rebecca sweetman, executive director

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With a background in sustainable development and documentary film, Rebecca has found that her two passions combine well to fill a missing niche in the realm of international development with The Paradigm Shift Project.  A social and eco-activist, Rebecca has always understood that the environment is integral to our sustainability, and that women are the keystone species in the ecosystem of sustainable development.  She believes that a more just world is not only possible, but essential, and that the key to achieving this lies in heartfelt consideration of the global impact of every decision we make.

andrea maldonado, project coordinator, peru

Andrea Maldonado, born in Toronto, completed a Masters degree in child malnutrition, food security and urban agriculture at McGill University in Montreal. Her research focused on low-income communities in the slum neighborhoods of Lima’s Eastern Cone. While in Lima, Andrea forged strong partnerships with local an international organizations and research institutes, thus setting the stage for The Paradigm Shift Project’s future film project there. Andrea currently lives in Toronto’s West End and works at The Stop Community Food Centre. She is a passionate advocate of fair and equal access to healthy food and is active in Toronto’s urban agriculture community.

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natasha nancekivell, editor

Natasha is an independent documentary filmmaker. As a graduate of Queen’s University’s Global Development and Film and Media Studies programs, Natasha’s work has focused on using multimedia platforms as tools that contribute to community-led development initiatives. Natasha works in partnership with community groups and non-governmental organizations. Natasha approaches film as an instrument that enables community members to share their perspectives and experiences, as well as to communicate information and facilitate dialogue around specific social justice and environmental issues. Natasha believes in the potential of video and multi-media platforms to foster connections across socio-economic and geo-political divides, and to ignite and empower citizens to work towards positive systemic changes.

lauren sweetman, development officer

With a background in ethnomusicology and anthropology, Lauren first started working with The Paradigm Shift Project after she realized the need for an organization to help bridge the gap between the people who think about development, the people who work in the field, and the people in need of support. Lauren holds a Bachelor's degree in music and an Master's degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Toronto. Her research with indigenous populations in Canada and New Zealand has inspired her commitment to developing more sustainable research methodologies, and helping to shift scholarship toward more ethical practices. Currently, Lauren is beginning her PhD at New York University, for which she has been awarded a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and NYU's McCracken Fellowship.

kevin kang, bookkeeper

Kevin is an undergraduate student at York University’s Schulich School of Business working towards a Bachelor of Business Administration. He was awarded the Edith Schulich scholarship for academia and intends to specialize in accounting and economics. He strongly believes in the power of socially-oriented organizations to mobilize resources to areas where they are needed most. He has previously committed to volunteer work for charitable organizations such as Free the Children, and now dedicates his time to The Paradigm Shift Project’s finances.

robin campbell, assistant development officer

Robin is from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, and she is currently pursuing her Masters in Recreation Management at Acadia University. Her research is focused on Canadian youth volunteers participating in international projects and the impacts these projects have on the leisure and lifestyle of the volunteer. She is interested in how volunteers use leisure (recreation, sport and the arts) as a tool in international development. After traveling to Guyana, South America and Ghana, West Africa to complete volunteer projects, she immediately knew that she wanted to spend her life working in international development and is extremely excited to be working with The Paradigm Shift Project.