is a Project Manager, Strategic Planning within Irving Shipbuilding’s Strategy Team. Irving Shipbuilding, a division of J.D. Irving, is North America’s most modern shipyard, providing Canada with needed shipbuilding capability through the construction of Canada’s future naval combatant fleet. Since joining Irving Shipbuilding in 2014, Nicole has held a variety of progressive roles in Human Resources, most recently as the Manager, Talent Management focused on the development of Irving’s team of Shipbuilders.

Nicole is passionate about community leadership and is proud to have founded Irving Shipbuilding’s Young Professionals Network – providing an opportunity for young professionals to network, develop and leverage experiences of their peers and Senior Leadership. This network has enjoyed significant success and is still running today for its over 200 members.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University, a Certificate in Human Resources from Keyano College, as well as a number of additional credentials in talent development and change management. After four years of playing for St. FX’s Varsity Women’s Soccer Team, Nicole remains an avid soccer fan, supporting Liverpool Football Club. Nicole and her fiancé, Bruce, live in Halifax.

Katie Newcombe

Manager of Organizational Development, Davis Pier

Katie Newcombe moved to Halifax from Virginia to attend Dalhousie University in 2008, fell in love with the city, and never looked back. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science followed by her Master’s in Public Administration and started at Davis Pier Consulting in 2014 as their first employee.

Working in Halifax over the past eight years, Katie’s love for the city has grown and her passion for making a difference while developing, mentoring, and supporting talent has been a significant driver in her career.

In 2022 Katie shifted her focus to organizational development within Davis Pier, as the Manager of Organizational Development. Prior to this, she spent much of her time with the organization as a management consultant, seeking out projects focused on supporting vulnerable populations. Outside of work she enjoys volunteering with the Kids Help Phone and the Ronald McDonald House as well as spending time with her husband and two children.

Mrugakshee Palwe

CEO and Co-founder, Atlantic Blockchain Company

Mrugakshee Palwe is the CEO and co-founder of Atlantic Blockchain Company. Her field of expertise extends beyond her education as a computer scientist. Her passion for teaching has led her to command many tech and programming workshops for kids, teens, and women switching careers to tech. She is a respected speaker who also has her very own cryptocurrency podcast. Having started her career after graduating from Acadia University in 2018, she gained the experience of building a profitable business and dissolving a hasty one. Over the years, she was recognized in Atlantic Canada’s Top 30 under 30, received Digital Nova Scotia’s Digital Diversity award, as well as became a board member for Venn Innovation in Moncton, NB.

Beth Smith

Sales Manager, Alexander Keith’s Brewery

Beth Smith is a businesswoman currently employed by Labatt Breweries of Canada as the Sales Manager of the Alexander Keith’s Brewery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She completed a Business Administration undergraduate degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland in the Spring of 2021 and has chosen to return to Halifax to build a career in Nova Scotia. Passionate about collaboration, Beth is eager to engage with young leaders of diverse perspectives and experiences to together, contribute ideas and insight to the future of the Halifax Regional Municipality.