OUR TEAM

AMANDA WEIGHTMAN

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
MA SOCIOLOGY
(SHE/HER)

TAKE A RISK AND DO SOMETHING GREAT

“I am someone who likes to pursue ideas, not just generate and voice them. This requires the courage to take risks, to ‘bite off more than we can chew’ and to be flexible to change. It demands energy and motivation, but the rewards are great. When we do this, we create. Research, evidence and imagination have the power to make change. The hard part is moving to action. How? Through trial and through practice, and with dedication, thoughtfulness and courage. Knowledge is the stuff of change. As someone who sees tremendous value in research, my commitment is to see the great knowledge we have on our shelves and in our communities put into practice.”

Email
[email protected]

DR. GAYATRI MOORTHI

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
PHD SOCIAL WORK
MSW SOCIAL WORK
(SHE/HER)

QUESTION YOUR WAY TO SOLUTIONS
“With all the talk on systems impact, methods, measurement and social change, we are often quick to dismiss our most basic assumptions that surround these concepts. I always like to begin with the basics and ask others and myself some simple questions. The answers can be surprising, often reflecting the confusion, conflation and confluence of the social landscape. I see my role first and foremost as one who can get to the bottom of those fundamental questions. Returning to these questions time and time again reminds us that complexity often lies in answering the simplest questions easily.”

Email
[email protected]

LISA ELFORD

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
PHD HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (IN CANDIDACY)
MA INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHE/HER)

MAKING SENSE OF WHAT WE KNOW
“I’m fascinated by how good ideas get traction with people, organizations and communities. When thinking about a question or an issue, I think it’s prudent to ask: how does what we learn benefit the people or the community it’s aiming to assist? Without impact at that level, what is the point? That makes us tinkerers, researchers, evaluators and activists who want to take good ideas and great practices and apply them, test them and learn from them, for everyone’s benefit”.

Email
[email protected]

LAURENT WALL

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
MA SOCIOLOGY
BA SOCIOLOGY
(HE/HIM)

Laurent Wall is a researcher whose strengths are qualitative research methods and bringing people of different backgrounds together to collaborate on hard questions and engage in the difficult work of coming to a consensus and finding solutions. He has experience working as a research assistant, research associate, and instructor and takes great pleasure in being able to communicate complex research ideas to diverse audiences. During his research and other professional experience, he has worked with diverse people and diverse subjects, and is not afraid to get his feet wet to tackle new topics and difficult problems.

Email
[email protected]

NADIA ANSARI

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
PHD IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT & BEHAVIOURS
MPHIL SUSTAINABLE CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
MBA CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
(SHE/HER)

Nadia Ansari is a Social & Behavioural Researcher, who holds a PhD in Social Sciences in Immigrant Settlement. She has extensive experience in the fields of healthcare and newcomer integration and acculturation. Her work centers around Alberta’s under-served populations, including immigrants & refugees; Indigenous communities and other Racialized minorities. Her research portfolio spans issues of access to equitable healthcare through patient and family experiences; to gender-based inequities in employment experiences for newcomers. Her qualitative research and analytics focus on intersectionality through incorporating person-centric approaches into service & product delivery and policy development. When not working, Nadia spends time with her books and plants to ground her, and family time in the mountains to rejuvenate her.

Email
[email protected]

SHERRY CHOMA

SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Master of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Social Work
(SHE/HER)

Sherry Choma is a seasoned facilitator and team builder with a rich history of shaping organizational strategy in the non-profit sector. Over two decades, her expertise spans strategy and theory development, facilitation, training, systems change, and program creation, benefiting organizations such as CommunityWise, Arusha Centre, and more. Sherry excels in board development, curriculum design and adult education, guiding entities towards multi-year strategic plans and enhancing their capacity for impactful change. Interest in participatory processes for organizational capacity building and community betterment.

Email
[email protected]

TANNER SHORT

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Master of Sociology, Bachelor in Sociology
(HE / HIM)

Tanner is a researcher who is passionate about learning and sharing knowledge with others. He holds an undergraduate BA in Sociology with a concentration in criminology, deviance, and social control and completed his MA in Sociology at the University of Calgary in 2023. Some of his research interests include technology, gender, and immigration. He loves to learn from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives while also applying critical and intersectional theoretical lenses. Tanner also enjoys curling, video games, and trying new foods.

Email
[email protected]

BRYAN KUK

RESEARCH ASSISTANT
PHD STUDENT (SOCIOLOGY)
MA SOCIOLOGY
BA (HONS) SOCIOLOGY
(HE/HIM)

Bryan is a researcher who is passionate about academia and qualitative research methods. He has experience working in the academic field as a research assistant including work at the University of Calgary, and is currently involved in a project studying Chinatowns across North America to inform urban planning. Bryan brings strong critical, analytical, and writing skills to his work, and has displayed excellency in interviewing throughout his career. Driven by his interest in qualitative research and sociology of culture, Bryan is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the University of Calgary focusing on the discipline of Sociology to advance his knowledge in the sociology of culture in hopes to expand on his capabilities as an academic and researcher. In his private life, Bryan loves to play video games and is a sneaker enthusiast who loves collecting sneakers.

Email
[email protected]

ESRA AL SAADI

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
BBA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & HUMAN RESOURCES
(SHE/HER)

Esra has a Bachelors of Industrial Relations and Human Resources from the University of Toronto. She is a researcher with administrative skills and is passionate about the well-being of people, diversity and inclusiveness. She has experience working in the civic and social sectors and enjoys breaking barriers and asking daring questions. Before working at Habitus, Esra worked at the University of Calgary, SHIFT: Project to end domestic violence and research projects involving Immigrants and Refugees.

Email
[email protected]