Meet our Team
Lucy Cullen
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer
Lucy Cullen is a serial entrepreneur and business consultant dedicated to social innovation and economic empowerment. She has built and scaled multiple ventures, including Terus, a sustainability consultancy, EarthPup, an eco-conscious dog treat brand, and Fire & Pots, a locally inspired catering company.
With a background in designing national and international entrepreneurship programs, Lucy has helped over 300 entrepreneurs build businesses, secure funding, and scale their impact. She is committed to creating accessible, high-impact programs that foster economic independence for marginalized communities.
Saad Khalid
Program Intake Coordinator
Saad Khalid is a Registered Social Worker dedicated to supporting growth, accountability, and meaningful change. With a background in mental health, youth development, and community programming, he has worked closely with individuals and families navigating complex challenges, including crisis support and reintegration.
As a graduate of the Comeback Catalyst program, Saad brings both professional experience and personal insight to his role. He leads the intake process, reviewing applications and interviewing prospective participants, helping identify those ready to take the next step forward.
Saad is passionate about creating structure, building trust, and supporting people as they move toward lasting change.
Brenton Pedler
Program Manager
Brenton Pedler is a program leader with a passion for mentorship, entrepreneurship, and community-building. Originally from Australia, he built a career in program management, business development, and hospitality after immigrating to Canada. His experience as a business owner and mentor has given him firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship.
As an entrepreneur, he co-operated Apiecalypse Now and launched Grains Grains Grains, gaining first hand experience in business operations. His commitment to mentorship extends beyond his professional work, including volunteer efforts at Juno College and fostering community-driven initiatives.
Allison Gibson
Consultant
Allison Gibson is an entrepreneur and funding expert passionate about making business ownership more accessible. With years of experience in program design, investment strategy, and business development, she helps founders navigate the complexities of funding and entrepreneurship.
She has worked to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and the financial resources they need, ensuring that more individuals have access to funding opportunities and business guidance. Her expertise lies in helping founders secure investment, scale their businesses, and overcome barriers to success.
Sara A. Tessier
Lived Experience Advisor
Sara A. Tessier is a social justice advocate supporting marginalized and criminalized individuals in Canada. As Impact Director – Formerly Incarcerated Persons at the Northpine Foundation, she aids organizations in reintegration and reducing recidivism.
She has worked with John Howard, Elizabeth Fry Mainland NS, and Coverdale Courtwork Society, served as an Outreach Worker for the G.A.T.E. program, and advised the African Nova Scotian Affairs Mobilizing Partnership Program. She co-chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Nurse Practitioner Research Project and contributes to YWCA’s Trafficking & Exploitation Services System and CAEFS Lived Experience Committee.
Sara sits on the boards of the 7th Step Society of NS, Dalhousie Legal Aid Society, and Elizabeth Fry Society – Mainland. She collaborates with Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law and Saint Mary’s Criminology Department, has testified before Senate Committees, and speaks on prison abolition, human rights, sexual violence in prisons, and 2SLGBTQIA++ issues.
Olusola Olumogba
Board Director
Olusola Olumogba is an entrepreneur, non-profit founder, football scout, and speaker. He runs InstantScouting, a platform connecting athletes, agents, and coaches, which has helped over 500 athletes secure professional opportunities. For his work, he was named a Top 30 Under Thirty by Sports Launch Magazine. He also leads Direct Your Life, a non-profit supporting nearly 600 formerly incarcerated individuals with resources and job opportunities.
As a Critical Period Interventionist, he works with high-risk individuals and speaks at schools, halfway houses, and prisons. Olusola holds a B.A. in Criminology and Media Studies from Western University and a YouthREX Critical Youth Work Certificate from York University. A former collegiate athlete and sports professional, he has held leadership roles across multiple non-profits.
Katrina McKay
Board Director
Katrina McKay is passionate about using business and tech to create positive social change. As a futurist, she is regularly tapped to consult on ethical AI implementation and social enterprise strategy. Her own social enterprise, Uplevel Solutions, has a decade-long track record of offering B2B solutions while creating career opportunities for women and LGBTQ+ folks. With a mix of for-profit and not-for-profit experience, Katrina is proud to serve on the board for Comeback Catalyst.
Julie Ellis
Advisor
Julie Ellis is an author, keynote speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur. As co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, she helped grow the company into an internationally recognized, eight-figure business before leading its successful acquisition by Avery Products.
Today, Julie works with entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to drive strategic growth and navigate key transitions through her advisory work, keynotes, and workshops. She is the author of Big Gorgeous Goals, equipping leaders with practical tools to achieve bold, high-impact results.
Julie has been recognized as one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs, winning multiple Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, as well as others. She is committed to helping more women-led businesses scale to eight figures and beyond.
Jacqueline Dinsmore
Advisor
Jacqueline (Jackie) Dinsmore began her corporate legal career on Bay Street before serving as Associate General Counsel at a major media company. During a maternity leave, she founded FlapJackKids, growing the company into a global success, with products featured in Oscar and Emmy pre-party gift bags and sold in thousands of stores worldwide. Over the course of her entrepreneurial journey, Jackie has successfully achieved three business exits, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges, opportunities, and resilience required to build and scale companies.
Combining her experience as both an entrepreneur and in-house counsel, Jackie recognized the need for more practical, affordable business legal support enabled by innovative technology. She became an owner and Managing Partner of Caravel Law where she leads a team of more than 120 lawyers, providing flexible and cost-effective fractional and on-demand legal services to organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Caravel proudly represents more than 50% of Canada's largest companies.
Jackie is deeply passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed and strongly believes in the power of second chances, resilience, and reinvention. She is a committed mentor to founders and emerging business leaders, generously sharing the lessons she has learned through both her successes and setbacks. Supporting the Comeback Catalyst mission is especially meaningful to her because she believes that every entrepreneur deserves access to guidance, encouragement, and opportunities to create their next chapter.
