Team Members
Executive Director
Nicholas Salter
Nick is an experienced leader and strategist with expertise in communications, engagement, and public policy. Prior to directing the Provincial Employment Round Table, Nick helped launch and build McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy. Before that, he worked in open government and open data as Director of Policy and Communications at Powered by Data. Nick has also been involved in federal politics — leading the team of a Member of Parliament and advising teams at a regional level. Nick’s involvement in the public, social, and nonprofit sectors dates to 2008. He has worked with foundations, boards, community organizations, the health care system, higher ed, and multiple levels of government. He holds an MSW in International and Community Development, a BA in Psychology, and a Graduate Certificate in PR. Nick is also a past fellow of the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy.
Director, Policy and Research
Sta Kuzviwanza
Sta is a policy researcher and analyst with a background in economics and technology policy. Sta previously worked as the policy lead for Québec at Airbnb Canada and as a consultant providing policy analysis to organizations in the private and public sectors. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Max Bell School of Public Policy and a Bachelor’s in Economics and African Studies from McGill University.
Director, Engagement & Communications
Chad Walcott
Chad Walcott is a community engagement expert with 10 years of experience in politics and social development. Throughout his career, he has developed and overseen several successful social impact campaigns focused on social and economic development. Prior to joining PERT’s team, Chad held a position at the City of Montreal, where he was responsible for managing citizen requests and advising local officials on policies related to economic and social development.
Office Coordinator
Kiran Virdee
Kiran comes from a background of office management and administration. She has worked with large scale and small scale organizations and has developed her skills in the fields of administration, finance, operations and human resources. Her experience in both private and public sectors gives her a unique understanding of the procedures in place within the province of Quebec. As a native Montrealer, Kiran received her BA degree in Sociology from Concordia University. She also has her Photography Studies diploma from the university.
Executive Director
Nicholas Salter
Nick is an experienced leader and strategist with expertise in communications, engagement, and public policy. Prior to directing the Provincial Employment Round Table, Nick helped launch and build McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy. Before that, he worked in open government and open data as Director of Policy and Communications at Powered by Data. Nick has also been involved in federal politics — leading the team of a Member of Parliament and advising teams at a regional level. Nick’s involvement in the public, social, and nonprofit sectors dates to 2008. He has worked with foundations, boards, community organizations, the health care system, higher ed, and multiple levels of government. He holds an MSW in International and Community Development, a BA in Psychology, and a Graduate Certificate in PR. Nick is also a past fellow of the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy.
Director, Policy and Research
Sta Kuzviwanza
Sta is a policy researcher and analyst with a background in economics and technology policy. Sta previously worked as the policy lead for Québec at Airbnb Canada and as a consultant providing policy analysis to organizations in the private and public sectors. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Max Bell School of Public Policy and a Bachelor’s in Economics and African Studies from McGill University.
Director, Engagement & Communications
Chad Walcott
Chad Walcott is a community engagement expert with 10 years of experience in politics and social development. Throughout his career, he has developed and overseen several successful social impact campaigns focused on social and economic development. Prior to joining PERT’s team, Chad held a position at the City of Montreal, where he was responsible for managing citizen requests and advising local officials on policies related to economic and social development.
Office Coordinator
Kiran Virdee
Kiran comes from a background of office management and administration. She has worked with large scale and small scale organizations and has developed her skills in the fields of administration, finance, operations and human resources. Her experience in both private and public sectors gives her a unique understanding of the procedures in place within the province of Quebec. As a native Montrealer, Kiran received her BA degree in Sociology from Concordia University. She also has her Photography Studies diploma from the university.
Policy Researcher
Morgan Gagnon
Morgan Gagnon is a skilled researcher and policy analyst with a background in Quebec higher education policy and theories of institutional responsibility. She recently completed her master’s degree in philosophy at Concordia University, where she held a SSHRC scholarship for her research on university sexual violence policies and accessibility to education. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor of Arts at Bishop’s University, where she gained extensive experience building relationships with community and regional partners.
Policy Researcher
Catherine-Laure Juste
Catherine-Laure Juste recently earned a master’s degree in women and gender studies from York University, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in international development from McGill University. She is a dedicated policy researcher who is passionate about work that translates into better outcomes for underrepresented and under-resourced communities. Her role at PERT consists of identifying and assessing various existing employability-related initiatives, formulating policies, and making recommendations to meet the needs of Quebec’s English-speaking communities. She looks forward to supporting the Policy and Research team’s efforts to increase its research and analytic capacity.
Communications and Engagement Specialist
Maria De Las Salas
Maria J. De Las Salas recently earned a Bachelor of Art with a double major in communications and political science from Concordia University. She immigrated with her family from Colombia in 2015, and this experience makes employability challenges and language minorities issues close to her heart. As a communication and engagement specialist, she intends to translate policy and research developments into clear language destined to other actors of the milieu and to spread PERT’s commitment to the underrepresented communities in Québec.
Policy Research Intern
Joshua Loo
Joshua is a research-oriented economist whose interests lie at the intersection of economics and public policy. He is passionate about the design, analysis, and evaluation of public policy. He is particularly interested in the effects of policy on various marginalized communities, including issues such as the racial wealth gap and the gender wage gap. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Joshua holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from McGill University.
Policy Researcher
Morgan Gagnon
Morgan Gagnon is a skilled researcher and policy analyst with a background in Quebec higher education policy and theories of institutional responsibility. She recently completed her master’s degree in philosophy at Concordia University, where she held a SSHRC scholarship for her research on university sexual violence policies and accessibility to education. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor of Arts at Bishop’s University, where she gained extensive experience building relationships with community and regional partners.
Policy Researcher
Catherine-Laure Juste
Catherine-Laure Juste recently earned a master’s degree in women and gender studies from York University, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in international development from McGill University. She is a dedicated policy researcher who is passionate about work that translates into better outcomes for underrepresented and under-resourced communities. Her role at PERT consists of identifying and assessing various existing employability-related initiatives, formulating policies, and making recommendations to meet the needs of Quebec’s English-speaking communities. She looks forward to supporting the Policy and Research team’s efforts to increase its research and analytic capacity.
Communications and Engagement Specialist
Maria De Las Salas
Maria J. De Las Salas recently earned a Bachelor of Art with a double major in communications and political science from Concordia University. She immigrated with her family from Colombia in 2015, and this experience makes employability challenges and language minorities issues close to her heart. As a communication and engagement specialist, she intends to translate policy and research developments into clear language destined to other actors of the milieu and to spread PERT’s commitment to the underrepresented communities in Québec.
Policy Research Intern
Joshua Loo
Joshua is a research-oriented economist whose interests lie at the intersection of economics and public policy. He is passionate about the design, analysis, and evaluation of public policy. He is particularly interested in the effects of policy on various marginalized communities, including issues such as the racial wealth gap and the gender wage gap. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Joshua holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from McGill University.