Sean Mauricette has been an actor, musician, educator, and motivational speaker for more than a decade. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Sean has worked on various projects. Most notably, the Jane and Finch Centre for Green Change and as Head Architectural Designer for the Toronto Community Housing’s support centre for young fathers. The recipient of more than 20 awards, Sean was presented with the 2012 Medal of Appreciation for his work with youth from the United Nations Association of Canada.  In 2014 Sean caught the attention of the historic Southern Poverty Law Centre. The esteemed civil rights organization requested the use of two of his poems for their alternative-learning curriculum for teachers across the United States. 

Through performing, lecturing, and mentoring, Sean continues to cement his role as an active leader in the global community.

Likwa Nkala is returning as a conference facilitator for the second consecutive year. Likwa brings significant experience managing change in service modalities, information systems, labour relations environments and changes in municipal environments that set the mandate for service delivery. He has supported the co-design and delivery of Anti-Black Racism training across the province as Community of Practice Manager of the Provincial Youth Outreach Worker Program. He has served on the boards of Culturelink and the African Social Development Council and has also been a member of working groups consulting with the provincial government on youth and gangs, Ontario Youth Action Plan, Opioid Emergency Task Force, City of Toronto Youth Equity Strategy and the Evaluation of Toronto Community Housing programming in the early 2000s.

Following the Boxing Day shooting in 2005 he conceptualized the concept of government investing in dynamic people to respond to community needs with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services giving rise to The Provincial Youth Outreach Worker (PYOW) program which was rolled out in Toronto and Durham, then extending to Ottawa, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, London, Peterborough, Sudbury, Kingston Peel and York regions. 

Likwa joined the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) as Manager Community Economic Development in 2019 where he oversaw youth programs and scholarships and worked to create economic pathways for TCHC tenants. He then took on the Manager Community Safety and Support where his team led connections of tenants to community support before accepting an acting Director of Programs and Partnerships assignment for the corporation. Currently Likwa is the General Manager of the West Region Operations team that oversees the complete tenant experience of 13,000 household units.

In his roles, Likwa believes in the power of engaging members of a given community to be the facilitators of change for themselves. 

Christopher Duff is a speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate for resilience-building and financial empowerment. For over 15 years, he has dedicated his work to equipping young people and communities with the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to thrive in an evolving world. His experience spans youth development, education, employment, and systems innovation.

Christopher began his journey in youth development by founding Inspired Initiatives Inc., a firm dedicated to equipping young people with the tools, knowledge, and skills needed to thrive in their future. Focused on the ‘missing curriculum’—financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills— his work impacted thousands of students, educators, and community organizations across Canada.

His expertise in youth education led to collaborations with the Ontario Ministry of Education, where he played a key role in preparing students for the future of work. He worked with school boards nationwide, helping integrate 21st-century skills, design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship into the classroom. Additionally, he developed digital resources and curriculum materials that were sold globally to support educators.

In the youth employment sector, Christopher served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity (CCYP), where he focused on strengthening Canada’s youth workforce development system. He worked with funders, government agencies, industry leaders, policymakers, and employment service providers to improve systems coordination and collaboration, ensuring young people had better pathways to meaningful careers.

Recognizing the growing economic and societal uncertainties, Christopher expanded his focus to building resilience capacity in individuals and communities through his latest venture, Rebirthed Incorporated. Rebirthed is committed to helping individuals and communities adapt, prepare, and build long-term stability in an unpredictable world.

As part of this mission, Christopher continues his commitment to youth resilience through the Resilient Futures Project, an initiative designed to equip young people with economic, social, and emotional resilience—helping them navigate an evolving world with confidence and adaptability.