Our People

Our success and contribution is due in large part to our board of directors, who provide the structure and leadership to our success, our executive committee, who provide the backbone to our operations, and our volunteers who make everything happen!

Board Of Directors

Michael Comisarow, Chairman,
(Managing Director, Mizuho Group)

Michael co-founded Daytrippers in Toronto and served as Executive Director from its inception until 2013. He believes strongly in the value of school trips as both an educational tool and as an opportunity to show children the world outside their classroom. Michael is an investment banker with Read More Mizuho Bank based in Toronto. He has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago and a Master of Science in Management from Queen’s University. Michael has two children who love school trips.

Jeff Freeborough
(Managing Partner, Caldwell Partners)

Jeff Freeborough is the managing partner of Caldwell’s Toronto office and is a member of the firm’s leader team. He is a key member of the Financial Services and Professional Services practices, and is also an active member of the Data, Digital and Technology and Private Equity and Venture Capital Read More practice teams. Jeff advises clients on search strategy and leads executive level mandates to bring game- changing leaders to their organizations. He specializes in building management teams and boards of directors with an emphasis on transformation – specifically surrounding growth, scale-up, ownership transition, financing/capitalization, transaction, restructuring and culture shift. Prior to executive search, Jeff spent several years as a consultant in the US and Canada specializing in business and digital strategy, and also worked for a number of early-stage companies in various management roles. Jeff attended Babson College in Massachusetts and earned a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus on finance and entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Western University. Jeff is an active volunteer board member of Bay Street Fore a Cause and has been a fundraiser for Covenant House Toronto, Canada’s largest shelter for homeless youth. He also sits on the board of Daytrippers Children’s charity which funds school field trips nationally for underprivileged children.

Katherine Pollock

Katherine Pollock is the Executive Director of the Pollock Family Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to supporting Canadians in need. The Foundation focuses on key areas such as children, education, health, and community development, working with like-minded partners to create meaningful impact. Read More As a mom to two young daughters, Katherine is especially passionate about ensuring all children have the opportunities and support they need to experience a healthy, fulfilling childhood.

James Rickert

James Rickert is one of the founding partners of Power Sustainable Lios, a specialized growth capital platform that invests into mid-market food companies that are well-positioned against sustainability trends and tailwinds in the food industry. Prior to Lios, James spent 10 years at Brookfield Read More Infrastructure, most recently as a managing partner and member of the senior leadership team. He has an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Toronto. James and his wife, Laura, live in Toronto and are the proud parents of Livy (2 legs) and Bear (4 legs and a wagging tail). James is passionate about addressing issues that affect children and has been a long-time supporter of Daytrippers prior to joining the Board.

Mohit Talwar

Mohit Talwar is a Partner at Maverix Private Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investments in disruptive companies, where he is responsible for deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio company monitoring. Prior to joining Maverix, Mo spent almost 9 years at Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan in the private Read More equity division where he worked in various groups, including Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT), Financial Services, and Long Term Equities. Previously, Mo worked at Greenbriar Equity Group where he focused on private equity investments in the global transportation industry. Prior to Greenbriar, he worked in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley in Toronto and New York. Mo currently serves as an observer on the board of Miovision Technologies, and formerly served on the board of directors of Fleet Complete, RATESDOTCA Group, Sovos, CareerBuilder, and SeaCube Container Leasing. Mo holds a BBA (with distinction) from the Schulich School of Business at York University and an MBA from INSEAD. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Magnet, a social innovation platform that connects Canadians to career opportunities.

Alex Teijeira

Alex Teijeira brings over 25 years of global experience in Human Resources, corporate & employment law, marketing and governance & risk management, honed through leadership roles in leading organizations across CPG, retail, mining, and financial services. Read More As the principal of AHEAD Management and Managing Director of Arlington Partners, Alex partners with boards and executive teams to design HR strategies, implement governance frameworks, and navigate organizational transformation with a focus on long-term success. Alex serves on multiple boards and actively contributes to HR and governance committees, drawing on his expertise in executive compensation, risk mitigation, and aligning people strategies with business goals. His collaborative approach has made him a trusted advisor in fostering leadership excellence and sustainable growth. As a father of two, Alex deeply values the power of education and experiential learning. He believes that nothing inspires growth and curiosity quite like a great trip, and he is proud to support Daytrippers in creating opportunities for children to discover the world beyond the classroom.

Peter Dempster

Peter Dempster is the Chief Executive Officer of ARAG Legal Solutions Inc., a position he has held since May of 2023. With over a decade of strategic leadership experience in the insurance and legal sectors, Peter is known for his expertise in driving business growth and fostering client-centric solutions. Read More Prior to joining ARAG, Peter served as Managing Director and Market Leader for Ontario at Aon, where he provided strategic insight across all business units and product lines. He also held roles as Managing Director and Practice Leader for construction and infrastructure, as well as Senior Vice President for the Construction Practice Group (Eastern Canada). Peter's career includes significant contributions at Intact, where he was the Director of Surety Operations in Western Canada, and Travelers, where he began his insurance career as a Claims Analyst. Prior to joining Travelers, Peter spent 7 years in practicing law in Toronto and Vancouver. Peter holds an LL.B. from Queen's University and a B.A. in Political Science from Simon Fraser University. Peter brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to innovation to his role at ARAG, where he continues to lead transformative initiatives that enhance legal service delivery in Canada.

Matt McLeod

Born in Lindsay, ON, Matt McLeod is a corporate law partner at Dickinson Wright LLP in Toronto. Matt attended The Royal Military College of Canada for his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and MBA, followed by his law degree at Western University. Matt played high-level rugby, representing Canada at the FISU world cups in 2008 and 2010, as well as varsity rugby at RMC and Western, and varsity basketball at RMC. Read More Matt lives in Little Italy in Toronto with his wife Tracy who is a psychiatrist at CAMH and two daughters Gloria and Lois. In his time off, Matt is an avid golfer and snowboarder and loves to travel.

Executive Comittee

Mira Mimran, Executive Director

Mira Mimran is a prominent figure in the retail industry, recognized for her expertise in consumer-focused environments and her dedication to fostering enduring start-ups in Canada. She has played a significant role in enhancing the retail presence of various brands, including Mejuri and Sheertex and was a founding team member of the innovative beauty brand DECIEM. With a strong passion for driving growth and fostering innovation within the industry, Mira holds a business management degree from The University of Western Ontario. Outside of her professional endeavours, she harbours a keen interest in Art History and Fashion, and values quality time with her young family. She is eager to join Daytrippers as Executive Director to make a positive difference in the lives of young individuals.

Fundraising Committee

Chris Kennedy, Chair

Matthew Imrie

Jessica Pang Parks

Victor Zega

Trips Committee

Bryan Grier, Chair

Beata Fourmanovskis, Chair

Holly Cumming, Volunteer Operations

Camille Vo, Volunteer Operations

Marketing Committee

Kate Snack, Co-Chair

Katie Callery, Co-Chair

Stephanie Meulensteen, Copywriting

Justine Beltran, Graphic Design

Jamie Toma, Marketing Support & Analytics

Maisha Zaman, Research & Project Management

Michelle Reagan, PR & Creative

Sarah Zuchelli, Strategy & Analytics

Partnership Committee

Dave Sidhu, Co-Chair

Kale Daley, Co-Chair

Recruitment & Volunteer Engagement

Jennifer Conforti, Chair

Alex Copley

Corporate Secretary

Jenny Yoo, Secretary

Finance Committee

Arjun Kochhar, Treasurer

Sapnil Mohanty

Battle of the Brains

Chantel Parise, Chair

OUR PEOPLE