BOARD MEMBERS
Timothy Kavanagh, Chair
Mr. Kavanagh is a seasoned executive leader with broad experience leading health systems and directing services delivery organizations. He has demonstrated experience leading complex health systems, pan-Canadian project teams, performance measurement, organizational evaluation, and restructure; developing and implementing strategic plans; managing human resources, financial resources, and complex projects; mentoring and developing new leaders; promoting innovative thinking; and proving transparent and ethical leadership. A proven champion of change management with a record of success facilitating initiatives that resulted in the implementation of leading-edge information systems, primary care reform, informatics security, and progressive change in organizational culture.
Niki Economo, Treasurer
Economo is a professional artist whose approach to working is organic with a strong sense of colour, movement, and energy. She is an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists and the Ontario Society of Artists and regularly participates in several group and solo exhibitions. Her work can be seen at the Ottawa Art Gallery, Koyman Galleries, and in the collections of the Ottawa Heart Institute, Hochelaga Inn (Kingston), the 2019 CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Home and many private collections. Niki provides live painting demonstrations as a guest artist to local Art Associations. She has a management background in the nonprofit sector and holds a certificate in business administration from the University of Ottawa.
C.R. Gill, Secretary
C.R. Gill (they/them) is a trans/non-binary artist exploring subjective experience and the absurdities of life through portraiture, still life, and botanical art. Their work explores the connections between the absurd, death, nature, and the drive to live authentically. They work in oil paint, water soluble encaustic paint, wax, and mixed media. They trained in classical figure painting and drawing under Sarah Marie Lacy. They are a member of and former librarian for the Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists (OSBA), and were a volunteer coordinator for Figureworks. They have a Master’s degree in electrical engineering, a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution, and have worked in the federal government for over twenty years. They have been a member of SSO since 2020.
Paul Mora, Member-at-Large
Mora graduated from the University of Ottawa’s Bachelor of Fine Art program in 2022. He is an emerging painter who works in the American and Canadian Social Realist tradition. Mora’s artistic practice draws significant influence from his previous work experience as a general contractor and HVAC maintenance technician, which dates back to 2015. He is particularly engaged by the often overlooked and undervalued “invisible labour” involved in constructing the spaces we interact with on a daily basis. Through his art practice, he sheds light on his lived experiences, and those of his colleagues, emphasizing the human elements that are frequently disregarded when considering workers.
Gabriela Avila Yiptong, Member-at-Large
Avila Yiptong is a visual artist and cultural sector leader with exhibitions in Ottawa, Montréal, and London (UK), and work in the City of Ottawa’s Public Art Collection.
She holds an MFA from Goldsmiths, University of London, has co-founded several artist collectives and is dedicated to strengthening creative communities.
Professionally, as a Senior Strategic Analyst at the Department of Canadian Heritage, Avila Yiptong coordinates 100+ cultural funding programs and brings experience in grants, equity work, and arts policy. She offers the board strong skills in strategic planning, partnerships, and community engagement, with a firm commitment to accessible, sustainable studio space for artists.
Robert Egert – Member-at-Large
Egert is a practicing artist whose career began in New York’s East Village and Williamsburg, exhibiting with galleries such as White Columns, Holly Solomon, and Civilian Warfare, and contributing writing to art magazines such as Flash Art International. Robert later earned a graduate degree and built a successful career as a strategic planner in life sciences and technology. Today Robert splits his time between his painting practice and his professional career. He brings a unique blend of hands-on artistic resourcefulness and professional expertise in long-range planning, leadership, and communication.
Ada Brzeski, Member-at-Large
Brzeski received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Bachelor of Commerce and a certificate in volunteer management. In 2006 she began working in pottery, inspired by her Polish roots and the colourful Wycinanki (Polish paper cutting). Over the years she has held executive positions in numerous not-for-profit organizations, most recently acting as Treasurer for the Ottawa Guild of Potters. She is one of the founding members of Studio Space Ottawa and served as Treasurer for the Board of Directors from 2019-2023.
STAFF
Anna Frlan, Administrator
Frlan received her BFA from the University of Ottawa where she was introduced to sculpture and industrial steel. She has been innovatively transforming steel ever since, while studying its history and impact from the twentieth century to the present. Anna created an entire kitchen of steel objects for her Kitchen Anatomy series in 2010 and exhibited her Atomic Anxiety series of sculptures at the Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum, as their 2016 artist-in-residence. Anna has received project grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Ottawa and the Corel Endowment for the Arts.
Nancy Brandsma, Custodial
Brandsma is a contemporary artist born in Montreal in 1975. She has been actively involved in the French-speaking artist community in Ottawa since 2009, where she currently resides. Her oil abstracts have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Ontario and Québec in several galleries and public places. Nancy divides her time between painting in her studio in Ottawa and teaching art to young and old in her community. Her captivating textured, monochromatic and minimalist work
SUPPORT
David Drapeau, Technology
Drapeau is an expert in the creation of Enterprise IT Architectures with over thirty three years experience in the IT profession, most of it related to the telecommunications industry. He held the position of “Senior Director – Strategic IT Architectures” when he retired from Bell Canada. His post-retirement volunteer activities include providing IT advice and web site support to non-profit organizations (e.g. Studio Space Ottawa, the Ottawa Guild of Potters and Scouts Canada).
Ada Brzeski, Bookkeeping
Brzeski received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Bachelor of Commerce and a certificate in volunteer management. In 2006 she began working in pottery, inspired by her Polish roots and the colourful Wycinanki (Polish paper cutting). Over the years she has held executive positions in numerous not-for-profit organizations, most recently acting as Treasurer for the Ottawa Guild of Potters. She is one of the founding members of Studio Space Ottawa.
Past Board Members
Tiffany April
Kathy Bergquist (President, 2019-2021)
Ada Brzeski
Susan Cartwright
Christine Fitzgerald
Anna Frlan
Atticus Gordon
Christos Pantieras (Board Chair 2021 – 2025)
Kelly Rendek
Jadzia Romaniec
Ray Romanovich
Susan Roston
Ted Willis
Mirana Zuger